Read Online Clouded Rainbow by Jonathan Sturak - Free Book Online
Authors: Jonathan Sturak
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suggested Lois’ absence since last night.
Where is Lois? he thought.
On the counter stood a small tube of lipstick with a deep shade of red painting the top of the case. It focused his attention like a diamond teasing a thief. As Roger moved toward the object, his eyes refocused on the stranger reflecting back from the bathroom mirror. The man resembled Roger, but had ratty hair, bruises marring his skin, and a look of anguish in his eyes. Suddenly, a picture flashed into Roger’s mind of him standing at the mirror, mesmerized by his reflection. The image, however, was not of this stranger; it was of the robust body of the real Roger. Suddenly, he felt a chill run through his body. His movements stopped, and so did his breathing. Roger was lost inside his mind trying to clutch the memories buried deep within the bowels of his brain. Then in a flash, he returned, gasping for air.
“What the hell happened to you?” he mouthed.
Roger went back into the bedroom. He grabbed the whiskey and downed another gulp, trying to speed up the alcoholic escape induced by the seedy substance. A picture caught his eye on the nightstand near the bed. He picked it up and studied the image of him with Lois embracing in a park under the sunny summer sky. This was a memory he remembered; it was from last summer after a bike ride through the city park. Lois bought Roger a digital camera, and he brought it on their day trip through the outdoors. A resting jogger stopped and offered his service as an impromptu cameraman to capture the couple together. Roger outlined Lois’ body with his blackened fingertip, wishing the glossy paper was actually her supple skin. As his wife consumed his senses, he felt a tingle deep within his brain. The tingle quickly led to a throbbing sting that caused his eyes to flutter and to lose focus. The room began to spin like a drunken ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Roger steered for his bed, but in a sudden burst, he saw black.
The battered businessman awoke in a park sitting on a blanket. He focused his eyes and saw a serene lake in the distance.
Where am I? he pondered.
The sun felt warm against his skin and the air smelled fresh, but Roger felt like a puppet. He tried to speak but couldn’t. He tried to move, but his muscles were unresponsive; they were as if controlled by someone else. His mind still worked, however, and it made him wonder whether he was, in fact, dead. Whatever the situation, he could see through this man’s eyes, which received the breathtaking image of Lois drinking a glass of wine. A soft breeze blew, sweeping her autumn brown hair from her face. Lois raised the wine glass, swirling the red liquid. She smiled.
In a flash, the image of a swanky restaurant filtered into Roger’s mind. Again, he felt paralyzed, seeing through a counterpart’s eyes. Lois was wearing a dark dress with spaghetti straps draping around her shoulders. A burly server brought two plates of food, lasagna for Lois and a plate of spaghetti for Roger.
Fire began to tear through the building as Roger closed his eyes in terror. When he opened them, he found himself driving his SUV toward the Pleasant Place Bridge. Roger’s imposter turned and looked at Lois in the passenger seat. However, there was something wrong with her. She raised her hands to her throat and squeezed, tighter and tighter. Roger tried to move his hands to help, but they failed to respond. He tried to yell, but his vocal cords were numb. Lois let out a horrid shriek so loud it made his eyes vibrate. Through the ear piercing sound, the vehicle erupted into flames. Lois’ skin appeared to melt away to bone as Roger tried to look away, but was unable to move. Suddenly, the sound of knocking began to fill his ears. He anticipated another bizarre vision that would transform his burning vehicle into another sight of terror. His senses screamed as the knocking persisted, and then his mind snapped.
Roger sat up in bed, realizing the images of death and
Where is Lois? he thought.
On the counter stood a small tube of lipstick with a deep shade of red painting the top of the case. It focused his attention like a diamond teasing a thief. As Roger moved toward the object, his eyes refocused on the stranger reflecting back from the bathroom mirror. The man resembled Roger, but had ratty hair, bruises marring his skin, and a look of anguish in his eyes. Suddenly, a picture flashed into Roger’s mind of him standing at the mirror, mesmerized by his reflection. The image, however, was not of this stranger; it was of the robust body of the real Roger. Suddenly, he felt a chill run through his body. His movements stopped, and so did his breathing. Roger was lost inside his mind trying to clutch the memories buried deep within the bowels of his brain. Then in a flash, he returned, gasping for air.
“What the hell happened to you?” he mouthed.
Roger went back into the bedroom. He grabbed the whiskey and downed another gulp, trying to speed up the alcoholic escape induced by the seedy substance. A picture caught his eye on the nightstand near the bed. He picked it up and studied the image of him with Lois embracing in a park under the sunny summer sky. This was a memory he remembered; it was from last summer after a bike ride through the city park. Lois bought Roger a digital camera, and he brought it on their day trip through the outdoors. A resting jogger stopped and offered his service as an impromptu cameraman to capture the couple together. Roger outlined Lois’ body with his blackened fingertip, wishing the glossy paper was actually her supple skin. As his wife consumed his senses, he felt a tingle deep within his brain. The tingle quickly led to a throbbing sting that caused his eyes to flutter and to lose focus. The room began to spin like a drunken ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. Roger steered for his bed, but in a sudden burst, he saw black.
The battered businessman awoke in a park sitting on a blanket. He focused his eyes and saw a serene lake in the distance.
Where am I? he pondered.
The sun felt warm against his skin and the air smelled fresh, but Roger felt like a puppet. He tried to speak but couldn’t. He tried to move, but his muscles were unresponsive; they were as if controlled by someone else. His mind still worked, however, and it made him wonder whether he was, in fact, dead. Whatever the situation, he could see through this man’s eyes, which received the breathtaking image of Lois drinking a glass of wine. A soft breeze blew, sweeping her autumn brown hair from her face. Lois raised the wine glass, swirling the red liquid. She smiled.
In a flash, the image of a swanky restaurant filtered into Roger’s mind. Again, he felt paralyzed, seeing through a counterpart’s eyes. Lois was wearing a dark dress with spaghetti straps draping around her shoulders. A burly server brought two plates of food, lasagna for Lois and a plate of spaghetti for Roger.
Fire began to tear through the building as Roger closed his eyes in terror. When he opened them, he found himself driving his SUV toward the Pleasant Place Bridge. Roger’s imposter turned and looked at Lois in the passenger seat. However, there was something wrong with her. She raised her hands to her throat and squeezed, tighter and tighter. Roger tried to move his hands to help, but they failed to respond. He tried to yell, but his vocal cords were numb. Lois let out a horrid shriek so loud it made his eyes vibrate. Through the ear piercing sound, the vehicle erupted into flames. Lois’ skin appeared to melt away to bone as Roger tried to look away, but was unable to move. Suddenly, the sound of knocking began to fill his ears. He anticipated another bizarre vision that would transform his burning vehicle into another sight of terror. His senses screamed as the knocking persisted, and then his mind snapped.
Roger sat up in bed, realizing the images of death and
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