Chapter 8 - This Must Be The Place

October 31, 2022

Norman is alone for Halloween as his parents are working and his sister is out with friends.His mother left him some money and some burgers.He ate in his room in silence as he watched a movie,

He watched The Shining.

He was intrigued by the film and It grasp on isolation for he'd been isolated for so long.Norman ate the burgers in enjoyment as he hummed with each bite, making a rhythm with each chomp.Norman was slowly trying to build courage to ask out Agnes even though she knows nothing of him.He found a way to contact her as he was about to text her but stopped himself.

"Hey, Agnes how you been ?" Was the message he was about to send but he didn't feel it had flare.Agnes lives a high school life and lives for the drama it brings and this complete stranger to her is just going to be a waste of time.

"Hey it's Norman, I don't know if you remember me but how have you been ?"

Was the message he rewrote and was getting ready to send but stopped.

He continued to occupy his mind with the gluttony and horror from food and film.He tried but it wasn't enough he went on his phone again and had a third and final text that he felt was right.

"Agnes it's Norman, busy this Friday ? "

His thumb was shaking as he quickly click send, he jumped as he pranced around the room in many different emotions.

He was happy he sent it, he was mad he took this long and he was scared of what's going to be said.He looked himself in the mirror as he said

"You did good- you did really fucking good alright ?" He continued saying as the burger he had placed on the bed fell on to the floor.

"You deserve to be happy, you deserve this…no one deserves to be alone especially not YOU !"

He looked down to the floor as he looked back at himself in the mirror as he punches the cabinet,

"Oh Christ what we're you thinking-sending that- oh Christ…."

He started to lay on the floor as he felt regret and those butterflies in his stomach felt like needles.

He then kept repeating to himself,

"You deserve this, you deserve to be happy …"

He said it dozens of times over as he curled up in a ball as he felt a tick to cry.

November 8, 2022

Norman felt embarrassed and upset at not getting a response.He was sitting alone in an outdoor table of a fast food place as he looked on to cars driving by as they're filled with people who have their own problems in life.

He ate his fried chicken leg peace as he was melancholy to the whole situation.Norman had a whole new look for two days ago he looked into the bathroom mirror and began to cut his hair off with an electric hair clipper as he felt numb.He cut it all off slowly as he thought of Agnes with each buzz heard.

He had a shaved head and baby face once again, he felt free.Now back to him at the benches, he sat and ate his chicken as he saw a homeless man walked by as he carried his stuff on a shopping cart.Norman stared at him as the man looked tired of life as he walked without a care in the world.He walked a red light as a car nearly hit him, they honked as the man shrugged him off,

"Ahh Fuck you !" Said the man as he the drivers were frustrated.

Norman was distracted as he heard

"Sir would you like it try out a deal that could get you a free ice cream ?"

Norman turned slowly to decline as he saw it was Susan,

"No thank you-" Norman smiled as he said

"You son of a bitch, how you been man ?"

Norman got up and gave Susan a hug as Susan replied

"Oh well I've been around, living…wondering what's Norman been up too …."

Norman felt bad as they both sat down,

"Jeez I'm sorry man, I'm sorry I tried to look for you …I really did-"

Susan didn't let it bother him as he said

" no it's alright, it's cool but uhh how's it been with that girl you like ?"

Norman felt relieved to talk about it as he said

"Well Jesus it's been a week and no response -"

It hit Norman as he thought and said

"Wait how do you know about that ?"

Susan subtly replied

"You mentioned it while we had our little Pent Jones talk, hehe….so how's it been ?"

Norman felt more calm then worried as he explained it all.

Everything he's been feeling, all the thoughts he's had and every action he's attempted.Susan just listened, he didn't feel as if he was shocked or disappointed at what he's hearing; he was interested.He nodded and gave small expressions to detailed things as Norman finished up with

"All this and she doesn't even acknowledge my existence…"

It was about 5 minutes of Norman as Susan gave his response,

"So you feel hurt, betrayed , alone and hell even left in the dark ?"

Norman nodded as Susan added on

"Okay then let's go …"

Susan got up quickly as Norman got the trash and threw it out in the trash can and followed Susan.He caught up as he asked

"Whoa….where we going ? Susan Slow down …"

They were both aside each other as the walked the streets of a business district area.It's full of mom and pop shops, dollar stores and restaurants.Susan had his eyes set on that homeless man, he was determined.

"Look that feelings you have are gonna lead you down a path of misery and self-hatred …" said Susan as he walked quite quickly,

"It's two choices you'd get, killing yourself or hurting yourself ….you should hate having both mentalities."

Norman was curious as Susan kept talking,

"Look Norman, Why hurt yourself when you can hurt others ….always think like that …."

Norman sounded fond to what he's heard as They made it to a light.

"Look, a rat is being chased by a snake, that damn snakes hungry as the rats fighting for its life as it puts up a fight but is eaten in the end….next you know a hawk devours that damn snake next …."

Said Susan as Norman felt dumbfounded and asked

"What does that mean ?"

The light turned green as they walked,

"It means….no matter what you fight- the same cycle is shown and promise- death …."

Norman feels like he's just heard the stupidest thing known to man as they make it to a street that as an alley way nearby.

"Look man today you're gonna get that chance to show others how you feel and you'll express it through violence…."

They walked the alley way as Susan is in search of the homeless man from earlier.

"Now Norman, tell me now if you want to quit and live your sad pathetic life and feel the need for lust or keep going with me right now to go and be reborn, you're gonna show these parasites true pain …..so ?"

Norman and Susan stood there as Norman was really thinking of just going home.He took s step back then changed his expression to angry, he started walking forward as Susan was happy.

"Alright good, here …." He said as he handed over a switchblade, the same one used on Mickey.Norman Carried if in his coat pocket as they walked some more.

"No going back now Norman, you shall give that blade a new purpose ….." Susan kept saying things like this as they walked the alley way.The streetlights in the distance are the only source of light as the gravel floor sounded as it's begging for Norman to go back.The crunch of each step was more and more attempts at regret as Norman was furious.

"You'll no longer feel like the outcast, you'll feel truly free now ….this'll be great …."

Said Susan as they got took a left right turn to another alley.They we're confident to find this man as they did.

The man laid on the ground in his throne of filth as his shopping cart had all his belongings.

"To hell with the president, to hell with the hierarchy !" He yelled out drunkly as Norman and Susan approached.

"There he is, the sad sack of shit …" said Susan as they were a good distance away.They fixed their composure as they had a nice demeanor as Susan said "just act natural …"

They were walking by as the man said

"And look at this, two queers going for a stroll, boy were living in dark times …" Susan scoffed at this Norman said

"You're a funny guy pal, you want some money ?"

The man laughed as he said

"I don't need ya money, I'm rich- I'm a millionaire , I'm Xavier Monet the man of the year…"

All three of them laughed as Xavier pointed at Susan and said

"Now how about you two kiss and fuck off …"

Susan was about to pounce as Norman stopped him,

"You old fuck !-" yelled Susan as Norman said

"Whoa, relax-relax man …"

The Xavier taunted him as he added on

"Yea calm it down flower boy, let the men settle this ….haha …."

Xavier laid there in his squalor as Norman kneeled down and said

"Listen, Xavier….you didn't want my money but can I give some advice ….?"

Xavier listened as Norman got the blade ready,

"Don't be such an asshole …ahh "

Xavier grunted as the blade went into his throat, he got him good as he gasped for air.

"You…. Coward …." Said Xavier in his dying breath as Susan got Norman out the way as he began to kick Xavier.He stomped him out good as Norman just looked on,

"Come on, get in on this !" Said Susan as they both kicked the man repeatedly.Susan pushed Norman away again as he got Xavier up and began to punch him, the knife by then slipped out and fell onto the floor.

They both continued to beat on him as he was already unconscious.They were beating on a dead horse at this point.They stopped when Susan sounded winded

"Christ this is a workout ….haha "

Susan got one more kick in as he looked into the distance to the lights of a car approaching slowly.

"Oh shit, lay down with me quick…."

They both acted as if they were all drunk friends hanging out together.The put themselves aside Xavier as they quickly got trough his cart to see a big blanket.

"Play along …"

They got into character as the car passing by stopped as they saw them and the driver said

"Shit fellas, stay safe out here alright …"

He said with a smile as he showed his beer in his cup holder.Susan smiled and replied

"Yes sir, you have a Goodnight too boy ! Ahh !"

He yelled as they drove off in thinking they just stumbled upon another group having a good time.Susan and Norman waited for the car to exit out of the alley way as Norman said

"Oh fuck …"

The car was gone as Susan said

"We're fine, alright let's go man "

They both got up as Susan put the blanket over Xavier's body and began to rummage through his things.He found nothing useful as he said

"Alright let's go …."

They got out of the alley way as Norman had no more regrets or fear, he had the Susan Mentality.

"Why hurt yourself when you can hurt others "

Words that Norman is going to live by.