It was exceptionally cold for a day in November. The moon was unseen in the star-studded sky. Neksus felt the chill in the air when he went to bed. He was still wondering if it was the wind or his mind that was making him shiver so vigorously. Seeking refuge under the warmth of his quilt, he was feeling terribly miserable.
For the past few days he was not having a good, sound sleep. He used to wake up traumatised - shivering and sweating profusely only to find the moon in the sky. For all these years Neksus never had a sleeping problem. But of late, he was scared even to lie down in his bed. Murderous and gory thoughts always crossed his mind. Sometimes he would see himself in some sort of a ritualistic ceremony where he had to pierce his hand for a few drops of 'holy' blood. He would wake up terrorised to find the piercing in his hand in exactly the same place as he had seen in his dream. Neksus could not decipher the connection between his brutal dreams and reality. No matter how much he tried to forget them and not think anymore, he woke up aghast at hideously killing a beautiful child in his dream!
Neksus never shared these experiences with anybody. He thought of seeing a doctor and have those prescribed sleeping pills, but was dreadfully fearing the consequencesof speaking of those slaughterous dreams. Always remaining a very reserved person, Neksus never liked those rave partiesand social gatherings. His heart was writhing in agony within those four walls. The window was also close to bar the chill.
So disturbed was his mind that he was thinking if he would live long enough to see the next day. His mind was crossed with thoughts of newspaper headlines reporting his untimely death.
******
Suddenly Neksus sat up straight. He seemed to be in some sort of hurry and was hastily looking for something in his room. Never caring to switch on the lights, he was fishing in his wardrobe. Neksus didn't have a roommate, so both the wardrobes in the room belonged to him.
The only person staying back at the residential hall during this long vacation was Ikspir. He was the only person with whom Neksus went along pretty well. When Ikspir wasn't around, Neksus did not care to mingle with the other inmates.
On getting what he was looking for, Neksus ran straight out of his room towards Ikspir's. Very politely he rapped on the door. It was about to dawn and Ikspir was fast asleep. Slowly the raping gave way to thumping and the sound reverberated thoughout the building. On such a chilly weather, Ikspir did much to get out of his bed - "Who's that?"
When there was no reply, Ikspir knew it was Neksus' dirty tricks on him. Still he opened the latch of the door. As soon as the door opened, a strong blow on his forehead left Ikspir unconscious. Neksus was wearing a black woolen cap that covered his face except the eyes. He looked at Ikspir's body and with much affection lay him on his own bed. The he carefully locked the room from the inside and switched on the lights. He caressed Ikspir's forehead as if to help him gain consciousness. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye Neksus drew a sharp knife from the back of his jacket and held it up, above his forehead. With closed eyes he cantillated some sort of a prayer. As soon as he finished it, with a ravenous stroke Neksus slashed off his left wrist. He put his bloody arm over Ikspir's face such that the blood drops pooled on the latter's closed eyes.
Quite contrary to having an excruciating pain, Neksus' face was filled with relief! Ikspir was stil out cold owing to the massive blow with the bludgeoning weapon. With the swiftness of a mongoose, Neksus slit Ikspir's bot wrists like he did to his own. As a result of this bloody affair, the latter tried in vain to sit up only to find himself tethered to his own bed!
Ikspir could not believe his senses when he saw and felt his surroundings. His hands had become numb due to excessive blood loss. His eyes suddenly were gazed on Neksus' demoniac eyes. He felt Neksus was possessed - "Stop it Neksus please! What on earth are you doing?", yelling at the top of his voice. Neksus quietly looked at Ikspir's face - "Bye! May thy blood quench the thirst of many!" and he slit Ikspir's throat with the knife. Blood guzzled out of the throat as Neksus stared at it with a relieved face. The whole roome was red with blood and Ikspir's bed was soaking in it. Neksus stood still with blood dripping from his left arm and the knife held firmly in his right; his eyes locked into those of Ikspir, watching him writhing in pain and struggling to get free. With a massive volume of blood loss, Ikspir was becoming paler and ultimately after a very short period, he lay motionless. All this time Neksus did not move his eyes from those of Ikspir's!
All of a sudden a chill went down Neksus' spine and he was wondering why his left arm was paining! He felt as though he was having a dream, yet he saw his friend in that abominable state and his left wrist was unbearable. The only thing he remembered was that he was trying to get sleep in his own bed...
