The Plaid Ascot Hat

I looked at the number for a minute, my face half turned up with my lip curled. It was probably a bad idea to message the person back. So of course, I did.

"Who is this?" I wrote.

"I hope we can meet soon, but for now, I must remain anonymous."

"Okay, but what are you saying to me? Chase created me? What does that mean?"

"He built you. You're one of his robots."

I stared at the phone, scoffed, and then wrote,

"I'm drunk right now which is why I'm continuing this conversation at all but if this is you Chase, f*ck off. If it isn't you Chase, still f*ck off."

I set the phone down and shook my head moving my black bangs out of my eyes. The phone didn't go off again. I plugged it into the charger on the kitchen table, still confused about how messages were getting to me. Now burning with curiosity, I had to see.

When I checked the networks close to me, I noticed my phone had automatically connected to an open one nearby. That wasn't supposed to happen but at least now I could go online and watch something to keep my mind off my loneliness.

Within only moments, my chest was filled with anger and sorrow, tightening once again. The thought of being seen as someone who was only out for money was the most asinine thing I'd heard of in a while. Who told Chase about this, anyway? The messages he showed me didn't have contact names.

In the past, when I was alone after a break-up, whether it was on my end or not, I'd pine and feel pain, but those experiences were nothing compared to this. It was going to take an extended amount time to get through the worst anguish. Just as I was about to put on a mystery show to quell my meltdown, I received another message.

I debated whether to check or not then realized sleep would be better. After wandering back into the bedroom, I laid on the blow up mattress. While staring at the ceiling fan's unsteady rotation, I was hypnotized into sleep.

***

When I woke later, it was still dark outside. I glanced at my watch and saw it was almost 3 am. I sighed. The ceiling fan was now creaking over my head.

The rain had not stopped. I walked out to the bay windows in the kitchen and stared down below. It was peculiar when I saw the same people I'd seen before. I blinked a few times, but I was almost positive I'd seen the man with the plaid ascot-styled hat jogging across the road in the same manner.

The zigzag running. The sudden raising of the newspaper over his head. The same raindrops splattering the windowpanes. My remarkable feeling of being utterly alone.

Alone was what I'd felt most of my life. Until I met Chase. We had met by happenstance but even without the booze, I think we clicked. Obviously, we had that night.

I heard the phone go off again. Cautiously, I walked over to it in the bedroom. It was flipped screen-down, but I could see flashing against the bed. Picking it up, I checked the text.

The messages were from the same number. There were more about me being something Chase created. What in the world? I texted them back.

"What is this about? Do you want money or is this a ploy to test me?"

"No ploy or money. It's true. You were designed, not born."

"This is ridiculous."

"Is it? Your home in the Bronx was almost burglarized, right? You moved to Manhattan shortly after."

"All this proves is you're a stalker."

"I was the one sent to break into your home. I was trying to find evidence to show you."

"Of what?"

"That you're not real."

"I am real, you f*cking weirdo. Even if I weren't, why do you care?"

"Because I'm trapped in here and you're the key to escape."

"Key to escape? Am I being punked?"

"Go look in the mirror."

"I'm not playing this game."

"Why not? Scared?"

I sighed and walked to the bathroom staring in the mirror. I had no idea why I was listening to this person but here I was.

"I'm in the bathroom."

"Look in the mirror. You'll see your black hair, your shiny gray, almond-shaped eyes, your delicate yet pointy chin, the burnt-orange tone of your lips. All standard, yeah?"

"Yeah, so?"

"One thing that ain't standard is the button just behind your left ear."

I felt flooding anxiety fill my stomach as I gingerly reached behind my ear. With shaking fingers, I ran my small left index finger along my skin. And there it was. An indented cross-stitched circular object.

I dropped the phone in the sink watching it clank on the silver metal stopper as water droplets fell upon it. I saw it flash with more messages. My hands were quivering as I picked the phone up. When I scanned it, I could see that the person asked, "You found it, didn't you?" Frantically, I wiped it off with my sleeve.

"What happens if I press that button?"

"Don't do it! You shouldn't ever do it. It will kill you."

"Kill me? Tell me what the f*ck is going on!"

"This morning when it's first light, meet me outside."

"Where?"

"You know."

"Who are you?"

"You know that too."

My mind was racing. I tried to call the number, but it never rang and there was no message or busy beeping sound. Just dead air. Chase wouldn't answer me honestly, would he?

I thought about trying to be logical, but my emotions were too strong. I waited for a second more but then I reached out to him.

"Chase, I'm being told some strange things. Things about me. I was told I'm a robot."

After I hit send, I realized I should have waited. He wouldn't be up yet, though it wouldn't be much longer. I glanced at my phone checking the time. It was 3:45 am. Had I really been texting for forty-five minutes?

All at once I realized how cold I was. Sometimes in August, the days could be hot, but the nights would get chilly. I walked over to the fireplace.

I found the switch and turned it on. There must have been a little gas left over from the prior tenant. The flame was small at first and then I adjusted it higher. I wished I had a couch out here.

After dragging my blankets and pillow, I laid on the carpeted floor. The flickering glow was comforting. I felt peaceful and before long I was able to sleep.

***

When I woke it was day and the fire was out. It was still raining but I felt hopeful. The first thing I did was check the phone. There was a question mark as a message from the number. I was supposed to meet them at first light, and it was 9 am!

I texted asking if they were still available.

"I am. You know where to go."

"I really don't."

"Yes, you do. You always do."

"I have to work though. I'm already late."

"I think this is more important. None of that is real, anyhow."

I stood up and put on my dirty clothes from the day before. Once I was in the hallway, I walked to the elevator. A sign read that it was out of order. I had to find the stairs.

After I was in the stairwell, I made the two flights down and then opened the front entrance. Outside I somehow knew that I was supposed to walk around the block. It was to the man with the plaid ascot-styled hat. I rounded the corner and found him.

He was rushing behind a group of people just about to cover his head with the newspaper when he saw me. It caused him to do a double-take and then he dashed over to me.

"I knew you'd figure it out but that was simple."

"Thanks for the backhanded compliment."

"Come, now. I didn't mean it like that."

I could hear that his accent was from the UK. England. Southeast London. I'd been there with Chase in the past. And just now I remembered Chase's strange behavior.

He had hidden me from view of a few different men we'd passed by. I had asked him why he was doing it and he explained the men were thugs. I didn't see a cause for that kind of behavior on his part. Now that I was thinking about it, they had hats like the man who was speaking to me.

"So, where should we go?"

"There's a place nearby."

He led the way across the street to a deli. A line was coming out the door, but we were able to sit toward the back at a table for two. I could hear everyone ordering. It was interesting how happy they were to get their cuts of meat and cheese.

"Now listen to me ... you are a bloody robot," he said, dropping it on me without warning.

"Shh!" I whispered fiercely. "Everyone will think you're just as delusional as I do."

"And that button behind your ear ... I supposed that's a delusion, eh?" he asked with a half-smile. I shook my head at him to get him to quiet down again.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"I want to get out of here."

"Here? You mean New York?"

"I want to escape this world. It's all a simulation built for you."

"I don't understand."

The electronic bing-bong indicating someone entered the store went off much louder than the rest. I wasn't sure if it was perceptual or just the lull in conversation. The man across from me leaned in closer, his cotton long-sleeved white shirt wet from the rain.

"He's here. I must leave. Not because I'm scared, mind you." He pushed his chair out and stood.

"Wait!" I exclaimed. "What's your name?"

"I'm Luca," he threw his hand out to shake. I gripped it and he smiled. Then he took off out of the back of the store. When I turned around it was none other than my ex-husband, Chase.