The Inner Editor

She had to get that gun. It was her only hope-and his, for that matter. If he couldn't see past these hallucinations, then-

"Delusions."

"Huh?"

"Delusions. He has what you call delusions - not hallucinations."

"Oh - right. Thanks."

"No problem. Here, I'll just look over your shoulder, let you know if I catch anything else like that."

"Sure, I guess. Uh... Who are you?"

"Your Inner Editor, actually. I hang around to make sure you don't make yourself sound stupid."

"Oh. Okay, well, I'm going to start again."

"Go ahead, go ahead. Just pretend I'm not here."

...delusions, then she would have to for him. She shook with adrenaline, every muscle fiber coursed with potential energy. All of her energy was focused on that little metal weapon and-

"Get on with it."

"Excuse me?"

"I get it, I get it, she's nervous. Move on already."

"This is a rough draft, you know."

"Rough is right."

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Please, carry on."

... with adrenaline. Every muscle fiber coursed with potential energy, and all of it was focused on that little metal weapon and the sweaty hand that held it. With one calculated movement, she kicked his outstretched hand as hard-

"You're having her kick it out of his hand?"

"Okay, look. I'm getting nowhere and all you're doing is criticizing."

"But this is just embarrassing. You do want people to actually read it, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"You know... I'd just scrap that whole last paragraph."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Fine, keep it. Gees, you're so twitchy."

...movement, she kicked his outstretched hand with all the strength she could muter-

"Muster."

"What?"

"You spelled 'muter.' You mean 'muster.' And the action's getting a bit choppy if you want the truth."

"That's it."

"Have you considered making a bubble map?"

"I give up!"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm doing the only thing that's going to make you happy."

"Finally. I was getting nauseous. What did you have in mind?"

"I'm trashing it. Trashing it all."

"You seem upset."

"Upset? You said you felt like vomiting."

"Okay-okay, don't get your panties in a wad. I'll tone it down a bit."

"Promise."

"Yeah-yeah-yeah, I promise, hope to die, needle in my eye and all that."