The Deep End

The next morning I woke up to a different world. I mean, it was the same world, but it was different. Everything was clearer and sharper. I could see things without the fog that usually clings around the edges. Everything seemed more alive. More real.

More deadly.

And it was Thursday.

If you didn't already know, Thursday is the most dangerous day of the week. It's the day all the cops are out catching speeders and giving parking tickets. It's the day I saw a kid throwing rocks and a bird. It's the day I lost my blue pen, the day where the folders just won't stay still. It's the day my goldfish died. It's the day that everyone blows off and whishes were Friday.

And Thursday gets jealous.

Oh, does it ever get jealous. So it makes bad things happen to make people realize that they have to spend 24 hours with Thursday, and they can't do anything about it.

I walked to work, slowly, not stepping on any cracks. I took two steps to each section of the 237 sections of concrete. I took ten steps to cross each street. I was extra careful, but it was Thursday, so it wasn't good enough.

The twitchy feeling was there all day, getting stronger with each footstep in the hall outside my door. I couldn't stand it. My hands reached inside my jacket for the deck of cards I used to keep there. Seven times, and each time it pulled out nothing. They weren't there anymore.

They said that shuffling was a 'compulsion' I had. So they took my cards away to prove to me that nothing bad would happen and that my shuffling had nothing to do with the way things turned out.

They said I didn't have to shuffle.

But I do.

I mean, there isn't anyone else who's going to.

So I have to.

After that the room wouldn't stay the same size. It kept getting smaller and smaller until there was barely room for me to breathe. Then it would get so huge that I was stranded in the middle of it.

Suddenly everything snapped into focus.

The ticks from the clock down the hall were slow, but even. The papers stayed still. There were no footsteps outside my door.

The phone.

I didn't check the phone.

The thought hit me and everything started moving in and out again. That was the reason everything was worse than usual. That, and it was Thursday.

Their eyes hit me.

They started watching me again.

They knew something was up. I should have just stayed there, doing the same thing I do everyday.

But I had to go home.

I had to check.

I ran back home. I knew they were watching me, wondering what I was doing, but I couldn't help it. I had to get back. But they were confused, and as long as they were confused, I was safe.

Finally I was there. I picked up the phone three times and each time I put it down I heard the little beep it made when it was connected to the charger. It might have been fine before I left. But there was no way of knowing.

I walked into the bathroom to wash my hands, and it was there I made my biggest mistake. As I reached towards the light switch I looked up, straight at the mirror.

I looked at the mirror in the dark.

I shut my eyes as soon as I realized what I had done, but it was too late. There was someone's face looking over my shoulder.

And it wasn't his.

I turned slowly to look behind me, but no one was there. The man was still in the mirror; he hadn't come in. But it wasn't because I hadn't invited him.

I couldn't explain why I was so terrified. I tried. I really did. There was something in his eyes. Something that let me know that he would remember me. And something that let me know that was exactly the opposite of what I wanted.

Cruel.

His eyes were cruel.

Not take the last of the coffee and not make a new pot cruel or mowing over your neighbors flowers because you were mad at them cruel. Not even puppy kicking cruel. He was far beyond that.

And it scared me.

I slid down the wall and pulled my knees up to my chest. I had looked at him. He looked at me. And I couldn't figure out anything else to do but hide.

My brother came by later to make sure I was okay. He comes by every Thursday because he thinks I'm scared of them.

I'm not. And even if I used to be, there's someone who scares me more.

And he just met me.

AN: It's been a while and I feel a little guilty for letting time get away from me like that. I meant to update sooner, but it just didn't happen. However, now that summer is here and I have months free from almost all other responsibilities, I will update more often.

Madison Square- I'm glad you like it. The main character is actually Race…and I wouldn't say he's schitzophrenic, but…actually I can't tell you. But you'll find out soon.

time is a waste of life- Thanks and I will keep writing it. I promise.

LotusStar- Well, it's not exactly soon, but there is more. And there'll be more soon. And this time I mean it.

Chaos Adame- Thanks for the review and I hope you keep reading!