Wednesday.
I don't know why, but Wednesdays always feel heavier.
Nothing special ever happens.
Maybe that's the problem.
The office lights buzz softly above me. Not loud enough to complain about. Not quiet enough to ignore.
Just… there.
Like everything else.
I stare at the screen in front of me.
Numbers.
Words.
Meaningless things pretending to matter.
My fingers move on their own.
Typing.
Clicking.
Repeating.
I don't remember when I stopped caring.
Or if I ever did.
"Still here?"
The voice pulls me out of it.
I look up slightly.
One of my coworkers stands near the exit, bag on his shoulder.
"Go home, man. You'll die here one day."
He laughs.
I don't.
I just look at him.
Not really seeing him.
"…Right. See you tomorrow."
He leaves.
The door closes.
Silence.
It's thicker now.
Heavier.
I look back at the screen.
Same numbers.
Same nothing.
And for a moment—
Just a moment—
A thought slips in.
If I disappear…
Would anything change?
I don't answer it.
There's no point.
Time passes.
Or maybe it doesn't.
I can't tell anymore.
Eventually, I stand up.
Not because I want to.
Because my body tells me to.
The office is empty.
Of course it is.
It always is by the time I move.
I walk to the pantry.
Each step feels automatic.
Like I'm just following instructions I don't remember getting.
Coffee.
That's the only reason I'm here.
The kettle clicks.
Water heats.
Steam rises.
I grab a cup.
My hand shakes a little.
Too tired.
Too… something.
I pour the water.
Add the powder.
Normal.
Everything is normal.
Then—
Something feels off.
I frown slightly.
My hand moves.
I stir the coffee.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
I stop.
…Why did I do that?
I don't remember deciding to.
The steam looks thicker.
Too thick.
I lean slightly closer.
The surface of the coffee—
Doesn't move right.
And then I see it.
My reflection.
But…
Something's wrong.
I lift my hand slightly.
The reflection…
Doesn't match.
My chest tightens.
I freeze.
The spoon slips from my fingers.
Clink.
The sound feels distant.
Muted.
The room feels… wrong.
I don't move.
I can't.
My eyes are locked on the cup.
The reflection is still looking at me.
And then—
It blinks.
My breath stops.
No.
No, that's not possible.
My body won't respond.
But my mind—
Is screaming.
And then—
A thought.
Not mine.
"You see it too."
Everything goes silent.
Not quiet.
Silent.
The kind of silence that feels like the world just stopped existing.
The cup slips from my hand.
But I never hear it fall.
The moment stretches.
Twists.
Breaks.
Darkness.
Not the kind when you close your eyes.
This feels…
Alive.
My body—
Is gone.
I can't feel anything.
But I'm still here.
Falling.
Or being pulled.
I can't tell.
Something brushes against me.
Cold.
Not physical.
Not real.
And then—
Whispers.
Not words.
Not voices.
Something worse.
Ideas.
Too many.
Too fast.
Too wrong.
My thoughts start slipping.
Breaking apart.
I can't hold them.
I'm—
And then I see it.
A surface.
No—
A mirror.
Cracked.
Endless.
Watching me.
Watching everything.
And then—
Nothing.
I gasp.
Air slams into my lungs like fire.
I cough.
Hard.
Dust fills my throat.
It hurts.
Everything hurts.
I open my eyes.
Darkness.
Real darkness.
Cold stone under me.
Dry air scraping my lungs.
I force myself up.
My body feels heavy.
Wrong.
Where…
Where am I?
I look around.
A cave.
Wide.
Empty.
Silent.
Too silent.
At the entrance—
There's light.
Red.
Like something burning outside.
I take a step.
My legs shake.
Another step.
The ground feels unstable.
Like it might disappear if I look away.
Then—
A sound.
Behind me.
Wet.
Slow.
Breathing.
My entire body locks up.
No.
No, no, no—
Slowly—
I turn.
I don't want to.
But I do.
And in the darkness—
Something moves.