Perception (ONC 2021)

Chapter 3: Shifting Surroundings

Lauris stood up, trying to not look at her fingers. Though the lighting was dim, she could see the faint glimmers of light reflecting off the oozing wounds. She dreaded to think how it would look in bright lighting.

Padding towards the door, the woman clumsily turned the knob, wincing as sharp pain stabbed through her hands. She walked to the vanity sink and took a deep breath.

This next part was going to hurt.

With trembling hands, she quickly turned on the tap. There was a hot flash of pain before the cold water numbed it. Taking advantage of that, she grabbed the bar of soap and quickly rubbed it all over her fingers. Gritting her teeth, the woman washed the soap off.

"Oh, hey, you're awake!"

Lauris paused as Marie turned on the light. She frowned at the extremities. Skin peeled off at the tips, and nails embedded themselves in the flesh.

"What happened – oh my god."

Lauris turned around to see an appalled Marie.

Marie reached out as if to touch her face before letting her hand fall limply by her side. "Wh-why is your hand like that?"

Lauris looked down at her hand. "I-I don't know."

Marie frowned. She stared at the woman with speculation before nodding. "Hang on, let me get some bandages." With that, she scampered off.

Lauris turned back to her hands. She sighed. Slowly picking out the fragments, she tossed them to the side. A pool of red began to form.

Now she had to dry them.

With painful fingers, the woman carefully grabbed a face-towel. She delicately dabbed her fingers dry. Stopping to the sound of hurried footsteps, she set down the towel.

"Here, I have band-aids."

Lauris turned around and sat down, letting her friend carefully put them on the weeping wounds. She frowned as she felt a sudden shift, a sudden uneasiness.

"Lauris, you need to be square with me. Tell me what's wrong. You've been staring into space for the last fifteen minutes."

Lauris blinked. She scanned the floor, noticing that the tiles were clean. The wounds on her hands were gone, and she was sitting on the floor. "Wha-"

Marie shot her an annoyed look. "Don't ask me. I thought you were washing your hands, but you were sitting there while the water was running."

Lauris shivered.

What was going on?

When did reality become false?

"I-I think I'm just tired. Being sleep deprived is so scary."

"Alright, if you say so."

Lauris nodded.

Marie shot her a worried look before walking off.

Lauris shakily stood up. Goosebumps spread across her body. Whatever was going on, there was one thing that was clear.

She needed help.

It might be some mental condition. Yes, it must be.

With unstable steps, the woman walked towards her bedroom and picked up the phone.

...

Marie could not shake off the feeling that something was off. Never did she see her friend in such a state. Though she said that it was fifteen minutes, it was closer to an hour.