Brady Tyson's Walk Along the Precipice

The Things That Humans Cannot Bear - 5

 "So what are we supposed to do?" Akil asks, spindly fingers brushing against the massive mirror in front of him.

"Reflect." Eight says simply.

"Gee, thanks." I mutter.

"Move me." Tarrance says, clicking his tongue in my direction.

I stare at him for a minute, then step around to the back of his wheelchair. My arms reach for the handlebars, but when only one hand finds its mark I awkwardly shift it to the center of the chair's backrest. Microscopic muscles in my forearm twitch as I try to keep Tarrance's wheelchair on a straight path to the mirror.

By the time we get to it the chair is only at a slight angle. Tarrance starts to point this out but I grab the handlebar and jerk it to the side so that the rest of the chair swings around violently, facing him forward and shutting him up.

"Ow." He says.

"You're welcome." I respond.

Up close the mirror is so massive that if I don't turn my head towards the other walls it gives the impression of stretching on infinitely. I step out from behind Tarrance's chair, wanding out between him and Akil so that I have enough space to look only at myself.

Green eyes stare back at me. Týr's eyes.

I look down, then back behind me. Eight looks back at me from the far side of the room. He raises his eyebrows expectantly.

I look back at the mirror. The red dye in my hair seems almost like it's beginning to fade, and it's certainly starting to frizz up again. I don't think that I'm going to straighten it again.

I guess someone cleaned me up while I was sleeping. I ponder, staring at my nearly shiny arm. The rest of my body is still wrapped in the same damn hospital gown.

I should see if I can get some clothes from my apartment.

Well, I suppose it might not be my apartment any-

My train of thought is interrupted by a scream to my left. I look over to see Akil hunched over, his palm pressed against the mirror. There's a bright light emanating from his chest; such a pale green color that it's almost white. His skeleton is silhouetted by the glow.

I'm about to rush over to him, but then his body arches backwards, suspended impossibly in the air. He floats there for a moment, inches above the ground, and then something begins to protrude from his chest. Akil's mouth hangs agape, silent now, as this rectangular object inches its way out of his body. It seems to be the source of the brilliant glow, for as it exits his body fully the light grows brighter than the sun for a moment. I shield my eyes, but then the brilliance vanishes, and I hear a thud.

My eyes adjust, and I stare blinking as Akil's form swims back into view. He's curled up on the floor, clutching the object that came out of his chest. I rush over to him, realizing as I go that it seems to be some sort of massive book. The tome is almost as big as his chest, and as I get closer he wraps his arms tighter around it.

"Akil..." I reach out my hand to him, but he ignores me. There's a deep sadness in his brown eyes.

"Leave him." Eight calls to me, walking over to the reticent man. "He's going to be out of it for a little bit. You should be focusing on yourself right now, Brady."

"What happened to him?"

"He... reflected. Now you should do the same."

I want to pester him more, but the fat man gives off the impression that he won't be taking any more questions at this time. As he helps Akil to his feet I head back to where I was standing. Tarrance is staring directly into his own reflection, as if he was in a trance. His mouth hangs agape slightly, and a chill runs down my spine.