Walls

Tuesday

In a room sits a man, 4 walls surround him. On each wall sits a mirror, behind the mirrors stare 4 girls each one older than the other. The first one is 14, the second is 24, the third is 34 and the 4th one is 44 years old. They all stare at the man emotionless for minutes or hours at a time. On the ceilings hang 4 bells. There is a pattern the bells follow which changes every 4 days. Sometimes they play a jolly tune and sometimes they ring continuously for some time. The girls laugh whenever the bells ring.
They laugh hysterically, they laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh. Their laughs echo in the room giving the impression of a whole crowd of people laughing and then stop. The bells don't play and the girls don't laugh either, but then it starts again. The man flinches each time as if the bells are a trigger that signal torture. The man was listening for 4 weeks already, but he lost track of time, for him this might as well been 4 years. At this point it might very well be torture. The man tries to scream to break the rhythm, but then he realizes... he can't. His vocal chords are cut, he can't make a sound. And he screams and screams and screams and screams as fresh blood drips down his sown neck, but only he can hear it. He passes out.

Warrick wakes up in a cold sweat.

He was gasping for air and covering his ears all whilst curling up in a ball and tears running down his face. A pathetic sight.

- War! Are you okay?!
- Shut up!
- It's me. Don't be afraid.

Warrick takes a peek, temporarily leaving his defensive ball position. He is visibly relieved.

- Oh, hello Eliza.
- Don't you "hello Eliza" me! What's wrong, talk to me.
- Just a funny nightmare, nothing to worry about.
- You were literally in a near death state just moments ago, how could you say that?
- Well, I am not dead.
- Gosh... you need some help.
- No! Err... I mean no, it's fine as is.
- War...
- Anyway, what are you doing here so early?
- Dude, my shift is already over, it's already evening.
- What? But how? I never sleep in, let alone skip a day.
- Up until recently that is.
- I suppose...
- Since you're already way too late to go to the bar, do you maybe... uh... never mind.
- Yeah, sure, just let me get ready.
- Wait, really?
- As long as you're free.
- Yes, totally, but let me run home real quick.
- Don't you have most of your stuff here?
- Yes, but I forgot something over at my other place. I'll be quick, promise.

Eliza didn't even let Warrick think up a sentence to say and she already bolted out the door. This very well could have been the exact moment she waited for since the two of them met. She absolutely had to look and feel the best she ever was. Warrick on the other hand was more nonchalant about the whole situation. He felt closer to Eliza than anyone else, but that didn't mean much. He was a loner after all and preferred solitude, but maybe, just maybe this meant a new chapter in his life. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. He was exceedingly shook by his progressively growing physically taxing effects his dreams had and it started to be too hard to mask. Regardless, he started to get ready for his little date almost immediately. He didn't have any exceedingly fancy clothes outside of his work vestments, so even his most fancy outfit looked like a casual one for the average man. He put on a Blink tee and a red flannel along with beige trousers. As for shoes, he didn't have any clean ones. His only pair was the one he walked around in mud and sand the day before and he couldn't put those on, so he bit the bullet and went to the local clothing and shies store to buy something new. Luckily for him, it was a 24/7 store. He was usually against buying anything he didn't absolutely need, but he also didn't have the time to both clean and dry his shoes. As for what he wore until he arrived to the store, well, slippers.

- Welcome to our humble store! What can I help with?
-Hell... o.
- Fancy seeing you here, sweetie. ~
- What are you doing here?
- Working, you silly bean.
- Right...
- So, do you want a pair of shoes or no? I don't think you wandered in here for any other reason... unless you're here for me. ~
- What do you recommend for a date.
- Slippers.
- I am in a hurry, not in the mood for jokes.
- I am serious. Think about it, you can tell if said person is really into you or not if you show up in a less than desirable outfit.
- Yeah, I don't know about that.
- I am serious though. Or at least that's the way I see it.
- Well, I am not going on a date with *you*, so it's not like it really matters, does it?
- Solid argument. Anyway, what's your take skater shoes?
- I don't skate.
- That doesn't answer my question.
- They are cool I guess, kind of wasteful to ruin those shoes to be completely honest.
- Soooo...
- So?
- Come on, you can't be so simple.
- I am not following you.
- If you're not skating, then you can fully enjoy the aesthetic of such shoes without having to eventually throw them out due to wear.
- Ah, I see.
- Whad'ja say?
- Could you show me a couple pairs for reference?
- Nope. Just try these on and tell me if they fit.