Short Tales of Abominations

Narcissist

Geoff was, by all accounts, for all intents and purposes, by every definition of the word available, an asshole.

Geoff had found a loophole at work and this spread into his personal life. The loophole was using his disorders as an excuse to tailor his co-workers to his needs.

One day he had been told to drive a certain route, carrying parts from one line to another, at the factory he worked at. He didn't like this route, so in turn destroyed company property and threatened anyone who dare come into the same smoke shack as him.

It wasn't his fault, however. He had a neurological disorder.

Many people found this an acceptable reason to occasionally fly off the handle. He simply needed space and he would have it. In time, it became less and less acceptable, as Geoff leaned into it. He refused to get any kind of help, though able and even aware he needed it.

Geoff was married. Happily. At least on his end. His wife wanted to leave, but she was afraid. He didn't apologize for his violent behavior, only made excuses. After all, it wasn't his fault.

He was, at one point, afforded a learning experience. A man with the same disorders began working with him. This wasn't acceptable.

See, this man was also aware and went through great effort to control himself and remove himself from situations that might trigger an episode. He did his best to accommodate those people around him. He took medicine and apologized at the slightest inkling of rude behavior he felt he might have displayed.

Geoff approached him and told him to leave. He escalated the situation as much as he possibly could and eventually broke the man, getting his face beat to a pulp, then reporting the poor guy to HR.

That man, who put great effort into his own self control and balance of his disorders, had learned something that day. Geoff was perfectly fine. There were no imbalances within him. He faked the problems that he had, just to get the treatment that he wanted. Geoff didn't get him fired because he was afraid of looking weak, he got him fired because when compared to someone who truly struggled with themselves, Geoff would be figured out.

One day, Geoff got a knock at the door and his wife got a break from his seemingly never ending list of complaints. A man in a rather nice suit had been at the door. Immediately thinking he was some solicitor, Geoff sprang on the offense.

"I'm not interested," He grumbled, putting on his angriest look.

"I'm not selling. I just came with a warning," The man spoke with clarity, wearing an unbothered face.

"Get away from my door. I don't need any warning's. If somebody want's some of me, they're welcome to try and take some."

The man leaned to look passed him, noticing his wife relaxing against the kitchen counter.

"I take it the safety of your wife matter's little to you?"

"I can protect her. She does what I say, without hesitation. I can buy her time." Geoff didn't so much as twitch at the mention of her.

"Indeed," The man smiled, "While I admire you're confidence, you are very foolish."

"What?!" His voice rose, "Who the fuck do you think you're talking too?"

"It's not a matter of wants some of you, it's what wants you."

"Leave. Before I hurt you."

The man laughed, "You're troubles will come to an end, when you relinquish the power you think you hold."

Geoff lunged at the man, who seemed to be made of air as Geoff phased through him and fell flat on his face. Scrambling to get to his feet and throw another strike, Geoff was confused by the empty space that had once been occupied.

He scoffed and slammed the door. Throwing his arms up, he eyed his wife with accusing eyebrows. She twiddled her thumbs and looked to the side.

She could almost feel heat generated from his stare. Her heart sank. This wasn't the man she fell in love with. None of this came out until their marriage. She had even lived with him for months prior to their engagement. It was as if something snapped within him. More likely, he was just manipulative. Whatever the case, she was afraid.

"Are you not going to ask me if I'm okay?" He sternly asked.

"Oh, uh, I'm sorry, I-"

"No, no, it's okay," He began to stomp around the house, looking for something to break that wasn't valuable or his, "I didn't need your care anyway. I can take care of myself. Didn't fucking want to feel loved!"

"No, I, I just overheard and was wondering-"

He suddenly came barreling down the hall and grabbed her arm firmly and jerking it, "Wondering what?! What his number was? How old he was? If you had a cha-"

He stopped. His grip loosened. His eyes were no longer on her, but just above her, pointed at the window behind her.

"Chance..."

In his eyes, she could see some kind of light show. Whatever he had been looking at must have been sparkling, but she was afraid to look. Not wanting to incur his wrath.

"Wh-what is that?!" His voice shook.

With this new permission, she turned and stifled a squeal. Coming through window, with what appeared to be hundreds of thin appendages, was some kind of mass that had a head which resembled three brains. From the base of these brains, six tubes extended, with shriveled eyes staring at them as it floated like a jellyfish in an ocean current, static electricity firing from the brains to the ends of the appendages.

She tried to hide behind him, but he tossed her forward and turned for the door. She screamed and cursed him before turning on her back and crawling against the wall in fear of what this thing might do to her.

It floated, coming straight at her. With her eyes fixed on it, eager to look away but completely unable to, she noticed it's tiny pupils. They weren't looking at her.

Geoff flung the front door open and once more the man was standing on it's other side.

"I see you've met Neuro," He smiled.

Geoff, panicking, said, "Nero?!" Before trying to push the man out of the way. With all of his might, not an ounce of force was exerted on the man. It was as if a bee were trying to push a car.

"No, not Nero," The man laughed, "Neuro. Though, he'll probably do to you what Nero did to Rome."

Geoff turned and braced against the man as the mass of nerves floated gently to a stop only a few feet away.

"Ready yourself," The man wickedly spoke now, "Consciousness lives within the brain. Neuro, collects personalities and he favor's disorder. See those arcs traveling throughout him? Rapid firing of neurons. Why? So many conflicting personalities. Paranoid, Histrionic, Schizoid and soon... Narcissist."

Geoff screamed. An unbearable pain formed in his back, traveling up into his brain. He could feel his skin twitching, muscles expanding and contracting simultaneously, even his voice was somewhat in and out of control. The skin on his back began to tent outward.

"My dear," The man looked at Geoffs wife, "I implore you to leave. Best you not witness this."

Geoff began to loose feeling... as his nervous system began to detach.