A collection of short stories

late night walk pt 1

The walls were devoid of pictures/Burn any hindrance and claim your prize from the ashes, Reddit prompts

 Late December has finally rolled around. I can't tell whether I'm that bored with life or if that month dragged along like hell. Maybe I need some interaction, something out of work because it drives me crazy. I've had some conversations with friends this month but I haven't connected with anyone in a while. 

 I just kind of sit staring at the wall, the sun has started setting as it reaches 5. It's getting darker and I kind of just sit and wonder in my mind, I can barely feel my limbs and I just seem to sink further into a state of watching myself perform the motions for some fucking peanut gallery. Is this what everything in my life has led to? I start to stumble for a cigarette as I need some fresh air. Yes, I know how ironic that sounds. "Of course, it snowing. I despise cold states" I'm mumbling to myself again and I laugh at how similar I seem to Scrooge, grumpy in my pajamas mumbling while I search for my lighter. 

 What would my poor mother think, of her kid scattering around like some bum with a ciggie in the snow? I can hear her now "Atlas what did I tell you about going out this late for a damn cancer stick, you look like you have nowhere to go home at night" I realize I've kind of been walking around for a while now and... I'm starting to not recognize my surroundings and I forgot my glasses. The sky is still a dim grey from the constant snow, I can barely feel my fingers as I light another cigarette. I start to turn around, Im in some kind of neighborhood next to a creek, I follow the path back hoping I'm going the right way home. It's snowing too hard to use my phone without stopping fully, which I'm not willing to do. I've come to an area that is kind of giving me the creeps. There are rows of houses with no lights on, but some guys sitting outside of his house at the end of the culdesac. I start to rush out almost running by the time I get to the end of the road. I don't know how long I've been walking but I'm now near a road that I can't make out the sign. "fuck me" I am completely lost and my phone is not in my jacket, this was a stupid idea and I'm still not in my head enough.

  I think it's considerably later now, the snow has finally stopped but I'm nearing a gas station. I at least have my wallet so if I die I guess I can be properly identified. Getting in I knock the snow from my boots at the door and take a second to feel the sudden rush of heat hit my face. I walk around mostly warming up before making my selections. As I walk up I ask the time and for some directions, the cashier seems like an older gruff dude, mostly safe. It was three hours past when I left and I felt uneasy. After exchanging niceties and some cash I make my way trying to remember his directions.

 After following his directions down past an old church and this huge old house "unforgettable" is how he described it, yet also said not to get too close. It truly was, there was nothing but dead shrubs covered in snow outside. There was an arch of dead snowy plants around the gates of the house and the outside was painted an obnoxious orange. I think I am now even further than where I should be. "Great". I'm mumbling again. I still feel uneasy and almost like someone is lurking in the shadows. I continue until I hear someone walking near me, quickly I turn around and there's somehow nothing. At this point, I think I may be paranoid and overdramatic so I will just turn back around and be fine to keep walking. Logical thinking usually gets me out of paranoia but I'm getting the feeling it's just wishful thinking now. 

"Okay on three, One... Two... Three" "Three"

  I heard a man whisper in my ear and immediately pulled my knife to face nothing, again. The only thing I can think to do is run so I disregard the pain radiating in my body from the cold I've been in for hours now and run even if it is nothing. I ran as long as I could down the street making an abrupt turn onto an alleyway full of trees, I booked it through the trees until my lungs were stinging. I have to keep going, so I continue at the fastest pace I can manage. Im reaching another section of a plain neighborhood and I'm thinking I should take a break after looking around and feeling far enough from whatever was next to me. So I stumble some more and find a bus bench that isn't covered in snow. I reluctantly light another cigarette and make do with a shitty situation, other than being terrified for my safety and well-being the scenery was beautiful, and makes me wish I had my phone even more. Or at least a camera. A well-documented near-death experience could earn a lot of critical acclaim. The snow lays atop the stripped trees, there's still a light breeze and a fog lying low. The cars sit undisturbed covered in a thick layer of fluff, and it's almost serene if the looming feeling of being hunted wasn't present. I put out my cigarette and realize I need to start walking again as I desperately want to get home, but I'm completely lost and exhausted.

 I finally get up and continue my journey once again, I trudge along the street soon crossing some kind of railway, I can barely feel my body and I can feel myself acting on autopilot. I need to find my way before I start to develop hypothermia.