It was a typical work day for me at the Independent Community Market and Store (or the ICMS). My job was to stock the vegetable aisle next to the store entrance. Outside, I could see snow falling gracefully, like powdered sugar falling on a beignet in slow motion. Drawing my gaze elsewhere, walking gently and almost conscious of every step she took came the most jaw-dropping, beautiful girl. She had black hair, lovely mocha skin, and divine blue eyes. Her name was Jamila, meaning beauty, and it was true to its very core. I had known Jamila or “J” as we called her since the 6th grade and had loved the pure kindness she had shown me ever since we became friends. Jamila was a queen not only in my eyes but in the eyes of all who actually got to know her. As she made her way towards me, I realized that she was acting differently, her walking changed, her tone got deep, and she was speaking an unknown language. J rambled on like this for about 4 consecutive minutes, eyes rolled back in her head, and her head rolled in random circular directions. Freaked out, I looked around, wondering if anyone was there to help, yet no one seemed to notice they were all frozen in place with smiles on their faces, almost looking like they were forced to smile. Turning my face back to Jamila's, her head stopped, and her eyes were back to normal, but she was crying, and she held out her arms to me. Wondering what in the world was going on, I embraced her in a hug as I felt her head rub my shoulder. A searing sharp pain zoomed up my spine, leaving me paralyzed. As “J '' walked away her physic had changed once more as it had been except 6 tendrils had bulged out luridly from her back and flung inordinate amounts of blood on the white marble floors and produce. Jamila walked away, seemingly unharmed and heedless of my drowsiness. As she made her last step out of the door, my vision blurred, and I collapsed. Eventually, I awoke to my arms and legs being pulled by dwarf-looking men in red jumpsuits “Put em in tha Baaag!” said the dwarf in both a nasally yet scratchy voice. As I was lifted with unfathomable ease by the midget men into the brown bag with spiky fabric, the sharp pain I had felt before had returned, and everything went blurry, then I blacked out……..Again.
