Mind Games

Chapter 1

I'm awoken by the familiar buzzing of an alarm clock. Peeking through the slits of my tired eyes, I read the clock.

6:30AM.

"Damnit," I hiss through clenched teeth. As I sit up and slam my hand down on the snooze button, I patronize myself.

Why do I still have this piece of shit anyways?

Oh, that's right, because maybe - just maybe - acting like I have something to wake up for in the mornings will give me that little push I need to get a fucking job.

My feet fall to the cold hardwood as I toss my legs over the side of this wornout, lonely twin. Who needs a big bed when there's nothing but emptiness to fill it?

I pad slowly across the ice that is my bedroom floor, and into the living room of this run-down apartment - if you could even call it that with only a 22" flat screen, a few games, and my brother's old gaming chair that my mother generously gave to me after he went off to college.

College.

It even sounds horrid, but now that I think about it, there aren't many jobs left for 25 year-old's weilding a GED because they screwed off in high school. Pathetic.

Another morning, another search for some job that even a loser like myself might qualify for.

Quickly I throw on some stained sweats and pull an old t-shirt over my head while I frantically search for my keys and wallet. Patting the pockets of the sweats I just put on, I again realize that my dumbass left the keys there the night before. Lucky break.

I check my appearance in the small mirror hung by the door as I head out, hoping my wallet is still in the car.

*****

My car squeals a bit as I pull into the parking lot of the gas station downtown. I make my way in and out, grabbing a candy bar and the local paper, and head back home.

*****

This seems to have become my routine nowadays; a hopeless search for jobs, junk food, video games, repeat.

As I lock the door behind me, I toss my keys to the counter and make my way to the living room. Falling into my gaming chair, I pull the paper apart piece by piece, in search of the "Help Wanted" ads.

Minutes passed as I skimmed over the paper, looking for anything I might be even remotely qualified for, when something caught my eye.

"Psychologic Syndicates"
Looking for imaginative individuals interested in making good money to participate in psychological experiment. No prior experience or education required.
Please contact Robert Halle with any questions @ 347-555-6725

No education? Well, so far I'm as good a candidate as any.

I pull out my cheap phone and flip it open to check the time.

4:43PM.

Most businesses close at 5 o'clock on the dot. Shit.

Frantically I dial in the number, my phone beeping at me with each button press. The phone rings twice before a woman picks up.

"Psychologic Syndicates, this is Amanda Halle. How may I help you?" she inquires.

My breath catches in my throat and it takes a minute for me to reply, stunned by the woman's small voice. "Uh, hi - yes. I saw your ad in the paper, I was calling to see if you were still looking for experim- er, well, volunteers."

"Yes, we are a few people short. Would you be able to come in tomorrow for a quick assessment?"

"That would be great! What time would you like me to be there?"

"Come in any time after nine and ask for Mr. Halle, we'll let him know you're coming. May I ask your name?"

"I'm Chris, Chris Brady. Thank you so much, I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Of course," she pauses, waiting for any questions on my end,"Goodbye, Mr. Brady."

The phone clicks off as she hangs up, and I sit in silence for a few minutes. Am I really this desperate for a job? I mean it can't be that bad, but jeez..

*****

A towel hangs loosely around my hips as I wipe my hand over the foggy mirror and stare at my blurry reflection. An actual interview. "Didn't think you had it in you," I smirk at myself.

Drops of water follow me in a trail to my bedroom, my damp towel is thrown aside with many other pieces of laundry, and my body finds its way under the covers.

My eyes close as I think of the day to come. Morning comes fast, and you know what they say.

The early bird gets the worm.

***

Author's note: Thank you for reading! This is my first piece of writing that I'm posting, so I hope you enjoy. Thoughts & comments appreciated!

Also if I mispelled or mistyped anything, or if anything sounds grammatically wrong, please let me know in the comments, constructive criticism is great.

Again, I hope you enjoy, I will try to update regularly.

Paige x