New World

CHAPTER FOUR: Hallucinations

Maybe I spent at least three hours in the cubicle doing nothing. Things get mixed up in my mind. I don't even know what I feel or what I should feel. Now, what? What am I going to do? Will I stay here forever? Maybe. No. But – yes? Those people are out there, searching for me. I can't stay here forever, my dearest mother will be freaking out if I will not go home. She will be worrying about me. I have to go home! What if... what if my pursuers attack her? What if they hurt her because they can't get information out of her? Shit. I don't want her to get hurt. Hurt me – just not her. God, why are you doing this to me?

Where should I go? If I go home, they will catch me. I have a strong feeling that they're home because that's where they think I'll be going. I don't want them to catch me but I can't leave my mom there. I don't have many friends to go to. Theresa's the only friend I have. Theresa's my last resort. But I can't go straight to their house. Maybe mom would tell my pursuers that I could go to Theresa's mom. But I know mom won't do that. If she will do that, she will risk the lives of Theresa's parents. Three hours have passed. I'm three hours late in school. Theresa's still in school. I could go there and tell her everything and she'll help me sort this thing out. But what if my pursuers are there? No. The principal won't allow them to enter the school premises. It will bring horror to our school. I think that's where I should go.

Three hours have already passed. My pursuers might be traveling many miles already. I could leave this convenience store now. I must trust my instincts. They are not here. They are not here.

I stood and went out of the comfort room. As I step out of it, I heard a gurgling sound. And then I felt my stomach vibrate. What is happening? The humans in the tubes are inside me and now they are making their way out of me! NO! I looked for something sharp to cut my belly open.

A stone will do. When I picked up the stone, it became something gold. I looked at my surroundings and all of it became gold. I put my attention again at the thing that I am holding and I realized that it is bread! I looked at my surroundings again and discovered that I am surrounded with golden bread! It smells so good, so soft! I took a bite of the bread in my hand and was mesmerized by its sweetness! What is this place? Heaven? Probably.

I took a second bite and the sweetness burst in my mouth. The golden paradise that I am in now transformed into a paradise full of diamonds! It's so beautiful! I can't take my eyes off of it! Suddenly, the bread in my hand felt heavy and it transformed into a diamond! Oh God. I never felt this happy before. I wish I could freeze this moment and live in it forever! I put the diamond in my pocket and I walked, searching for more.

As I happily walked down across the road, I felt a touch on my shoulder and I turned back. A black woman with curly hair stared at me, her left eyebrow raised. God, she's ugly.

"Miss, where's your payment for the bread?" she asked.

Payment for the bread? I thought the bread already transformed into a diamond. Why am I going to pay? I am in a paradise. Or did I just enter a jewelry shop? No. I am so confused.

I reached for the diamond in my pocket. The moment I touched something in my pocket, I felt disgusted. Why is the diamond suddenly soft and sticky? I got hold of the now soft and sticky diamond and pulled it out of my pocket. The moment I saw something gold, I freaked out. This is no longer the diamond. It is the bread I am holding. I stared at it for a second and looked at my surroundings. No. This can't be happening. Where is the paradise? Why am I in a street with lots of buildings surrounding me? Why is it suddenly so polluted?

It took me a while to figure out that I was never in a paradise. It took me a while to realize that the bread was never a diamond. I am back in the city. I am outside the convenience store. I am back to my senses.