a fortiori

Chapter 14

My mind told me I could stay there forever.

So I stood there staring up into the waves of ocean blue eyes and then felt my phone buzz.
Looking down my heart leapt out of my chest.
My phone read 6:23pm. I looked back up and Ryan was gone. My heart was beating faster than the time had gone by.
Only two minutes ago did my phone say 12:03. I looked around me. Where did Ryan go? I felt dizzy, but I told myself I was going to stay standing. I wasn't sure what was going on or what kind of black magic was being played on me, but I was sure as hell going to get to the bottom of it.
I continued walking in the direction that I planned on. Yet I couldn't seem to shake off an odd feeling I had. It felt like I had stood up too fast. My head hurt and so did my stomach. My vision was a blur, but I had to keep going. I kept going because I knew that if I didn't, James could die. I wasn't sure where I was going, but this feeling I had said I was going the right way.
The buildings around me seemed as if they were falling over. The people that were walking past me had dark hollow spots where their eyes should be. I rubbed my own eyes and the world looked dark. Perhaps from a black and white film. I kept walking.
Unintentionally I found myself in a store. The sign outside read:
                       Antiques for the Aged

It wasn't a very welcoming shop. The room smelled of urine and the carpet was stained in various places. Powering through all of the disturbances, I reached an old makeup table. In fact I had the exact same one in my room at home. It was wooden. stood only three feet off the ground, but when I looked at the legs holding it up I seemed to be put in a state of shock.
On the dark oak legs of the table were four markings. One for each leg. It was the maze pattern. I knelt down and traced the pattern.

"Please don't touch the antiques" I heard a voice say.
I stood up and looked in the mirror attached to the table. My eyes looked just like the other's.
I moved my hand toward where my eyes would be. Then I blinked.
I was taken back when my eyes were met with Ryan's.
"Well I've been working at an antique store just down the street." He said.
I looked down at my phone.
12:04pm it read.
I cleared my throat and swallowed.
"Wow that's, um, that's really great. How long?" I asked trying to pretend everything was normal.
"About four weeks. Yea it helps to pay for college." He said running his hand through his hair.
"Well, Ryan that's great. What is the, um, name of this store?" I asked.
"Antiques for the Aged. I know it's not the best name, but if it pays the bills." He told me crossing his arms.
I gasped unconsciously "Yes I suppose so." I looked down trying to picture in my mind what just happened.
"Well I guess I'll see you around Oli." He said to me.
"Yep. See you around." I replied.
My mind was spinning.

What just happened.