The shadow

As we headed upstairs I payed close attention to the bliss I felt as we left the loud and bright area. Up the beige carpeted stairs and through a set of white birch doors we entered a separate room.

This room was bright, but for the benefit much quieter. This new drug was still a bit unnerving but I did my best to find my comfort under its influence.

Leon kept looking at me to check on my body responses to make sure I was okay as he held my arm and lead me across the floor.

"what's all this? An auction?" I asked as I noticed tables of intricate and expensive objects, tech, and even jewellery. The people here were quiet and whispering in a hush between eachother as they all wore masks to hide their identity.

"Yeah. This floor was rented out last minute but it didn't really take much to set everything up. Lot of oddities, I don't even get why anyone would waste their money with such odd things, bleh" he said wincing his face with disgust as he noticed some very odd sandals with grits of sand in resin to design them however the choice of colors made the pair of shoes look bland and quite distasteful.

I couldn't help but chuckle at him as I watched them. My vision still unaccustomed to this drug. But I got an odd, and very uncomfortable sense. It made me look around the room. Not at the objects displayed but the people that surrounded them. I could feel.... Eyes. Watching me, but where?

Of course I didn't get the satisfaction that I wanted. Everywhere, all around me. In each corner and at every table. Everyone wore a black mask. I couldn't see their eyes, not at all. I couldn't tell where they were looking but I felt eyes. Perhaps I looked panicked by looking around everywhere and eventually I gave up as I squeezed Leon's arm just a little.

He looked down at me when he felt my grip on his arm and he began to lead me away from the center areas of the room to the more open corners.

"Hey? You alright?" he asked as he stared into my eyes.

I just nodded my head in response as I blinked a few times.

"If you want I can go downstairs and get you a glass of water. Or would you prefer something else?" he asked as he released my arm.

Dont do that. Don't pull away...

"... sure... Um.. Maybe some... Orange juice?" I asked curiously. I had no idea what kind of beverages he had stocked for these events. I watched his blank expression as he pursed his lips.

"hmm... I might have some. But if not would you like cranberry?" he said.

"Yeah that's fine too..." I said with a small shrug.

He watched me as he smiled and crossed his arms.

"Alrighty then. Don't you worry girl I gotchu." he said with a playful wink as he reached forward and gave my nose a small boop.

"I'll be back in just a bit Kay." he said as he turned and began to walk off.

I watched him walk away, casually greeting the buyers that gathered here as they recognized him. It was like he was a peacock among pigeons. He always stood out no matter the environment, in a way it was a comforting scenario. A comfort that soon faded as I watched him leave through the birch doors.

I felt as though energy had been zapped from me once he left my line of sight. Like a giant parasite had been ripped from me leaving me feeling.... Empty. I did my best not to mind it as I thought about my home, the comfort it made me feel being at home by myself. The calmness I got from it. But it didn't help, I was left feeling uneasy.

These damn masks...

I really couldn't tell if anyone was watching me, if someone was watching me it perhaps noone was watching me. But those masks with the blacked out eyes didn't make it easy for me to feel anything but discomfort.

I let out a sigh as I searched around the room for a bathroom, I knew that every floor had a bathroom but I had no idea where it was. I kept my eyes searching beyond the tables and people until I found a small hallway with a washroom sign up on the wall.

I made my way over doing my best to seem normal and unbothered, thinking more about my pace then I felt I needed to until I reached the hall way. It closed in around me until I reached the bathrooms and entered. It was a fancy bathroom nonetheless, beautiful white tiles, intricate green wall tiles, each stall was huge, and the counters were all touch less equipment to wash and dry your hands. It even smelt nice in here, like a strong fruity smell that seemed to strengthen as you walked beyond the door.

I walked to the counter and leaned against it as I let out a sigh. I watched my reflection and gathered some water in my hands from the sink as I began to pat my face with water taking in a deep breath.

*Cliiick*

"huh?" I heard a camera as I looked up at the mirror and all I seen was a masked male figure slamming a door.

"Hey!? What do you think your doing!!" I shouted as I ran to the door and did my best to kick it. These doors were well built and sturdy and didn't really move at all.

So I ran into the stall to the left of it and stood up on the toilet seat to peak. And all I could see was legs going under the stall into another one.

"Hey!! Get back here!!!" I shouted as I lost my footing and fell against the floor. It hurt, it irritated the bruises I already had. I let out a groan as I looked forward and seen the door to the bathroom closing slowly.