I woke up. No alarm. Late to work again, but only just barely. If I left right now... maybe five minutes.
By the time I'd found my other shoe under the sink (for some reason sober me couldn't remember) it was going to be 10. Decision time. Calling time.
But where was my phone?
Between digging through the couch cushions and looking inside the refrigerator (It's happened before), there was a knock on the door and a ring on the doorbell at the same time. I swore, already in a manic panic, and kept looking for my phone. Only delivery drivers would do both at the same time, right?
Phone was plugged in next to the bed, the charger not in the outlet.
12% battery remaining.
I call work and Miriam the receptionist picks up. "Hey Miri, do you think you could give David a message?"
"Adam? If you're going to be late again, I think you'd better talk to him in person."
"No, I'm sick. I think I'd better go see the doctor."
"So you won't be coming in today?"
"Just... later. After I go to the doctor."
Cough for effect. Cough again because of what the first cough dislodged in the back of my throat. Keys... just need my keys and I can go...
"After the doctor. What time will that be?"
"10:30? 10:45?"
"That's short notice."
"Yeah, well family practice doctor. Family friend, really so..."
KEEEYYYSSS.
"I see. I'll tell him, Adam, but David is not going to like this."
Keys! Found 'em. I'm leaving.
"Thanks, Miri! I'll see you soon!"
Open the door and the person who knocked before was there, standing in my way. I'm sliding my phone into my pocket and his eyes are drawn as if with invisible fishing line down to my hip.
"I need to see your phone," he says.
"Excuse me? Sorry, I really don't have ti-"
"I need to see your phone. I'm from the telephone company, and we're doing repairs."
It was a fucking horrendous lie. The guy wasn't wearing any kind of Verizon or Samsung shirt, wasn't carrying a clipboard, just was not the fucking phone repairman. I don't know what I was thinking, but I flipped him my phone anyway.
He put it up to his ear, and his eyes met mine for the first time. He didn't dial anything - didn't even unlock it.
Another person was coming up the stairs to my apartment in a matching blue button-up shirt and slacks. Guy A is staring through me, spacing out, listening to my phone.
"Hey, I gotta go. Please?" I held out my hand, expectantly, but shot another glance over my shoulder at the approaching clone.
To my surprise, he slapped the tiny tablet into my palm, and at the same time Guy B turned around and headed back down the stairs. Guy A followed right behind.
I stared at my phone for a second. It was warm in my hand.
I ran down the stairs and jumped into my car. I got to the doctor's office about a half hour later. Jeff actually is a family friend, and he's also the guy who I buy most of my weed from. He writes good notes. A short stop here could save me some heartache later.
My phone says it's 7:57. It also says something strange.
99% battery remaining.
Jeff and I light up to kill time before his first appointment. "Old people are up so damn early," he says. "They'd set appointments before dawn if I'd let them. It sucks."
Verizon happydance stock ringtone starts up in my pocket.
WORK
"Hello?"
It's Miriam. It sounds like Miriam, anyway, but I can't make out the words that she's saying. There's this buzzing hum, like a speaker that's been blown out, and it's getting louder. I can hear it in both ears, and... this sounds weird, but inside my chest. My heart is pounding. It's more than a noise. There's something off about it that's making me nervous. I get the impression that the hum can see me - that it's somehow a living, breathing... dangerous thing.
I woke up with Jeff kneeling over me. My face still hurts.
What the fuck happened?
Submitted November 29, 2014 at 02:38AM by AlienGuardheim http://ift.tt/11C87Yz nosleep
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