I would’ve done a spit take if I had been drinking anything. I don’t remember getting a tattoo… I poked the image of the moon. The burning had stopped, it felt fine now. But it wasn’t fine because I now had a tramp stamp of a moon essentially on MY ASS. At least it wasn’t a full moon… Did I have this when I showered not a few hours ago?

No I didn’t.

Could someone have put it on since then? Yes, when I was napping before work, and just now during break. However I was sleeping very lightly and even the slightest nudge would’ve had me fully awake and ready to run, work, or fight. So how else could this have gotten on?

I pulled my pants back up and buckled them. I walked to the sink, took my glasses off and rubbed water on my face. I was tired, yeah, tired. I was seeing things.

I looked into the mirror and would’ve done another spit take if any of the water had been in my mouth. My eyes, normally a steel blue, were teal and slitted like a cat’s.

“AAAAGH!” I shout in alarm. I shake my head and look again. My eyes have returned to their dark blue, ROUNDED selves…

“I’m tired, yes… Tired.” I reassure myself as I dry my face and put my glasses on. “Gotta work on getting more sleep…” I shuffle out of the restroom in a daze.

I return to the breakroom to discover I only have a minute or two left on my break. I sat back down and tried to distract myself by playing with a pen, but my mind kept going back to my butt and eyes. I know what I saw, those eyes were real… And predatory. I shivered as I looked at my watch. Time was up. I got up and headed up front.

“I’m back” I said into the radio. My voice echoed off the frozen section.

“Thank you… Everyone else can go on break. Lucas, take the register.” a chorus of affirmatives and alright's replied.

“Got it.” I replied when I heard everyone reply. I walked up to the front and checked to make sure everything was in order. It was. I then went into a nearby aisle and got back to where I left off.

I ignored the voice in my head.

I ignored it.

The sinister voice garbled my name. I still ignored it.

I knew where the voice came from. That’s why I was ignoring it.

“Shut up…” I whisper softly. The voice kept screwing up my name, but it wasn’t what was making me mad.

“Shut up.” I state softly.

“Shut up!” I hiss.

“Am I interrupting something?” a voice behind me to my right asked. I slapped the sincerest smile I could on and turned. It was a middle aged lady with a cart full of things.

“Nothing at all.” I smile sweetly. “How can I help you?”

“Can you help me find the organic section?” she asked, still eyeing me with a degree of concern.

“Of course, follow me.” I said cheerfully as I went towards the back. I didn’t look back but I could hear the lady pushing her cart to follow me.

“It’s right here.” I said as I gestured towards her desired section.

“Alright thank you.” she said with gratitude. It was the only part about this job that I really liked. The feeling that you’ve sincerely helped someone and they’re thankful for what you do. It’s always brief and short lived, but I would never tire from it.

“You’re welcome.” I said cheerfully as I walk away. “Don’t hesitate to ask if you need anything!”

“Will do!” she replied as she turned into the aisle. I went back to the spot I left off and continued working. Thoughts of moons and eyes far away.

Driving home was always a little difficult to do. The traffic may be low and kids are still trying to get out of bed, but I’m always tired from a night of watching and sorting. This morning was no different. I yawn as I enter the house I live in. No one’s up yet, thankfully. I open the refrigerator and pull out an apple that for some reason sounded good. I munch on it as I climb the stairs. I hear floorboards creak in Sarah’s room so I quickly dive into my own and close the door just as hers opens. I pull off my shoes and throw them to the foot of the bed and start peeling my uniform off. Before I climb into bed I spot the crescent moons on my thighs The skin around it seemed to have darkened since I first saw them.

Fearing I’m coming down with some kind of necrosis, I carefully poke and prod the darkened flesh with my finger or any sort of pen I can find. I can feel them all as clear as day.

“Should I go to the doctor?” I ask myself. “No, I don’t have the money to pay for even a stay in the lobby…” I rub my temples. “But what if it’s serious and I’m rotting from the inside out? That’s leprosy and you haven't been in contact with anyone who has it… That you’re aware of.” I sigh and flop onto my bed. “I’ll go to sleep and see what’s up when I wake up… Yeah, I’m tired anyway…” I yawn again and almost instantly fall asleep.

A woman grunted in a hospital bed.

“Come on!” she screamed. A doctor at the foot of the bed stood ready.

“You can do it Mrs. Maan.... One more push…” The woman screamed. A flash of light crossed the window.

“Nurse what was that?” the doctor asked. A nurse put some towels down and looked outside.

“It looks like just a shooting star…” he replied.

”No!” screamed the soon to be mother.

“What’s my wife yelling about?” a man said as he poked his head into the room. The woman screamed again.

“Don’t you dare!”

“Sir, I need you out of here now.” the Nurse said as he pushed the ladies husband out of the doorway.

“Stay away!” the woman screamed.

“She’s hallucinating nurse, help me with the baby…” the doctor ordered.

“Keep her out of here!” the lady screamed, trying to sit up in bed.

“Scratch that, keep her down…” the doctor amended. The nurse moved in to restrain the woman.

“Keep her out of here!” the lady screamed again. The light’s in the room immediately darkened.

“Get the generator back on!” the doctor yelled at the door. Another nurse came in.

“The power is still on…” she began, but noticed the light’s flickering in the room. “Oh god…” she whimpered before she rushed out of the room. The women screamed in pain this time.

“Almost got him…” the doctor whispered. The nurse looked up from the lady to see a dark shadow hanging above his charge.

“Keep her away!” the lady screamed.

The nurse would later swear he heard another voice.

“You will?” the lady replied.

“Who are you talking to?” the nurse asked.

“The Moon…” the lady whispered. “The Moon herself…” she said as she passed out. Immediately a baby's cry filled the room. The lights stopped flickering and only the nurse noticed the lack of shadow hanging over the women.

“I don't understand…” The nurse murmured.

“Nurse I need your help.” The doctor ordered. “Take him…” The doctor handed the newborn the nurse. The nurse cooed and took the baby from the doctor. The doctor meanwhile pulled off his gloves and dug around on his desk.

“What’s his hair color?” He asked

“Black.” The nurse responded.

“Eyes?” For a moment the baby in the nurse’s arms looked upwards at the nurse, and the nurse looked down. Bright intelligent teal eyes that seemed to glow looked up at the nurse. He adjusted the baby to get him into a better light. The next time the baby opened his eyes however they were a hard steely blue.

“Blue…” The nurse stammered “His eyes are blue.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I groaned as I lifted my head off the bed.

“Who is it?” I asked groggily.

“Yo bitch baby!” Sarah exclaimed as she burst the door open, her dirty blond curls bouncing, her bright blue eyes gleaming.

“Ugh… What do you want?” I groaned, curling up again under the blanket.

“So Mom isn’t letting me go with my friends to the haunted house tonight… Apparently I need a responsible adult to watch us, and she can’t come. And I can’t find anyone else and you fit the adult requirement… Barely.”

“Fine I’ll come, what time are we leaving?” I asked as I checked my watch. 4:23 pm.

“My friends are going to be getting here at around nineish, we plan on taking Mom’s car from there and going to the barn where it’s at.” Sarah replied. I didn’t have to work tonight anyway, why not?

“‘Kay, but I’m driving.” I said as I flopped my head back onto the pillow.

“Deal.” she said as she left.

“Close the door!” I exclaimed before she got too far. I was rewarded with the clicking of a shut door. I sighed, enjoying the momentary peace.

Until I remembered my mysterious tramp stamp.

“Damn it…” I groaned. I quickly got up and rushed to the bathroom. After quickly locking the door behind me so I wouldn’t be disturbed, I pulled my pants down and nearly shrieked.

My entire ass was black, the hue of the darkest of hours, with the crescent moon sticking out with its pale silver.

“Calm down…” I urged “There is a logical, scientific… EXPLAINABLE reason why my butt has suddenly looks like I sat in ink…” my head perked up. “Ink? I can’t think of anything else… And unless the ink got under my skin, which it hasn’t, then it’s washable…” a manic grin split my face as I turned towards the shower.

I made sure to check my underwear for any of my mystery ink. I didn’t find any. It wasn’t until I started scrubbing did I actually touch the darkened flesh. I rubbed the top of my head to make sure I wasn’t mistaking the feeling.

“Black fur?” I weakly whispered.

Next Chapter: Chapter 3 The Figment Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 14 Minutes