Unjust Consequences

Something felt off, strange, peculiar, even. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but today felt different. Almost as if something amazing might happen, or at least that's what I'd hoped this feeling was trying to tell me.

I woke up on the sofa in a mess and I could smell something funny in the air, but I chose to ignore that once I looked at the time and quickly got up.

I dressed myself and went to brush my teeth. I still couldn't shake off the feeling from earlier, but it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. I'd never experienced a sensation like this. It felt like slugs were crawling all over my body and my hair was standing on end, but something about it felt...welcoming.

As I was cleaning up my face, I could swear that I saw my reflection smile back at me, but surely that was my imagination playing tricks on me, right? Something must be wrong with me today.

I tried to shake the weird emotions off while I enjoyed a simple bowl of cereal, unfortunately, with no milk. Unbeknownst to me, my fridge had somehow emptied. I did have a few drinks last night and I also felt slightly bloated, so my thinking was that I had cleaning it out in hunger. Nothing else made sense, so I chose to believe that.

I left my apartment complex and went to the closest bus stop. Today I was being interviewed for a job I really wanted. An antique seller. Since I didn't drive, I had to get the bus, but I was happy. I'd do literally anything to get this job.

While I was waiting, a soft purring sound suddenly became audible to me. Looking down, I could see a small black cat nuzzling my leg lovingly. I squatted down to stroke it only to receive a nasty bit that started bleeding. After I'd calmed myself from the initial shock, I noticed that the seemingly harmless cat had vanished.

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Today certainly wasn't my lucky day. Were it not for the interview, I might have thought something weird was going on.

The bus arrived so I boarded it and paid my fee, only to notice that I was the only passenger. I found this a bit odd, but it happens sometimes, no?

I chose to sit at the very back and placed myself next to a window.

Everything outside looked grey. The people, the buildings, the trees. It all seemed very...disconnected. It must have been my mind playing tricks on me, but I could swear the people I passed were looking right at me with blank expressions.

The number of people staring at me had started to rapidly increase along with the buses speed and I was starting to get scared. What was going on? The people had changed their lifeless expressions and were now all laughing at me.

Why?

What happened?

Am I still dreaming?

I don't like this.

I want to go home.

Someone, help me.

The laughing won't stop. I can hear the people even though I'm still in the bus.

I decided to get up and I ran to the driver. When I grabbed his shoulder, he turned to look at me and I recoiled in terror as his mouthless and noseless face stared at me. There was contempt in his two pitch black eyes.

What the hell is going on? I don't want this! I need to escape!

As that thought entered my mind, the bus screeched to a stop and the door swung open, so without hesitating, I sprinted out of the bus.

All I could see around me were bodies. my friends, my family, the people that I've known my entire life, their dead faces were laughing at me.

A voice broke my stunned silence and explained to me what was happening.

"Welcome to Hell, the time for you to pay for your misdeeds has come," the small black cat that was standing on top of the bodies said to me.

My memories from the previous night flooded my mind. Right, my partner...I murdered them, didn't I? That smell from the bedroom was from them and their lover's bloodied bodies...how could I forget?

Hell...I guess this is my new home...I didn't want any of this...this isn't fair…

"Welcome home," the cat said with a devilish smile.

I don't deserve this...