Hidden Objects
Written For Kenny Penn's Frighten Me challenge
I frantically searched for my red lipstick, tearing apart my bedroom. After ten minutes, I gave up and pulled the plum lipgloss from my bag. Looking in the mirror, I glided the gloss over my lips, only to scowl as my eyes fell upon the ruby-red tube I had wasted time looking for.
How did I not see it there?
Regardless, I didn't have time to lose, knowing I would be late for work if I didn't leave soon. Grabbing my bag, I fished through the contents, searching for my car keys. I know I dropped them in the bag when I came home last night, but they weren't there.
Not this again!
Dumping the contents of the bag on the bed, I placed each item back in the bag. The keys were definitely not in my purse.
What the hell!
"I don't have time for this!" I screamed as I ran to the kitchen, hoping that I hung the keys by the door. My eyes scanned the key rack to no avail. Nope! Not there. What about in my coat pockets? Not. Not there either!
Running my hands through my hair sprayed hair, I felt the anxiety start to boil over. I needed to find those blasted keys. Heading back into my bedroom, I accidentally dropped my purse on the floor, and the contents spilled on the rug.
The car keys glistened in the sunlight as if they were taunting me.
Whatever! I need to go!
Grabbing the keys, I stuffed them in the front pocket of my jeans, refusing to let them go too far, and walked into the kitchen. Setting my bag on the counter, I needed to grab my lunch before I left.
When I opened the refrigerator, I stood in disbelief. My lunch wasn't there. Nothing! Not my lunch bag! Or my leftovers from last night!
Panic rising! I felt a sinking feeling forming in the pit of my stomach. What was going on? Was someone playing tricks on me? Was my mind slipping away?
Turning to the sink, the dirty dishes were not there. Opening the dishwasher, I couldn't find the blue bowl and the wooden spoon that I used to make my lunch. The leftover containers were not in the trash or the recyclables.
This didn't make any sense.
The hairs on my arms started to stand up in fear. My hands felt clammy. Turning around slowly, I searched for the prankster, but I was alone. Who else could be here? My apartment wasn't that big.
Rummaging through the closet, I found the blue bowl, washed and nestled under the smaller bowls.
Who put the bowl back? I know I used it!
Standing in the middle of the kitchen, I did a three-sixty and tried to recreate my steps from last night when I came in from the restaurant. I threw away the paper bag, packed my leftovers, and made a quick salad in the blue bowl. Since I was too tired, I left my dirty dishes in the sink, where they should be.
I live alone!
"Take deep breaths! Take deep breaths! Everything will be OK!" I tried to calm myself, but nothing I thought helped ease the chaos in my mind. Without an explanation for my disappearing lunch, I resigned myself to the fact that I would need to order lunch today, a treat I didn't often afford myself. "Look on the bright side, and you can grab lunch at your favorite spot."
Decision made! I turned to grab my bag and screamed!
My lunch was sitting on the counter next to my bag!
Stumbling backward, I almost fell over my kitchen chair. I needed to get out of the kitchen. Making my way to the living room, I sat shaking on the couch, reviewing my morning. Could I really have misplaced and found everything? How am I missing memories?
None of this made any sense.
I'm not sure how long I sat on the couch, fearing a stalker or my fading sanity. Did it really matter?
Somewhere in the distance, I heard my phone buzzing, and I jumped up when I looked at the clock on the wall. I was three hours late for work!
Stepping into the kitchen to get my phone, I froze before I entered. My bag was in the middle of the floor, with the contents set in a circle around it. Next to this display, written in my ruby-red lipstick was a note:
WAKE UP!
Word Count: 750
Written for Kenny Penn's Frighten Me Challenge
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I had so much fun writing the first story that I figured I'd give it another go! If you like this story, you might like Soul Stealers, my other entry!
About the Creator
KA Stefana
I started writing as a hobby during quarantine. From a hobby, a passion bloomed. Author of Dark Fantasy with a twist of romance. Available on KU - The Origins of Darkness, The Daughters of Darkness and The Forgotten.
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Soul Stealers
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Comments (3)
Oh, man, great story! I thought for sure she was losing her mind!
Gremlins. No doubt about it. LOL Fun story!
I love a good ghost story, lucid dreaming, sleepwalking or a real ghost. Such fun. Enjoyed your story.