Reflections

The man's face (if he indeed was a man) was monstrous. His eyes were bright red and flickering with large pincers protruding from his face, snapping open and closed around empty air as if waiting for something to come near.

Marcus watched the man in fascination as he wandered past him. Below the neck the man wore a dark grey suit with a yellow tie with his decidedly human hand gripping tightly to a bag.

And then man was gone, just another nameless freak disappearing into the converging crowds of a busy city street.

Marcus sighed and continued on with his walk. There were monsters like the man all over the place. Hidden in the bright corners of the main streets, striding under the broad daylight...and yet no one noticed them. No one cared, everyone walked by without a second glance. Not at the lady that had a cricket's head, not at the man that had moth wings sprouting from his back, and certainly not to the man with bulging red eyes.

A bell dinged as Marcus pushed his way into the small shop. Hidden behind a larger department store on a back alley between two main roads the store was little more than a closet, with each wall packed to the low ceilings with various products. Marcus grabbed a carton of milk and a loaf of bread, barely having to do more than lean in various directions to reach his items. He passed them over to the cashier, a kindly old man that went by the name of Zhao. Marcus wasn’t sure if it was his first or last name but Zhao had never given him another.

Marcus handed over exactly $5.30 in exchange for his goods and stepped out of the store. Turning back onto the main street he was confronted by another monster. She had long black hair and two narrow antennae pouring out of the top of her skull. The rest of her head was mostly taken up by two large butterfly eyes, leaving scarcely enough room for a small, narrow nose and a petite mouth. The rest of her was wearing a bright blue dress, Marcus thought she would look better in red.

The butterfly lady gave him a slight nod as she passed him before wandering into the alley he just left. Marcus turned and watched as she walked away, a pair of tall black high heels clacking as she went.

Marcus reached into his pockets, patting down each one to make sure he still had everything, he sighed slightly when he realised he was missing his wallet. He turned back down the alley, following after the butterfly lady. He stepped back into the store and retrieved his wallet from where it was lying on the floor, just below the counter. He brushed it off and nodded to Zhao before stepping out again. The butterfly was just a few meters ahead.

“Hey” he called, “I like your dress.” He gave a friendly smile as she stopped and turned to face him, large eyes blinking in surprise.

Marcus walked over to her, “thank you.” She said.

“It’s just such a nice shade, and it matches your eyes perfectly.”

“My mother made it for me with my eyes in mind, she always said they were very unique.”

Marcus gave a slight smile, “Yes, I do think they’re rather special”

The butterfly smiled serenely at the compliment, “well, I’m afraid I must be going, I have an appointment in a few minutes.”

Marcus nodded and dutifully stepped away, “of course, well, goodbye." he finished awkwardly.

The butterfly gave him one last smile before turning back towards the other end of the alley.

Marcus watched her for a minute before he too turned away.

He had been right about the butterfly looking good in red.

Marcus walked his way home in silence, quietly observing the monsters that he passed. One with green eyes, one with eight and one with none at all.

The climb up 7 flights of steps was a slow crawl, but when he finally reached the flat his key turned with a satisfying click in the lock. Marcus pushed his way inside and dumped his bag of groceries on the benchtop before wandering over to the small bathroom.

He watched in quiet fascination as red pooled down the drain, slowly draining his hands of the colour until only his pale callused skin remained.

Marcus glanced up to view his reflection in the mirror. A slight smile and a pair of bright red eyes stared back at him.