The Girl Who Reads Minds

"Marcus!" I felt whatever trance I'd been trapped in violently snap, leaving me to groggily take back in my reality. After processing that I had, in fact, heard my name, I lazily turned my head away from the window. Standing at the front of the room, my professor looked at me with a fierce gaze. Ah, damn, I spaced out again. I try to recall whatever his question may have been, but it's no good, I was totally out of it. Ugh, I hate my life…

"Uhm…I'm sorry sir, what did you ask again?" I made as sincere a smile as I could. He was

unimpressed.

"Whatever, anyone who actually cares about their future wanna answer?" I almost chuckled at that one, but I held it in, afraid of another verbal lashing. Those are pretty common here. Even someone as unremarkable as me can catch a punch or two, which is a nice break from not existing…I guess. I roll my eyes and look back out the window. The time is currently 11:45 AM…and it is dark as night outside. Has been for a while now. How many years? Probably since I was around six. Now I'm 17. So, yeah, shit's been fucked for a minute.

Whenever I try to think of a time when the sky wasn't like this, It just makes me depressed. Not because I miss it, but because I don't remember it well enough to miss it. Aging really is a bitch. As I complain about my life passing me by, the night sky, empty of stars and a moon, is lit only by the burning hatred of a deep red Iris, constantly changing focus. Oh yeah, that thing has been around for just as long. Apparently it's the eye of god, looking to strike judgment on anyone it views as worthy of it. I always thought the god part was kind of out there, mostly cause I don't think god is supposed to be so malevolent in everything he does, but what do I know?

My eyes follow it around, watching as its gaze shifts from building to person, to streetlamp, to me…oh, it's looking at me. Pretty intently too. How odd. It's never really looked at me before. Well, not specifically just me. It's kind of neat. I almost feel special. I raise a hand, waving gently at it. I don't really get a response, save for a piece of chalk whirled at my head. I guess I really should have expected that. I'm sure he didn't quite enjoy seeing me all happy and stuff. Poor professor. "Pay attention when you're in my class Marcus! You'd think you'd get the hint after the first incident, but no, it's every minute! Every minute you're off! Where are you going Marcus?! Cause if you say anywhere but right in your FUCKING SEAT I WILL BRAIN YOU WITH THIS GOD DAMN ERASER, YOU HEAR ME YOU LITTLE SHIT-" My professor's words were interrupted by a red pole slamming through the window and right through his cranium. There was a moment of spasms, a couple feeble chokes, until he eventually fell over limp.

The room went silent.

"...I'm going to lunch." One of my classmates rose from his desk, stretching his arms.

"Hell yesss, this class always dragged anyways." An apathetic girl's voice entered the conversation as its owner stood up. Then another boy, another girl. Soon, everyone was making their leave from the classroom, leaving me to sit there, watching my professor's body. I tried to recall any positive memories with the man but came up with none, so I settled for a little bow of my head in respect. I turned to look out at that massive eye, now feeling differently than before. It wasn't uncommon for people to die in such bizarre ways. It had become a factor of life to just be ready for it.

However, I couldn't get over the fact that this time, it was definitely my fault.

That was a pretty uncomfortable thought.

…

"Thanks." I mumbled, taking the foil wrapped fair burger from the lunch lady before walking to the cafeteria's exit. I've never really been a fan of eating with others. Take from that what you will, but the basic fact that feeling watched while I eat makes me nauseous was enough to keep me isolated from the herd. I walked out the exit and made my way further down the hall, to the staircase. Heading up, I didn't stop until I ascended every stair, leaving me at the roof entrance. Opening the door, I walked out onto the school building's roof, taking a deep breath of that brisk fall air, and halted where I stood. Just ahead, leaning against the bar atop the fence lining the roof, was an androgynous looking fella, wearing a white button up, black vest, white skirt and black thigh-highs. The sight of their exposed, squished thighs made my heart race.

"...woah…" I whispered, before making sure my clothes were free of wrinkles. I quietly walked up next to them, and saw both a can of beer and a lit cigarette in their hand as they stared out at the town.

"Uhm…you definitely don't seem like a student." I said. The person chuckled, their short pink hair gently bobbing as they did. They took a chug from their can before moving for a puff. Letting out a little cloud of smoke, they finally spoke.

"Far from a student. Haven't been for a while. Hmm…since around 2023 I'd say. Jesus, that was really ten years ago. Elementary school dropout right here." They said. "Oh, right, and I prefer being considered a woman. Hope that clears up the confusion." She stared straight at me. Her smile was bright and confronting.

"...what?" I felt a spark of confusion inside of myself. Did she...read my mind? She giggled, tapping her head.

"Your thoughts are loud. Violent. They beg to be heard." She explained…kind of. Erm, that could have been way more thorough actually.

"Okay…so you're reading my thoughts?"

"Yes, I am. Don't question the quality of my explanation, question the quality of your understanding." She said before rolling her eyes. Yeah, I think I was starting to buy it.

"Huh…okay, you can read minds." How…the hell was I supposed to take that? Should I have panicked? Looked impressed. I-I don't…"Uhh, what's that like?"

"Not much like anything really. It can be helpful, but that's it." She seemed a bit baffled by the question, as if her response was obvious.

"Oh. I thought it would be more, like, life changing? I don't know, it doesn't seem like something that can just be brushed off." I tried to explain, but every word seemed just as fruitless, as she seemed to have already gathered all that I meant to say.

"Well, your assumptions don't necessarily define reality, do they?" She asked, raising a brow.

"Erm, right, my bad?" I confusedly shrugged my shoulders. She pouted at me just a bit before turning her attention to the massive eye in the sky.

"Anyways, it's funny you come up here. I was just listening to the funny man upstairs. He seems to be gushing about you." She pointed to the eye which was currently looking down upon the town hall.

"Gush-gushing? I just waved at it." Seriously, for a being with so much power it was damn easy to impress.

"Really? He seems to think you're something special. Ain't that funny? You'd think God would have a little shame." She chuckled at herself.

"Oh, does he call himself god? Wait…you can…read that thing's thoughts…you…seriously? That's…fucking nuts?! Do you talk about this with anyone?!" The constant revelations about this woman were starting to become tiring. She seemed entertained by me when her face stiffened as she stood straight, looking out in the distance. "W-what? What is it?"

"...something bad." She chugged the rest of her beer before stomping on her cigarette. "Something super deadly just popped up."

"H-hey, what does that mean?! Popped up from where?!"

"Later. Take care, okay?" She turned to the fence and hopped over, jumping for the trees, catching onto one of the branches. "NOT A POWER, I'M JUST GOOD AT THIS SHIT!" She yelled back at me before I could even think of it.

"O-okay?" I stood there, dazed, as the girl jumped from the trees and landed in the street before taking off to a place I couldn't follow with my eyes. "...god she was hot though." I chuckled to myself before finally starting to eat my burger.

It was this moment, looking back, where I think my brutal, agonizing death became inevitable.