A few days after this, I got fed up of sitting around aimlessly while being haunted by the subtle changes around me. To keep myself safe, I started noting down all the changes I could spot in a small notebook I keep locked up in my desk at all times. I am going to write down a few excerpts here which I think will lend some proof to how odd everything really is.
Feb 20
All is not what it seems. I tried calling up my mother, after sleeping off the entire previous day trying to process the situation. It just brought up an automated voice with "the number you have dialled, does not exist." So, I tried my father instead. Same message. Now, I can't ask anyone else for their contact without looking like I need to go the asylum!
Feb 25
Catastrophe! After a lot of hesitation, I asked my "best friend" for my mom's number. He looked at me like I had hit my head on a brick wall. After a pause, he told in a gentle voice that maybe I should go to the doctor. Before I could ask him what he meant, he whispered, "they're gone, buddy", gave me a side eye and walked away.
Feb 29
It's not even a leap year! Why does February have 29 days??? Every 4th year is a squat year, where February has 26 days!!! NO! THIS IS NOT OK! HOW CAN EVERYONE PRETEND...
Mar 1
I went to visit a therapist. I've been diagnosed with "large scale memory loss" by the doctor, possibly due to drowning. They are telling me it's all going to be okay. IT IS NOT. I need answers.
Mar 3
The doctor suggested I try new hobbies. Very quickly I suggested hiking. The therapist scribbled on her pad, told me to have a physical checkup, and if it came back with good results, I could try it.
Mar 5
Caught a dog eating grass on campus. I have heard of predators eating grass bits to help with digestion. But this dog was chewing and biting down like a cow! And everyone just walked past like nothing was amiss! I was staring at it for too long to warrant a few glances... more than the dog.
Mar 8
In better news, I am physically fit to take up hiking. Got the best hiking gear I could with my limited savings. I am going back in. It seems crazy but I need the truth. Or atleast more answers. This Saturday, when all the guards are sleeping.
That brings me back to my tale. I prepped for Saturday. Checked and re-checked my gear. Went upto the gate, it was locked, as usual. However I was so prepared. The lock was old, rusted, and a couple hits saw it tumbling down. I secured my climbing rope to the iron gate and went in. Wading into the water, I stepped into it quite carefully, aware of the ever present ripples. Despite my strong light, the water was still opaque.
Feeling the drop, I stopped, mentally preparing to take the dive. After a few seconds and a hushed prayer, I dived in. The water suddenly became clear, and I could see. The dark blobs were still floating around me, as if suddenly stilled by my appearance. But to my shock, the light, the light that started it all was gone! In its place remained a deep cavern,
Suddenly, as if aware of my presence, the blobs started swarming in front of me, as if to block my vision. As I tried to swat them away, I realised they felt eerily like human skin...but the massive swarm of blobs around me did not budge much to my wild swipes.
And as suddenly they had appeared, they moved away, circling in patterns now, and the light was back! But with my goggles now, I realised it was not light. It was skin, bioluminescent skin...And then, the skin moved. Whatever the thing was, it opened its eyes. HUMAN. EYES. perfectly white, with black dilated pupils. All surrounded by the bright skin. And once again, against my own will, I was pulled towards it, and no effort from me could make me go back up.
But due to some stroke of luck, the rope ran out just then! And now I was suspended, the force of the supernatural fighting me and the rope. The creature's eyes never changed, never blinked, never faltered. Just a wide, blank gaze. I could slowly feel the rope giving way, so I decided to fall back to my last option. Pulling out a hunting knife, I just hoisted it and smashed it into the creature's eyes as best as I could.
With a great shaking of the earth, I was once again swarmed by the black blobs. This time they were not so passive, sticking directly to my skin and clothes. Desperately swimming for the surface now, I managed to break the water, and as I did, the black blobs fell off. My skin stung where the blobs had been, and had rashes. But I painfully dragged my entire body out of the water.
Getting back out, I somehow made it back to my dorm, before collapsing. When I awoke later, the rashes had subsided, taking the shape of what I can best describe as large mosquito bites.
But I am afraid something has gone wrong, because when I woke up, staring at me...wide-eyed and scared...was myself...