R e t r o s p e c t • PSYPHY

Chapter 8: P e r p e t u a

"Yeah, I almost didn't recognize my son." She widens the open door, then heads back to what she was doing. 

Nicole indirectly invites Syeef inside. 

He steps in the home, and looks around. The place is completely foreign to him. Yet he can't show that. He doesn't even know where Caasi was supposed to be. Still, he would nonchalantly trek through the halls. 

"Have you heard from Jared?" Syeef asks. 

"Yeah, he's doing fine. He's worried about you." She goes into the kitchen. 

"Why?"

"Well, pumpkin pie, it's obvious. We can all see the toll Gabby's coma has placed on us. But honestly we think it's hitting you the hardest."

"Really?" Syeef follows her in the kitchen. 

"Yeah, you're usually more social. But don't worry bout it, we understand. How are the doctor visits?" Nicole opens a cabinet. 

He watches her, gathering anything he can muster to respond. 

"It's okay. Therapy isn't all it's cracked up to be." he looks around the space. He notices her purse, and a gold flask hanging out of it. 

"Are you still drinking?"

Caasi's mom laughs out loud. "Now you-know I'm not givin' that up."

Syeef fake laughs along with her. He's blending in well. 

"Right, so where is Jared?" he asks. 

"Um, I'm not sure. He was with Kelly when I last called. I think they were at dinner. I was just about to cook spaghetti. You want some?" she says. 

"Nah, I'm not hungry."

"But you love my spaghetti," Nicole insists. 

Syeef chuckles. "I ate earlier. I think I need to head out again too, actually."

"Oh, where ya going? All dressed-up like that."

"Nowhere special, just to meet up with a friend." Syeef walks towards her. 

"Oh okay, well you be careful. It's gettin' late. And can you reach those mushrooms for me?" she asks. 

Syeef walks over to the cabinet next to her. He looks to her and smiles before reaching up. His fingers clasp around the weighted can of mushrooms. 

Nicole looks over, and goes to open the drawer of utensils.

"You, should've been careful." Syeef yanks his hand down, striking Nicole over the head with the metal can. 

Blood whips against the floor. She sways, then collapses with a heavy thud. She lies on the cold kitchen tile, motionless. Syeef stands over her, then glances at the blunt object. He grabs a paper-towel, then wipes the hunk of blood off the bottom of the can. He then places the mushrooms back in the cabinet. 

He steps over Caasi's mom then goes into dining room. He throws himself in a chair, and pulls out his phone. 

"Hey, I did it. What's next?" Syeef says. 

A soft voice cracks from behind the screen. "Thank you, wait for further instruction."

The floor begins to vibrate. Syeef stands up and walks to the living room. As the subtle motion of the floor continues, his footprints bubble behind. He stands in the center of the room, watching the vibration quicken. 

Black bubbles began to rise from the floor. They quickly pop yet multiply at the same rate. They calibrate and rise to form the outline of a person. The bubbles slowly become transparent, before they adopt a milk chocolate hue. They then coalesce and take the shape of an elderly woman. Her hair a mix of bioluminescent purple, and gray. She opens her eyes with a nod and a sigh.