Atrium

My chest hurts. It's tight, almost like there's a clamp or something inside it. God, it feels weird. I've been feeling this way for a long while now. I sit now, quietly, on a wooden and black-metal bench within a long open corridor, carved out from the center of a great medical building. The ceil stretches about, oh, two or three stories high, I'd say. All these sectioned off areas of seats are separated by cobblestone islands that come up to your genitals. The plants inside these islands are tall, vine-like, with a tree or two bending around rectangular pillars that are holding up the windowed ceiling. There's a soda machine around from the bend of where I'm seated, but I'm not thirsty. These giant vents on folded parts of the tall walls keep belching out this music, sprinkled with fast spinning fans that cut up the sound as it falls down to the cold floor.

"Earth Angel" is playing. I think it's the version from that time-travel movie. All the windows have blinds behind them and this place is deserted. It was always deserted. I'd come here every Sunday or so to take in the radio that had, surprisingly, lasted for the past nine months since the human race had vanished. Since then, I would have always been followed by this purple figure. I used to recognize him following me in a group of people. The figure would stalk me in public places and even show up at the foot of my bed on sleepless nights. He was the only one who was still around. Still around to stalk, and watch, and peer and violate my privacy. Even after humanity had gone away, there was only me and the purple man. He would never get too close; and any time he came within a few feet of me, on those rare occasions, it was always when the lighting of my environment masked him in shadow.

Sometimes I'd break down, cry out for someone to help, but no one ever replied. I travelled the state over and haven't found a single person in these nine months that I've been alone with... him. That's how long it's been. Nine months. And since then I've noticed some other occurrences, like how at night the stars are never around, and how there's three differently sized Suns everyday. But, everything else is the same. Why? I can't figure it out, and the more I try to figure out my role in all of this, the more I keep hitting these walls of nihilistic epiphanies. I feel like there's two of me. The one I'm speaking to now, that's watching me, listening to my story and thinking I'm crazy. Then, there's the other me; the real me that's going through all this. You're the other me; the secondary.

Maybe you'll see him too! Soon. I know what I'm thinking. Why haven't I called out to the purple man? Why haven't I tried to communicate with him? Well I have! I tried to four or five times! He doesn't talk to me. Hell, I don't even know if the thing can talk. I say "thing" cause I know he ain't human. He's a manifestation of this place where I ended up. This prison. Anytime I think of him my mind goes to one word. Atrium, atrium. I don't get it. The internet doesn't work, no matter where I go. Hell, like I said, I'm shocked the radio in the medical building hasn't crapped out yet. An apartment complex!! That's what I could compare the inside of this medical building to! A very oddly arranged apartment complex interior. This is my relaxation palace. The purple man won't come in here.

Listen other me... I got a gun. I'll got a gun and the next time he shows up I'm gonna shoot him in the stomach! Then, while he's writhing in pain I'll walk up and inspect him. There he is! At the door, outside there, behind the glass!! I have the gun pointed... It's cocked, he refuses to move, like he doesn't even know what I'm holding. I'm gonna fire! I'm gonna fire!... It's done... I killed him. No. He didn't die. The door shattered but he's still just standing there! Did the bullet really do nothing!?! I only had one! The pain in my chest is subsiding... and come to think of it, the blue sky's gone completely white. I feel funny... like a kind of weight is returning to me. The sky is getting bright and the purple man is melting. What the hell is going on? I think I've been asleep... I think I'm waking up.