Hippocampus

It was a boring night on the 24th of may, I looked around consuming all forms of life that exist beyond this tiny wall of glass.

I’m sure the teacher is rambling about something important but all the words make little sense, whenever I attempt to focus it just seems like I am but an infant being lectured on philosophy by Plato. I can probably just pick this stuff up from the books anyway so what’s the point.

The bell rang eventually and you’d always have my friend Leo who’d almost harass the teacher with his questions. You could always tell which teacher liked his job and who didn’t based on their reactions to post-class questionnaires.

Wayne sits on Freddie’s table and they begin chatting I can clearly tell they’re making fun of the teacher in their sarcastic way. I made my way over to them in the middle of their conversation.

“That teacher, I don’t get how you could be short and annoying talk about shooting yourself in the foot,” Wayne ranted. He usually expressed dissatisfaction with most things school related despite his impressive grades.

“I agree with you your highness,” Freddie sarcastically commented. He usually had a sarcastic way of speaking commenting on how Wayne was the shortest in our friend group.

“Whatever, Atleast I didn’t stand there with my mouth open like John over here, how about you stop being a loser and study,” Wayne switched over to me. Referring to when the teacher asked me a question and I having zoned out could do nothing but stand there hoping the sun exploded at that moment.

Leo headed over to us, he was the second tallest and his torso looked more like a table than a torso. He had a positive attitude that would shine through you’d rarely see him engaging with negativity which is a strange phenomenon in this world.

Freddie lowered his tone and looked straight in Wayne’s eye and said “they sell cigarettes at the gas station nearby, you all wanna go?” This wasn’t an uncommon thing for Freddie to ask as he had no interest in paying attention to class, he’d either talk to someone or sleep on the table and if he couldn’t do either he’d simply zone out.

Wayne jumped at the idea expressing his approval and Leo joined in although I think he secretly hates that sort of thing.

“Im guessing you plan on staying here?” Freddie guessed and I replied with a quick nod. Freddie wasn’t in the business of judging or pushing his habits that was more of Wayne’s thing and how Leo got caught up in that.

I looked out the window and saw them jump the fence while Wayne hilariously was hanging off of it for a few moments but managed to get off.

After 45 minutes I decided I’d rather get addicted to a life altering product than go through 45 minutes of biology. I headed over to the gas station after jumping the fence.

I found them buying what seemed to be another round of cigarettes from a man who seemed like he’d get this request from teenagers a lot.

They spotted me and tried to call me over but I stayed out, they came out soon after.

“Thought you’d be in class, you lose your willpower or something?” Wayne questioned. “No I just wanted to hang out if I have to listen to what the stomach does I’d probably hand in my own right then and there,” I answered.

We had gotten to the spot where the smoke filled the air and intense coughs rang across.

Freddie seemed paranoid and he’d take frequent looks around, Wayne seemed the complete opposite and laughed with Leo.

“What are you kids doing over there” Wayne spoke in a deep voice behind Freddie who jumped up with his fist back, quickly realizing that Wayne was playing a trick on him. He proceeded to punch him anyways.

“What the fuck you just punched me bastard,” Wayne expressed in what seemed like confused rage. Leo was patting his shoulders and Freddie kept smoking.

During the commotion I walked away smelling the air when I noticed, it felt like I was breathing in nothing, the sensation you felt upon the cold air entering your nose was missing. From nothing I saw a figure emerge upon the sand almost as if the darkness itself flooded it. Two headlights were seen surrounded by the darkness, the only glimmers of light.

“Hello there, I come from the edges and I fight the world. I am Satan and I’m pleased to meet you John,” he spoke eloquently but not in a complicated manner. He did not emerge from the shadow for only his eyes were visible but his voice was soft and left a small echo in your ear.

“I noticed you left all of your friends, annoyed by the smoke?” He questioned with a little head turn, his eyes were looking up to me perhaps he was a short figure? Although I couldn’t identify any sort of torso to back this up.

“Something like that, wait how do you know me?” I asked in clear confusion since I’d never met this figure. “I’m not even religious” I continued.

“So you’re annoyed by the smoking, well I may have a solution,” he stated with what appeared to be a smile but I can’tsee his mouth so I can’t tell.

“I’m not selling you my soul to stop my friends from smoking,” I said in an aggressive tone. “Wh- WHY NOT?” He said in a surprised way for whatever reason.

“It’s their stupid decision that’s gonna affect their lives why should I give my soul to them?” I answered. “Woah man that’s selfish kind of evil to be honest,” what the fuck?

“You’re LITERALLY the devil, don’t call me evil,” I said in a bewildered fashion. I mean honestly I thought I made a fair point only for LUCIFER Morningstar to judge me of all people.

“Come on, it’s a dance competition, I win and I get your soul you win and all your friends stop smoking, deal?” He spoke in a calm tone almost like he believed anything he was saying was logical. Surely not though right?

“No are you insane? My soul is the second most off limit thing behind my hole,” I stated passionately.

“Well I’m only after the first one but if you’re so insistent fine, if you win your friends stop and if I win you have to go into The Edges this year”

“Seriously?” I stated although I felt some suspicion to his wording I guess this might have been a communication error on his part that I should take advantage of. “Deal,” I answered.

“Very well,” he stated as a disco ball descended from the heavens, all major sources of light seemed to disappear but from the ground below us which was once a field of dry, irritating sand appeared a dancing floor that filled the area with bright colors.

A table with 3 judges all family members of mine, perfect they will clearly favor me.

The devil came out of the darkness although It still engulfed his face, he seemed to be wearing a red suit to no surprise, he also wore a top hat and seemed to hold a cane.

“Well it seems I’ve drawn the ire of a few billion men when I pull them to the fire again and again,” is he singing? “Usually I have to work to push them to the edge, but as for you I can see your path is at an end,” he moved his legs like a man not restricted by his own body perhaps like someone in a form that doesn’t matter to him.

He finished off his dance with a jump in the air while spinning his entire person. I looked over at the judges my uncle and grandfather giving him 10′s “excellent singing,” said my grandfather. That’s not even part of the competition?

My mother gave a 9, my one saving grace. If I get 10′s across the board I beat this stupid chump.

I attempted to dance along to the rhythm to simply even match the tunes but it seemed like my brain and body were not in sync on how to move or even if to move it was all awkward and I had worked up a sweat from the actual moves that I remembered that did not match the song.

I looked over and saw zero’s across the board. Seriously? None of that warranted even a one?

“ooh that’s ice cold, and I thought to bring your family to give you a chance but I guess you suck that badly John,” he stated while wrapping his arm around me. “But I’m a forgiving person you don’t have to go to the Edges this year I know you will be there on your own anyways,” he said with a smirk. The figure and everything else seemed to disappear.

I walked home slowly enveloped by the cloak of darkness even though it’s only 3 pm. I passed my mothers room where I could hear her watching Television. I walked into my room and laid down at the bed looking at a plain white ceiling.

Whatever, it doesn’t matter not like it really means anything right? Besides I tried my best so who cares and what does it matter it’s not the end of the world I’m not a failure because I lost a dancing competition.

I tried my best.

Right?