Writing Prompt #1
-You’re at a huge store scouting out Black Friday deals. You start to notice that all the security cameras in the store seem to be following your each and every move. (Prompt found from Reedsy)
-Apologies for any weird break in texts, the way I transfer my writing does that for some reason.
Flipping through the shirts for my size, I noticed another shirt pile with a big flashy sign above it screaming of another newer and better deal to whoever will listen, screaming like all the customers seemed to be doing as well. Fixing my pile, for the sake of the poor employees who have to deal with the Black Friday mayhem, I wandered over to the new pile that had caught my eye; the pile was in ruin, torn apart by ravenous hands that were hungry for a deal.
Growing bored, as I never really cared for Black Friday, too much chaos, I abandoned the shirts, and my eyes searched for something else that was interesting enough for me. Soon, my eyes fell onto the security camera that rested in the far top left corner of the vast store by the men’s clothing; sticking to my old habits, I smiled slightly and waved while walking past it, it seemed to stare back blankly as it followed me along. Followed. I froze, it froze as well, I stared at it for a moment, mouth agape with confusion. In my confusion, I searched around for another customer to help ensure I wasn’t the only one who noticed, but there was no one around. Yapping and whining customers about the last item being taken were nowhere to be found, in its wake were carts left abandoned, almost as memorials for their lost shoppers. It is Black Friday, there is no way everyone just up and left, there was no announcement of closure and surely I would have noticed hordes of people leaving. Even so, as I slowly walk around, there was not a single person in-sight, and the cameras just follow each step I take as if I were a star in a show I didn’t know I was a part of. Dread and panic raced through me as I stared back at the security cameras, it felt like there were more now, but I wasn’t sure of anything anymore. The store also felt smaller but yet I couldn’t find an end anywhere, no matter how far I walked, I saw the walls but never seemed to reach them. Each step was followed with a light whir of the cameras moving to follow me and the hum of the bright overwhelming fluorescent lights, but there seemed to be something else behind those noises. Whispering. I hadn’t noticed it until now, had it always been there, I am not sure of anything anymore at this point. I look at my watch, wow, I have been here for 2 hours now. Has it been that long? I have just been walking this entire time. The whispering felt louder in my head, it is urging me towards the wall by the women’s clothing, to my right, and thus I turned and made my way towards the wall. The wall grew closer, shocking, as the clothes seemed to part to reveal a door labeled “security”, it looked awkward and out of place in between the displays of women’s clothing. Nonetheless, I was thrilled at the opportunity for freedom. I put my hand on the doorknob, it was freezing against my sweaty warm hands, maybe I had been walking longer than I realized, I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I suddenly had doubts: why could I reach an end now?
Whatever a chance for freedom is enough for me, so I walked inside.
They’re everywhere, oh my god, cameras speckled the wall, nothing left uncovered, all pointed at me. I panicked and whipped around quickly to leave and froze; the door was gone and in its place was a mirror.
