Unlike most lies that unraveled after a while, this just refused to let me uncover its secrets.

The office door slammed shut, and the keys jangled in my hand as I locked the door. I sighed.

Another case. I shoved the damn useless USB drive into my pocket. The person who gave me this better have had a good reason for wasting my time.

I reopened the file, just in case I had left something behind that the police could use against me. I hadn’t. But I found myself staring into the picture of the girl. Her eyes crinkled at the corner as she smiled, unaware of the disaster that would fall upon her. And she was such a pretty child. I closed the file and put it in my bag.

The wind blew hard against my face, its howl drowning out the traffic noise. It was nice and peaceful, but it still couldn’t help me get rid of my thoughts.

I wondered why it was only when I needed my brain to be thoughtless that it decided not to listen. Oh well.

I was waiting for the light when a ball rolled down the road. Its colour was a faded red, but it most certainly meant it was cherished much. I scanned the opposite sidewalk for anyone who might have dropped it.

My eyes passed a man sitting at the bus stop reading a newspaper, then a group of girls in too much makeup and deathly high heels. Apart from them, there was no one else, no one who could’ve even had a ball.

But then again, not everyone was who they claimed to be.

An exhilarating feeling rushed through me and my hands got jittery. I was reminded again of why I even chose this job in the first place. The thrill of finding the answers and hiding it never failed to amaze me. With my sweaty palms, I pushed my hair to the side. Vision was very essential, was it not?

I blinked once.

_A flash of red and black and maybe a bit of orange.

A face covered in blood. Eyes wide. Mouth hung open in despair._

Then I was back on the crosswalk. The man was still there, flipping to the next page. The girls were still talking, still waiting for the green light. And I noticed something else that made me grab the hem of my shirt—The ball was gone.

I got home in a daze, my hands trembling. Every turn, every blink. It was always there. I had tried to not blink for at least four minutes. But I did. And the flash returned.

The keys vibrated violently and it took me multiple times until I could put it in the slot. Click.

I basically rushed in my apartment, stumbling over the flower pot I had put on the side, and slamming my knee onto the carpet. A scream burst from inside and I screwed my eyes shut before I realised my mistake.

_A flash of red and black and maybe a bit of orange.

A face covered in blood. Eyes wide. Mouth hung open in despair.

Then. A single piece of tissue floating around._

I opened my eyes and I was in the kitchen. Holding a jar I never knew I had.

Don’t blink.

I was in an earthquake. My vision was shaking, my hands dropped the jar on the floor. But nothing else was moving except me. My furniture was calm, the chandelier in the dining room barely swinging.

It was so cold here. Wasn’t it? A child’s voice, small yet it filled me with a feeling of absolute terror.

Don’t blink.

My toes started hurting and my hands felt numb. I breathed out and a fog of white and maybe a bit of purple evaporated in front of me. Icicles protruded out of my ceiling like sharp teeth, and snow started to fall. It laid on my hair, my nose, my shoes. But not on the carpet, not on the coffee machine.

Then it stopped.

Everything stopped.

The cars honking down below, the soft hum of life itself disappeared.

It was so quiet here. Wasn’t it? They said again.

Don’t blink.

I whimpered and glanced around, looking for the person. There was no one, no one who could’ve owned that voice. I screamed into the air. “W-who are you!”

No one. This time I heard them giggle. Such a mundane thing to do.

“Why?” I said. “Why do this? I don’t even know you.” Another quick glance around and I spotted my pistol on the safe.

They didn’t answer. So I took two steps forward.

A hand touched the small of my back and I whipped around.

Don’t try me! They laughed. I can see you.

That laugh.

That damn laugh.

I heard it somewhere.

Somewhere…

Somewhere peaceful.

Somewhere like home.

I blinked.

A flash of red and black and maybe a bit of orange.

A face covered in blood. Eyes wide. Mouth hung open in despair.

A single piece of tissue floating around.

A red ball. Faded in colour.

A smile suddenly painted on its face.

“Hi Brother.” It mouthed.

I opened my eyes, and everything looked wrong. My leather chairs were chewed into, and an array of toys were scattered about.

Pink Barbies.

A stuffed elephant missing an ear.

A shattered photo frame, and in it:

A girl in a blue dress, her eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. In her hand, a red ball, and stuck to her foot, a tissue.

Do you remember me?She asked.

Yes. Yes I did. I remembered what she smelled like, lying on the floor, blood pooling around her. I remembered standing over her body. I remembered telling her that it wouldn’t hurt. Not now, not ever.

Remember when we played in the snow? When you put me in the shed? She continued.

Yes. Yes I did. I remembered the feeling of how heavy she was as I dragged her through the snow. I remembered when I used the snow to cleanse my hands. I remembered lying to mum on the table that day, when she asked where my sister was.

I want to play again, brother. Can I be the one to do the stuff this time?

I lunged for the gun, and grabbed the handle. “Get away from me!” I wildly pointed the gun in different positions. “I have a gun. And I’ll fucking use it.”

You’re not a good man.The voice, her voice, turned darker. You’ll never be.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” I laughed. "But haunt me all you want. I’m staying.