Annie found a few more car accidents along her walk, but not nearly as gruesome. They were vacant. Some cars were even left in the road, as if people gave up driving. No one was outside as some of the car alarms continued to fade.

“Should I call and see who answers?” Annie deliberated. “Wait, no. This is creepy.”

Let’s just see what is at the store.

“Alright.”

A little after the turn, they made it to her usual grocery store. There were some cars in the parking lot, but she couldn’t see anyone. Annie walked in and breathed deeply in excitement, “Wow! Look at all the stuff in here! I thought there was less!”

She went to the clothes section and saw the poster of a pants model above the aisle, “She looks pretty.  I doubt I could be as pretty.”

She is a model. You could be a model! The voice encouraged.

“You’re right! I want this pair and the pink shirt! It looks like my eyes!”

Get some milk and eggs as well. 

Annie walked towards the cold food aisles when she heard a man’s voice crying out from across the store, an old evangelical sound she used to hear in church. She even heard the murmurs of a crowd.

“More people!” Annie said excitedly.

That’s odd, there was no one at the register. How are so many people here?

“I don’t know, but let's go say hi!”

As they got closer, she heard the man’s voice become clearer, “Behold! The Lord has punished us! Our eyes have beheld a sinful world so he has taken them and sent the daemons of Satan to haunt and torture our souls!”

The crowd of twenty or so murmured in a strange agreement around the frozen deli section, in which the man was standing on a small table.

“Now is the time to pray and find God!” the older man continued, “We must become a wandering civilization like the children of Israel in the time of Moses! We will live out our lives of sin, punished until we perish in the Earth…”

Annie walked up to a man in loose, plaid clothes and tapped his shoulder. He jumped to the side and whispered, “Hello?” 

“Hi!” Annie whispered, knowing she should be reverent in the churchlike feel of the supermarket. “What is going on?”

“What do you mean?” the man asked.

Annie began respectfully, “Why is the store so empty and unkept? And why is there a service going on in the middle of the deli aisle?”

“No one can see. We all lost our sight.” explained the pajama man, “Some of us came for food, others for the comfort of a sane population. This morning was chaos. People shooting and trying to drive, screams and cries for help filled the air. The world is filled with chaos these last days.”

“What do you mean? No one here can see?” Annie asked.

“Yeah…” the man paused, “No one except maybe you. Can you see?”

Careful Annie! The voice began, but Annie ignored the warning. She remembered how Louis acted and cheerfully replied, “I can, why?”

Immediately, the man began shouting, “YOU CAN SEE? WHY CAN YOU SEE? HOW COME I CAN’T SEE? THIS ISN’T FAIR!” The man obviously forgot about the service that was happening and began to scream and reach for Annie, wildly grabbing her shirt. 

“HOW CAN YOU STILL SEE? CAN YOU HEAR THE VOICE? THOSE DEMONS?”

The preacher and the whole congregation had turned toward Annie and the man. Their faces sometimes looked at them, but most poked an ear in their direction instead. Annie noticed their eyes. They all had the same black outer edge with yellow irises and pink pupils. She began to feel scared. 

Pushing the man away, he tumbled into the crowd and stayed on his butt, mumbling incoherently.

The preacher spoke out to her now, “Who is there? Who claims they can see?” 

“I-it’s me”

“Who is me?” the preacher asked.

“My name is Annie…”

The man on the ground stopped mumbling and looked up. Annie saw the man crouch quickly and jump at her. She swung her cane as he leapt, hoping she did it right. It felt harder to be accurate when she could see. There was a loud clack as he tumbled into the crowd again, startling them and creating an uproar. 

“Stay away from me!” Annie yelled.

“Restrain that person!” commanded the preacher.

The man acted even wilder, “GIVE ME YOUR EYES! ONLY THEN MIGHT I BE CURED!”

The man became fierce, clawing, hitting, and pushing the people who tried to hold him. The mass of blind people quickly subdued him though, letting him writhe and foam up as he was restrained. 

“What is going on here?! Why is everyone saying they’re blind? Is this some kind of joke?” Annie held the cane like a bat, ready to hit the next person who got too close.

The preacher carefully maneuvered himself off his table and walked towards her, “This is not a joke. We are blind, God is punishing us.”

“I don’t think God has anything to do with this.” Annie responded, “I don’t have a demon in me and I can see clearer than ever now. I was blind only yesterday and somehow everyone else is blind but me? Something bad is happening, yes, but I doubt it is heavenly.”

Annie’s voice was telling her to be wary and warning her to stop, but she refused to acknowledge the voice. She was furious.

“Don’t you dare mock our god!” the preacher retorted, “He will save us! You have been given sight, but refuse to release the devil inside you. Maybe you don’t deserve the blessing.”

The man began to drift through the crowd and was getting closer to Annie. Annie thought it best to back out; the preacher seemed scarier than the other man. He had a gray stubble and dark brown hair flowing to his shoulders. His plaid collared shirt was slightly wrinkled and his pants were nicely fit.

“I will take the gift, or you will repent.” threatened the preacher, “This time is a time of action for the Lord, we will not accept any dissenters. Choose to repent or we will take your beloved gift.” 

The congregation murmured in agreement and started to walk towards her also, some of their hands even reaching out into the air like they could touch her already.

Annie, this is serious. We need to leave quietly. Don’t talk anymore. Her voice advised.

Agreed. Annie thought, this time much more willing to listen.

Annie slowly backed away, trying not to scuff her feet or hit anything behind her.

“Choose or we will choose for you!” The preacher demanded.

The crowd shouted at her, calling her a sinner, among other names, and pleading with her to join them.

Annie continued back without responding, but the congregation went silently along with the preacher when their calls were unanswered. Their heads leaned an ear towards her, listening for her finest movement. Annie stopped, waiting for another sound to cover her steps so she could leave the store. The only thing heard was the buzzing of the fridges.

Don’t stop Annie, this is giving me the creeps and I can barely see them.

What do you mean? Annie asked.

It’s getting dark. It’s almost night time now, isn’t it?

Annie looked at the doors, the sun was still out and was brighter than earlier. No. Are you okay?

I don’t know. The voice stated with concern. Let’s get out of here and then we can figure out what’s going on.

Tell me if anything changes.

Annie began her walk towards the door once more, but the crowd of people were ominously persistent. They were not as careful, stumbling and grunting as they tried to maneuver through the store. The man from earlier was on the ground still, staring blankly. Annie made sure to step only when it was noisy; her pursuers looked as if they would charge her as soon as she made the slightest noise. 

The preacher began to whisper to her seductively, “You are bound to be a prophet among the people. You must repent and worship God to receive his word, Annie. Join us Annie, so we may all see again. You have the potential to save many souls!”

Annie almost spoke up, but decided against it. If this is how they are blind, imagine if they could see.

Focus on getting out. Don’t interact with them.

The preacher continued in this manner as he slowly felt his way through the shelves and stumbled along. 

Annie was far from the crowd now and was almost to the doors. The automatic doors.

She heard them buzz as they slid apart to her horror. The crowd perked up immediately and started to run at the preacher’s command. Not only running, but blind sprinting. Only a few made it past the obstacles of scanners and carts, but still they came. Annie squealed a little and bolted out the doors. Nevermind the police! They are probably blind too. I need to go home. 

She could hear the preacher screaming about letting ‘the prophet’ get away and how they needed to catch her. She didn’t bother looking back. Her shoes were made to run, so she was quieter than the people behind her. She had never been able to run confidently without a treadmill and harness before now, but she enjoyed the wind across her body and the warmth within her legs. Clutching her clothes and food tightly, she turned right to get back onto the block. 

Down this road and then a left; I can get there in no time. Annie felt herself going faster than ever, her muscles feeling strong and energized. The scenery was a blur of color and sights. She longed for the luxury to take more in. 

There were people out on this street. They weren’t doing anything but sitting around and talking. 

They must have some kind of voice in their head too. 

At least I’m not alone. the voice said, excited.

Maybe those people in the store don’t know you’re friendly.

I highly doubt that, I know your memories so if their voice is anything like me then they would be much nicer. 

Oh. They’re dangerous now, but I wish they could’ve helped me figure out what is going on. Annie thought, disappointed. 

As she passed some of the people, they looked up and some of their eyes tracked her. Just their eyes though; everyone’s head stayed still. A few people even stood up, but no one tried to follow. Cutting sharp on the corner, she took a peek around the building to see where the store crowd was. They were still at the beginning of the street, slowing to a walk. Annie didn’t need another hint to keep going. 

Finally, her house was just a few yards away. She slowed her pace and walked the last little way to her house. Annie barely felt tired and only took a few seconds to catch her breath. As she looked up to her entryway, there was a large man standing in front of the door with incredibly dark hair and a bandage on his hand. Setting her groceries down, she readied her cane to strike; she had enough of these creepy strangers.