Chief Piece
Jake Kulak
English 4 Honors


They’re all over the place, hundreds of these little ants marching around with their food held out in front of them like trophies.  Constantly changing expressions that seem to slide off the faces they belong to and drift up, dancing and weaving through the infinite fractalized universe that is the ceiling. The faces weave through the void and create a malicious grin staring down at me. The face doesn’t speak but I know what it is saying. I know what they are all saying.  Every single thing in this room. They all know me and they are all banded together, sneering.  I realize now it’s their eyes, that’s how they do it. They see my fear, my insecurities, my weaknesses.  All I can do now is wait and stare at the cold, shiny and smooth ceramic plate staring back up at me.  The clanking of their plates is like a dissonant orchestra bouncing around inside my skull.  It’s no use trying to fit in among these evil, corrupted, mischievous people and all I can do is stay quiet and hope I go unnoticed even though I am clearly not.  I get up and walk silently across the menacing room over to the beverages counter, just hoping to get myself some water,  although even that is risky.  Who knows what they may have put into it.  Every step I take is strained and I feel as if the floor will open up and devour me.  The ants are swarming me.  It’s almost as if they purposely don’t come after me yet, just so they can squeeze every drop of misery out of me. It’s what they feed on.  The real meal today isn’t the food on their tray, it’s me and my terror.  So I wait, and I’m determined to face whatever comes without fear.  I won’t let them have that pleasure.