Title: My Hair

Author: uskohakuchan

Summary: Gothic Story Inspired. A girl gets hair extensions. Evil Hair Extensions.

A/N: School Assignment. Inspired by my friends mass of hair (It's alive, I swear...) Yeah, the original version of this assignment will be posted as soon as I split it into chapters.

Lyrics by Panic! At the Disco. –“The Piano Knows Something I Don’t Know” off of the album Pretty. Odd.

I won't cut my beard and I won't change my hair
It grows like fancy flowers but it grows nowhere
My hair, my hair

“Linda, dear, how many inches do you want added again?”

Linda turned to gaze at Edwin. In his hand he held a pack of golden blonde hair extensions. The sunlight glancing off of them only served to increase her enchantment.

“The lot of it, Edwin. I want it all.”

Edwin’s smile seemed to grow even wider and he turned the chair back towards the wall mirrors.

“As you wish, dear.”

The whole process had taken so long that Linda was filled almost to overflowing with anticipation. Edwin hadn’t let her look into a mirror the whole time he was putting in the extensions and she assumed that was because he wanted to surprise her. She practically squealed aloud. Her hair was going to look absolutely amazing.

“I now present an Edwin Edwards creation – Long Luxurious Locks.”

Linda was turned towards the wall mirrors. She clasped her hand over her mouth to muffle a shocked yelp.

Standing up from the chair, she approached the mirror. Her hair was…beautiful. That was the only way to describe it. The extensions were perfectly blended to make it look all natural and all Linda’s. She ran her fingers through the blonde strands, marveling at their incredible softness and lushness. Sighing happily, sheturned back towards Edwin.

“I love it. I can’t possibly tell you how much I love it, Edwin. Thank-you so much.”

He smiled at her. “You say that now, but you’ll come back wishing you had your own hair back.”

She laughed. “Edwin, you’re so funny. You know I won’t do that. How could anyone regret getting this done? I don’t even remember what my hair used to look like.”

She got up out of the chair and went to the cash register to pay. The whole time, she continually ran her hair through her fingers, twirling and twisting her new locks.

“Oh so you got the hair extensions,” Marie commented as she rang Linda up.

“You don’t sound so happy for me. They look and feel amazing, you know,” Linda chided, hurt by Marie’s tone. Her hair was beautiful; Marie didn’t have to act so jealous.

“Mmhmm. I just hope you got what you paid for,” Marie said, her brow furrowing. She handed Linda her change and receipt and turned away.

Linda glared at her. She hated jealous people. The envious ones were okay. They made Linda feel special. And Linda loved to feel special. But the jealous ones, the jealous ones she could not stand. They always tried to make you feel bad about being better than them. One shouldn’t have to feel bad just because they are more beautiful or more intelligent than another person.

Linda walked out of the salon and into the bright sunlight. She stood on the busy street as people walked by her, some glancing at her as they went on their way. With a deep heave and bright smile, she walked towards the coffee shop down the street. She stopped in the window of a furniture store and stared.

The sunlight created shadows within her hair and she could almost imagine something living there. She shuddered, suddenly feeling very faint.

Getting a hold of herself, she continued on her way to the coffee shop. What was the point in getting worked up over such silly imaginings?

Walking into the shop, she was surprised to see it almost empty. At this time of the day, Marcy’s was always very busy. The eerie emptiness of the shop was almost spooky. She approached the register, flipping her hair as she walked.

“I’d like a-”

“It looks like it’s going to rain,” the cashier said cutting her off. “That won’t be good for your new hair.”

Linda took a step back. “How-how did you know?”

“What do you mean? I was just saying that since you got your hair straightened it would frizz it up, is all, m’am,” the cashier explained, his eyes shifting back and forth in worry.

“Oh, oh, I’m sorry. I’m a little on edge it seems. I’ll, um, take the decaf. One milk, three sugars. And a glazed donut.”

The cashier turned away to prepare the coffee and Linda took this time to gaze out the window. She could almost see the reflection of herself in the mirror. She was not unable to say that she liked what she saw.

In a flash, the sun dimmed dramatically, darkening the skies to an almost charcoal grey. The sun disappeared behind a black cloud and the skies exploded in a torrent of heavy rain.

The open windows in the shop clanged with the force and she watched as the workers hurried to close them. A clap of thunder nearby made Linda jump and she took a seat in a chair by the bathroom, not wanting to be too close to the doors and windows.

It took only a moment for her to realize that she needed to pee and she stood up and headed into the bathroom. The lights in the bathroom flickered on and off as a result of the rain and Linda hurried to finish. Flickering lights always frightened her. She exited the stall and went to wash her hands. As she did, the lights darkened further casting shadows against the walls. In the mirror above the sink it seemed that her hair was tangling around her, almost as if to smother her.

She shook away those thoughts and left the bathroom. She needed to get out of this shop. It was making her crazy.

She heard the waiter call out after her, but she ignored him. All she wanted to do now was to go home and get some sleep. Throwing her bag over her head, she hailed a cab at the corner and directed him towards her home.

The rain continued to fall long into the night and Linda began to despair. She had wanted to share her new hair with her friends tomorrow. With the rain continuing the way it was, it looked like that wouldn’t be happening.

She watched the rain fall outside her window in sheets. Sighing she shut the book she had been attempting to read and prepared for bed. Shutting off her lamp, she laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes.

All at once, her breathing became labored and she felt as if something was smothering her. Opening her eyes, the feeling seemed to subside but when she tried to close them again, it came back.

She passed the whole night this way, unable to sleep and finally giving up at around three.

When she walked into work later that day, she could hardly keep her eyes open. Situating herself at her desk, she leaned her head on her elbow and began to doze off. Yet again, the feeling of being smothered came back full force. She blinked her eyes opened, a scream on her lips.

“Hey, Linda, you might wanna be careful not to tangle yourself up in your hair. We don’t want you to strangle yourself,” Jace commented as he pulled her hair from around her face.

“Mmhmm. Jace, does my hair look pretty?” Linda asked.

“It looks pretty to me. I don’t know why you got the extensions, but it’s still pretty. Why do you ask?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Something weird’s going on. I think my hair keeps smothering me. I couldn’t sleep last night because every time I closed my eyes my hair wrapped around me and smothered me.”

“You make it seem like your hair is a living thing.”

“Yeah, that doesn’t sound a little crazy doesn’t it? I’m just worrying a bit. You know new hair woes.”

“No, I don’t, but then again, I’ve never gotten my hair done. Well, I’ll see you later, Linda.”

Later that day, Linda took her break and decided to take a nap. She desperately needed one anyways. Leaning on her elbows, she once again prepared to sleep. This time though when she closed her eyes, she was unable to open them. She could feel the hairs creeping along her neck, slowly wrapping around her neck and tightening. Unable to even cry out, she began to sob silently. She was going to die and no one was going to save her. She was going to die…all because of her stupid hair. Why had she not kept her hair…why…?

Linda blacked out.

“Hey, Linda! You zoning out on us again?” Gary said, waving his hands in front of her face.

Linda blinked and touched the back of her neck. Nothing there. No hairs long enough to strangle the life out of her surrounded her neck. It was the same hair she always had.

It was all just a bad dream.

“Hey, guys. I don’t think I’ll be getting those hair extensions.”

Her friends turned to stare at her.

“What do you mean, Linda? You’ve already gotten them.”

Linda’s eyes widened and she touched the back of her neck again.

Hair.

Linda closed her eyes…and screamed.

I won't cut my beard and I won't change my hair
It grows like fancy flowers but it grows nowhere
My hair, my hair