Dirt Clam T-Shirt

The first time I looked on this shirt, I felt nothing at first. Slowly, though, as the day tick-tocked on, I began to see things. Well, not quite “see” things. Black shapes just out of the corner of my eyes, darting to and fro. When I would turn my head, they would disappear, and I would feel more alone than I ever had.

Soon, I would start hearing them as well. Their shapes would linger for just a split-second longer before disappearing, though I dared not look at them any longer. I tried to force the sights and sounds out of my head, but to no avail. I could hear their black speech wherever I went. The day proved no solace; the night was a living hell. When I first attempted sleep, I tossed and turned and awakened after only a few minutes, only to find a black shadow hovering over me. For days on end after, I would press on without rest, vowing only to sleep where I dropped. That is what I did.

I dreamed of an endless ebon nothing, stretching far out ahead and below me. As I dreamed, I fell. The voices grew stronger here. I could not understand them, but I knew they commanded me to do countless unspeakable acts that only the most profane souls could imagine. I fell until I could see a single grey light dully glowing far below. There, in this twisted hellscape, spired a tall tower of steel and bone, and around it were gathered its keepers; the same black shapes I would see in the day. Only now did I see their full form. Shackled, sickly things, barely walking on two legs, their skin hanging off bone. They endlessly labored around the base of the tower.

I descended closer to the barren land below. As I drew closer to them, I could see they all had their heads turned to the ground, yet I heard their voices in my head even louder now. I opened my mouth to scream, but no words would come. I landed, and they all turned to me... where their faces should have been, only skin showed. I could feel my eyelids get heavy and tighten, and then I couldn't open them at all. In a fury, I began to claw at the ground, looking for a way out. I couldn't see or breathe. I knew I would never escape...

And then I awoke. The t-shirt had fallen from its hanger, the mocking face of the clam crumpled up on the floor. To this day I dare not touch it. And I warn all of you to stay away as well.

• 100% preshrunk cotton.
• Seamless collar.
• Double-needle stitched.
• Taped shoulder-to-shoulder.