Flash Fiction #1 Mindreading

Sprinkles / violettaekook

violettaekook

He groaned as he settled into his desk. This week had been quite a strange one. The entire week his alarm wouldn't work, which was entirely out of the ordinary causing him to come to school later than normal. And on top of that, his mother had been behaving oddly. She constantly seemed scared almost. And for some reason, he couldn't read her and understand why. And on top of that, this weird stranger had been staring at him awfully hard throughout the day. And when he wanted to question them for the odd stares, they never seemed to be present.

The slamming of a book beside him knocked out his thoughts. He turned his head to his seatmate, watching as they gave him an apologetic smile while mumbling a small 'sorry'. Except they never actually said it. Earlier in life, he had learned of his ability to read minds. His mother had been terrified at the news, warning him to mention it to no one. He didn't understand why as he found it pretty cool and thought it would be an awesome thing to show off the friends, but alas, he would not disagree with the one rule his mother was very much still adamant on.

He gave them a head nod back, laying his head down between his arms, preparing for the headache of today. While the whole concept of being able to read minds was always impressive to him, the headache of having multiple thoughts that weren't his own bouncing around his head was not pleasant. Within a few years of his ability, he had mastered shutting out voices that were far away which were indeed proven helpful but still weren't enough.

But, just when he began to get comfortable, the warmness of his jacket inviting him to close his eyes, a voice prodded his mind.

Hey you.

He looked around the classroom, most seats empty as the class hadn't started yet. It had sounded as if someone was talking to him but as he looked around that couldn't have been the case. Maybe it was just some weird fantasy someone near him was having.

It had to be. And that's what he assumed until the voice spoke again.

Rude of you to write me off as a figment of someone else's imagination.

He furrowed his eyebrows. Was this voice talking to him?

Yes, I'm talking to you.

Well, this was new. He was always the one the prodded other's minds (unintentionally) and here it was happening to him, but not only that, they were speaking to him.

Can you stop wondering about me and just answer back.

How would I respond though? He questioned in his head.

Just like that.

He was mildly weirded out by it all but he was far too intrigued to comment on it. Shifting in his seat he 'spoke' again.

What do you want from me? And who are you?

Slow your roll, first I need you to do is go to the restroom.

But why?

Trust me on this, go.

He didn't know this person and quite frankly didn't trust them either, but the urgency in their 'voice' and the fact that they were speaking to him through his head gave him enough reason to listen to their commands. Since class still hadn't begun, and the teacher wasn't present, he quickly walked out. He was surprised at the lack of other voices in his head. But something told him it had to do with the little voice in his head. He stepped into the restroom, the door creaking creating an echo through the thankfully none-filled restroom.

Great, now do you see that open duct up there?

He looked around the restroom spotting that one open tile.

Yea?

Great, now get inside of it.

He stood there baffled. He wasn't one to use core strength and this here would require that.

Have you lost it? I'm not doing that.

Just do it trust me.

I don't even know you.

You will soon, now go.

He let out a frustrated sigh, pushing open the stall that the opening was under. Since the stall wasn't very large he was able to push his back against one side and try to maneuver that way. He used his legs and back to slowly make his to the opening. Once he was close enough he reached up, grabbing onto the ledge, twisting his body to enter the opening correctly, and used everything in him to hoast himself into the opening.

He laid painting slightly when the voice spoke again.

Great, now crawl in the direction your facing and keep going until it stops.

How do you know which way I'm facing?

Just go.

He huffed shuffling forward. It was pretty quiet aside from the echo of his knees hitting the metal of the air duct. But then he began to hear very muffled voices. Their voices becoming clearer the deeper he went. At first, he assumed it was just his fellow peers in the hallways but these voices were a lot deeper than theirs. Since his ability to mind read was still unavailable he had to shuffle a little quieter to hear what was being said.

"What are we here for again?"

"Prototype NJ94," Someone replied rather quickly, almost expecting that question.

"And what does he do? Why are we taking him again?"

"Mind reading, but he came from lab 13," He heard someone else reply curtly.

He halted his movements.

Mind reading?

But before he could think any more of it the voice spoke again.

I know what you're thinking, don't.

He listened without hesitation this time. He continued to the end of the air duct spotting a latch. Immediately, he opened it and jumped down. It was eerily quiet until he heard a shuffle from the corner of what he presumed was a room.

"Kim Namjoon," It was that voice again but it was no longer in his head.

"Yes?"

"You are in danger."