Spirit Machine

Chapter I: Evoco

The ripple shook me, like a great wave passing under my skin. It shook me to my core, causing me to twitch and shudder- my neck tense and fingers curling without control. I'd thrash about, seizing- all the want to move deep within my arms, my legs; but, tight grips prevented me of all motion. I'd snap open my eyes as a great light swallowed up my vision. It was cold, unsettling, curled around every direction I looked.

 Am I with him? I couldn't help but ask, all the talk of Heaven and what lay beyond snaking through my mind. It was more seductive than I wanted, a thought I wanted to bury, but always found a way to dig itself through. I'd twitch, murmurs about me screaming with their dull, whispered voices and clatter. I couldn't see, couldn't hear, couldn't move. Perhaps I had died, and this is what truly awaited. Cold, dead existence without motion.

 She's awake? A thought slipped by. What an odd thing, referring to myself as that. Of course, I'm awake. I never recalled doing something that strange, talking to myself. It's something that he did quite frequently. A pang of nostalgia slipped by my chest as the seizing left me, my body feeling heavy as I squirmed and shivered. I'd blink my eyes slowly, the light peeling somewhat. In a blurry haze, I'd slip my eyes around in confusion, shifting my wrists. Something was holding me.

"Please let go," I'd beg it, and with a sharp tug, it no longer held me. I'd wince, feeling such a sensation in my arm as it rippled. Was I still shaking? I can't see. I'd wiggle my other arm, before it too, released me suddenly.

 Stop! The thoughts screamed at me, many of them calling and shouting. Restrain it! Impossible! Put her down! It came in a flood that made me wince, made me hurt- I'd squint my eyes and cover my ears, pulling my knees in with some tugging and pulling, before feeling the weight shift off me. I wasn't in control, I was hazy, I couldn't move straight. Something was wrong, I need a moment...

 So tired... I'd whimper, before the weight of whatever I lay against left me, and I slipped. A hard thud sounded as I bashed into the floor, curling up somewhat. The grips took me once again as I squirmed and tried to shrug free. There were so many, pulling and tugging as I struggled- before eventually giving in. So weak... So tired... It kept running through my mind, kept running through my body.

The thrashing began again, the many grips and hands pulling me in all directions as the blurry haze of vision was a wash of colors and sights. Too bright, too hard. It was too much to receive. Faces, all around- arms, all wanting to hold and tug at me. Empty spaces and holes for faces, they made me cringe in confusion. Were they melting?

"Put her back in the charge!" A voice cried, booming.

"Why did she struggle?"

The voices... weren't mine? Were they the thoughts? I'd slump somewhat, they wanted me to stop pulling. The hold was like iron, too tight, were they trying to hurt me? I'd feel myself set back against something hard, blinking a few times as I looked to one of the faces, the weakness shuddering through me once again. Draining me.Just like before... I'd recall. Once it'd take hold of me, I'd fall asleep again. It worried me. I didn't want to sleep again, I couldn't sleep again.

"It." A voice corrected. "It struggled."

"Well, it broke the restraints!"

I felt myself slipping away, shifting somewhat. Too weak. I wasn't ready. I'd overslept. My arms wouldn't move when I wanted them too, as I'd look up slowly to the bright light overhead. I felt a twitch in my lips as I had to speak. I had to say something. I needed...

"The charge was too weak-"

"Too weak?! That was the nominal charge for an average automaton!"