In Your Veins

Chapter 10

I'm...awake.

And...

I don't remember anything that happened yesterday, because it was just a dream. It doesn't matter that the memories in my head are as clear as day. It was just a dream.

"Y'know, I've heard that denial is one of the first stages of grief. Were you grieving for me, Alette?"

This is what hell feels like, isn't it? I might just be dead. I died in my sleep from that mysterious illness and now I'm in hell.

"I don't understand why you're acting this way. You should be excited! I came back, just like I said I would."

I drag myself to my bedroom mirror and stare myself right in the eyes. If I look hard enough, will I see his yellow amidst my purple?

"Are you expecting to see me?"

I am, I suppose. If he's inside my head and in my brain, wouldn't it make sense that I see some evidence of him on the outside, too?

"What an interesting idea. Brilliant, even."

I don't like the tone in his voice. I don't like that my thoughts are piquing his curiosity.

"You keep telling yourself that you don't like this, but every action of yours says otherwise. You looked into your own eyes, expecting me to stare back. Did you really miss me that much?"

Did I...?

"It's okay, Alette. I know this is confusing. You're only human, after all, and when a human gets confused, they lash out in fear."

Am I only angry because I'm confused? It's hard not to listen to him when his voice is coming from inside my skull.

"Hey. Don't think about those things. Let's go get breakfast instead, okay? Your body is weak right now."

"I don't want to eat," I say out loud, to a person who is not there. My speech is starting to slur. "Every time I try, I throw up."

"I'm so sorry about that, my love," the person who is not there replies, "that's just the defense mechanism for this parasitic form. Listen to me and we can steer away from such unpleasant feelings."

So that's why I've been so nauseous...

Everytime I do something he doesn't like, I get the urge to puke...

"Let's go, Alette. We need to eat."

He said 'we'...

He feeds off of my food intake...

I slump down on the wall opposite to the mirror. "I don't want to."

"Alette..." He says my name in a dangerously soft tone. "Listen to me."

I go limp on the floor, unwilling to move. Maybe I can starve him out.

"This is an interesting side to you, my darling. I didn't know you could be so...violent."

Various muscles in my body tense against my will.

"Your little tantrum is the direct result of you being so hungry. When I force you to eat, it is for your own good."

I feel an unpleasant burrowing pain in my back. My arms move of their own accord. How much power does he have...!?

I struggle against him, forcing my body back onto the ground.

"I don't appreciate your attitude," He says, his voice ringing with annoyance. "You're making me out to be the bad guy here! Have you already forgotten that you cut off a piece of me?"