Sanctuary of the Odd

Chapter 52: Too Much

I couldn't take it. It was just too much. I need to clear my head.

I was walking down the mansion hallw- OH GOD! I clutched my head but that's not where the voice was coming from. IT'S NARRATING EVERYTHING I'M DOING! A bunch of ghosts are watching me, kind of frightened at what they were seeing.

I tried to walk, I needed to get out of public eye, I needed to escape the voice. It's so goddamn loud! The things Sotakeh told me, all those times I hear bits and pieces of it, didn't prepare me for how loud it'd be! I can't think! Am I even thinking anymore? Are these my thoughts?

I make a step wrong and I topple into a wall, sliding to the floor SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.

I need to do NOTHING I NEEED to do NOTHING until the voice goes away. The ghost all flew off somewhere. I needed to focus I needed to focus.

I thought about focusing. I thought about thinking about focusing. I thought about thinking about thinking about focusing. I thought about thinking about thinking about focusing. I thought about thinking about thinking about thinking about focusing. I thought about thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking about focusing. I thought about thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking about thinking about focusing.

"Anne?" A familiar voice called out to me. "Anne! Are you hurt?! What's wrong?"

Right, that voice was Lexine, it's separate from the voice narrating my life right now. It's so loud it's all I could hear at times.

"Oh, you can hear the voice of the goddess fully now..." She said. "Oh dear..."

"Anne!" Raina just arrived, her face was so full of worry. "What's wrong with her?"

"What's going on?" Asked Panchi as she was just arriving as well. The timing of those ghosts were incredible to get them all to show up at the same time.

"Anne?" Lexine said looking at me. "Speak to me."

I couldn't find the words. I couldn't discern my words from the ones from the narration.

"Narration? What's she talking about?" Asked Raina.

"She hasn't said anything yet." Panchi responded.

"Huh?" Raina looked in my direction and realized my mouth wasn't moving. "Oh! Oh GOD!"

Lexine focused on Anne because she knows better than anyone that she's the one that needs help the most.  "Oh, she's going full second person now, this is serious. Anne, listen to me!"

I'm listening. I thought about listening. I thought about thinking about listening.

"Anne! Focus! Who are you?"

Who am I? Why is she asking me that? She knows who I am.

"Of course I do! I'm asking you to remind yourself!"

I thought for a bit. I'm, Anne O'Maley. I'm the ruler of the Principality of Sanctuary. I identify as female.

"Good, keep going."

I um, I like trying new foods and spending time with my girlfriend. Well, my friends in general. "The three people closest to me are my girlfriend Raina, my friend Panchi, and auntie Lexine." They were all standing in front of me.

"Where are you Anne? Look around you, touch the floor, what is there?"

I touch the floor, I felt the ornate carpeting. I looked up to see an expensive light fixture above. "I'm at the mansion, sitting in the hallway. I'm surrounded by friends."

"Can you stand, Anne?"

I stood up. "Woah." Usually standing up from sitting on the floor took some work, but I just shot right up like it was nothing. Is this the power of the voice?