Discovering Blue [Proto-Story No Longer In Construction]

Chapter Three: Elliot

I still can’t feel my limbs and my vision is spinning in circles and I’m pretty sure I’m on the floor now. Well this is a new sensation. My vision is kind of blotchy and my hands feel kind of tingly.

                I crack my eyes open. When did I close my eyes? Suddenly Cal is at my side, shaking me and looking me over worriedly. Is Cal touching me? That’s impressive for an apparition. Is this what it feels like to pass out? That’s rather unpleasant. I shouldn’t do that again.

                I sit up with some of Cal’s assistance and groan when the room spins and my head throbs. I put my hand on my forehead, waiting for everything to clear up. Well that’s extremely unpleasant. Let’s not do that ever again. Good, it’s settled then.

                “Cal?” I ask only to hear him chuckle and look around the room.

                “I think we did this part already, Elliot,” he tells me snarkily. I forgot what an ass he is. Guess I never noticed when I was eight. “You know, you never used to have a fainting problem,” he says offhandedly, giving me a stupid smirk.

                “Shut the hell up, dude, my head already hurts without your attitude.”

                “So he does speak English!” he exclaims, throwing his hands in the air and smiling. Idiot. I shoot a glare at him before a soft knock sounds on my door.

                “Elliot? Are you alright, honey? I heard a thump,” Mom says through the wooden door.

                “I’m fine, Ma, just tripped is all,” I lie easily. She tells me to be more careful and departs to the kitchen. I look at Cal again, my head clearing and logic taking over. There’s obviously something wrong with me. But how did my mom see him too? Is there some toxic gas leak in the house? Has to be. There’s no way my Imaginary Friend is here right now. I haven’t seen him in ten years. This is literally impossible. He’s Imaginary. From my head. He’s not real!

                “Elliot, speak. You freak me out when you get your thinking cap on. You look like a five-year-old someone tried to explain Quantum Mechanics to, sheesh!” Cal says, bopping the top of my head. I look up at him and let my eyes take in what they can. He looks exactly the same, aside from looking ten years older. Do Imaginary Friends age? Why am I even thinking about this? Of course they don’t.

                “You’re not real,” I tell him. Cal’s face falls in confusion as he tilts his head slightly to the left.

                “That’s a startling accusation, Elliot Pearson.”

                “You can’t be real, Cal, you’re Imaginary!” He chuckles.

                “While that’s technically true, at the moment I am very real.” I’m not exactly sure when I start hyperventilating or when the room starts spinning again. Everything feels hotter and smaller and I can hear my heart beating. Can Cal hear it too? Why is there suddenly so little oxygen in here? I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe! I have to be batshit insane, right? When did I start pulling my hair? My hands are shaking and I think I might vomit. I don’t want to go back. I can’t go back there; I’m not crazy, I’m not crazy. I can’t be! It’s been seven years since I had to go there. They fixed me. This isn’t supposed to happen again! They said it wouldn’t happen again!

                I’m only dimly aware when I start muttering “not again, not again, not again,” over and over.

                “…liot! Elliot, listen to me!” Cal is staring at me and gripping my shoulders as he talks calmly. “You are not crazy, listen to me. Breathe, Elliot, like me, watch.” He takes a deep slow breath and lets it out just as slowly. I nod and try to copy him but I can’t. I can’t breathe. “Elliot, you need to listen to me right now. Breathe with me, okay? Breathe,” he tells me, forcing me to look at him.