Schizoid

Chapter 2

I shift, as if to hide from her blazing view, but she is no longer angry.

She is shocked, and most likely confused.

I see Casey has recovered from her distraught state, now smirking to herself, I told you, I knew you would winI. Though she does not say it, I can tell she wants to. Clouds pass, covering the sun, the amber kitchen is covered in a dark filter, lack of light. My mother continues to stare, waiting for an answer.

"I won it at school," This comes out as an uncertain cough, my eyes trained on our stained, tan counter, refusing to willingly explain.

My mother clears her throat, "Anything else?"

"I passed my science test." At this she rolls her eyes, too tired for further questioning, she stumbles past me, I get a whiff of whiskey on her breath. My eyes role as I attempt to rush through the kitchen, to my room, but my sister interferes, "You won!" She exclaims, a familiar glint in her eyes, "You own a NsGo headset! Oh, Michael's going to be so jealous!!"

With that she rushes to the landline, in the neighboring room, and I am given clear passage to my room. The window in open, bring occasional drafts throughout the plain area. My walls are a pale yellow, and my bedspread is blue and grey. I've never cared for decor, no one comes to see my bed anyway. I steps the two meters, and land on the creaking bed. My mother gave it to me when Grandma died, she inherited it, but didn't want it.

The posts are charming, a dark auburn, with engravings that resemble beads at the edges. I open the box, with the slight jolt of excitement rushing my movements. The headset is thin, in a round shape, for me to where it as a pair of glasses. The part ment to go over my eyes is almost clear as glass, with a blue tinge. The bands are black and simple, with three buttons on the side, and a rolling trinket that I cannot place a purpose for.

I lay back, placing it gently on my head, not bothering to read the instructions. I fiddle with the buttons until I see a black, empty space, with bold white words asking,

Do you wish to play?

Yes No

I press the button above my temple, and I responds immediately,

How long would you like to play?____

(Use the dile to determine time)

I continue following the words instructions until I am set into a whirlpool of confusion. It's as if I am being transported, blue tiles of varying shades spin around me, some pushing against each other, coming closer to my face, some pulling showing a black space behind. Then, as I began to feel queasy, I appear in front of a dated mirror, but the reflection is non-existent, like I am invisible, in the back, a woman's face is flushed, and a man is holding her, insisting she breaths. Another woman is by her feet, pushing the first to a laying position. It takes me a moment to realize she is giving birth.

I see a few words above my asking what race I was, a Wood Elf, Redguard, Argonian, Khajit, High Elf, Dark Elf, Breton, Imperial, or Nord. In the confusion, I managed to point to Wood Elf, then I could see how I looked in the mirror. I was pale, with long, pale gray hair, and boring eyes, I had dark, almost bruised patches around my eyes, and thin lips. I was small, and skinny, with bones jutting out.

While I scrutinized the new me, I realized I was in nothing but undergarments! A squeal escaped my lips as I threw my arms around me and attempted to cover myself, but the family, now resembling my Wood Elf coloring, did not seem to notice, the birthing woman's face flushed as she groaned in pain.

The words above the mirror changed, now asking,

Would you like to begin?

Yes No

I pressed yes, then a spiral of memories filled my head, and everything went black.