Control

Ocean Eyes

I shifted my head from side to side, but my reflection remained unchanged, unmoving. With trembling hands, I reached up to touch my face. The texture felt the same as always, but my reflection never moved with me. His hands never pulled up to his face. Not even a blink. Just slow, heavy movements that was his breathing. Nothing was me, all of it was different features, textures and tones of the skin. How was this possible? Were The Others growing stronger? "Who are you?" I asked in a shaky whisper, my hands falling away from my color-drained cheeks.

His smile only grew wider, more wicked. "I'm Marshall. And I've finally gained control over your mind." He laughed in the most sinister way possible. Pure evil was the only thing to saw. He had no shred of good inside of his soul.

"Uh, are you okay?" Jamie's voice echoed through my mind until I slowly I looked to her direction. Her brow was raised and confusion contorted her features.

Gulping, I curiously looked back at the rear view. But, this time I saw my normal self. The dark, almost black eyes and black hair sticking out in spikes, almost looking blue in the lustrous moonlight. Marshall was gone. "Y-yeah. I'm f-fine. Let's g-go."

***

I could barely drive home, my entire body wouldn't stop jittering. The anfractuous roads were made difficult due to my hard, shallow breathing. Jamie said things here and there but her voice sounded miles away.
Thankfully I made it home safely. I'll admit, I glanced up at the mirror more times than I could count but, I saw no sign of The Oth-Marshall every time. Did he just want to drive me crazy? Because it worked.

The Others never actually appeared as themselves, they only took over my conscience to commit... felonies. So, why now? Was this a sign that they were getting stronger? What would happen next?

"Are you coming?" Jamie yelled halfway up the stairs. I must have forgotten to leave the car. Geez, I think too much. Willing my thoughts away, I peered at the rear view for the hundredth time only to come up with nothing and shriek in frustration. Surely he had to appear again, right?

Sighing sharply, I decided to go up to my apartment with Jamie. No, not in a sexual way. Although.. nevermind. As we entered the tiny space, I had to abstain from shouting my house down to see Marshall again. All I wanted was answers to the million questions I had. Like, why now? They had never decided to reveal their true faces until now. And what made them stronger? Gahhh! I needed answers, and fast or else I would have checked myself into an asylum.

I threw the idea on the back burner, flipping on the only light switch within my apartment. "Welcome to my mansion," I spread my arms wide and accidentally knocked both hands against the walls surrounding me while doing so.

Jamie chuckled, raising her perfect brow. "Yeah, sure suits you."

I gasped mockingly, fluttering a hand over my heart. "What's that supposed to mean? Charming and welcoming?"

She ignored my question, shouldering past me and took a few steps to plop down on my bed. The springs whined as the bed bounced beneath her, "I have to admit, your bed is the only inviting thing here."

She liked to be rude didn't she? "Uhm, excuse me. I invited you here. It isn't much but this place is my baby. Quit offending it." I ran my hand over the grainy counter top, squinting through thick lashes at her as I did so.

She scoffed as she hopped up from my bed. Then shuffled toward my dresser, opening and fumbling through the drawers. "Are you clinically insane or just extremely annoying?"

Little did she know... But I just smirked and said, "I don't know, probably both."

I hobbled over to my dresser, stopping behind her to lay my stubbly chin upon her shoulder. Knowing it would aggravate her, I reached around her waist and flattened a hand over her stomach. Then I grazed my chin across her shoulder, the prickly hairs scratched the bare skin from her spaghetti-strapped shoulder. "Whatcha doin?"