The voice doesn't seem malicious or at least it doesn't seem that way just yet. I first noticed it when I was getting ready for work this morning. I usually entertain an inner dialogue with myself, but this morning a stranger interjected in my mind, "Don't go in today".
I paused. I must have imagined it.
"You imagined nothing. Don't go into work today". The voice rang in my head.
It's a strange feeling, having a voice in your head. It's deafening. Have you ever yelled in a tunnel or a cave? The sound just bounces around with nowhere to go until it dissipates into an ever smaller echo..
I broke into a cold sweat. Trying to calm myself down was impossible. "How did you get in my head?" I demanded out loud.
"How did YOU get in your head?", It responded amused, "Pointless questions will get us nowhere. Don't go into work, call in sick or whatever you have to do. Just Don't. Go. In".
I didn't respond. The more this voice talked in my head, the harder it was to not freak out. I pushed myself through my normal routine. Trying to ignore the occasional reminders that echoed from between my ears, "Don't go in".
I finished my routine, and I grabbed my bag and a snack for the road. I headed to the door, and put my hand on the door knob, but suddenly a piercing scream split open my head. The high pitched wailing brought me to my knees, and before I knew it I was squirming on the ground, writhing in agony. I clawed at the sides of my head trying to rip out my own brain for the relief.
Then silence.
"I'm sorry.. I tried to warn you. Don't go in. You just need to trust me. If you go in, we'll both regret it. Just stay here." The voice whispered to me.
Too afraid to try the door again, I made my way to the couch and just sat. I sat for hours trying not to think, but it was too hard. Some thoughts slipped out, and every thought was another chance for this awful voice to invade my head.
My phone rang a few times, but I didn't answer it It was probably work. There's nothing I could think of to say that wouldn't put me in a institute. I was probably fired anyways. I thought.
The voice laughed. I shuddered and put on the tv to keep my thoughts at bay. I cycled through the usual garbage on daytime television. The local news flickered on the screen.
Perfect, there's nothing more mind-numbing than the news.
But the news did nothing to numb my mind. Instead, a reporter stood on a sidewalk with a breaking news banner below her. Behind her my work building was on fire.
My thoughts started to race. What are you? Did you know this was going to happen? Why would you not say anything for the last 25 years?
But the voice didn't answer. There was nothing in my mind, but my own thoughts. Was it ever there at all?
I didn't really know what to do with myself after that so I just kept sitting. Sometime later my mom called. She had seen the news, and she was just worried sick that I could've been hurt. I assured her that I had slept in late. "A miracle" she called it.
"I'm so glad you're okay honey. You know, it's been way too long since we've seen each other. Why don't you come and meet me for lunch? How does that sub shop behind Sears sound?"
"Don't go.", The voice rang in my ears once again.
"Sorry, what did you say?", my mom asked through the phone.
Can she hear it too..?
"Of course she can hear it too", the voice replied as I ripped the phone away from ear, "You're not a psychic."
Shaking off the voice's presence, I pulled the phone back up to my ear. "Sorry mom, today's no good. Let's meet tomorrow. 1 o' clock at that sub shop!".
My mom and I finished our goodbyes and we hung up. I was feeling a little uneasy about how easily I have taken the advice of this disembodied voice who had taken up residence in my head when it rang out again, "Get out of the house."
Suddenly I noticed that I had a sudden and intense headache. Nausea swelled within me and my breaths came in ragged gasps. I mustered what strength I had and stood up. I took a step and then another, but I was onset by a bout of dizziness that made it difficult to walk.
"The door is only 16 feet from our current position. You can make this!", The voice cried out. Suddenly I felt a surge of energy and clarity fill my mind and body. A few more confident steps and I was on my front porch. The air seemed much cleaner outside.
How do you know all of this? Why do you keep saving me?
"I'm saving us. Something is trying to kill us, and it isn't going to stop unless we can find a way to stop it".
Thoughts swarmed in my head as I tried to make sense of everything. Everything seemed like it was spiraling out of control. How could I possibly find a way to stop something I don't understand. What is this voice in my head and what is it doing in there? I gripped therailing trying to steady myself. Then the voice cried out once more.
"Get away from the house!"
I didn't hesitate. I leapt off the banner and ran to the edge of the street. Moments after, an explosion tore through the air. My door and windows exploded outwards. Fire engulfed my house from the inside, and I fell backwards onto the street as the heat hit my face.
"Watch out!"
In front of me a car careened out of control and was headed my way. I scrambled to get out of the way, and just narrowly avoided the car before it jumped the sidewalk and slammed into a nearby tree. I struggled with ragged breaths to compose myself as pain spread across my body from the many cuts and bruises I had sustained.
"We have to get somewhere safe.. we can't be here when the emergency services arrive." The voice urged.
I looked around at the devastation and into the roaring fire where my house once was. I agreed.. somewhere safer sounded good.
creds:nohopenosleep
