10. Identifying The Voice

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"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" Maria prodded the group.

They were walking at a steady pace and making their way to Molly and Murphy's in record time, but Maria was seriously getting ahead of herself. This started to bug the others—especially Varun.

"Maria! We're going as fast as we can! So how about you stop moving so far ahead!"

"Not my fault! You guys are all so tiny..."

"You and your long-ass legs. I swear they're gonna be the end of us!"

"Watch these same legs kick your ass and save us!"

Jimin looked between them as if she was watching a tennis match. Julien walked next to Maria and whispered into her ear. Jimin raised an eyebrow before turning to Heiwa.

"So, how long does it usually take you to travel?"

"Usually we'll reach in about 3 to 4 weeks, but there's a chance we'll get there in less than 3!"

Jimin beamed. It made her happy to know they were traveling fast. She looked forward at the bickering group plus Julien and announced.

"Maria! We're reaching the market almost a week early!"

Maria whooped before smacking Varun on the back of the head.

"What the hell?"

Another smack.

"Dude! Seriously?"

"What's wrong, Princess? Too delicate?"

Varun flipped Maria off to which Maria reacted by almost breaking his finger. Julien fell back to where Jimin and Heiwa we're happily chatting away about their plans in the market.

"I wanna get a scarf! A blue one with swirls! Reminds me of the ocean, you know?" Heiwa told the two.

"I just wanna find anything about fire. I feel like it connects to whatever my problem is, you know?"

Julien have her a pitying look.

"I was thinking of finding some accessories for my boomerang," he said proudly.

"Since when have you had it?"

"My dad was the chief of the village so I was expected to have some sort of mark or bearing to prove I was his son. I just ended up getting this boomerang. Plus, it comes back to you no matter where it goes!"

Jimin and Heiwa nodded before Heiwa continued. Jimin tried to pay attention, but started feeling a bit woozy. She looked down at the forest floor. It was littered in golden brown leaves that crinkled under their steps. She tried to focus on the leaves, but slowly she felt the ground sway. Jimin gripped a tree in order to keep herself upright. She looked over to see Julien and Heiwa way ahead of her. Maria and Varun were practically gone at that point. She called out to them, but her voice wouldn't work. At that exact moment, the last person—at least she thought they were human—decided to give her a visit.

"Hey! Jimin! Wassup?"

"Shut up," Jimin cried weakly.

"Oh, c'mon! Is that how you treat a friend?"

"We're not friends."

"Ok sorry. Is that how you treat an acquaintance then?"

"I-I have a question."

"You didn't answer my question!"

"It was clearly rhetorical."

"Fine. What's the q?"

"Who are you? Are you inside me? What's your name?"

"That's three questions for the cost of one."

"Just answer goddammit!"

"I'll answer two because I'm feeling generous. The name's Isadora and I'm in fact human. The rest you'll find out soon."

"Alright then, Isadora. I'll consider you the voice in my head."

"I'm not even your friend? C'mon!"

"You've been giving me headaches! I'm so done ok! Argh! There it is again! Why do you keep making my head hurt! Just get the hell out of my head!"

"Jimin?"

Jimin flinched as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Julien was kneeling next to her with worry written across his face. Jimin finally came back to reality. She was sitting on the ground and had her head in her arms. She moved her hands to her face and realized she had tears streaming down her eyes. She roughly wiped at her eyes to get rid of the evidence as she watched Julien get up. She looked at him in curiosity and shut her ears when she realized what he was about to do.

"GUYS I FOUND HER! SHE'S OVER HERE!" He hollered through the trees.

In no time, Varun, Maria, and Heiwa were next to them. Jimin was still pathetically lying on the ground, while Isadora was unnaturally silent. Julien helped Jimin up while she was bombarded with questions from everyone else.

"What happened?"

"Why'd you disappear?"

"You alright?"

"How did you get left behind?"

"Weren't you with us?"

"You left her, didn't you."

"Hey! Don't blame me!"

"Guys! We have more important things to worry about than your stupid bickering!"

Varun and Maria quieted down when they heard Heiwa yell at them. They looked down at her like two puppies being scolded by their owner. Heiwa turned to Jimin.

"What happened? You were right with me!"

"Voice," was all Jimin could utter before she got a piercing headache.

She clutched her head and wailed before collapsing. She was supported by Julien and Varun on both sides and was set down against a tree.

"ISADORA WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

"It's not me!" Jimin could hear the panic in her voice.

"What's wrong?" Jimin asked. She was slowly panicking as well.

"I'm feeling weak...Something's wrong! Jimin! You gotta do something!"

"There's nothing I can do!" Jimin was balling her eyes out while her friends were completely confused and lost as to what to do.

"Open yourself! Let out you power!"

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!"

Isadora fell silent.

"Isadora? Hey! That's not funny!" Jimin winced in pain. She tried to get up, but Varun pushed her down gently.

"Stay. You're not feeling well."

Jimin glared at him before pushing his hand away. She struggled, but successfully got up. Jimin staggered around looking for Isadora, who she had suddenly forgotten resides in her mind.

"Isadora! Please! I don't know what's going on! It hurts! It's hurts so so much!"

She kept walking around. She could sense that her friends were in close proximity. Jimin just wanted to relax. She wouldn't if no one else was there to support her and keep her safe. She knew her friends would protect her. So her body did the next best thing it could do—Jimin collapsed.

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