The Perfect Hybrid

CHAPTER XI

Ella

I woke up screaming and gasping at the stabbing pain I feel in my chest.

It hurts. It hurts so much. Make it stop. Please, make it stop.

I was vaguely aware of the voice I hear around me, possibly trying to calm me down. And if I am not hallucinating, I think I heard the faint voices of both my parents.

I am no longer in that dreamscape. I am safe now with my parents in the real world.

Those are the words I kept on chanting in my head as my chest continued to torture me.

I tried to breathe. I tried to focus on the voices around me instead of the ringing in my ears and the pain inside me.

Clutching my chest, I tried to find my voice.

"Help!" I tried to say but it came out as a croak due to the dryness I feel in my throat. "It hurts so much. Please, make it go away."

"Ella. Breathe. Baby, please." I heard my mom's worried voice.

"Mom?" I squinted at the person in front of me.

"Shh... Endure it for a while, sweetie. Daddy has already called the doctors," she said as she squeezed my hand in reassurance.

I closed my eyes as I tried to concentrate on other things which I realized was a pretty stupid move considering all I can see is the blackness behind my closed eyelids, so all I could focus on now is the agonizing pain in my chest.

After a few minutes, my mom's voice was not the only one I can hear in the room now. The warmth from my mom's hand was replaced by a cold one. I felt something prick my skin before all sounds vanished, my thoughts spiraling back into the unknown.

***

Did I say my thoughts spiraled back into the unknown? What I really mean is that I became an audience in another person's life again. It is not the same as the last one. I know this person is different yet here I am, looking at the reflection of myself in a mirror. The previous person that I was in had my face as well.

Was this really their face? Or my consciousness is only making me think we have similar faces because I am living part of their lives.

Will she die too? And if she did, will I feel the extent of her pain as well? Just like the last time?

I watched as she styled her hair in a way that I know this person does not share my time period. When she thought it to be okay, she took the hat, that for a second, I thought was simply a decorative flower case, on the dresser and carefully placed it on her head.

This must me what I would have looked like if I have lived in the past. I look, I mean, she looked straight out of the classic novels we were forced to read on fifth grade.

But, the mood of the outfit was depressing. She was wearing an all-black dress that reached her neck down her ankles and the hat as well as the flowers on it was painted black. It was as if she was going to attend a funeral.

It suddenly dawned on me.

Another death?

Seriously?

I heard a soft whimper from behind me. When she turned from the mirror, I saw that the sound came from a baby.

Whoever this person was, I can feel the sadness in her heart as she looked at the baby. A tear slipped down her cheek before she wiped it away and straighten herself.

What are you going to do? I asked in my mind even though I know I will not receive any response.

I felt her resolve when she took a deep breath and placed the baby on the baby basket beside the dresser and carried it downstairs. I did not get a chance to see more of the house because this person's pace was in a hurry.