I miss the quiet. I miss the peace. My head is no longer my own. It is brutally attacked by the thoughts of those around me. Everyday. I do not remeber a time when I had peace. I just know I miss it.

“I wish I looked like that girl.” “That boys kinda cute.” “I can’t believe I’m going on a date tonight!”

My feelings are being pushed to the side in favour of theirs. I feel the pain they experience.

“I should have told them I loved them.” “I need to tell somebody what happened last night.” “I miss them so much.”

I feel their anger

“I’m going to kill that bitch he ran off with.” “I hate her.” “They never gave me a childhood.”

I feel myself beginning to get lost in their thoughts. I do not remember what is mine and what is theirs. My mind should not be their play place. But yet it is. Even in sleep I am ambushed by their dreams. I am l
o s i n g

                            m
                         y
                    s
               e
        l
 f

And nobody can help.

Their thoughts are too loud. Their thoughts and feelings are connecting to mine, like a fucked up bluetooth. I am privy to their private thoughts. The ones they never want anyone to hear. The ones I don’t want to hear.

So, Would you really want to hear others thoughts? Or is it another dream I’m made to watch, another fantasy forced on my conscience?

Kimi- shy, quiet, very calm (girl) she only has a mother, her father died in car accident Wanda- loud, sarcastic, popula girl She sometimes makes fun of Kimi and says she's joking (girl) Charlie- quiet, mean, pushes everyone away then wants them to come back (boy) Kilo- bully, tough, rude sometimes only for protection, his mother and father got divorced and he thinks it was because of him, has a crush on Kimi but doesn't want to mess a relationship up (boy)

  Kimi woke up with the thoughts of people she saw in her head. As she walks the halls of school she notices her best friend talking with girls she didn't know. 

"Hi, Wanda!" Kimi smiles but then stops when Wanda looks at her. Wanda's thoughts: 𝓤𝓰𝓱 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷, 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓸 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝔀𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓼 Kimi's voice falters and quickly walks away. Kimi's thoughts: 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓯𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓱𝓸𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮? 𝓦𝓱𝔂? 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻? Kimi tried to swallow the tears forming her eyes as she walks toward her other friend, Charlie, who is talking to his gang. Kimi picked up her pace and waved to Charlie but froze. Charlie's thought: 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷... 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓯 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓵𝓵 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓻𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓱𝓲 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮 Kimi's eyes widened and she whispered softly, "Not you too, Charlie" She suddenly felt the need to get out of there so she ran to the place she felt safe in.

She quickly crouched down and held herself, crying quietly as she leans on the neatly bookcase. She hears footsteps and looks up to see Kilo, her bully. Kimi's thought: 𝓞𝓯 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓸𝓹 𝓲𝓯 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯𝓯... Kilo eyes widened, "Are you...crying?" "Please... I've had enough for one day" Kimi's voice cracking. Her eyes getting puffy and red as she wiped her face. Then she stopped as she heard Kilo's thoughts. Kilo's thoughts: 𝓜𝓪𝓷...𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓾𝓼𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓾𝓹 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼. 𝓘 𝓰𝓾𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓘 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓯𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽'𝓼 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓹𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓱 𝔀𝓱𝓸𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻. Kimi couldn't believe it, her bully from 3rd grade all the way to high school wanted to help her? "Hey umm what happened?" Kilo sighed, sitting down next to her. His voice calm and soothing made Kimi's heart beat faster. She gazed into his eyes which made him blush a bit and he cleared his throat silently. Kilo's thoughts: 𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓼𝓸 𝓭𝓪𝓶𝓷 𝓬𝓾𝓽𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓼 𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽? Kimi blushes harder, "Y-You wouldn't believe me.." "Come on take your best shot" Kilo joked. Kimi sighed, "I have the ability to read minds and I guess Wanda and Charlie aren't my real friends..." "Read minds?" Kilo seemed intrigued then he shook his head. "Oh... That's why you were crying?" She nodded and looked away slowly. Kilo thoughts: 𝓘 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭'𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓚𝓲𝓶𝓲, 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓼 𝓘'𝓭 𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝔂. Kimi's eyes widen and her eyes dart back to Kilo. "Y-You really mean that?" Kilo looked confused then he remembered what she just told her and he blushed in pink. "I-I...yeah" he sighed, finally admitting how he felt truly.

‘What should I make for breakfast?’

I sit up in my bed, wildly looking around. The sun is barely up and I am the only one in my bedroom. What’s going on?

I softly pad towards the door and I twist the knob. It creaks open. The hallway is empty and gradually filling with morning light. Tilly’s door is closed, and so is Michael’s. So who said that? I go back into my room and pick up the tattered book on my nightstand, The Hunger Games. This was probably my sixth time reading it.

Gently working out the adorable snowman bookmark that Tilly made for me, I focus my eyes on the words. But I can’t stop thinking about that weird sentence. It wasn’t mine, although I don’t think anyone said it aloud. I tiptoe out of bed again and head towards Michael’s room. I don’t want to wake up Tilly.

Slowly opening my brothers door, I blink my eyes to adjust to the sudden darkness that is Michael’s room. After a couple seconds, I can see him snoring on his bed. Weird patterns of light come into the room through the door find it’s way to his drum set. Humph. My brother is always useless.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to check if Tilly’s awake. I ease Michael’s bedroom door closed and walk over to Tilly’s room. Pressing my ear on the door, I can hear the pages of a book ruffling and Tilly quietly humming.

Yes! She is awake! I knock softly on her door and then push it open. Her wide brown eyes are still focused on the book until she finishes the page, and then she sets it to the side.

“Lyah, what are you doing up?” She whispers, beckoning me over with her tiny hand. My sister is surprisingly small for her age, but she makes up for it with her smarts.

I hesitate. “I… heard something.”

Tilly’s eyes widen in interest. “Like what?” She props herself up on her elbows and stares at me intently, her eyes glistening with interest.

I purse my lips. “Did you hear anyone say something, like maybe Mom?”

Tilly furrows her brow and scrunches her nose. “No…”

Uh oh, I think, what’s going on? “Well, I heard…” what’s the harm in telling Tilly? It’s not like she’s going to think I’m crazy or anything. Right? “I heard someone that sounded suspiciously like Mom say ‘What should I make for breakfast?’”

My little sister is silent for a moment, leaving my heart thumping as she comes to a conclusion. “Well, your bedroom is closest to the stairs. Maybe Mom was just talking to herself and you overheard!” She seems happy with her assumption, so I play along.

“Yes! That’s it! Thanks, Till! I can always count on you!” I say through my teeth, feeling terrible for lying to my sister. She’s so sweet and perfect and smart, and she shouldn’t be lied to. So I ruffle her hair, thrust her book - Harry Potter - into her hands, and leave the room. I don’t stop smiling until I get into my room.

Then I start to breathe heavily. Tilly didn’t hear anything, and Michael obviously didn’t hear anything. Am I going crazy? I decide to go back to sleep, hoping that it’s a dream and I’m going delusional. After all, it’s only six.

I wake up again. Now it’s almost eight, and I can smell eggs frying on the stove and bacon sizzling. I slide into my slippers and trod down the stairs, almost tasting the bacon on my way down.

But as soon as I step foot into the kitchen, I start to hear something again.

‘Where is that boy? Michael should have been down ages ago…’ Great. The mysterious voice once again. I sigh and my eyes travel to Mom’s face. It looks puzzled and disgruntled, perfectly matching the words that I heard… she starts making her way up the stairs.

“Hey, Mom! Good morning!” I say, trying to stop her. “Uhh, where are you going?”

Mom bites her lip and tilts her head. “To get your brother. Feel free to help yourself to some breakfast.” Then she jogs up the rest of the stairs and I start to feel panic arising in my mind.

“Okay,” I call, but my voice falters. I’m hearing thoughts, which I don’t think is normal, in any way.

With warm cream walls nestled into a granite cliff, the condo overlooked a sun-drenched emerald valley. Inside the curated interior the condo was lavishly minimalistic. The couple oohed and ahhed at the new surrounds. Finally they stopped at the floor to ceiling window to admire the panoramic view. “See I told you there was nothing to worry about. When are you going to trust the Shawnster?” Shawn nuzzled Robyn’s neck from behind enveloping her in a firm bear hug. Robyn squealed playfully trying to free herself from his thick arms. Apricus reviewed the couple’s joint and individual personality assessment forms highlighting 37 positive points of connection, 58 neutral characteristics, and three major divergents. “First stop calling yourself Shawnster. I trust you, sweetie. You know me, regular Airbnb creeps me out. Sleeping in someone else’s house is weird enough but the idea of being monitored by an AI is downright. I don’t—“ Robyn said, her brows knitting together. Shawn spun Robyn quickly to face him. He covered her mouth with his drowning out her words. As their kiss deepen their Apricus long term compatibility score lowered. High sexual attraction paired with low verbal communication was an early indicator of a short term relationship based on the most recent data uploaded into the house’s AI. While monitoring their temperatures and heart rates through the couple’s smart watches Apricus downloaded all of their text messages, emails, and photo libraries. Based on late night text activity alone the couple’s compatibility levels plummeted. “Relax sugar relax.” Shawn growled into her throat raining down kisses teasing her tender skin with tiny nips. He pressed her back against the window. Robyn melted under his attention her soft warmth arcing into his hard muscled chest. “It’s not HAL. My buddy is the director of marketing and he’s doing us a big favor. It’s just a smart house catered to our needs. It’s a happy place. Think of this as a free romantic weekend. Let’s get to know each other better.” Analysis complete, Apricus graphed the attraction to breakup life cycle of their past relationships and create a predictive list of future purchases, including, self help titles, gym memberships, dating app offers, and ice cream. Robyn placed her hands against his chest and trailed down is abs. “Well speaking of romance how about I cater to your needs ad you cater to mine,” said Robyn. Shawn laughed. “God I love you.” Robyn’s heart leapt as they raced to the bed room, giggling and undressing. Based on pupil dilation and heart rate the AI pondered how the test subjects could have such different definitions for that same small word. As the sunlight faded it forwarded its evaluation to AmazonLife and then Googled what Shawn meant by the word “HAL.” Apricus got the joke and chuckled.

[S.C, Bloodlines. CH 8]

Of course she hadn’t seen the set up for Gabe’s ceremony. Sitting in a room, away from everyone else. All the other vampires would meet her tonight, see the mess she was cast into. Hopefully join the fight to find her mother.

“So we just sit here?” Amelya groaned. “Actually according to the old days of the ceremonies. We should be giving you a run down on the history of our kind” Jayden said, shuffling with his tie in front of the mirror.

The room itself wasn’t much to look at, high ceilings a few couches scattered across the room, black rugs and curtains. One big coffin of a room, bathed in darkness.

“So how did it all start?” Amelya sat up, her interest peaked. “Ughhhh. Must I tell the story alone” Jayden groaned, not quite getting the tie right. “A witch had a family, who she lost in a fire. She brought them back, all six children and her lover. Forever starting the six lines of sire.” “Each of her children started a bloodline. All sacred. Setting up the six houses of blood. We are house Emerald, their third daughter. Who’s body resides in this sanctuary” “She died” Amelya questioned. “Not exactly, long ago they were all dried out. Some by the heads of the houses. Others by waring factions “ Jayden sat on top of the couch picking at his suit. “That’s kinda crappy. They are the origin and they were treated like that?” “If any of them died. They would wipe out the whole house” Cleo added in hoping off her couch and falling onto the couch next to Amelya. “The council of houses couldn’t have that.” “Still that’s pretty crappy for them.” “At that point they were hundreds of years old anyway” Jayden shrugged. “So what happens after the ceremony?” “Welp. Your gonna be sent off to our parents cottage, it’s much farther out then Lexi’s.” Jayden let a cocky smile slide across his face. “Wipe that off your face. She’ll be there with me.” Cleo hissed, pulling Amelya closer. “You can just fuck right off.” “I thought we were sharing?” Jayden laughed. “No! She’s mine” Cleo was nearly squeezing her to death. “I’ve already kissed and paired to her” “Well we’ll see who….” Faster then she could blink, Cleo was holding Jayden by his tie. Dangling him off the back of the couch , while standing on the leather cushions. “You even think of defiling her, I’ll end you” Her eyes had changed from their swirl of blue and green to a black void. “I’m not playing, she’s all mine” “Don’t you think that should be her choice?” Cleo’s eyes looked over at Amelya, flashing back to their normal color as a somber image of her not being chosen flashed through her mind.

She dropped him, flat onto his back with a loud thud. Not even looking back she started for the two large doors.

“Please don’t leave me….” Amelya cried out, hoping off the couch and hugging her from behind. “This is all very strange and I’ve never been in to girl’s before. But your different and I want you here till and after my ceremony “

Jayden brushed himself off and just watched the couple. Knowing full well that he really wasn’t that interested. It was lol just to rile her up.

“I’m sorry sis. You know I’m just pulling your chain.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “You already know my secret. So I don’t get why you’re getting mad” “Sorry too. I just really enjoy the feel of this….” Cleo turned and kissed Amelya quickly then looked to her brother. “Why do I feel like everything is about to get worse though…” “Like calm before the storm type stuff” Amelya questioned, leaning into another kiss. “Ok. Kill the make out session “ He joked. “So what’s the plan with my mom…. If we are all out in the boondocks, how we gonna find her” “I’m not sure we can…” Jayden didn’t mean to be negative but all the house councils couldn’t find him. What was the probability they could. “We can talk to Lexi’s mom. She’s on the council, she might be our best bet” Cleo made sure to rub Amelya’s back, hopefully to give a small once of comfort.

A few hours of sitting around. Amelya and Cleo cuddled up in front of the fireplace. Jayden sitting off on another sofa, reading a book. Half jealous of their close proximity, half enviously wishing he had some to cuddle.

He was one of the last of their small group left without a pair. Amelya was of course his partly, that he could feel. Yet she still didn’t feel fully his, it was confusing for sure.

“Please follow me” A stranger had stepped into the room silently, a girl close in age to the other teens. Her hair was of a purple hue, still laced with black. Purple lipstick across her full lips and eye shadows and sparkles.

It was time.

Stepping out into the bright light of house emerald, Amelya could hardly make out the council seats. Let alone all the vampires in the crowd. All cheering like they had done for her brother Gabe only a few days before.

A line of six other humans stood before her. All of them standing next to their pairs. A few of each sex, none of them looked her way. Even though she was the only one with two pairs , one being the same sex.

“Welcome all” The same female vampire announcer from days before started. “Welcome to the 1764th ceremony for house Emerald “.

The crowd erupted with cheers, only to be silenced when she lifted her arm up.

“We welcome all the new additions to our ranks. Please let the council speak now. Head seat Verona Jones.” “Like Lizzy said. We welcome you all. A few rules need to be laid out before you all. There are four rules that each and everyone must swear by.” She paused, stepping down from the council seats. “Rule one, no unnecessary feeding on humans. Rule two, We have hidden in secret for hundreds of years. It must always stay hidden. Rule three, only the council may turn humans. Rule four, we follow the council laws to the t.”

The crowd was silent, many heads in the crowd nodded as each rule was spoken.

“If you wish to join us and follow our rules. Please bow” She continued.

All the humans on stage bowed. Almost in perfect unison, Amelya along with them. The crowd bellowed at the new members. Only to be cut short when Verona lifted her hand.

“The blood of the ancestors please” As she spoke, a large bowl and a gold chalice was wheeled out by three or four other vampires. “Each of you will drink from the chalice and then your pair will end your human life. which then you will be put out to your new families cabin for the next few months until your evaluation. Where you’ll be pulled into our ranks”

Fear hadn’t quite set in until the bowl of blood came close. Amelya could only watch as each of the humans before her entered into their rebirth….. Each one looking into the eyes of their pair before being killed by them. In any other way it was a sick ritual, but it was to bring them together even further.

When the vampire handed her the gold cup, she smiled at Cleo before reaching out and planting a kiss on her lips.

“I want you to remember the warmth” She whispered before taking a long gulp. “See you on the other side”

The blood felt hot like the first sip of alcohol she’d ever tasted. It burned her throat and flared across her body. Cleo let a few tears fall as she kissed her once more, before everything went black.

Amelya could feel the warmth fading, knowing full well what it meant. Seconds later, breathing resumed but she could feel it all different.

The blood smell filled her nose, wetting her mouth. A hunger starting to burn at her stomach.

“Rise my child, touched by the ancestors you are” A voice called from somewhere deep inside the sanctuary.

Opening her eyes, focused on every single noise in the room. Breathing of each and every vampire, then I can in one quick wave.

“God that girl couple is so hot” A males voice entered her mind. “Crazy how now we have gay vampires “ Another voice slipped in. “I just want to be back at home, god these are boring “ Another and another. Till she’d heard at least one thought from everyone in the room.

Looking up at Jayden and Cleo. Cleo whipping away the few tears and smiling whole heartedly.

“I hated doing it, but if Jayden did it. Maybe she’d be his” Cleo’s thoughts rushed into her mind. “I’m gonna be stuck with them for the next few months. This is gonna be such a drag.”

“I hope our vote went the right way” A council persons thought rushed in. “This is crazy, she has a pair of pairs” Another’s thoughts flowed in. “They are a mockery to the ancestors”

“I can hear them” She whispered as Cleo pulled her to her feet. “Hear what?” Cleo whispered back, as the whole room erupted into clapping.

Amelya looked over at Lexi’s mother. Stopping the loud celebration.

Blankness.

“I welcome you all to house Emerald! Go enjoy your first night as a newling “ As she gestured a large door above the sanctuary opened up. Letting in the night air and a cloudless sky of moonlight.

Running felt endless to her, the trees a blur. Her eyes locked ahead, focused on Cleo’s back. All of her thoughts nearly unmentionable.

Stepping into the threshold of the cabin warmth and the smell of clean clothes filled the air. It was like new, all of it. The smells, the feel of everything.

She lived on the 9th floor of Putnam apartments. She woke to the sound of a little boy imagining a bank robbery. Putting her fingers in her ears, she continued to hear gunshots like they were right next door. Running to the door, she heard, “Wise guy, eh? I’ll pump you full of lead.” She looked left and right out the door, then ran down the concrete stairwell with bare feet.

Coming down to the bottom floor and out the door, she heard so much more than normal. The sound raised her adrenaline. She ran a couple blocks, passed the usual riffraff, then turned to an alley way and hid—kneeling—behind a dumpster.

A cat jumped from the dumpster, stood in front of her and said, “What are you looking at?”

Sally hiked in the woods every day. She loved nature and all the animals. It would be grand to talk to the animals she thought.

She followed a friend to school and caught up to her. “Hi, Lee Ann,” she called.

“Hi Sally,” said Lee Ann. “It’s nice to see you;here we go for another school day.”

“I have biology first period today. It’ll be a good day!” said Sally skipping.

“I have gymnastics after school today. I look forward to that,” said Lee Ann.

They continued on quietly as they pondered their day. Plus neither were wide awake on the way to school.

The school bell rang as the students arrived in their classes. “Good Morning Mr. Sampson,” said Sally.

“Welcome to Biology Sally,” said Mr. Sampson. “Read the board and begin your lesson.”

Sally sat down to do her lesson on ecology which is the study of interactions between living things and their environment. She answered the definition to ecology and answered what her favorite living thing was.

“Class, who wants to share their favorite living thing? said Mr. Sampson after he whistled to get the classes attention.

Sally raised her hand. “Sally,” said Mr. Sampson as he pointed to Sally with his pencil.

“Mine is everything in the woods, but mostly a squirrel,” said Sally. Other children said zoo animals and plants like the jack in the pulpit.

“Today is Friday and we’re going on a field trip behind the school,” said Mr. Sampson. “We’ll be walking on trails, so let’s get ready to go.”

The students packed their back packs and stood by the door. When they arrived outside Sally saw LeeAnn playing soccer during gym class so she waved at her. Lee Ann waved back.

Mr. Sampson described many living things along the trails and identified some plants and rocks. He showed the students guide books and told the students he’ll have the website on the board if any are interested in buying some for themselves.

It turned out a wonderful day and Sally returned home to nap. She dreamed wild dreams of understanding animals and talking to animals. She woke frightened with a fairy on her chest.

“Hello Sally,” said the fairy. “My name is Merciful. You are studious and you love animals and I’d like to give you a blessing.”

“Wow sure. Thank you,” said Sally though Sally didn’t know what the blessing was because the fairy flitted away as quick as it came. Sally went on her usual walk in the woods near her house.

Saturday came and Sally began hearing birds and animals talk. The sounds were similar except now she understood. The bluebird said,”There isn’t much feed in the feeder today.” Sally went to the cupboard and took the birdseed out to the feeder. “Wow! This is great it’s like she heard us,” said the bluebird. Sally kept quiet about her blessing.

An hour later she hiked in her favorite woods. She heard the weasels talking as they crossed the trail from the water to the field. She saw a squirrel climbing a tree. “Hello,” Sally said to the squirrel.

The squirrel twitched and twisted around to see who said words in his language. The human said something it thought, but I understood it to say hello. Weird! The squirrel thought. “Hello,” the squirrel said.

“Oh marvelous we understand each other just like Merciful said,” said Sally. “This is the best blessing ever!”

“What is your name?” said Sally to the squirrel. The squirrel didn’t talk. “I know I’ll name you Scurry.”

“Scurry? I like that name,” said the squirrel. “Animals don’t give their young names. Thank you.”

“I love squirrels will you be my friend?“ said Sally down on her knees.

“Yes,” said the squirrel as he climbed on her shoulder.

They played in the woods for awhile then Sally said, “It’s time for me to go home. I hope to see you tomorrow.”

The next day on the way to school Sally said,” Lee Ann would you like to come to the woods with me after school today?”

“That should work I don’t have gymnastics today,” said Lee Ann.

All day at school Sally couldn’t sit still as she couldn’t stop thinking about her blessing and the woods.

Sally and Lee Ann hiked to the woods behind Sally’s house giggling after school. Sally saw Scurry and talked to him and amazed Lee Ann. She interpreted for Lee Ann and the animals. They enjoyed their hike.

“Regulus! Silvius!” 𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴.

Regulus almost asked the man what he was talking about, but almost immediately thought better of it. Silvius, always so quick to ask questions, had remained silent.

And Silvius never quite seemed to switch off entirely, so he’d have heard it. Loud and clear.

He paid close attention after that, watching Silvius’ face a little too intently to be natural and trying his best to ignore the out-of-place words from the servants. Panic stirred every single time Zachary seemed to apologise to the twins, to the king, the queen… everyone.

And by nightfall, he knew why.

It was a Monday morning about as mundane as they come. My alarm woke me up to tell me it’s time to start another day. As I scanned my dorm room, I noticed that my roommate’s side of the room appeared undisturbed. This is the third night in a row she hasn’t slept in her own bed. She was probably shacking up with her latest male exploit. Tiffany normally goes for the frat boys who don’t look like they belong in a fraternity, but reveal their “bro” nature exactly two weeks after the novelty of her personality wears off. It’s like clockwork. She’ll come back here by Wednesday - all dejected and pessimistic. By the time Friday rolls around, she will be at it again. Looking for her next suspect.

There was a lot of commotion going on in the hall this morning. It is the week after finals so everyone is ready to party all their anxieties away. Still, all of the grumblings before 9am is especially annoying. I get dressed for class anticipating all the useless conversations I’m about to have. I thought going to a university, I would be surrounded by like-minded individuals. High school was a nightmare. I felt invisible. Surely, I would make my mark here. Maybe even get a boyfriend. Turns out I was completely false. As sophomore year was drawing to a close, I considered the fact that maybe everyone else wasn’t the problem - maybe the problem is me?

As head out the door for my exams, the volume of voices I hear explodes - but barely anyone is actually moving there mouths. Samantha in the dorm next me thinks she’s pregnant. David is nervous that his Statistics Professor will discover that he had sex with the Teacher’s Assistant in exchange for the answers to the final. Sadness. Depression. Ego. Anger. Anxiety. All these thoughts with all of these feelings associated were too much for me to handle.

I wondered if I was imagining this whole thing. Am I going crazy? Has my loneliness and isolation subconsciously unlocked this sad defense mechanism? All the emotions and the thoughts were too much for me to handle sitting in my first class - funny enough it was Psychology. Even though the professor was the only one talking, I could still hear the voices. They nearly drowned out the lecture.

“SHUT THE FUCK UP!”

I don’t know how I ended up standing with nearly 80 other students staring back at me. I don’t even remember how I got my voice to yell that out loud. The professor gave me a concerned look after her initial shock wore off. The voices start to pour in, one over the other.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I was scared and I had no clue what this affliction meant. Naturally, I fled to my dorm room - adamant that I would never show my face in that class again. I submerge my whole body with my blanket and take cover. That’s when I hear another voice. Unlike the voices I’ve heard all day, this voice was weak…course. It’s sounded near death.

“Help me…”

I walked around in circles to find out where this ragged voice was coming from. Is it coming from the wall we share with Samantha or is it coming from the opposite side?

I go out into the hallway. Instantly, that voice goes silent amongst the others. When I step back inside my dorm room, the voice prevails. I ask myself what does it mean?

I open all the cabinets on my side of the dorm room but I don’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary. Just when I think the voice is fading away, I hear that decrepit tone whisper, “Find me. Help me. As I follow the voice, I am guided to the closet. It’s cracked open. I try to push it closed but it won’t budge. I add a little more force. All of a sudden a body falls out of the closet and onto the carpet.

I am at a loss for words. I attempt to give the unidentified man CPR, but he doesn’t respond. The young man is dead. Just as I start thinking about my next course of action, my roommate barrels into our room.

She sees the man’s lifeless body laying face down.

“What the fuck did you do to him?” Tiffany exclaims.

Case #69: Mind Reader: The Common Crime

MInd Readers’ Name: Daryn

Killers Date Of Arrest: November 18, 2021

Crime: Destruction of the mind

The mind is destroyed when nerves explode. They are caused by land mines made by the Beings Of Psyche.

These things pretend to be oxygen particles in the air and are inhaled by humans.

They can pass through the body no problem. From respiratory, to memory.

As if the killer knows every detail and exploits it. Victims shall weep about their past negativity. This’ll go on for 39 minutes until the brain gets exterminated like a rat. The host is eliminated.

This is a very dangerous man.

Nothing can stop him.

It’s the apocalypse.

Save yourselves.

(Sorry, this is heavily rushed.)