Awakening

*Beep*...

*Beep*...

*Beep*

It all begins when you wake up to the soft beeping of the electrocardiogram connected to your middle finger. You don't remember how you got here, your memories too fogged to make sense of them. You groan, looking through squinted eyes at the unfamiliar ceiling. An aggressive series of flash abruptly blinds your blurry vision as a vicious explosion thunders in echoes within your eardrums. You quickly sit up only to fold back onto yourself after a sharp pain shoot through your skull. You run your hands on your temples and feel bandages on your head. With your mind still fuzzy, you try to take a look at the hazy surrounding once more.

‘A hospital room…? You ponder. Ugh, can’t they put less white on the walls? It’s too bright in here…’

You make a low breathy grunt, your throat way too dry and unused for proper words. You feel slightly weakened. Tremors go through your body in waves almost as if you were nervous, but you know better. When was the last time you ate? You're so groggy. You try to shield your eyes with your hand from the sunlight peering through the room's only window and wince. Damn your brain hurts…

I actually enjoy this aesthetic to be fully honest. It makes the room look more spacious... and clean.

You snap your head up, ignoring the pain it brings you again as your eyes sweep everything around you. You take note of the door on the other side of the room. What you find strange is that, throught your investigation, you see no sign of life except yourself. You do feel like somebody's in here with you, it's strange, but you can’t see them. Where did this low masculine voice come from? No speakers either, even though you strongly doubt it could've been that. The voice was much too clear. There’s absolutely nobody in the room... is your mind playing tricks on you? You grit your teeth momentarily, feeling another sharp sting to the back of your head. You must have a concussion of some sort.

I’ve been waiting for you to wake up. He sounds posh... and a bit energetic? Excited? You’ve been laying here for quite a little while.

Your body tenses up again and you immediately feel movement through your own skin. You don't understand this sensation. It's outside of you, as if someone is sitting right beside you. You close your eyes for a moment

‘’… I’m going crazy…’’

Dismissing everything, you sit on the edge of your bed, moving your head slowly. Now looking for your belongings, you wonder if they're even in the room. There’s only two dark colored wooden wardrobes in front of your bed, a small table in between them, chairs on each side of your bed and the usual load of medical equipment surrounding where your head would lay.

You’re very sane. We’re only in a… singular situation. To say the least...

It answered you?

‘’I’ll need pills for this.’’ you sigh, shaking your head slowly.

You take a look at the absolutely beautiful baby blue hospital gown they put on you. Note the sarcasm. You then methodically take everything in your arms out, not liking the way they just stick out of there almost half-hazardly. Without really thinking, you also remove the heart monitor's thingy on your finger, making some alarms blare out.

‘’Ugh.’’ Genius. That wasn't very smart of you now. You're gonna give yourself a migraine.

I can assure you that medication won’t do much. Nothing human made could affect this state. He audibly sigh, sounding just as exasperated as you are right now.

You choose to ignore both the voice and the annoying alarm and slowly stand up to reach out for your prosthetic leg hidden between the bed and a chair.

Yes, prosthetic. Ever since your leg's been amputated, it's been a real b**ch to learn not to just stand and start to walk. To actually take the time to put on your ''leg'' like you would a shoe. Let’s just say, lots of embarrassing faceplants happened.

Anyway. 

Getting back to the subject... Two nurses comes rushing in, panting heavily. You smile guiltily at the involuntary panic you've caused. They immediately calm down when they notice you're up. One even frowns at you when you wave without fully looking at them. You sit back, prosthetic in hand. They go turn the alarms off while you strap your fake limb onto what’s left of your left leg. Sure, you could be all emotional about the loss of your limb, and you have been, but it was a while ago and you managed to get over most of it all. You keep telling yourself it could've been a lot worst. Not only, this prosthetic is also a real miracle sent to you. One of the most recent models. Practically indistinguishable when you wear pants and i it's also suprisingly comfortable. Well, as much as it can be you guess.

The tall blonde nurse greets you politely ‘’We’re happy to see you finally up, but it might still be a little bit too soon for you to try to walk. You should return to bed. ‘’

She slowly pushes on your shoulders so you lie back down. You frown lightly at her and comply with a grunt.

‘’What happened?’’ You rasp.

She looks at you, then turns to the stocky brunette that also suddenly stopped trying to remove your fake leg before looking to you again.

‘’Don’t you remember? You were attacked during the night. Shot in the head-’’ She continued talking, but you didn’t register anything else.

A heavy rigning is all you hear. Everything was coming back. That man, his face, his voice as he blatantly insults and menaces you. You try to calm him down. You try to protect-

‘’FRISK!’’ You interrupt Blondie and shoot up, knocking the brunette nurse away. You ignore your body's complains, snap the prosthetic back on and move to stand again only to be stopped by too many hands on your arms.

Please, calm down.You feel a ghostly touch on your back.

‘’Miss! You should rest!’’ the nurse practically shouts. You don't have time for that.

'' Where's the kid?''

''Who?'' Your throat goes dry and your face numb.

They have to let you go.

Now.

‘’Am I allowed to leave?’’ you stare coldly, deep in the blondes' eyes. Your now steady voices seeming to make them a bit uneasy.

Blondie stutters ‘’If you c-can walk…y-yes, but it’s not recom-‘’

‘’Then I’m leaving.’’ You interrupt, standing up and franticly looking for your things. The nurses stand behind you powerlessly, looking at each other. You finally find them in one of the wardrobes.

Picking them up and putting them in your bag, you add ‘’I have the right to leave, you can’t stop me.’’

______________________________________________________

After hastily changing into your own clothes, getting a quick drink from the cafeteria and seeing your doctor to check you out of the hospital, you then fast-walk through the city's streets with your bag on your shoulder, skipping pedestrians and cars along the way. You fight through the weakness in your muscles.

The voice seem to have finally left you alone. Thanks to whoever. You didn't really have the time to get evaluated. At least, it doesn't seem too bad for now.

Please wait.

You spoke too fast.

‘’I though you left.’’ You huff out loud, making people stare strangely at you.

Note to self; No talking to voices in your head in public.

You really will have to go to your psychologist for that, he'll have a whole other kind of field trip with you again. The thought sours your expression instantly.

You'll deal with this problem later. For now, you need to find the kid.

I cannot, but my mind did wander. I was merely looking somewhere else.

‘Somewhere else?’ Well that's weird. ‘Where?’ You can't help but wonder. 

Where are you heading? He skips your question not so subtly.

‘Home.’

You hear a soft hum and get that feeling again. It's as if a tall form stands beside you. ‘So, if I’m not becoming schizophrenic, mind telling me what or who you are?’ You ask sarcastically, deciding to humor him... it.

Might as well.

You pass the street, not noticing the red light. Tires screech and cars angrily honk at you. Your body involuntarily twitch and the presence beside you jerks away before slowly coming back to its original position.

So you… believe me?

You feel surprised. Why? For what? You get the sick feeling this is not an emotion you should even accept as being one of your own. It's so alien. 

This is ridiculous, this situation is hilarious in the worse sense of the word.

...

To pass time, why not chat with him (it? You're still not sure) the rest of the way to your apartment .

'Why don't you try to convince me?'

Yes… well. He says softly.

You can almost feel him smiling for some reason. You mentally slap yourself at your own though. How could you know? He's INCORPOREAL. Ehm... Not real, you mean.

He gains a bit of seriousness back. It might sound exaggerated, actually, to you I'm sure it might even be crazy. He sigh angrily. Ugh, this will not aid me, but first thing I should mayde tell you is that I could be considered... omniscient.

‘’What?’’ You utter out loud, not noticing where you're going and bumping into a man’s shoulder.

'’Sorry.’’ You only hear muttered swears as answer.

God dammit, stay focused!

You turn on a street corner leading you on the restaurants and bars road. You bring your mind back to what he told you.

'Starting strong, aren't you?'

He's right, this first one will never help him in making you believe he's an actual person, but whatever. You go on with the conversation.

‘So that’s why you said you were ‘’looking somewhere else’’?’

Yes. You can feel a smile, as if he's bemused.

You think he might be enjoying this, your quick thinking... or maybe he's just aware you don't believe one ounce of what he's telling you. After all, he is in your head, real or not.

The simple word ' Smart' resonates silently through your thoughts.

I can see everything happening if I so desire.

‘But you can’t really interact?’

Sadly, no.

‘Okay.'

You can still fell your head throbbing. Small chat and your still not convinced. Pretty sure he's only a product of your imagination, but hey, you stil got a good way to go. Let's just play along a bit longer. For kicks? Let’s see how much your mind can make up an elaborate story. Make your bountiful imagination let himself known.

'Could you tell me how many customers there are at the Bakery near the end of the street then?’

You frown uncontrollably. He's obviously aware now that you're not buying it.

You want to test me? You nod. Alright then

…

12.

You nod again and you both stay silent until your reach the bakery. You lean casually on the wall, completely forgetting about the importance of heading home and look through the window, counting. While you count heads…. 7, 8,9,10. You don't see any more people.

Welp, there's the end of your immagination apparently, and your proof. A bit disappointing to be honest, it was so easy to figure out.

He's only part of your messed up mind. He's simply the response of your brain having a bullet through it.

’You missed,dear.' You can't help but smirk as you rebalance yourself on your feet.

Wait a bit.

You shouldn't stop, it shouldn't even have happened the first time. You don't want to, but you suddenly can't help it. Your legs are stiff and prickly as if they fell asleep and you sense his presence standing, unmoving, all around you.

Now look again.

You frown and turn around.

A little child and her mother come out of the bathroom at the back. The kid runs to the glass counter full of sugary goods as your eyes go wide, frozen in surprise for a moment.

How is this possible. How did he manage that? Could it be luck?

You look at the child's smiling impossibly wide. It reminds you of your little Frisk's own...

You snap out of it, frustration just refueled, turn around and start jogging again. You have to reorganise you priorities, you're just wasting your time right now.

Convinced?

Oh, he's so smug.

‘Maybe, maybe not. ’ You reply flatly. Who is this guy? ‘Okay erm, sorry for the bluntness, but what are you exactly?’

Certainly not human.

Well yeah. He's amused.

I am a monster… well, I used to be… There's a short silence as he breathes in. Frankly, I’m not too sure anymore. He stammers, now sounding quite disheartened.

You ignore the monster part, more concentrated on the rest. At what point would someone begin to doubt what they are? That's just sad.

‘I empathize.’ Your mind mutters. 

You walk through a group of teenagers speaking annoyingly loud. You gaze with a fuzzy view at them, your brain complaining again. You close your eyes after going through the little crowd.

‘What got you there if you weren’t like this before?’ Silence.

Damn, was that too much?

‘Did I go out of bounds in any way?’ you think worriedly.

…No, no. In fact, it has been a while since I’ve had a conversation.

I enjoy it.

You think you feel him smiling at you for a bit, but just when you start to get a feel for it suddenly it's gone again. I was careless… and this carelessness got my very being ...erased. Like I never even existed.

You feel a melancholy wash over you as you imagine how he'd be forced to see everyone he knows go on with their life, not even remembering him, while he's stuck there. You don't even know where 'there' would be.

He'd be all alone...

You can't help trying to put yourself in his place. To think about how hard it'be to live the same thing with your loved ones. You squeeze your hand and surprisingly feel a pressure sort of squeezing back. The feeling calms you down a little and you let a little smile slip on your lips.

Your emotions feels shared...

Maybe they are?

You think for a bit and realize, something is not right.

You then ask him ‘How can I hear you then? Feel you? How can you possibly exist in my mind?’

You turn another corner, getting on a calmer road and finally seeing your duplex in the distance.

We’re connected. Well, that answer came out easily.

‘How is that possible?’ You get your door keys out of your bag. You feel your shoulders stiffen lightly and your stomach do a flip. It's almost like that first time as a child where you try to build a friendship with someone you admire. The presence that was behind you practically surounds you now, almost cradling you.

Our souls got… ''linked''… when your magic called me. He says in a small, almost shy voice.

Your mind echoes you the word 'Together' this time around and this simple word suddenly feels too strong for your tastes.

You let a short laugh escape you, reaching and unlocking the door ‘’Happy to know that I'm not the only one that knows witchcraft in this world.'' You say sarcastically.

Magic. He corrects you.

You roll your eyes while smirking.''Yes, that.''

Ever since you could remember, you always knew ''tricks'' that no other kids, or even adults, could do. However, you always tried to keep it a secret. Obviously, you found out quickly that humans can be... well they can be a very unforgiving race to what they don't know. You learned it first in middle-school, you think. Not only were you already that one kid who ditches tv and the city life for a hiding spot it the closest forest and its thousands of potential discoveries.You've also always thought that your magic was sort of beautifully... eerie (for lack of better words.) Those kind of things don't usually make quick friendships either. Luckily for you, the kid as never been scared of it. They walked in on your when you were using it once and you nearly had a panic attack, but they only marveled. Ever since then, it has been your little secret with Frisk.

Talking about souls thought, that's a first. You never heard about it being an actual physical thing. Something you can stick together. Combine? 

''Souls? Connected? You’ve got to be kidding me dude.’’ you kick the door closed and enter the living room.

You drop your bag and keys on the dining room table and immediately take a moment to look at your living/dining room/kitchen for any signs of Frisk being here recently.

Nothing's on the couch, no books touched on the bookshelf nor the numerous masks hanged beside it, no chairs moved at the dining table, the TV remotes are where you left them. You look at your feet. Little dried mud stains on the doormat leads to their bedroom, then back at the door.

I really am not playing you. It did happen.

Dammit. You probably just recently missed them.

That is actually how you got shot. Your soul called for help when you feared for the human child's safety. I managed to percieve it and we accomplished some sort of a …connection… to give you some extra strength. The male saw our combined magic on you and was naturally frightened, to say the least, and pulled the trigger of his firearm. He says, matter of fact.

You sit down at the dining room table for a moment, taking in the information.’’ This... This doesn’t make sense. How did you reach me if you can do nothing but watch?’’

Sadly, I am afraid the answer escapes me as well, but you see. Our souls are… similar. His voice almost sound bashful as he clears his throat. We reached out to each other.

''Oh'' with a lack of better words you stand up, suddenly very uncomfortable for no concrete reason. ''Well, thank you for the information anf sorry about grilling you like that I guess. Now, I... er.. I have to prepare to leave.'' you go to your room, taking a black hoodie and your equally black trench coat.

Where are your heading now?

‘’I’ll go look for the kid, wherever that may be. They came here to take some things and left. I have to find them.’’ You tell him, grabbing your pocket knife, your phone and a little med kit from back in the military for security.

I can help you with that. You hum inquisitively, putting on the hoodie and your coat.

That's right, he sees!

But do you even believe that crap? You know full well he's just your own thoughts in another voice, a freaking trip to crazy town but... but you're willing to accept anything to find Frisk.

Beside, you can still discern good thoughts from stupid ones... right? Whatever, he could come in handy even if you're still doubtful about him. They’re in my hometown. In the monster realm.

You groan, picking your keys. You're starting to get a real headache from everything that's happening.

''And where might that be? '' You grumble sarcastically.

Mount Ebott.

You freeze. Damn. The mountain that no one comes back from. Why there Frisk?

They always did wonder about the place though... You shouldn't be surprised. You can't really blame themeither, you were the same at a younger age.

You huff. Well, it's just another one of those little *special missions* they'd prepare for you as they would say. You sneer a short laugh.

'I’ll get them back, a curse isn't gonna stop me.'

You stop in front of your mask wall, taking your gloves on the bookshelf. Looking at your masks, you decide to take one, a skull with four pointed teeth and hollow black eyes. You smile at it, thinking about the kid again, when you two use to make those things together.

You then smirk to yourself, walking to your apartment door. ''Going to the monster world, might as well look like a monster too.''