Voices

(Challenge: Voices)

Ever since I was born I heard them. Voices inside my head. I didn't know then if that was my own voice or someone else telling me what to do. As a tiny little kit, I didn't understand much either so I just pushed it aside.

As I grew into an apprentice, learning more things, I heard them again, the voices that I actually forgot about since they had not appeared for so long. They whispered like a thousand different cats but I could only make out one word most.

"Kill."

At first I thought I was imagining things. So I pushed them aside again. I was just an apprentice with a desire to explore new things so it was natural for me to have more thoughts, right? But everything changed the day I became a warrior.

They were so proud, my family and friends. I was standing on the ledge with the leader as I got my warrior name. Instead of just Stonepaw, I was now Stoneclaw. I smiled down at the crowd as they cheered my name.

But that night as I sat vigil, it all seemed unreal. I thought I was in a dream but when I woke up, my eyes widened until the rim was visible. Everyone in my Clan had been killed. The camp was a mess of blood and bodies, horrible sights that would forever haunt me.

I gasped and stood frozen. A murderer? Who did this? When did anyone break into the camp, and the most important question, why was I still alive?

I couldn't say anything because my mind stopped working. I just stood there with my mouth agape, trying to find answers. However before I could even ask, the answer came to me through those voices inside my head again, whispering to me in a chilling tone like a snake slithering.

"You are the murderer. You did this."

I tried to shake it off. "No I didn't!" I screamed but I didn't even know who I was screaming at. "I would never kill my own Clan! Who are you?"

"We are the monsters inside your soul."