Ya'll seemed to like this one so far… lets see how this chapter goes over.

Updated: 2/4/2015

Ethan took a step back from the guy, surveying him while the voice egged him on to get away.

"Seriously Ethan. Listen to me. Back up."

"Back up? Why? What's going on?"

"I… can't explain right now. But please, listen to me."

"… Whatever."

Ethan stopped the internal argument – which he was really beginning to wonder if it was just something wrong with his brain – and looked at the guy, who was just staring at him.

"Um, sorry for bumping into you," Ethan said, taking another step back. The guy only grinned and shrugged, looking way too smug for Ethan's liking.

"Not your fault. I was on my phone… It was nice bumping into you though. Bye." With that said, he walked past Ethan and into the classroom Ethan would soon be entering himself.

"What was that about? And since when is he my class? I've never seen him before…"

"None of that is our concern right now Ethan. Just go to your locker and get your stuff."

"But-"

"You just need to trust me on this. Drop it."

"Why should I listen to you? You're the one who is in my head. You should be listening to me."

"I'm just trying to help."

"Well go away. I have to go to class."

"Fine, but I mean it. Stay away from that guy."

"Why should I?"

The voice didn't respond, and once again Ethan really wondered if he was going crazy or not.

When he was sitting in class – trying to not look at the guy who had creeped him out earlier – his eyes betrayed him and wandered over to stare at the figure who was slumped too casually for their private school standards.

He was tall, Ethan knew that right away from bumping into him, but he didn't realize how much taller – or were his legs just overly long? That must be it, because suddenly Ethan didn't seem to be looking at a teenager like himself but a man.

A very dangerous looking man…

What was going on with his vision?

Ethan blinked a couple of times and he found himself once again looking at a normal teenage guy.

What had just happened? He took a deep breath and scribbled down some notes from the teacher before he looked at him again.

The first thing he noticed was that his hair was messy – Ethan wondered how the he got away with that when the school cared about physical attributes so much – but then he noticed what he was wearing.

Who on Earth would wear a leather jacket to a private school?! He wore baggy jeans – why would you do that too? And… could Ethan see a hint of a polo shirt under the jacket?

Who was this guy?

"That doesn't concern you Ethan. Stop looking at him and go back to your work."

"I thought I told you to go away."

The voice was gone again.

But Ethan did find himself wanting to get as far away from the guy as possible.

When he looked back up, he was staring back at him now, eye sseming to peirce into him.

And Ethan felt himself shiver in a way he hadn't felt before yet felt so familiar to him that he shivered again.

And those eyes just stayed on him the whole time.

"I thought you were going to keep them apart."

"I'm trying-"

"Trying isn't good enough! They cannot be reunited, do you understand me?"

"Of course."

"Good. Do your job."

Ethan felt his stomach flip as he saw the guy in almost all of his classes; where had he come from, and why was he here now? The school rarely allowed new students once the year started…

Unless he had been here before? No, Ethan was sure he'd have noticed him…

Why was he so sure about this though? He just found himself shaking his head and leaving the school as fast as possible. He had to go to work after all.

"Don't go to work. Go have some fun."

"No, I'm going to work."

"Why? That's such a boring job."

"I like working there."

"Geez Ethan, why do you care about having a job? Go be a kid, go have some fun."

"No thanks. Can't you go away again?"

"Nope. You're just stuck with me."

"Why? Why was I cursed with this plague?"

"Don't you worry about that right now. I'm here whether you like it or not. And I will help you."

"Help me with what?"

"You will see. You need me."

"Why would I need a hallucination in my head?"

The voice didn't answer, and for that, Ethan was glad.

Work went easily enough; not many customers today, so he was able to just stock new books and chill in the breakroom or at the register. Then, he went home and ignored the voice that would pop up every now and then in his mind.

His mom went about her usual questions: 'how was your day', 'did you do everything you were supposed to' and 'how was work'. But then, she dropped a new question on him.

"Did you meet any new people?" Ethan looked at her, surprised by this; she always asked the same questions, and was always easy going about it.

But now, she looked tense; her hands were clapsed tightly in front of her, her lips pursed…

"Um, not really… there's this new dude in school, or at least new to me; I haven't seen him before."

"Hmm," she said, eyeing him. "Well, there's no room for new people right now Ethan. You have school and work and then home for dinner and homework… No distractions."

"Of course mom. I'm gonna go finish my homework and then go shower."

"Okay. Night dear."

"Night."

"That was weird."

"That it was. But she's right; you might be in a rut, but you don't need new people to mess up what I can help with."

"What's that mean?"

"No worries Ethan. I've got you covered on all of this. Just listen to me."

"But-"

"No buts. Just listen to me. I'm here to help."

Ethan saw bright white lights dance in front of his eyes; he could feel the itch of stiff cloth under and around him, and the feeling of something holding him in place.

"Ethan! Ethan hold on! I promise we'll get through this! I won't forget about this! About us…"

"This is for the best Ethan… Don't you understand that? I'm doing this for you…"

"No! Let me go! Let me go…."

Ethan woke up with a jolt, the chill of sweat soaking his skin.

What was that?

So this has already spiraled out of control, and its only the second chapter!

Well, thanks for reading and see ya'll next time.

-JustMe133