Chapter 2: Split

Jack wasn't the same after that. The voice, or Anti, as he called himself, would occasionally talk to him; Jack didn't answer back. He didn't want to lose any more of his sanity.

He kept uploading his videos, though. He didn't want anyone to think something was wrong. Wrong with me Jack corrected himself.

Anti often interrupted his thoughts with gruesome words that made Jack clench his teeth in disgust. Sometimes an image would materialise in his head, and he desperately tried to rid his mind of dead, tortured bodies and dark, threatening eyes that stared directly into your soul. And the hardest part of it all, was to pretend it never happened.

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Jack had heard the voice for a month now, and he couldn't take it anymore. He desperately needed answers. Why is there a voice in my head? What does Anti want from me? Is this normal? He smirked despondently. Of course it's not normal. People don't have conversations in their heads.

But we are having one right now, aren't we, Jack?

Jack huffed in annoyance and rubbed his temples gently.

Can you read my mind now? he thought disbelievingly.

A sickly laugh engulfed Jack's mind; it was becoming a regularity.

I have always been able to read your mind. We share the same body, after all.

He didn't follow. What does he mean by "share the same body"?

Why don't you just ask me?

Jack sighed unknowingly. This is gonna take a while to get used to.

You will learn to accept me sooner or later. Sooner, I hope, for your sake...

He sat up a little straighter. What do you mean by that?

Anti ignored his query and went back to the previous question.

I am you, Jack. A part of you, at least. Some would call me your "dark side", but in reality, we are two sides of the same coin. You cannot have one without the other; as messed up as it is, we complete each other.

Jack pondered over this new information, but ended up getting more questions than answers.

So, we're like, split personalities?

In a way, yes. Only one of us can control our body at a time, though. And currently, you are in control.

Jack didn't know he was holding his breath until he heard the word 'control'. He breathed out slowly, and tried processing the information before asking any more questions.

So, what ARE you, exactly?

Jack could imagine Anti smirking devilishly when he tauntingly murmured the next two sentences.

I am your inner demon. And there is no escape from me.