Aaaaaand here's chapter three!
Still don't own anything!
Reviews would be oh so spectacular! :)
Chapter Three
Even as she ran away from him, she still felt the presence in her mind, nestling in deeper, growing more comfortable in her mind. What was this- this alien presence in her brain?
It didn't speak again until she had finally sunk into her own bed that night, exhausted. She wanted nothing more than to sleep, but behind her lids she could see flashes of light as aliens shot at people, and she could almost hear the terrified screams. And then there was that hole in the sky- it would be plastered in her memory like a large billboard for the rest of her life.
Just as she felt herself begin to relax and let her mind settle, the presence stirred, nudging her back awake.
Jamie?
It was that voice again. That beautiful, but alien voice. She lay frozen, unsure of what to do.
It's alright, Jamie. You're safe. The Chitauri have been destroyed, and you are no longer in harm's way.
How did he know that was the reason she couldn't sleep?
I live in your mind now, Jamie. I can hear your thoughts, see your memories.
This was beyond weird.
"Okay, well can you get out my head?" she whispered hoarsely into the darkness. "For one, it's creepy. For another, I'm trying to sleep."
There was a low chuckle that seemed to vibrate inside her head slightly. Oh, I won't be leaving for quite a while, darling.
Jamie suddenly felt too hot. She could feel herself starting to break out into a sweat, and her anxiety spiked. "Who are you?" she whispered.
Think of me as your guardian angel. The voice was nearly purring, soothing. Now relax. Nothing will harm you. I've disturbed your sleep, and for that I am deeply sorry. Goodnight, Jamie Franklin.
The presence curled in on itself then, like a snake, and became small but noticeable, like a pebble in your shoe.
There was no way Jamie was ever getting to sleep now.
The memory of the man all chained up on the curb was vivid in her mind. Hadn't he been the one who gave her this voice? Who was he? Was the voice his?
Listen to me, she thought with a bitter sense of humor. There was no voice in her head now. Sure, there was still that something in there, but she wasn't hearing any more voices. Perhaps she just imagined the whole thing.
Was she going insane? Would she have to see a psychologist? Would they send her to an insane asylum?
Needless to say she got very little sleep that night, and when she did, she dreamed restlessly of aliens and holes in the sky and that voice, always mumbling things she couldn't understand.
The next day he didn't emerge from his little corner in her mind very often. Because most everything was closed down because of the Chitauri attack, she didn't have to go to work. And because her family had been so worried about her before, she spent the entire day with them. Even Eddy made an effort to converse with her, which normally didn't happen. Not anymore.
Jamie and Eddy had grown up very close siblings. But as time went on, and as she graduated from high school, he started falling into the habit of making bad choices. Before long, he was buying and selling drugs to his classmates, and skipping school without telling their parents. The distance between them grew the more he disappointed her and her parents.
The voice inside her head took notice.
Why are you and your brother so distant?
Jamie shrugged, even though she knew she didn't need to and probably just looked like an idiot shrugging when no one was talking to her. Memories of her mom crying and her dad scolding harshly flooded into her mind, and the voice had his answer.
But you can forgive him, can't you?
Maybe, she thought, but I'm not ready to yet. He gave us too much pain.
The voice grew quiet, then, almost faintly, said, Maybe you're giving him pain by not forgiving him.
Look, it's not your business, okay?
Jamie didn't mean to snap, but this thing didn't have a right to invade her feelings like that.
He was quiet for the rest of the day, and didn't speak until she finally told her family she was going to bed. They had turned on the news, which was still covering the New York tragedy, and Jamie didn't feel like watching it.
They were very worried about you, the voice observed.
"Yeah," she whispered. "But it's all good now."
Are you sure? Will you be alright?
She could feel the concern in his voice, and she softened towards him. Much as she was still weirded out by the voice in her head, she felt almost calmer. She felt like she had a friend. Someone to talk to. Her family was doing the best they could, but somehow their hovering made her chest tighten, and she felt that she needed space. The voice gave her that space when she wanted it, and when he talked to her it was gently.
I don't know, she thought. What do you think?
It took a moment to respond. Then, What you went through was traumatic. But yes, with time, you will be fine. That's why I'm here. To help you get through this.
Jamie could almost imagine the comforting smile she felt as the voice said this.
"Thanks," she whispered aloud. But… who exactly are you?
Like I said before- your guardian angel. I'm here to comfort you, to give you advice, and help you through this time of trouble. If you ever need anything, I'll be here.
Jamie felt a wave of comfort at his very words. Maybe it wasn't so bad to have this weird voice in her head. Especially if it was so kind and caring.
She still couldn't sleep that night. The voice murmured soothing words, and even began to sing softly in a wonderful, soft voice that instantly made her eyelids droop.
Do you have a name? she wondered.
The singing faded, and she was answered with, Names do not matter. I know yours, and you know me only as your guardian and comforter. Call me whatever you like.
Names instantly popped up in her mind, and she felt the voice cringe slightly in her mind.
But not those, it said.
Jamie actually laughed out loud, then put her hands around her mouth to stifle it. To be honest, this is making me think of Phantom of the Opera, she thought.
Phantom of the Opera?
Yeah. You haven't heard of it? Well, the main character, Christine, was promised by her father before he died that he would send her the Angel of Music. When she moved to the Paris Opera House, a voice began to teach her to sing. She always assumed it was her Angel of Music, but really it was the phantom, trying to get close to her.
Does this phantom have a name?
Erik. The name came quickly to her mind. She remembered how weird it seemed that the phantom had such a normal name when he was feared by so many.
Then I will be your Erik.
Jamie smiled. Erik. She'd always loved the sound of it, and the name perfectly fit the beautiful voice inside her head.
You are pleased, the voice remarked.
She was.
So… do other people get voices like yours in their head when they've gone through something traumatic? She asked out of curiosity. Maybe he was part of a system of angels whose jobs it was to comfort people. But she'd never really heard of anyone else experiencing what she was.
Perhaps was the only reply she got.
Before she even realized it, she was asleep.
The next morning, Jamie was in a much happier mood.
Good morning! she announced once she was awake.
She was rewarded with a glowing reply from inside her head.
Today she was going to her grandpa's. She wanted to apologize for how she had treated him about the motorcycle, which seemed like such a trivial problem now.
On the way over, she told Erik, as she fondly called him now, all about her grandfather and about how guilty she had felt after getting frustrated with him about the motorcycle.
Your frustrations were understandable, he remarked pleasantly. And you're going to make it right. Don't feel guilty.
Jamie sighed. "Okay," she said aloud. "But I still won't feel better until after I talk to him."
Of course.
"We're here!"
Her grandfather lived in the middle of nowhere, and was usually found inside his shed tinkering around when he wasn't on duty. Jamie pulled up to the drive, and headed straight for the large shed. It used to be a separate garage until he had built one that attached to the house, so it still had a garage door on it, which was open. It was a sure sign that he was in there somewhere.
I think you'll really like my grandpa, Jamie thought cheerfully as she stepped inside.
I'm sure he's nothing short of-
And then he was gone. Cut off. The little seed of a presence was no longer in her mind, or it had become absolutely numb to her senses. The shock was almost as great as when it first appeared there. After being so used to it, she felt as if there was a blank spot where it used to nestle.
She stopped abruptly, blinking rapidly in surprise at Erik's sudden disappearance.
Her grandfather was talking to someone. When he saw her, he beamed and slapped the man with him on the back.
"Jamie! I'd like you to meet Bruce Banner."
To be continued! Hopefully I won't keep you guys waiting too long!