Bloody
I was asleep, nestled into my place in Emily's head, when I suddenly felt her push past me, shoving me to wakefulness. In my disoriented state, all I registered was panic. Absolute panic.
Too confused to open my eyes, I chuckled. The chuckle was my first defense; a rich, deep sound, calculated to inspire fear. Sometimes, if I was lucky, the sound would make the attacker to scared to fight, and I could talk my way out. Otherwise, it made them less likely to fight well.
I chuckled for a few moments as my head cleared, then opened my eyes to see Sean. Pinning my arm to the floor. And holding a knife. Well, then.
Wait, that's not Sean, I thought, looking closer. His eyes were bright green, not blue. I had spent enough time as an alternate to know the difference.
"You know, boy, you're not the only one here with a knife," I said calmly, reaching into my pocket and pulling out a knife of my own, opening it one-handed.
The alternate snarled and raised his knife higher in readiness, but before he could do anything, I threw my knife. It spun across the floor, ending up ten feet away from us, under the couch. Out of reach.
"However," I continued, as the alternate's green eyes remained on the path of the discarded knife, "you are the only one here who wants to hurt anyone." Reaching up with my unpinned arm, I placed one finger on the flat of his knife blade and pushed gently, trying to bring the knife to the ground. His gaze snapped back to me, and he growled, holding tightly to the handle of the knife. I lowered my arm.
"Put the knife down, hun," I said. I kept my voice low and soothing, and fought to keep my arm still, though it longed to reach up and throttle this paranoid motherfucker.
He crouched over me for a few moments more, uncertain. I laughed, startling him.
"No one wants to hurt you here, dahlin'," I said, using a Southern accent on the last word. "If I'd wanted to hurt you, I would've at least kept the knife."
He hesitated a moment longer, then threw his knife under the couch as well. He stayed crouched on top of me, but hey, he trusted me enough to put his knife away. Progress was progress.
"Now that we can talk on more civilized terms," I said, "I want to ask you something." I thought a moment about how to word it. "You're obviously not Sean. You're an alternate, like me. As such, you do not have a proper name. So what does Sean call you?"
"Anti," the alternate replied after a moment.
"Hello, Anti," I said, smiling pleasantly. "My host is Emily, and she calls me Bloody. Despite the circumstances, it is very nice to meet you. Now, could you let me up?"
After a moment more of looking suspicious, Anti stood, allowing me to do the same. I did so slowly but casually, not wanting to alarm him or show fear. Smiling briefly at him, I walk over the the coffee table, picked up my deck and started shuffling.
"Care to join me for a game of Stealing Bundles?" I asked.
Jack
Sleep in my own mind might be pleasant normally, but not now. Emily was right there, and she was scared. I had to help her.
But I was too tired.
I couldn't wake up. I kept trying, but Anti held me down.
I should sleep normally and gain strength, but I couldn't stop trying to wake up long enough to sleep.
Oh God, I hope Emily is okay.
He's smiling. What happened? I need to wake up!