Chapter 3: Voices

'Do they- Do they even care?' I think to myself, as I watch the strange blend of radioactive green and dark red leak from the latest of a series of cuts on my wrist, I had fifteen now.

'No, they don't.' The tiny voice stated, 'maybe before, but now, they're just friends with you out of pity.'

That voice, it's gotten louder now, easier to make out, more persuasive. But what really scared me the most, I didn't notice at first, since it was so quiet, but it sounded just like me.

I clean my cuts with toilet paper, and I even remember to clean my pocket knife off. I flush all of it down the toilet, I don't want my parents to get ahold of this stuff, the damage they could do with it, the secrets uncovered...

I actually bandage my wrists, and start to contemplate, 'why do I even do this to myself? It makes me feel better, but then so much worse...'

'Because you deserve it, you liar! You are constantly lying to your friends and family, to their faces!'

I squeeze my eyes shut at this, attempting to block out the voice, forget what it said, because it is so right...

'A little pain never hurt anyone, right? I deserve it, and it's not like I'm not used to it...'

I'm actually surprised at the lack of ghost activity this week... I mean, yeah, there's still the box ghost, and Skulker showed up once, but it's been pretty quite...

My musing is interrupted by my ghost sense, and I sigh,

"Well, that didn't last..."

As I prepare to shift into my ghost form, I hear the doorbell ring and I blink, 'Ghosts don't normally ring the doorbell...'

I push my sleeves down over my bandages, and peek my head out the door, just in time to hear my father answer the door with a "VLADDIE!"

'Great, Vlad's here.' I slowly travel down the stairs, if only to make sure he wasn't up to anything.

"Ah, Daniel." Vlad greets, and under his gaze, I freeze, suddenly aware of what I must look like; my normally uncooperative bangs have gone limp, and I could really use a shower. I have heavy bags under my eyes, which have gone dull. Normally robin's egg, they seem closer to Vlad's deeper blue.

I almost think I see a hint of concern from him, before my dad slaps him on the back with enough force to knock the breath out of a normal person, and his expression flickered back to irritation. I take the opportunity to flee back into my room, passing Jazz on the way, her giving me a worried look.