That night, I had a very restless sleep. Smith's consciousness would often take over, and I would see flashes of his past, back when he was an Agent and fought the man called Mr. Anderson. How he hated Anderson, he was the reason why Smith was in this I woke up, I felt as if I hadn't slept, and I lazily got up to have a cup of coffee.

*Are you not going to have a shower?* I groaned at the sound of his voice resonating in my head. So yesterday wasn't a dream.

*I think it would be in your best interest if you did have a shower.*

*After my coffee,* I said to him, which seemed to satisfy him for the moment. I drank my coffee as slowly as I could, but I knew I couldn't put it off forever and went into the bathroom to get the shower ready.*Smith...*

*I am not going to close my 'eyes' if that's what you are going to ask. I am here, and you are just going to have to get used to it. If it wasn't for the fact that I find the smell of humans repulsive, then I wouldn't care whether you showered or not.*

Wait, what? *I smell repulsive?* I tentatively sniffed near my armpit, but I couldn't detect a strong body odour.

*It's not just you. It's the whole of humanity. Now hurry up and shower.* He growled. That was an interesting piece of information, but for some reason, I found it hurtful, and I couldn't understand why. What did I care about what a 'computer program' thought about me and my species. Well, if Smith wasn't going to close his eyes, then I would, and I started to get undressed, which was quite easy, but trying to get into the shower was a little harder. I sighed and opened my eyes. OK, no comment from Smith. Perhaps I could get along with him in my mind.

*Do you know your problem, Miss Mills? You think too much about nothing.*

I managed to have a shower, which was able to wake me up, and I felt 100% better. I made sure to use my most fragrant body wash, and when I asked Smith if I smelled any better, he said that I would suffice. I figured that was a win. I was starting to relax a lot more now that I didn't have to worry about Smith seeing me naked, although I knew that there were other things that I had to do which would be just as embarrassing, I just hoped I got to see the Oracle before it came to that.

In the afternoon, I got my home ready for the consultation. I hoovered the carpet, burned some candles and generally cleansed the room of any negativity, however it did not work on Smith who complained all the time but I was learning to switch him out if I was concentrating on other things.

Mrs Herald was very prompt and arrived at two. "Please come in, make yourself at home." I told her, she looked like a woman who was on her last legs, her skin was gray in color and her eyes red and puffy, whatever the reason for coming to see me must have really hit her hard. "Can I get you anything? Tea? Coffee?"

"Oh, no, thank you." She replied meekly. I sat down opposite her on the sofa.

"Right Jill. Have you ever been to a medium before?"

"No, but I have heard a lot from Beverly."

I nodded, "Alright then. So, is there anyone you are hoping to get in contact with today? Don't tell me who. "The older woman nodded. I touched her hand reassuringly. "I am just going to close my eyes and center myself, I will then be more open to spirit, and we will see if I can answer any of your questions." With that, I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, and began my breathing exercise to help relax my body and bring on a meditative state. In my mind's eye I saw my living room, Mrs Herald was sitting on the couch looking at her hands and over by the door was Smith, I was taken aback at the fact that I could see him.

*Smith, I know you say you are not my spirit guide, but could you act as one for me now?*

*If I must, what is it that you need for me to do?* He asked gruffly as he tugged at his suit's cuff.

*Is there anyone on the other side of the door? If so, let them in.* Smith looked and said that there was indeed someone outside.

"There is someone here." I told Jill, "I am letting them in now." From the doorway stepped a young man of around 19. He wore a t-shirt with a sports slogan and black slacks. *Welcome, can I ask your name?*

*I'm Josh. What am I doing here?* He asked.

*You are here because you felt drawn here, I have asked for you to come.* Josh came closer, and I described to Jill what was going on. She was crying as it was as she feared. Her son was dead.

*This is not Mr. Herald.* I looked over at Smith. He hadn't spoken for a while, and to hear his voice startled me, it also startled Josh as he hadn't realised that Smith was there. *An Agent? What is this?*

*If I recall, you are an exiled program. So is this what you get up to? Pretend to be the ghosts of released humans?* Josh, or whoever this guy was was clearly shaken. *Are you going to send me to the source for deletion?*

*No. That is not my purpose anymore.*

*Smith, what is going on? What shall I tell Mrs Herald? If this is not her son, then where is he?*

*Mr. Herald is no longer in the Matrix and is living in the real world as a rebel. As far as I know, her son is alive and well, but to her, he may as well be dead.*

This was so confusing! Exiles? Deletion? The source? I couldn't get my head around it. Jill's sobs brought me around to the present.

"Jill, your son is free... he is at peace and..." I paused at a loss for words.

*What else do I say?* I asked Smith.

*That he is sorry for all the upset he has caused.* I repeated to Jill what Smith had said and then watched as Smith turned on the imposter.

*You will leave here and tell whoever it is you are working for that I am on to you, and if any of you bother Miss Mills again, I will personally delete you. Understood?* The exile nodded and then ran for it, and no wonder because Smith looked murderous, and I could tell he had enjoyed it.

Slowly I brought myself out of the trance, and I was looking at Jill with my true eyes. She was crying. I sat next to her and hugged her. "I didn't want to think it was true, but I knew I knew he would never run away... I just didn't want to believe it." she sobbed, broken hearted with despair. I asked her to tell me more about Josh and what her next steps were going to be. At the end of the session, I didn't ask for any money. I felt like I had cheated her somehow, and I felt annoyed at myself for being taken in by the exile. How many had come to me claiming to be the spirit of someone who was actually alive?

*You were not to know.*

*Thank you, Smith, if it wasn't for you then...*

*I did nothing. Now, are you going to get in contact with the Oracle?* He said, changing the subject.

*I guess I had better... I think I still have her phone number somewhere.* I went to my phone book to have a look. While I was there, my phone began to ring.*If that is the Oracle, then she is very good.* I said to Smith as I answered the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey Tegan, it's Deb. Haven't heard from you in a while, is everything OK?"

"Oh, hi Debbie, I'm fine."

"You sure, sweetie? Is the psychic circle still on for tomorrow?"

"As far as I know, same time as always."

"OK great! See you tomorrow."

"Bye Deb." I replaced the receiver, and it was as if a switch had been turned on in my brain.

*I remember now... I remember it was a Tuesday... and I was at my local coffee shop. I am part of a psychic circle, you see, and we meet up and discuss spirit and other supernatural things... I remember it was raining outside and as a result the coffee shop wasn't very busy, which is how I like it as it means fewer vibrations to work with. Anyway, it was quiet, and we were taking a short break when I noticed something odd out the window. People were running in the rain, they looked panicked... scared... Then, from around the corner came you... a man in a suit, but not just you... there were lots of you. All in the same suit and dark glasses. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There must have been over 20 of you walking calmly down the street while people ran in fear, screaming. One person.. a man, tripped up, and one of your... clones pounced on him, the next thing I knew that man became you and I screamed. Seeing that freaked me out. The man who had become you looked over at me. Tony, the owner of the coffee shop, yelled at us to go out the back and run.. but we never even made it off the sofas as the door opened, and two of you walked in. Tony was the first to go, and I was running for the door when you grabbed me. I screamed and you said... you said, 'Shh, screaming won't help you.' You were going to change me when another clone said stop. He walked over and studied me. 'I'll take this one,' he said, and the other one nodded. Then he stuck his hand in my torso and there was pain and darkness.. and that's all I can remember until now... So what happened, Smith? Why did you stop your other clone from taking me over?*

*I sensed that you were different, that you would be useful to me. The copy that took you over was, in fact, the original Smith.*

I nodded. *So, did you know then that I was a medium?*

*I knew that you could see programs that other humans could not. And it seems that you were some use after all, for if it wasn't for you, then I would no longer exist.*

*Even if it is in the body of a human?* He said nothing to this, and I knew now not to pressure him into answering.

So then it was all true. Spirits were rogue programs in a digital world, and Smith used to make sure that humans like me never found out about it. Everything I believed in was one big lie. Fuck.

*Miss Mills.*

*Yes, Smith?*

*Did you find the phone number for the Oracle?*

*Smith knew I hadn't, but it served as a reminder for what I was supposed to be doing, and I went back to looking in my phone book.

*That's funny, I am sure I had her number written down... I'll have to ask the girls tomorrow at the circle.*

*The circle?*

*Yes, the psychic circle, we have a meeting tomorrow. I am sure one of the others will have the Oracle's number. You will just have to sit tight till then, OK?*

Smith made that growling sound again, which I took as being the sound of annoyance.