Don’t think, just go.

I was trying to come up with a route to the house when the new voice spoke up. How the heck am I supposed to get there if I don’t know where the way to go?

We will guide you.

What?

GO!

A little startled, I decided to run. I’ve never heard one of the voices yell before and I absolutely did not like it. It was like someone stabbed my temples, and it felt like there was a ringing in my brain instead of my ear. Whatever it was, I wouldn’t be able to stand that sensation for long.

Meaning I’m completely at the voices’ mercy.

Turn left here.

I did. That way led to a back alley that dead ends at the back of a store. How was that supposed to help? I stopped just before the door to a back room. I was considering turning around when the voice suddenly said what I was afraid it would say:

Go through the door.

Yep, because trespassing is totally justified when you’re listening to the voices in your head right? Especially when you yourself are doubting your own sanity at this point.

It’s the fastest way, the door is open, no one will catch you. Go NOW!

Again with the yelling. Again with the stabbing and ringing. I ripped open the door and darted inside.

I was in some kind of storage area filled with boxes and large crates. Come to think of it, I had no idea what this store even sold. There were some words on the crates, but I didn’t bother to read them.

Go right.

Then duck down.

So there’s the “we” part from earlier. Per usual the older voice was warning me of danger, and I know for a fact that one was reliable. I turned right, stopped just before the aisle ended, and ducked down.

Sure enough, as soon as I ducked an employee walked by on the other side of the crates. I think she was doing inventory, I wasn’t sure. I was too busy concentrating. I figured that while I was waiting, I might as well see what was ahead of me, try to figure out what the voices might tell me to do next.

The images came quickly this time. Two more aisles right, then three rows up, then two aisles left, then one more row forward, and the door to the inside of the store was there. I looked further past the door, it came out next to a desk near the back beside a row of smaller rooms. Changing rooms, I realized. This was a clothing store. Once out past the changing rooms it would be easy to get out the front onto the street.

I decided not to look any further. If I look too far ahead I would probably forget the very specific instructions I just had just seen. Besides, the employee had left, and time was not on my side.

Good job. Said the new voice. Now do as you’ve seen.

And I did. I followed my little self sought route through the back room, occasionally stopping as I heeded the old voice’s warnings of employees.

Suddenly I was in the store. I knew that I couldn’t waste any time in here, but I couldn’t arouse any suspicion either. If I ran out the front door, someone would assume I was shoplifting something, and I do not need to deal with the police right now.

So I casually wove my way in between the different wracks of clothes, looking at some as if I were thinking about buying something.

Stop acting casual, there’s nobody here.

I looked up and realized that there were in fact no other customers. Just a lone cashier at the cash register.

Oh.

Just walk out the door.

The voice seemed too embarrassed to yell at me again. Just as well since I didn’t feel like getting yelled at again.

I just made a beeline for the exit. The cashier didn’t even care, they just looked happy to not have to check out my items.

As soon as I got on the street I awaited the voice’s next instructions. “So which way?” I said aloud, not particularly caring if anyone could hear me.

I’m thinking.

“You literally told me not to think, I thought you knew the way?”

Don’t get snippy with me.

I sighed and went beside the door to lean against the wall. No use going anywhere in case the voice decided on another crazy detour. At least this one could carry a conversation, and at least it had some kind of emotion outside of a basic fear response like the old voice.

Ok, I got it.

“What took so long, oh wise one?” Was it a good idea to mock the entity that could cause me immense pain and confusion? Probably not. Was I going to do it anyway? Absolutely.

What did I just say about you being snippy? I had to take into account your cowardice.

“Oh don’t act like it’s my fault. You’re the one who wanted me to go through a store.”

You need to follow directions without hesitation.

“You say that like I can’t.”

Will you? It’s the only way to get there.

I sighed. I had the feeling the voice was about to ask me to do something crazier. “Sure, fine.” I relented, “We just need to get there fast.”

Good. Go right.

● ● ●

It took about half an hour to get there. The voices guided me through various shops, backyards, and one very quiet library, but I made it. The voices were right though, if I had gone the way I wanted the trip easily could have taken an hour.

But I still felt like we were too late.

I crouched next to the back door and waited.

Don’t go in yet. Said the old voice.

“Yeah no duh.” I whispered, “This is a house I’m not going to just waltz inside before knocking.”

That’s not the problem. Said the new voice.

He is here.

The voices had spoken in unison. I felt a chill run down my spine. We were too late.

Not yet we aren’t.

What?

We just have to wait. We’ll tell you when.

The voices hadn’t guided me wrong yet. So I decided to wait.