Elliot’s POV

“So you're me.”

“Yes.”

“But not me.”

“Yes!”

“Honey, that's just being a voice in my head. You're not special. Sorry.”

I was attempting to play a video game when this voice in my head started singing again; I couldn't help but compliment it, only for it to start freaking out and claiming it was me from fuck all years ago. 

Definitely a new lie, that's for sure. But I'd rather have that then the ones that used to pretend they were Jesus and make me do weird shit.

“No, no, no! I'm not a product of your imagination, I swear! My name is Eliza!”

“Nice to meetcha, call me Eli.” Luckily, I still managed to win my Pocket Creature battle. “You can go ahead and insult me whenever, like the others.”

“The only insult here is you not believing me!”

“Why would I believe you, exactly?” I asked as I set my console down and got up to go to the kitchen. “You're a voice in my head.”

“Because you're in danger!”

“Obviously. Dad's like, one more thing away from running me over with his stupid sports car. I think. Maybe two more if I'm lucky.”

“I'll prove it! When was the last time you heard the other voices?!”

That made me pause. It did have a point—the other voices hadn't been around in a few days.

“I wanted you to be able to rest easy.” It's tone softened. “If only a little. I wished for them to go away, and…I think my magic may be coming back. It repressed them.”

“Aaaaand you lost me.” I opened the fridge. “Magic isn't real. I wish it was, but it's not.”

“It was real, a long time ago. I don't know why it faded out the way it did.”

It sighed.

“Please, just hear me out. I repressed the other voices for you. Not only that, but if I was a regular voice, would I sound like someone you've heard before?”

“I mean, maybe? It happens sometimes. But where have I—”

The answer hit me as I asked the question. It sounded like me—the me in the dreams. She was also named Eliza, if I was right…

“...Holy shit.”

“Before you say I'm lying again, just think about it! Please!”

This was weird—really fucking weird. But then again, when was my life not fucking weird or terrible?

“And I haven't told you to do anything to yourself or others.”

She got me there.

“Say you are telling the truth...why am I in danger?”

“You're cursed and destined to live a horrible life that ends tragically.”

“Oh, that explains a lot.”

It—she?—sighed again.

“I want to explain it all, believe me. But because of her, and her magic, I can only say so much. Right now, at least…if things are playing out differently, then maybe—!”

“Slown down, Mama.” I closed the fridge without getting anything out of it. “Who's ‘her?’”

A strained sound came from Eliza.

“You can't say?”

“N…No. I'm sorry.”

“I guess it can wait. How do I die?”

“It changes every time.”

“Well shit.”

“Indeed.”

It was my turn to sigh; I picked up my phone, only to find a mountain of texts from my friends…all amounting to “Hey, we're all hearing voices now. Help.”

Well.

Fuck.

“You have friends too?” I asked.

“I used to. And my brother…”

The sadness in her voice pinched at my heart. 

“Wait…your friends…are having dreams too, are they not…?”

“Yeah, why—?”

She gasped.

“We're all together? Well, almost…”

“...You and those other guys in my dreams.” I inferred. “We're all y'all.”

“Precisely.”

“...Fuckin’ hell. Sorry for doubting you.”

She laughed.

“It's alright. I understand.”

Looking back down at my phone, I opened the group chat and hit the call button.