Collector of Souls - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Will you be my friend?

Wearily rising from my sleep I find myself lying in a hard bed in another world in the mind of another Cecilia. Her hair is long and covers my vision before she brushes it aside to reveal featureless room. A hospital room with greenish off white wall feels like it's closing in around me. There is a window to the outside but the view between the partially drawn curtains is that of a large tree that blocks out the world behind it.

This isn't good at all. A tight black band is attached to Cecilia's upper arm and it's connect to some kind of monitoring equipment beside her bed that is humming quietly in the otherwise quiet room. The door is closed and no sound can be heard from outside. At least this Cecilia will meet a peaceful end. She's obviously sick and that's probably how this is going to end. I've come to accept that all the Cecilia's I meet will die one way or anther so I'm glad at least that tonight I don't have to face anything too horrible.

“Um... Is someone there?” Cecilia says suddenly as her line of sight darts around the room. She's perceptive, I didn't hear or see anything. I watch in silence as she relaxes accepting that nobody is in the room with her. That was strange, did she hear something outside the room?

“I can hear you.” Cecilia says surprising me again. What on earth is she talking about, there isn't anyone here.

“Are you like me?” Cecilia asks the empty room almost sounding excited. This is really unsettling for me, is she seeing something I cannot or maybe she's talking to herself.

“I'm not talking to myself.” Cecilia retorts as if she's talking to someone silent who spoke to her without me hearing it. Wait... Is she talking to me?

“Yes I'm talking to you.” Cecilia replies instantly.

“Don't leave yet. Are you really like me? Are you in my mind?” She asks excitedly.

“Please don't go.” She continues seeming dejected. She really is talking to me, I don't know what to say. Wait.. Is she able to understand everything I'm thinking.

“Yep.” Cecilia replies gleefully. Gah, this is so awkward. What do I say to her? Um... Hello my name is Cecilia Elanora Falkenberg. Why did I just say my full name? Stupid, now you look crazy.

“You are in my mind aren't you. That's awesome but it's weird that you have the same name as me.” Cecilia replies seeming to ignore my stuttering earlier.  Nobody has ever spoken to me before, is this really how a conversation works. Stop over thinking it and reply to her. She's probably hearing all this so you've got to reply to her. Um.. yes my name is Cecilia too.

“So you know my name is Cecilia, it's still weird that you've got the same full name as me though. How does that work?” Cecilia asks. I don't really know how to explain this to her, I've never had to do such a thing. Do I just say that when I go to sleep I wake up in the body of another Cecilia in a different world?

“I don't believe you.” Cecilia replied bluntly. See if I said it to her in that way she wouldn't believe me, I've got to be more careful about my thoughts or she's not going to understand what I'm say. Wait... She's listening to all this too....

“Just get your thought straight and stop being such a spaz.” Cecilia says to me laughing a little to herself. My first conversation is in shambles, first I snapped that stick in half ruining that milestone in my journey and now my floundering helplessly during my first conversation.

“Get it together Cecilia.” Cecilia says to me. It's almost like she's talking in third person and because she's the only one speaking audibly it's really throwing off my train of though. Um... I... I don't really know what to say, when I go to sleep in my world I awaken in the body of a person who shares my name and face but is complete different from me.

“So you are different from me.” Cecilia says. No I'm trying to tell you I'm the same. We have the same name and the same face. You're even the same age as me in this world.

“But you are different from me.” Cecilia replied. Why don't you understand me, it's not easy to believe what I'm saying but I don't think I explained it in a confusing way.

“No I understand what your saying but we aren't the same. For one you claim to be able to see other Cecilia's in different world but I can't do that. We're different.” Cecilia explains. When you put it like that we are different.

“Exactly, I don't know why you're here but that doesn't really matter because neither of us will be here for much longer.” Cecilia adds solemnly. What does she mean by that? I don't really understand.

“You said earlier that all the Cecilia's you meet die and I assume you know that I'm going to die soon too.” Cecilia adds. Was I thinking that? I must have done so before I realised she could read my thoughts. But it's too sad to know you are going to die, how can see be so content.

“You may not be good at conversation but you at least picked up on my mannerisms. Content might be one way of putting it. It sucks that I'm not healthy like everyone else but I've known about my limited life span for a few months now and I've accepted it.” Cecilia says to me. I don't really get it, death makes me very uncomfortable and giving up and accepting it is just...

“I'm not just accepting it, it was a shock at first but I don't think it's worth dwelling on as I've got more interesting things to be doing. At first I though you might be communicating with me telepathically from another room in the hospital but now I know you're within my mind.” Cecilia says firmly. Why is she talking about telepathy? She say it like that's something normal in this world.

“It's not normal but...” Cecilia says stopping mid sentence. But what?

“After spending a week alone in the hospital I realised I had a gift and ever since then I've been able to jump into other peoples minds and communicate with them.” Cecilia says. This is surprising to say the least. Of all the Cecilia's I've met this is the first time I've encounter one that has any kind of supernatural power if you don't count magic or technology.
“You're inside my head right now. That's a supernatural power and it's much greater than mine if you're able to communicate with me from another world.” Cecilia replies to my thoughts. Greater isn't the way I'd put it, I have no control over this and until now I've never been able to communicate with another Cecilia. I'm forced to observe until she dies and then I awaken in my world. It's awful.

“You've never communicated with them before? Then why are you able to talk to me? Maybe it's because I use telepathy. Cecilia says answering her own questions. That's probably right, if you're experienced in communicating with people in their minds then it makes sense that you'd be able to communicate with me.

“I do it all the time, nobody know it's me but everyone in the hospital is aware that someone is visiting them inside their heads. I know all sort of things and I can monitor everything that's going on in the hospital just by jumping between peoples minds.” Cecilia says proudly. That sounds like a lot of effort.

“Even from my bed I can help everyone in my own way, it's not much but I think I've saved a few peoples lives using this ability.” Cecilia boasts. That's incredible. I'm at a loss for words. Cecilia is so in control of her situation and is enjoying life as best she can, it's always inspiring to see how other Cecilia's are living their lives. If I'd been born in a different world under different circumstances then perhaps I too could have become someone I would be proud of.

“You still can be Cecilia. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself.” Cecilia says as I realise that she really is hearing even my innermost thoughts. It's not that easy though, all I get to do is observe as I die over and over again in the bodies of other Cecilia's. I can't do anything to help.

“But maybe you can. What if I teach you how to use telepathy? It's not as hard as it seems, maybe I could try explaining it.” Cecilia says. It's at this point that her mind becomes like a ocean during a storm. Wave after wave of thoughts hits me in an instant and without her uttering a word I think I understand how she's been communicating with others from her bed. Understanding and performing the act are two different things though and although I know how it works in theory I know I'd struggle to make it work. Communication is a huge aspect of her ability and I lack social skills which puts me at a crossroads.

“Um... Something strange is happening in the lobby.” Cecilia says speaking of reality. She's giving me a live demonstration of her ability but comprehending the process she's using is proving to be tough.

The right side of Cecilia's body becomes numb and my vision becomes blurry. What's happening to you? Cecilia breathing fastens but she doesn't respond to me. Don't leave me, I've only just met you. This is all to familiar and it's making me sick to the stomach. Cecilia begins to loose focus and slumps in the bed bringing our shared line of siight down to the sheets. The equipment beside me lights up and I can hear it ringing faintly as our senses become duller and duller. I'm sorry I couldn't help you either, I'm useless and now I'm going to lose you too.

As Cecilia's eyes close I see the door burst open and a women arrives to tend to Cecilia but it's too late, her body is shutting down and her mind is fading. Her final thoughts are clumsy but she's intently focused on the women before us until the very end.