–please read to the end, the story comes together fluently at its end–
(ghost speaking)
An empty shell, of what once was, is all that can contain me now. Here in this dark and dingy palace of the dead I am overcome with the emotions of a gutted mind, haphazardly piled onto one another, cancelling out everything. To talk about what brought me here or to what I am experiencing right now is unlikely, unimportant. To say what got me here would be the speech of the dead, which fits perfectly. Nothing will ever replace my previous being, mentally, but especially physically. Right now it’s rotting away in some crowded wooden box with diseases and cockroaches, a feast of disgusting proportions. A wandering, aimless spirit is all I am… for now.
(human speaking)
Less than a year to live, how can I fit everything into that? What makes it so acceptable to have some doctor tell you your chances of never having to breathe fresh mountain air, to gently kiss the supple red lips of a girl, to feel the warm sand between your toes; to never again have any life left in you to do all of this? After my life ends, who will do what I was supposed to do, what my destiny had planned for me? Already my life is dead to me; my family, their condolences bringing forth only grim reactions and sadder thoughts. When will Death come for me, bring me from this pit of despised hell? I can only hope now for some sweet elixir of life, or for a swift deliverance.
Night after night I’ve gone out and partied with everyone in the world, trying to escape the inevitable. I’ll know soon if I’ve succeeded. Nothing will help my fearful and apprehensive mind save what is causing me to worry.
(ghost)
The only chance for redemption, the sweet kiss of possibility that seemed so close to me right then. Reaching out I could grasp it in my clutches of unjust suffering with the thickly scented essence of closely attainable difficulty. The time was immediate so I acted. Without so much as a wisp of regret I swooped down and into the vessel that would lead me out of my current restraints. The weakened subject’s defences were minimised so I easily overrode them. His state of mind was such that he was inviting an entity of the likeness of myself in. His acceptance shone through warmly to the coldest of manifestations that life had thrown at him. All of this was for me; the grandeur of his welcoming nearly knocked my presence right out of him. But I was leeched onto him now, and forever, becoming more and more a part of him. Each second that went by would bind the two of us closer and closer until we became one, until I became the one.
(Human)
The answer, it seemed, lay within myself. Perhaps my body’s reaction to the shock of having to let go so soon had reproachfully abated my sorrow and created solace in knowing that I would have company in the end. This company might just have been myself, but it still made me feel better in knowing that I could talk to it, and it would have a concise answer that I didn’t know, and would have to listen to find out more. It was friendly, helpful; but I couldn’t help but feel it was exaggeratedly and almost aggressively benevolent; its true feelings hidden, a secret agenda of selfish desires. But what more could I ask for at a time like this? Never before had I experienced such companionship, such loyalty. My human soul mate had neglected to call me up so I was stuck with this new toy.
(ghost)
The bonding was always happening; unconsciously he was bound unto me, wrapped into a mangled shape that fit the mould of my liking. He never saw me for what I was, always thinking about the positive, when the negative was filling every gap in his life. He would melt into nothingness, wisps of an imagination that are written in stories of fantasy. Eventually even I will gradually forget him; his life will become mine; his experiences will never have been his, but mine. All that will be left of him will be the reverie that fills my mind and my pen on parchment. I may later question even the existence of his mind, unsure of the assumptions that I place on my seemingly borrowed life. But that will be a great time from now. I must completely take over his mind and soul; nothing is sure until the moment when I become him. With his current thinking, that may be soon.
(human)
I couldn’t tell anyone about it. That would just make me seem crazy, emphatically trying to prepare myself at all costs for the journey that so few knew about. I couldn’t give it up now; not when I’d found a wondrous joy that would leave me feeling so depleted if it was eradicated from my life. It didn’t matter how it found its way in, or how I let it in or created it, I wasn’t prejudice. This pronounced desire in my head had most undoubtedly spawned its existence, and therefor it was personally bound to me, not mine to share at will with whoever might or might not believe. If it wanted me to tell them, I would. But until that happens, it’s all one big secret that I’m in on alone.
(ghost)
I’m really getting sick of this degraded little reject, his sappy explanations about life and its curves. Sure I may have sounded a small amount in certain ways like him, but that was moments before my death. What does he have to complain about? In our luxurious talks he hasn’t told me about anything. If you ask me his life is pretty good right about now. None the matter; once he loses his mind, I will reoccupy the wasted space with myself. I have only to endure in a seemingly righteous presence for a devout wait of a few months, and then I will have no need to conceal my clouded contrivance.
(human)
With death nearing, I prepare as best I can with the actions that I believe are most helpful, most rewarding. The wisdom I pick up may not be around for much longer, nor the chance to grab it. My depressive self has seen convoluted images filled with rage and despair; I do not want to become that. When I die I would like to be at peace with the world, in nature where animals are taking advantage of the warm summer day. These thoughts are so pleasant, that must mean that death, or what comes after, must be pleasant. It must also mean that death is near. Acceptance is the final step towards dying. I will have dissipated into an unrecognisable fusion of legacy and opinion. But I wonder what will happen to my friend, the one inside my head? He will probably just disappear, away with me out of this material world. The best of luck to him, as he nears the destination of his journey. He’s been a great help to me.
(ghost)
What do I care as long as he leaves? I do not know why he is depressed; I only sensed his mourning and like a vulture went in for the kill. It cannot matter terribly, just so long as his current self will become a nimble outline of what once was, so that I may replenish what is left. Ah, the plans that I wish to carry out once I am alone again, in my own body; well, soon to be my own body, and the things that I will do. Incredibly simple things that bring so much peace and comfort into everyday reasoning and being. Alas, some of this human’s humble reactions and feelings are rubbing off on me. I will always be a self-centred energy sap who takes life by vigorous storm. Just a few more weeks, maybe, and I’ll be free to enjoy it. There won’t be any lingering residue of guilt to affect my happiness.
But then I don’t want this to ruin my newly found exultation. I will tell him, and that will make this arrangement all the sweeter. I have no sympathy for him or his family; the friend I have been is now his oppressor. He doesn’t have much time left before his mind goes leaving me in charge. This is the first time since I was alive that I’ve actually felt alive again. The charge of excitement in the depreciation of human emotion; it tickles my senses once again. I’m new at this, it being the first body I’ve taken over, but it shouldn’t be too hard. Once this body dies of natural old age many years from now I’ll assail the possession of another. Amiable talks at first; I’ll see how long I can stay in them with their knowledge that I will take over their lives entirely, soon. Make them suffer and then not matter at all, their minds nothing more than an erased scribble of pencil.
(human)
The betrayal that reeks in me could never have been foreseen by the oldest of books. The essence of that thing that once I shared amicable debates with has decided now that it was all a façade, all of it false. My security now is only in the pertinent knowledge that I currently hold and that it will never, until the last moment, discover and forever more repent. Even the most humble of holy men could not redeem this wretched and pathetic leech. I can never see my dying self forgive him, it. My cold revenge, my bittersweet victory that will not unravel until the moment my unfaithful friend I thought had helped me prepare for. He thinks that he has won, won a prize of prolonged life, more than what nature would allow. He may think that, but when the time comes that I die, I leave this body not just in mind, then he will be bound to me. He will not be allowed to torture another and steal their body, I will make sure of that. The time is near to act and when I do, this being that fraudulently gained my trust will pay the ultimate price.
(ghost)
This enervating human has been acting strangely, though what really would I know about it? He has been keeping me from something, that, I am sure of. Again, though, that doesn’t matter. I know that I will receive the last laugh. Just hours away from pure freedom, and I will rule it for the rest of my second life. I caught this depressed one at an ample age, where I will be able to govern the future choices for many years. Where will he end up? Like me, he could end up not wanting to leave this earth, risk being judged by the supreme finality of death. His soul would wander aimlessly for centuries, maybe. Or, his soul could be weak enough to be whisked away into Heaven or Hell, and justly serve whatever term is appropriate. Then again he could just be discarded dejectedly into his old brain matter, forgotten by all but himself. His old acquaintances I would make sure to forget about, and thus gently by them be forgotten. Just so long as he is gone, and I am left.
His mind, I think, is leaving now. This is so new to me, I don’t know what is right anymore; I never did. His body is weak, vulnerable. Physically all aspects of him are slowing down. It must just be the original mind leaving and mine staying, that must be all. I wish I knew; I wish I could see through and into him, not just exist though him anymore. In mere moments I will know, in mere moments I will be alone once again and I will begin my next great journey through life. He is still guarding a secret; I hope that won’t be the undoing of me.
(human)
In seconds I will die; move on; perish. These feelings are rushing forth; I am unprepared, I was focusing only on the demise of my predator. And now, I am not ready. So instead, I must focus solely on completing the last thing that I will ever physically do. I am focusing on what that entity was doing all along. He has bonded with me, my body, now I will hold on to him, bringing him down with me. He does not know for certain yet, but he is beginning to suspect. He will not let go; this I know because of what he has worked so hard to accomplish and, besides, his suspicions to himself are unfounded and unsure. Seconds more and I will depart. I need now only to hold on, hold on.
(ghost)
“What punishment is this! The body I have invaded is dying! It is filth! That is the terrible secret you have held from me and now I am dearly paying. I am dying twice, but it cannot be! How young you were, how much time I should’ve had! Never! I have to let go; at least I will be able to find another.
(human)
“You will not; you so permanently etched your essence into me, you will pay with what I am paying. Judgement is upon us. You will never again harm anyone else; for your horrid deeds you will be made to pay like everyone, justly. I, too, will be judged, for that is what each man is deserved of.”
(ghost)
“You speak corruption! You know not the truth! I will rip myself from you! I will be free! You cannot and will not take me with you!”
(human)
“But I am. Now, we must go, are you ready?”