There I was, still sitting on the throne. My mind wouldn't stop racing with thoughts until I heard something.
"Hello, Lyra."
I froze and turned around. No one was there.
I shook my head. "Okay, maybe I need sleep."
I dragged myself to my bedchamber and collapsed onto my bed. Within minutes, I was out cold until I heard it again.
"Lyyyraaaa."
My eyes flew open. I sat straight up.
"All right, who's there? Show yourself! I'm not afraid of you!"
I reached for the edge of my bed, my hand brushed against something small. Pills.
"What the…?"
"Why don't you try them?"
"Yeah, Lyra," another voice added, soft but sinister. "They make you feel good."
I immediately threw the pills out the window. "NO!" I screamed.
My breathing turned shaky. Get out of my head! Whatever those pills were, I'm not taking them!
Am I going insane? Schizophrenic?
I grabbed my headphones and blasted music. Maybe this would help calm me down. But as my eyes wandered across the room, I noticed how messy it was.
"Ugh. Maybe cleaning will help."
With vampire speed, I zoomed around picking up clothes, fixing the bed, and dusting every corner. Five seconds later, spotless.
"Wow," the voice said. "I'm impressed."
My blood ran cold.
"No… no, no, no!"
I yanked off my headphones. The room was silent but my heart wasn't.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Maybe you're just… losing it," the voice whispered playfully.
I groaned. "Listen, you freakish voice leave me alone!"
"Why? It's fun talking to you. Watching you clean like a maniac."
"Hey, don't forget about me!" another voice chimed in.
I pressed my palms against my temples. "This isn't real. I'm dreaming. I'm going to wake up and this will all be over.
"Hey, Lyra," one voice hissed, "I thought you were tired?"
"Shut up!"
"You know…" the voice suddenly deepened, "the more you try to push us away… THE LOUDER WE ARE!!!"
A violent ringing filled my head. I almost collapsed, clutching my skull.
Maybe I just need blood. Yes, blood.
I ran to the kitchen, grabbed a goblet, and chugged until my stomach twisted in pain.
"Ugh… shouldn't have drunk that fast."
Laughter echoed in my mind. "Ha! You're too funny."
When I stumbled back to my room it was messy again.
"What?! But I just cleaned this place!"
"What's the matter, Lyra?"
"Nothing, you soulless parasites!"
Silence. Finally,
I waited a few minutes, nothing. I let out a shaky laugh. "Ha! Gone. Finally gone."
Exhausted, I collapsed on the bed and drifted off.
Then an ear-splitting air horn.
"AHHH!" I shot out of bed. "What the hell was that?!"
"Did you miss us, Lyra?"
"No! I thought I got rid of you!"
Laughter echoed. Then a knock.
"Morning, Lyra!"
I opened the door. "Lily?"
"You ok? You look awful. Your eyes are red."
"Oh, I couldn't sleep last night."
"Well, Mom told me to get you. Breakfast's getting cold."
"I like my blood cold."
"Ew!" Lily wrinkled her nose.
I stuck my tongue out. "You're gross."
She pushed me toward the dining room.
"Lyra, took you long enough." Dad said.
I sat down, trying not to make eye contact with Grandma. Still mad at her for that matchmaking disaster.
I lifted my glass. The voices whispered again.
"Oooh, what's that, Lyra? Blood? Share some?"
"So Lyra-" Grandma started.
"Shut up!" I blurted out.
The room went silent.
"Excuse me?" Grandma's eyes narrowed.
I froze. Everyone stared.
"Please excuse me!" I ran outside, gasping for air.
"Imagine yelling at your grandmother," the voices mocked.
"I wasn't talking to her. I was talking to YOU!"
"Lyra!" Dad's voice cut in sharply from behind. "I know you're upset, but that doesn't give you the right to talk to her like that."
What was I supposed to say? Yeah Dad, I'm hearing invisible people in my head. Right. That would go well.
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry."
"You should tell her that, not me."
I nodded and walked off.
"Grandma? Grandma!"
"Aww, how sad. Can't find her," one voice teased.
"Grandma?"
"I'm right here." She said from her room.
"Grandma… I'm sorry for telling you to shut up. That was disrespectful."
She smiled gently. "It's all right, Lyra. I'm sorry, too. I shouldn't have pushed love onto you. I did the same thing to your father once."
"I'm still upset," I admitted. "But I'll get over it."
"Thank you, dear."
"How sweet," the voice gagged. "Family bonding makes me sick."
"Ugh, I'm gonna puke," another chimed in.
I sighed and left the room. "You guys are disgusting." I mumbled.
"Oh, now we're getting somewhere."
"Lyra? Are you still angry?"
"Yes! Because you're annoying!"
"Who's annoying?"
I turned to see Levi blinking at me.
"Uh no one! I was just… talking to myself."
He raised an eyebrow. "Ok… you're weird. Love you, bye." he ran fast.
Great. Now my brother thinks I'm crazy.
"Wow." One voice chuckled. "Your life is entertaining."
"Is that why you're bothering me? Because yours is boring?"
"Damn," one muttered.
I grinned. Ha! Silenced again.
I walked back to my room only to find it spotless.
"Wait… what?"
"Ha ha ha." Their laughter ringed in my ears.
That's it. They said the more I push, the louder they get so maybe I just need to yell louder.
"Hey Ly-"
I took a deep breath. "For the love of… GET! OUT!!!"
Nothing.
A smile crept up on my face. "It worked."
Finally, peace.
I turned toward the window, stretching and froze.
A dark shadow stood there. Watching.
I stumbled back, heart pounding. "What the hell-"
Then the figure vanished.