Word Count: 1.3k
Reader's Point Of View
I woke up to my alarm in my bedroom. I rubbed my head trying to remember what had happened the night before. The last thing I vividly remembered was doing homework in the library. Everything after that is just blank, empty.
I looked at myself in the mirror and around my room. Everything seemed to be in place, nothing out of the ordinary. What could've happened the night before?
I paced around my room thinking and thinking... I decided I'd call Michael and see if him or Jeremy knew anything that happened last night. But before I could press send the doorbell rang. My family isn't home a lot so, I'm usually the only one here.
I opened the front door to see Oliver Daniels.
"Hey Y/N." He asked.
"Uh- Hey... Oliver." I felt awkward. I had never really talked to him. I'd only seen him around and about with the popular kids. How'd he find my house anyway? "If you don't mind me asking, why are here? And how do you know where I live?"
He didn't answer my question. It was silent.
"Oliver, are you hearing me?" I said, getting rather annoyed.
"Up. Up. Down. Down. Left. Right. A." A sharp pain surged through my brain. Pounding. The same thing seemed to be happening to Oliver, but not nearly as intense.
As it started to go away, my breath panted out. I was so wrapped in what was happening to me, that I hadn't noticed that Oliver had left.
What the fuck was the point in that?
Hello Y/N.
"Who said that?" I said as I turned, looking around.
I'm your Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor, your SQUIP.
"My- My what?" I stuttered and stumbled out. "Where are you?"
In your head.
"In my head?"
That's what I just said, is it not? Stop talking to me out loud.
Why?
You're the only one who can see and hear me, so if you're in public talking to me, it'll look like you're talking to yourself. Just think what you want to say.
What are you?
I'm a nano-technological functioning miniature super computer. I give you, let's say, suggestions on what to do.
How- How'd you get inside me?
I'm shaped like a pill. Oliver has one as well and apparently his thought that you could benefit from some assistance.
Well if you don't mind, could you not be talking to me in my head constantly? Because I can hardly think when you're talking.
Of course. You may deactivate and reactivate me at anytime you'd like, but I don't suggest it. I can be a big help to you.
Then answer me this... What happened to me last night?
The SQUIP replayed the images from the night before. I guess Oliver offered it to me and I said yes. Apparently I thought it was a good idea at the time.
I decided that I needed to call Jeremy and Michael. I had to tell that what had happened, what was going on.
You cannot tell them.
Why not?
They won't believe you, Y/N. They'll think you're a freak, like the kids from your old school did. It's best to keep this to yourself.
I texted Jeremy anyways and asked if he and Michael wanted to hangout. I wasn't gonna tell them about the SQUIP, because it had a good point. I didn't want to be the "misfit freak" again.
I don't even know if they'd believe me. I can hardly believe it and I'm living it.
------------------------------------------------
Jeremy was sitting on the edge of the patio staring off into the distance.
"Is he okay?" I asked Michael.
"Honestly Y/N, I don't know. He still has some PTSD from what happened last year and he's gotten like this before, but I can't through to him this time for some reason. Maybe you can."
"Me? You're his best friend."
"So are you." He said back.
"It's not the same, Michael. You two have known each other for years. I met you guys like a month ago."
"Y/N. You're a part of this little group. You mean more to him than you know. Trust me."
"Okay... I'll- I'll try." I said, as I cautiously made my way over to Jeremy.
"Are you okay?" I asked sitting next to him.
"Yeah, sorry. I've just had a lot on my mind recently."
"You wanna talk about it?"
"You won't believe me." He sighed.
"Try me."
"It- It happened last year. I had taken this thing called a SQUIP. It manipulated, tricked me, used me, controlled me. I almost lost everyone. If it wasn't for Michael, I don't what would've become of me." Jeremy began to tear up. I reached my hand over and held his. "The things it made me do, the way it made me feel... It was awful. And I'm scared that it might happen again. Michael reassures me that it won't happen, but it doesn't make me feel any better."
I heard everything that Jeremy said. All of it. What the SQUIP did to him, what it tried to do to the school, what it did to Michael. I knew that the SQUIP was the villain in the story, but I didn't think of it as a villain in that moment.
It was almost as if my SQUIP had filtered Jeremy's words through a fog to me. I heard them, I understood them, I just didn't seem to care about what Jeremy said about the SQUIP. It had no effect on me whatsoever. Like the story behind his words didn't register.
"I still have nightmares even now. It haunts me." Jeremy added.
I put my arm around him and gave him a hug. "It's gonna be okay, Jeremy. I promise. You're safe now."
Michael joined in on the hug. It was nice, comforting and warm.
I started to get a massive headache.
I pulled out of the hug.
"You okay?" Michael asked me.
"Yeah, just a headache. You got any aspirin, Jeremy?"
"Second drawer to the left in the bathroom." He responded.
"Thanks."
I got into the bathroom but didn't take the aspirin. I leaned back against the wall and slid down until I was sitting on the floor. My head pounding.
What's happening?
Nothing to worry about. Just a software update. My apologies. I should have warned you about the discomfort level it can induce before.
Oh, ya think?!
The headache slowly dissipated and as it did, so did the SQUIP's cool and nice demeanor.
What was Jeremy talking about back there? Why does it feel so blurred?
That would be my doing. I didn't want you to freak out, in front of him. That would ruin everything.
Ruin what?
You poor, clueless little thing... Here.
I reheard Jeremy's story again, this time being able to register all that he said.
I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror.
You understand now? Or do I need to spell it out for you?
I was where Jeremy had been a year ago. What was this going to do with me? I got scared.
Y- You... No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Oh yes.
My eyes shined a bright blue momentarily. I jumped back, seeing it in the mirror.
This- This can't be happening.
It is.
I'm not going to let you. I'm getting Michael.
I tried to reach for the door handle but I couldn't move my arm.
What the hell?!
Having issues?
What're you doing to me?
What I should've done from the moment Oliver put me inside of you.
The memories of the party came crashing back.
I was in shock. Scared. Alone. Trapped.
I saw my hand reach up to straighten out my hair, but I wasn't the one moving it.
"Let's get this thing started, shall we?" I saw my lips moving. I heard my voice. But I wasn't the one who was talking.
I have some unfinished business with your little boy-toy out there, and you're the perfect vessel for me. You're mine now Y/N.
To be continued...