"I see you are finally up, good morning." She was greeted by a strange but cheerful voice.
Noel's eyes snapped open, her heart racing. She sat up in bed, her mind reeling. Who was speaking to her? And how were they inside her head?
As she stared wildly around her room, Noel's eyes landed on the book she had borrowed from the library. "The Chronicles of the Empire" lay on her bedside table, its cover seeming to gleam with an otherworldly light.
Noel's face went pale as she whispered a single word
"Who...?"
...
"So you are saying that you think something is wrong with you?" The bespectacled young lady enquired as she pushed hair glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"That I believe very strongly." Noel responded as she stared back at the lady, trying to hide her nervousness.
"Well, according to the test results, everything seems to be fine."
"I know what I heard doctor." She said with a pointed look, her voice tinged with unease.
"Alright, Miss. Could you explain what transpired from the beginning."
"Okay. I was researching for a project last night and got a really bad migraine, so I had to retire early." She began, her brows furrowed.
"Okay."
"When I woke up this morning, I expected the ache to be gone, but it had intensified and..." she paused, gulping quietly, "...that's when I heard the voice."
"Hmm..." the doctor hummed, a crease forming between her brows as she scribbled on her notepad.
"I know it sounds unreasonable... I can't even believe I'm saying this," Noel said, rubbing her forehead in frustration.
"It isn't unreasonable," the doctor said gently with a slight smile. She looked down at the test result, then back at Noel.
"Your results show nothing is wrong." She raised her hand slightly when Noel tried to interject.
"I'm not dismissing what you said, but for now, let's classify it under stress. I'll prescribe some vitamins and supplements. If the voice persists, please schedule another appointment in a week's time." She said, handing the little paper with illegible scribbles over to Noel. She looked down with a frown, unable to understand a single thing written.
"You'll give this to the lady at the pharmacy. She'll provide you with the needed supplements. You should feel better by the end of the week. If not, come back to see me."
With a sigh, Noel rose from her seat and offered a quick word of thanks before leaving the office.
.....
After collecting the drugs from the pharmacy, she walked through the hospital lobby and took a seat on one of the benches. As she watched the bustling scene around her, she unscrewed the cap of her bottled water and took a sip.
"Finally quiet." The voice in her head spoke. She spat out the water, choking slightly.
"Are you alright, miss?" a middle-aged man sitting a few seats away asked.
"Yes, thanks for asking," She replied with a tight smile, wiping her mouth. The man nodded and turned back to his phone.
"Who are you, and how are you in my head?" Noel asked, trying to maintain composure, though panic was rising.
"I promise, I'll answer your questions, okay? Just....don't freak out on me again." The voice responded. She swallowed hard, awaiting an explanation.
"Firstly, you are not crazy."He began.
"Then explain having a voice in my head." She cuts in.
Unfazed, he continued.
"Second, I have no idea how I got into your head. All I remember is being stuck... then suddenly, the weight was lifted and I was... here." He said.
"This is crazy," she muttered, standing up from the bench.
"I'm a real person..." He said.
"And I'm Harry Styles." She scoffed and kept walking, pretending nothing strange was happening.
"I'm ser—"
"Can you please stay quiet like you did at the doctor's?" She interrupted. "At least until I get home."
Silence followed. With a sigh of relief, she continued walking and flagged a cab when she reached the road.
.....
The ride home was quiet, filled with the hum of the wind and the city's bustle. Staring out the window, Noel reflected on how her once peaceful life was on the verge of being upturned.
At home, she slipped off her shoes at the door and walked barefoot to the couch, collapsing with a soft thud.
The room maintained a semblance of quietness for a while but the silence was short-lived.
"Can we talk now?" The voice asked, quietly but firmly.
With a huff, she responded, "Go on."
"I know this is absurd and unexpected," He began, pausing.
"But I hope we can figure this out together."
"My name is Zain Jackson."