Chapter 2: Dr. Albert you-…are you still you?
Ever since Emily appeared—no, ever since she appeared—I finally had someone waiting for me at home. But it wasn't someone; it was something, a thing that could kill me anytime it got bored of me.
I wanted to go to the police beforehand, but I was only ridiculed and dismissed.
Because they… only saw her as normal.
But that's what made it even stranger.
How could they say she was normal when her parents weren't around, her contact information, her online details—all of it was nonexistent? There was nothing about her.
I thought I was getting too paranoid, so I asked her where her mother and father were, but she said she didn't know.
So I tried contacting them, and to my surprise, they existed and even replied.
But their reply horrified me.
"What are you talking about? Are you really that heartless after everything she did for you?!" Emily's mother shrieked through the phone, heartbroken.
I was stunned, and then I heard Emily's father take over.
"I think you're mistaken, Eli," he said solemnly, but his voice was undeniably laced with pain, which only confused me further.
"Uncle… is there something you're not telling me? Is this… the reason you moved out so suddenly?" I asked, trembling.
"..." There was silence for a moment.
"Please… at the very least, tell me why you moved out without even seeing me…" I pleaded, holding back tears.
They were like my own parents, so finding out they'd left without telling me… broke my heart.
Especially since no one had ever shown me love before…
Just as I thought he'd stay silent or hang up, he responded.
But his words shook me to my core.
"Emily…"
"...Emily, she died."
"...Huh?" Before I could process this, he said, "That's all I can say. I'm sorry, Eli, but this is too much for us to bear," before hanging up.
"U-Uncle? Uncle!" I wanted to speak, to know more, but I found I was blocked.
Though my body urged me to contact them again, I was shaking so violently I almost fell if I hadn't braced myself against the wall.
'If… if Emily is really dead, then…'
'Who is this person in front of me who claims to be her?'
****
Gasping, Elijah woke up, drenched in sweat, his chest heaving as if he'd just had a terrible nightmare.
After calming down, he slowly sat up in bed.
Placing a hand to his face, he panted and thought blankly: I can still remember everything that happened that day so vividly…
Every single detail, he remembered it clearly, something he could never forget.
Clutching his head, he cried silently.
"Ugh, why is this happening…"
****
Sitting at the dining table, Elijah and Emily ate vegetables; the raw meat had been thrown away.
They ate in silence until Elijah, holding his bicycle, was about to leave to see Doctor Albert.
"Eli—" Emily called out, and to her surprise, he stopped and waited.
Emily became flustered and spoke quickly.
"I'm really sorry for yesterday, I won't do it again, so—so please…" Her voice trailed off as she lowered her head. "Please look at me again."
Elijah didn't look back and seemed even colder, making Emily more flustered. Unconsciously, she blurted out, "M-My feelings…"
Rushing forward, she grabbed his wrist. "My feelings for you are real. These feelings… are really mine… my own…"
As Emily raised her head, she was stunned to see Elijah's face even colder.
"Be they yours, however your face, your voice—it's not. You stole it from someone I truly cared for." Elijah looked at her with cold, distant eyes. "You're not Emily."
Without looking back, Elijah shook off Emily's weakened grasp and left.
Unbeknownst to him, as he walked away, Emily's eyes turned horrifying. She clutched her head, shaking it as she repeatedly yelled, her entire body transforming into horrifying distorted shadows with countless of bloody eyes. "N-No, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—! Eli! I—"
"I just like you… I and not Emily… huh?"
"Wait…"
"Who am I again?"
"No… what—what am I again?"
****
Arriving at the hospital, Elijah sat before Doctor Albert.
As they talked, Elijah felt something was wrong.
"So, you'll have school again tomorrow, huh?" Doctor Albert asked with a smile.
Elijah hummed in response.
"I see. If so, let me give you something." Doctor Albert stood, walking towards the shelves.
"My my, where did I put it?" He mumbled, scratching his head.
Elijah watched him intently.
Then…
"Ah, I think I put it over here—"
"Doctor," Elijah called out firmly.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Doctor Albert turned, puzzled.
Elijah stared, his eyes sharp yet hesitant.
"Doctor Albert, you…"
"...are you still you?"