Mich’s discomfort mounted. She hated being put in a position of command—she struggled enough with doubt without having it increased tenfold by being put in charge. ::All right—let’s do it. However, if things get to be too much you pull out—I don’t want you hurt, too, got it?::
The image of Anissa saluting flashed across Mich’s mind’s eye. ::Yes’m:: she said.
Mich took in a deep breath. ::Okay::
“Nev?” she said aloud. “Nev, I want you to talk to Anissa . . . ”
::He’s all yours, sis,:: Mich said.
::I’m going in; once I get in, you’ll have to do the hypnosis.::
“Hey there, Nevster,” Anissa said.
Nev gave Anissa a wary, unsure gaze. “Hey.”
Mich gently propped Nev up and moved to sit behind him, wrapping her arms around him. “Nev, I’m right here. You’re going to be okay.”
Anissa opened her mind to Nev. ::Would you rather we talk so Mich can’t hear?::
Nev shrugged. ::Doesn’t matter to me.::
Anissa shot a subtle glance at Mich. ::I’m in—you can start anytime.:: To Nev she said, ::Well, let’s just talk this way—that way if there’s something you want to tell me that you don’t want Mich to know you can feel free to say it, and it won’t leave my lips. Oh, and if I close my eyes I’m not sleeping, I’m just doing that to focus on our conversation, okay?::
Nev nodded. ::Okay.::
Mich started to speak, evenly modulating her voice to a low hum. “Okay, Nev. Breathe deeply in and out. Concentrate on my voice and let the outside world slip away. Breathe in and out. Concentrate on my voice . . . ” She continued to speak until she felt Nev relax under her touch.
::You feeling okay there, Nev?:: Anissa asked.
Nev’s reply was shaky and unsure. ::No . . . ::
::What’s wrong? You can tell me—it’s just between us.::
::I can’t remember. Every time I try it’s like grabbin’ at sand . . . It must be important ‘cause it keeps wakin’ me up at night . . . ::
Anissa could feel the frustration and fear that clung to Nev like a shroud. ::Well, we’ll figure it out—Mich and I have got it covered, so you just hang out and talk with me mentally, okay?::
Nev relaxed marginally, and Anissa could feel some semblance of calm descend upon him. He trusted her, and moreover, he trusted Mich. ::All right::
Anissa heard Mich’s voice whispering in her mind. ::Nissie, he’s in a trance now.::
::Okay—I’m going to let my unconscious mind come forward, and you can ask me questions, but I’ll be answering them as Nev would, and I’m going to let my conscious mind stay with Nev’s and keep him calm.::
::Okay.:: Mich affirmed. ::Should I address the questions to you or Nev?::
::Either way—our unconscious’ are merged right now.::
Mich closed her eyes and relaxed. She could feel both Nev’s and Anissa’s minds connected to her own, but it was a loose connection—nothing like the bond that Anissa had forged with him. It was as if they were in the far corner of a mental ‘room’; Mich could hear them and ‘feel’ them but not with the clarity of direct mind-to-mind contact. Nev’s unconsciousness—now also linked with Anissa—loomed in front of her, invisible, intangible, and yet there. She paused, collecting her thoughts, and decided to direct her questions to ‘Nev’. {Nev, can you tell me what happened right before you woke up screaming?}
The voice that replied belonged to neither Nev nor Anissa—it was a strange, ethereal combination of both—whispery and full of fear. {Hands . . . no air . . . black . . .}
The voice might have been unfamiliar but there was no mistaking Nev—even a frightened one. {Nev, do you know where you are?} Mich asked.
{I can’t see . . . it’s so black . . . like night, but darker . . . it’s just—EMPTY}
{Are you in a room?} Mich asked.
{I . . . I don’t know. I think so, but it’s just so big . . .} Nev said.
{Nev, bend down and put your hands on the ground. Is it dirt, or sand, or cement . . . what does it feel like?}
{It’s cold—hard, smooth and cold—like metal}
::Metal:: Mich thought privately. ::Why don’t I like the sound of that?::
Mich shook her head; she could hear Nev’s and Anissa’s consciousness’ talking—she struggled to cope with the confusion of having several voices competing for her attention. {Okay, now stand up and start walking forward, see if you can find a wall.}
Mich was momentarily distracted by Anissa, and almost missed the panicked breathing of Nev’s—and Anissa’s—subconscious. {I can’t!}
{Yes you can, Nev; just stay calm and keep walking . . . you’ll find the wall eventually. Just stay calm—I’m right here and I won’t leave you, okay?}
{Okay . . . I’ll try . . . okay, there’s a wall, and it feels just like the floor—so cold . . .}
Mich bit down on her tongue, fighting the rising discomfort within her. {All right. You’ve found the wall, now start walking, keeping your hand on the wall. We’re going to see how big this room is. Count how many steps it takes you to reach the corner.}
{Okay . . . 1 2 3 4 5 6 ouch!}
{All right, six. Good. Now do the same thing for all four sides until you’ve walked around the room. Also keep looking for a door as you walk.}
{1 2 3 . . . oh no—someone’s coming! I’ve got to hide!}
Mich felt her heart jump at the blind panic that radiated from Nev. {Okay, Nev, okay . . . I’m right here with you, don’t be afraid. Who’s coming?}
The voice was nearly hysterical. {They’re—they’re coming! I have to get away, I have to hide!}
{Who’s they, Nev? I know you’re scared but this is important—who’s ‘they’?} Mich silently willed Nev to remain calm so that he could tell her what was going on and what could make a Mike clone so terrified.
{They—the people . . . the people who . . . I have to get away!}
Mich’s mental ‘voice’ sharpened. {The people who what, Nev? I know you trust me, Nev—nothing will happen to you—who are the people? Other clones?}
{No, not clones—people . . . the people who made me . . . they’re here!}
On to Chapter Four
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