Rays of sunlight threw into my cramped room in the early morning  and the world was busy by leaving me aside.  Visits paid to Dr.Johnson's clinic had eventually turned into a headache right now. Ah!!!! I just don't look like an ordinary person because  I have  a rare medical condition.

  Some pitied by looking at me and some tried to gasp as if they had seen an alien creature. Children used to crack jokes and bully me saying that I am just like a gullible monster. I had a father but he left me and my mother because he abhorred me so much. A mother's love is unconditional you know, so she never leave my side.

I have no friends in school so I create my own world and live my fullest in that imaginary world. I talk to myself and laugh with my self but it was not a genuine laugh. I feel so glad that I still have a friend, he was too personal and exists with me forever attached to the back of my head. So I am like a freak in a freak show.

"Mom don't tire yourself in finding money for my operation?"

My mom looked at me with a huge suspicion because I used to hate this extra face too much. Now I am obsessed with my new friend. It whisper soothing words when I am about to sleep but I never revealed about this to my mom because she'd get scared and remove it from me.

"We can't get detached Frank. We must stay together." He whispered all the time to me.I also agreed. People considered me as a freak but I tolerated them now because I was always happy with my new best friend. The first time he started talking I got extremely scared.

"Don't feel scared. I'll always be there for you. You always wanted a friend but I can be a brother to you Frank. Trust me and don't ever spit a single word out of your mouth about me my brother."

Those words happen to stop me from revealing this dark secret. I mimiced songs and it mimiced back to me and I named him as Jim.

It was a warm rainy day and my mother went out as usual for her daily work in the Continent shop. I hopped onto my bed and enjoyed the music by putting on my headset

"Can you hear it clearly Jim?" I asked from him. Then he replied back saying yes.

All of a sudden the tune changed into a hoarse voice and my whole head felt as if getting crushed.

"Stop it Jim. Just stop it. What's wrong with you?" I questioned. My eardrums were about to get burst.

"What the hell....." I removed my headset and breathed.

"Why do you behave like this Jim. You've never been like this ever before. Your acts might quicken the operation." I said angrily and hit onto the back of my head. I felt something wet. I could hear him sobbing and wailing.

"Alright,alright I won't scold you again. Now stop crying bro." I attempted to console but that cry grew more furious. It made my brain cells shred into pieces.

"Stop it. Jim I am sorry. Stop crying it gives me a huge headache." I muttered.

"If you want to stop me crying you must agree with me for whatever I say." I could hear his obscure words amidst the sobs.

"Ok ok I will. I will. I promise. Just stop it for gods sake."

Then I heard a chuckle from the back of my head.

"There you are my good brother. I want you to pay attention to me all the time without focusing on anything else."

This request was something really different from which he had made earlier. I cackled.

"Right,what if I do not?"

I guess the joke went out so badly that he screamed and cracks began to appear on my head.

"Take it back. Take it back."

There's no time to think or wonder about. I had to calm him down.

"It was just a joke Jim. Please stop screaming. You'll always be my brother."

Again he became tamed. From this point onwards I felt things odd in my behavior patterns. I never had the intention to stare at the dark but now I truly loved it. Jim was manipulating me to do so. One day my mom caught me red handed while I was eating raw chicken which was kept inside the fridge. She slapped me hard and we both argued like we had never done so far.

"Are you out of your mind Frank?  You were eating raw meat!!!!! What is this behavior?"

My mom snapped at me.

"It's my willingness mom and you don't have to interfere with it. This is my life and I can do what I want." Those words meant to be so harsh. I had never spoken in this tone before and my mother was surprised.

Since then we both went through arguments and I began to hate my mom for no reason.

"Frank don't worry. I am there for you and you are there for me."

I believed Jim. One cold night in the summer I walked across the alley by covering Jim with my hoodie. At once he began to whisper something into my ears.

"Kill her."

"WHATT?"

"Kill her."

What kind of a request is that? I wondered. "To kill whom?" I asked.

"Our mommy."

A chill went through my spine and body felt too numb at those words.

"Shut up and stop saying nonsense."

"No you must. You must brother. If you don't we won't be able to live together." He muttered. I felt mad and I shouted at Jim.

"I will never do that. She's our mother!!! I love her so much."

This time he forwarded an awkward as well as a degrading question.

"But I love you too.You have to choose one. Me or mom."

I was flabbergasted. I ran all the way to my home and he was still questioning me and shouting.

"YOU HAVE TO FUCKING CHOOSE. THE CHOICE MUST BE ME BUT NOT HER. I WANT YOU BROTHER."

The whole word seems to be roused. I couldn't control myself as I saw my mother seated on the sofa in the living room. I quickened my pace and sneaked into my room.

I covered my head from both hands and begged him to stop.

"SHUT UP Aaaaah."

I heard thousands of horrible voices in my head. They all got jumbled up. He began to curse and throw abusive words at me.

"GO AND KILL HER." He shouted.

Blood surged into my eyes and they teared out.

"NO"

Several minutes passed and my mom came rushing towards the door of my room.

"Frank what's going on there? Open up the door son. Why are you shouting."

She pleaded. I had to control myself and supress the power of Jim.

"Mom just leave me. Runaway as fast as you can."

My mom broke in and she screamed by seeing blood drooling out of my mouth and the face behind my face growing large.

"OH GOD...." she screamed and came towards me but I waved my hand.

"Stay b..back m.mom aah."

Jim tortured me but I didn't give up.

"YOU BITCH TRYNNA MAKE US APART..... NO WAY YOU CAN. WE BOTH WERE BORN TOGETHER AND WE MUST BE TOGETHER."

A wild evil laugh possessed him.

"RUN.. PLEASE RUN. HE'LL MAKE ME KILL YOU...JUST RUN."

I pushed my mom out of the room and locked myself.

"FRANK OPEN THE DOOR MY SON. OH GOD. OPEN IT UP. .PLEASE ...."

I sanked into the ground effortlessly by listening to her cries.

"I love you mom." I muttered and pushed hard on myself and knocked the back of my head on the wall till blood trickled down and smashed Jim. My head was cut open and the metallic odour of my own blood went through my nostrils.

"STOP!!!!! DONT YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHER??"

I disregarded Jim's howls and enermous wails.

"LET'S DIE TOGETHER JIM"

                    - THE END -

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  Hi guys , This is my first short story. I was inspired to write this based on the urban legend of Edward Mordrake's rare medical condition. So I hope you guys would enjoy this and I kindly request you to read,vote,comment and share my story. Thank you very much.😍😘🌹

            - Tharushi Ranasinghe -