Chapter 15

(Chapter song ‘Don't Stand So Close To Me' by The Police)

GRAHAM I pace my bedroom floor as another crash comes from my office and I groan.

“Graham, please. Calm down.” Kita says after teleporting to get clothes and is now getting dressed in my room.

I hold a finger up to her and pull on a pair of jeans as I hold my phone on my shoulder. “Yes…That’s what I said. A male chimpanzee is in my apartment and I need him out now…I don’t know how he got in…No, I don’t have a permit...” I stand straight and hold my phone. “He belongs to someone. He’s wearing pajamas…No! Why the hell would I dress a monkey?…Ape, sorry…Look. Just send someone over before he fucking trashes the place. Fine…I’ll pay whatever. Just get Marvin out of here!” I hang up, throw my phone on my dresser and grab a t-shirt.

“Graham.”

I turn with a small yelp growl and lean on the dresser, holding my heart. I close my eyes and huff breaths.

“You must calm yourself.” She says as tries to see my face.

I hold a finger up to her nose. “No.” I walk away. “This is bad, Kita. So bad.” I walk to my kitchen and open the fridge. I slam it because it’s still empty. I pull out my coffee maker and start to make coffee.

“Why is it bad?”

Turning with the canister of coffee in my hand, she’s right on my ass. “Just…sit over there….Please.”

She blinks at me then goes to sit on the couch.

“It’s bad because you’re a student. I’m your teacher. It violates like a dozen school rules.” I pour the coffee in, close the machine and start it. I slam the canister down, spin around and lean on my counter. “What’s worse is, I can’t remember a damn thing we did. We did do something, right?”

“Oh yes.” She smiles.

My face falls and I point to her as I walk into the living room. “Don’t. Don’t do that.” I sit on my coffee table in front of her.

“Do what?” She asks innocently.

“That smile. Don’t. Kita. I may have slept with you, but we can’t do that again. I could lose my job.” I lean on my knees as look into her eyes.

“Oh. But even if it wasn’t you?” She asks.

I stitch my brows together. “What do you mean? Wasn’t me.”

She looks down then raises an eye to me. “I’m not supposed to tell you, but I feel like I can guide you to your destined place with the information I have. I don’t know who, but the man before me last night isn’t the man I see right now. It’s like you are two different people. One is sweet and caring. The other is almost dishonorable. I know I met this man last night. I don’t know why you don’t remember it.”

My jaw falls slack. “Wait.” I pull out my phone and open the internet. “Missing time. Saying and doing things without remembering I’m doing them…Two different people…”

I look at my search engine as I scrub my face and hold my hand over my mouth.

‘Although very rare, dissociated identity disorder can affect adults who have suffered traumatic events. Alternate personalities are created by the host to protect them from facing the trauma. Sometimes they emulate what the host is afraid of or missing due to the damage the event caused.’

I drop my phone and stare off into my apartment. My mind is racing. I start to sweat and concern makes my heart pound on my chest. This fills in a lot of gaps. It makes sense now. All this time, I didn’t once think of multiple personalities. I knew my PTSD was bad, but I didn’t think it was this bad. I don’t know much about the subject, but from what I do know it can be scary and down right dangerous. Which is exactly what I’m feeling now.

I look to Kita. “Ok. Look. I’m sorry for what the other guy, Alternate Graham, if that’s what this is, did or said to you.”

“Alternate Graham?” She tilts her head in confusion.

I stand her up. “I-I can’t explain it right now. Right now, I have to talk to someone. I’m sure I’ll tell you as soon as I know.” I want to touch her, but I don’t want to give the wrong impression. “As far as we go, Kita. I can’t.” I shake my head at her. “You’re…you’re very beautiful. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just…it’s not honorable. I can’t be with you.”

Her mouth goes small. “But…I like you. I want to protect you.”

I smile. “That’s not your job, little fox. I appreciate it, but an affair between a teacher and student would anger the faculty. You’re so sweet and young, nobody would understand.”

She nods her head. “If that’s what you wish, Professor.” I watch her face flush.

My chest hurts to see her upset. “Kita, no. Don’t be upset. It’s just…”

She looks at me with tear lined eyes. “I'll be alright.”

“Kita…” I lift a hand to her.

She’s blinks out and I flop my arm down to my side and shake my head. Of all the messes I could have made, this is the worst.

I need to figure this out.

Another crash came from upstairs. I groan again as I look up at the ceiling. After I evict the corn dog eating ape, I’ll see Racheal.

****

After trashing the rest of my place, Marvin is on his way to the San Diego Zoo until they can find out who owns him and where he could go. I hope he has a good life. Mine on the other hand…

I walk into Racheal’s office with her behind me.

“What’s on your mind, Graham?” She asks as she shuts the door and grabs her notepad off her desk.

I scratch my temple, walk to the couch and turn. “Something is seriously wrong with me.”

She motions to the couch. “Yes. Your PTSD. That’s why we have these sessions.”

I sit, lean on my knees and shake my head. “No. It’s much more than that.” I lean to her. “I’m doing things I don’t remember doing.”

“The blackouts. Are they getting worse?” She writes on her pad.

I swallow and look out the window. “I thought I was just…passing out, but now…”

“What’s happening, Graham?” She side eyes me and fearful concern grows on my face.

“I-I can’t be sure, but…I think there’s another me.” I whisper.

She adjusts herself. “Another you. Tell me about that.”

“I have a blackout and…I’m somewhere else. I’m missing days at a time, but what’s more is people tell me they talk to me. That I said and did things. I can’t remember a damn thing. I don’t know. I’ve crossed major ethical lines, Racheal. I’m fucking afraid something really bad is going to happen. There’s something really wrong here.” I have to calm myself down as I can feel myself starting to panic.

She nods. “Ok. This good. Great actually. This means you are ready to really tap into your psyche and root out your fear. I have to ask…Have you hear of a condition called…”

“Don't.” I slowly raise my eye to her.

Her face falls. “Graham. We have to tell him.”

“No. He’s not ready!” I yell.

“You see what he said. He knows, Graham. He’s recognizing you and your actions. Lift the barrier.” She folds her hands on her lap.

I shake my head. “No. He can't handle what he has to do.”

“What? What does he have to do?” Racheal says in a impatient tone.

I scowl at her. “Things that will be above all your pay grades. This isn’t something some teacher can do. He doesn’t have the guts and I can’t have him blow it.”

“How do you know? He may surprise you.” She says.

“How do I know?” I stand up and pace around. “At one point, I was him. If I couldn’t do it, he can’t.”

Racheal gives a quick smile. “Ok. Graham. You’re not a real person. You think you’re like Graham, but that’s only because you were one with him once. He split you two…”

I chuckle. “Oh, Rach. If you only knew how wrong you are.” I walk out to the window. “You'd do the exact same thing.” My words trail off as I stare at the city that looks so beautiful and alive. “You’d lay your life down and do whatever it took to protect that out there.” My brows stitch up as I turn my head slowly to her.

Her eyes meet mine as her lips fall. “What are you saying?”

****

“MOVE THAT TENT!”

“GET THESE WEAPONS TO THE CHECKPOINT!”

“WHERE’S THE MIRRORS?!”

My chest pounds as I focus on where the fuck I am. Everything is dark blue and there’s unit soldiers everywhere.

“Shit.” I say under my breath as I run and hide behind some crates before I’m seem. “Fuck. Not again.” I look around quickly, for a better place to escape to.

“Mica!”

I look to my right and Mica walks up in a black uniform with his mate, Hartlyn at his side. “Report.” He barks.

The Unit soldier stands and salutes. “The traveler’s are ready and awaiting your orders.”

Mica nods. “Good. Where’s Gideon?”

“He’s hooking up the Comms for the other side.” The soldier informs.

“Other side?” I whisper.

“Mica.”

They turn and I watch Deacon and Jenny join him.

Mica shakes his hand. “Tell me good news, Dea.”

“Does my beautiful witch want to do the honors?” Deacon smiles at Jenny.

Jenny rolls her eyes. “Like you could explain it.” She shakes her head in annoyance.

He scowls. “I could try.”

“Shut up.” She growls.

He smiles. “That’s my girl…Fierce.” He preens.

“The potion.” Mica says as he sighs.

Jenny holds out a vial. “Thanks to the Dark Shamans Vault, I was able to perfect the mirror potion and remove the inconvenient death aspect. Now, our travelers can cross the glass without worry.”

Mica takes the vial, lifts it to his eyes and grins. “Perfect. Get the men ready. Where’s Wes?”

“He’s conferring with Lefu. Extracting the location of his counter part is proving to be more difficult than we anticipated. The other has a link block too." Deacon crosses his arms.

“Keep pressing. We need that location. Have you figured out how to direct the reflections?” Mica asks Jenny.

She nods. “All I need is a location with a mirror and we only need one mirror connection anywhere in the world.”

“Ok. I’ll inform Rex.” Mica says.

“Oh, fuck no.” I say under my breath. “This can’t be fucking real.”

They start to walk away. “Once the bridge is complete, prepare the Unit’s. I want everyone at that portal.”

“Bridge?” What the hell? They…Are they invading the other side?

“Hey! What are you doing?”

I freeze as the muzzle of a gun lands on my back.