I sat on the bus staring apathetically out of the window. There were no other passengers so it was a pleasantly quiet ride. Gray buildings and boring pedestrians flashed by as I stared out of the window.

          "Ow!" I yelled as something smashed into my forehead and fell into my lap. Rubbing my forehead in frustration, I glared at the object in my lap.

          I could only stare in shock at the beautiful diamond necklace that rested on my leg. The diamond was shaped like a small pyramid and was set in a strange silver setting that looked like roots that had snared the diamond in their grasp. A small vine design on either side of the setting held it to the delicate silver chain. It was the most beautiful necklace I had ever seen.

          How had it gotten here though? She was alone on the bus except for the driver but why would he chuck an expensive looking diamond necklace at her forehead? None of the bus' windows open so it couldn't have come from outside.

          Well whatever. Who am I to say no when something expensive is literally thrown at me? I smiled slightly and slid the jewelry into my pocket. Finders keepers.

          I couldn't wipe the smile off my face the entire bus ride. Finally we pulled up to my stop. I glanced around a few times hoping no one would come up to me and demand the necklace back but no one did, not that there was anyone around anyway. So I scuttled off the bus and walk/ran all the way back to my crappy apartment.

          I took the stairs two at a time, unlocked my apartment door and flung it open in excitement. "Marble! I'm home!"

          A fat white cat with black and gray swirling patterns waddled majestically across the hall and glanced at me with disdain as if my boisterous behavior personally offended him, before he disappeared into my bedroom. "Glad to see you too." I said with a sigh. I kicked the door shut behind me.

          Today was pretty interesting. I met the CEO for the first time only to find out he's not someone I can swindle. He seemed too confident and he looked pretty smart as well. I probably wouldn't be able to overwhelm him with big words.

          Not to mention the douchebag Charlie had been passing my work off as his own. I sighed again, what a day. Perhaps I should take a few days off and find some fat sheep to shear. There was nothing like indulging in ones hobby when one wanted to relax.

          I collapsed on my sofa sinking into its soft fluffy depths and pulled the necklace out of my pocket. I held it by the chain so the pyramid shaped diamond would spin and catch the light. It really is a beautiful piece. I slowly undid the clasp and fastened it around my neck.

          Suddenly the world went dark. I couldn't see anything, I couldn't feel anything and I couldn't hear anything. "What the hell!" I screamed into the blackness at the top of my lungs.

          "There's no need to shout. We're right here." Said a disembodied voice near my ear. It was a deep male voice with no inflection. The accent sounded Asian though.

          "Who's there? What's going on?" I screamed into the darkness again.

          "As I said there's no need to shout." Repeated the voice.

          "Oh we have a new one here! She must be a strong soul if she's able to speak here! Hey what's your specialty newbie?" Another voice sounded from the darkness this one also male but with a Southern accent.

          "Do shut up Troy, can't you see the poor girl is scared and confused?" Yet another voice, but this one a smooth and soft female voice with an African accent.

          "Don't be such a spoilsport Kadee. She'll get used to it eventually. We might as well talk while she adjusts right? Anyway it'll be nice to have another female around. With only Kadee it was becoming a bit of a sausage fest." Said the voice called Troy with a chuckle.

          "All of ye stop yer bloody tongue waggin'." Yet another new voice echoed out from the darkness. This voice was a male voice with an irish accent that sounded slightly husky as if he yelled a lot. The voices quieted down.

          "Wh-who are you people? What's going on?" I still couldn't feel any part of my body. I couldn't see anything in the darkness and it was scary. I felt as if the shadows could crush me at any second. If the voices weren't there I probably would have gone insane.

          "Don't panic dear," said the Kadee voice, "I am going to ask you a few questions okay? Then after you answer I'll explain a few things. Alright?" She spoke gently and slowly as if coaxing a child.

          "O-okay..." My voice came out in a whisper.

          "Good. Now tell me, do you have some sort of skill or talent?"

          I was hesitant to answer but figured what the hay? Who are these hallucinations going to tell?

          "I'm a con woman. A swindler. I trick stupid rich jerks out of all their dirty money and I'm very, very good at it. I've always had a knack for lying you see. I started when I was a teenager. Now I have enough money in offshore accounts to pay off at least one fifth of America's national debt." I rambled. The voices were quiet for a moment but I think I might have heard one whisper to the other asking if that's a lot. "That's at least several trillion dollars." I said proudly.

          Several voices oo'd and aah'd. I felt kind of exhilarated at being able to boast of my exploits. Even if it was only to several disembodied voices in my head.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

          "I see. The diamond chose an interesting host this time. Next question, do you believe in ghosts?"

          I frowned at the question Kadee asked. I don't put any stock in that kind of thing after all. "No I don't," I answered honestly. But something she said bugged me more than that, "what do you mean 'the diamond chose'?"

          I heard Troy guffaw from somewhere to my right. "Ha! You're in for a treat then lady!"

          "Be quiet Troy!" Commanded Kadee fiercely, "ahem, you see dear, we are all ghosts." She hesitated for a moment, " Well not exactly ghosts. We are spirits. Souls bound to that diamond you put on."

          "Eh?" Was my less than intelligent response.

          "The diamond appears before someone it has chosen as its host. Usually someone with an impressive skill it deems worthy of the era. For example, Troy here was the best gun duelist to ever come out of the wild west. He was an expert marksman with a lightning fast draw. I was a slave brought to America from Africa. My skill is what the ignorant slavers of my time called witchcraft. I was the best shamaness for miles around when I was with my people."

          "Eh?" It seems this ordeal was really eating away my brain cells since once again that was the only thing I was capable of articulating.

          "The diamond came to each of us in different ways. As soon as we wore it our souls became bound to the gem. When our bodies died our souls remained within the diamond. We don't know why or how and I'm sorry to say that your soul too has become bound to it. You will never be able to take off the necklace. When you die, your soul will remain inside with us."

          "No way..." I whispered in dismay. I wanted to cry but I don't think I could in this place.

          "Welcome to the club sister!" Said the ever obnoxious Troy with a cackle.

          "Is that where we are right now? Within the diamond? Am I a...soul right now?" I asked quietly.

          "That's correct and I must say you are handling this situation remarkably well." Another new voice from the darkness responded. This one another male with a posh British accent.

          "Ah well, I'm a professional con women after all. Controlling my emotions was the first thing I mastered. This is really a good test of my control though. I feel like I'm about to go insane." I said tiredly.

          "A trial we all overcame. I'm confident you will as well miss. My name is Samuel Brightly. Please just call me Brightly. May I enquire as to your own name my lady?"

          "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm currently known as Lena Dwight. But my real name is Wither Holt, my friends call me Wit. You all can call me Wit" I responded politely due to habit. Since Brightly was being extremely polite it would have felt awkward to do otherwise.

          "The pleasure is mine I assure you Miss Wit. Miss Kadee, allow me to explain the rest to our newest resident."

          "Of course." Kadee's voice resounded from somewhere behind me. Everyone seemed to float around freely in this place. Or maybe it was just me.

          "Thank you. Now Miss Wit I have to tell you that in a few minutes you will return to your body. After which you will not be able to enter the gem again until you die."

          "Why?" A shiver ran down my spine thanks to that ominous word.

          "It is because this diamond acts as a body for us. Since you still have a body there is no need for you to enter. The only reason you are here now is because the diamond is in the process of binding your soul."

          "Is that so? But does that mean I won't be able to talk to any of you anymore?" Oddly enough I seemed to have become slightly fond of these probably-not-so hallucinations.

          "Of course not. We are all connected through the diamond now. You will always hear our voices. Whether you want to or not."

          That...doesn't sound good. I don't think I'd like walking around with a ton of voices burbling in my head. Wouldn't that be distracting?

          "Hmm, the binding should be done soon. There are a few more things to explain but I think that can be done later. One last thing before you have to go Miss Wit. Please do not be shocked when you wake up." Brightly sounded a little anxious.

          "What? Why would I be shocked?" Confusion seemed to be my default state as of late.

          "It's just...your body might not be exactly where you left it. Don't be alarmed. It is shameful and cruel to new residents and he will be punished for it."

          His voice suddenly started to become strangely muffled. As if I was listening to him through a door. I began hearing other noises like the sound of traffic and the distant chatter of a television talk show.

          "Wait! What do you mean my body won't be where I left it? Who's punished and for what? Brightly?!"

          Light returned to the world just as I yelled Brightly's name. My neighbor banged on my wall shouting for me to be quiet and the television got louder as if he turned it up.

          I found myself lying on the floor below my liquor cabinet which was wide open. In my hand was an empty bottle of whipped cream vodka. I'm pretty sure that was a full bottle before I blacked out...

          "Nostrovia! Such sweet vodka I have not tasted in a hundred years! I thank you for the use of your body girl, ha ha ha ha!" Said a boisterous Russian man in my head with a thunderous laugh.

          Whaaaaaat?! Was all I could think before I blacked out again.