No more than a few moments in the summer heat, and this body has opened its pours to drench me in sweat. I forget because he acts younger than he really is, but what is Jason. Thirty? Forty? Either way, he’s built up wrinkles, his body isn’t in bad shape though. To think a man his age would still be fit. I slapped my stomach. Yeah, that’s some muscles, surprising, considering how frail he seems at first glance. When does he exercise, at work?

Sighing, I stared at a woodpecker with a black back perched on a tree; the single tree providing shade to the yard. Hammering on dry wood, it stopped chasing the meal behind the bark and turned its head to me. The black eyes filled with endless depth and ignorance, cared little for a human and went back to pecking. I should focus on my current dilemma instead of distractions. My first priority is to escape from this body.

Turning around, I wiped my sweat covered brow with my arm and spun the door knob, stepping back into the house. “Although, I have no clue as to how I would go about doing so.”

“Doing what? Cooking dinner.” Sophie laughed. “No need to worry, the stew is never that good anyway.”

My eyes were adjusting to the change in lighting, so her figure was hard to make out. But, of what I did see, with her hand on the railing of the staircase, she scratched her stomach with the other. Awake but also asleep, she rambled on, starting with a yawn. “You’re still woozy, right? Then I’ll make you a deal since I’m such a kind niece.” She pointed at me, a proud smirk plastered on her face. “I’ll make dinner, but it definitely won’t be that awful stew.”

“Deal!” I replied. Nothing if not beneficial to me. I can’t cook Phraze’s dinner right, so why would I cook stew. Nope, not taking my chances.

She cocked a brow and said, “That was too fast Jason, I expected you to stick to your guns.”

“I apologize Sophie, but I’m somewhat tired and want to take a rest, would you mind doing it for me?”

“Hmm,” she mused, “you do look unwell. I made the offer, so I have no choice now.” She shrugged her shoulders and turned to go up the stairs. “You should take a shower before lying down, I can smell you from over here.”

“A shower, got it, where would I find a towel?” I asked

She stopped and turned her head to me, her brow furrowed. “…You have some in your own bathroom.”

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“Oh, of course.” I scratched the back of my head and laughed. “Guess the alcohol is getting to me.”

Scoffing, she continued up the stairs, whispering, “Doofus.”

I wiped my brow again and thought, this heat, it's sweltering.

Having never been inside Jason’s room, I was somewhat curious anyhow to see what it looked like. Not much of a trek, since the room itself was on my right. Entering the room, there was a king size bed in the center, to the left a door that I assume leads to the bathroom, and to the right a dresser and the closet.

Curious as I were, I flung the sliding doors of the closet open. “Hardly any casual clothes. Oh, is this a dress?” I grabbed the maroon dress, running my fingers over the soft fabric. “Must be what his wife wore on grand occasions. It’s quite nice.”

My vision blurred for a moment, then a massive spell of dizziness overwhelmed me. “Ugh.” Stepping back, I held onto the dresser for support. “It’s too hot,” I mumbled, gripping my burning chest. “I just need to lie down, yeah, that’s it.”

I crawled onto the bed, sweating heaps, and fading in and out of consciousness. That shower will have to wait.

A distant voice shot through the room, whispering right into my ear. But, as loud as it was, I only heard glimpses of it.

“Gray… Whe..are… Jason?” Then slumber came.

I dreamed, something I had not done for so long. In front of myself was I, gazing into the mirror of the bathroom. The face I know not, how could I, when I’ve never seen it. A shadow of a woman, or could it be a girl? I had no time to think, for I scattered piece by piece, replaced by another. Who held an expression of contempt, perhaps jealousy, too.

Sophie? No, don’t push your hate on me, I attempted to calm her through words, but my voice was trapped in my throat. So, I reached out to her, pleading forgiveness through my actions. She too moved as I, her visage unchanging. Our hands flattened against the mirror. Separated by thin glass, we were unable to touch one another. Cracks formed around our fingers. Seeing this, I became desperate and placed my other hand on the mirror. As before, she followed my lead. A tear slid down her cheek as more and more cracks formed in the mirror. You present anger but cry. I don’t understand. No longer could I make out her image, but her lips made the slightest of words. You. Are. Not. Me. …What do you mean? The mirror then shattered leaving behind nothing but shards of white.

“No, don’t go!” I started, my hand grasping at air.

“I’m right here, Gray.” I turned my head to the voice, lo and behold, an eyeball stared at me. “How are you feeling?” It asked.

I forced myself to sit up, scanning my body, transparent like it should be. “I feel fine, same as ever. What are you doing here?”

“Hmm, saving you.”

“Saving me from what? Nothing bad happened.”

“Now missy, don’t try to evade what you did. If it weren’t for me, your soul would be gone for good.”

I sighed long and hard. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to possess Jason.”

“No need for an apology,” Sam said, “just don’t do it again. I was barely able to pull you out of his body in time. Now…” Sam hit the floor. “Excuse me while I rest.”