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Two voices, two consciousnesses, two souls, two universes.
One body, one family.
The threads of their consciousness had crossed time and space to meet. A spark had ignited their bond, a chaotic dance as two realities collided. The playful orange-yellow string, for a spell, entered suspended animation—not asleep but not fully awake. The powerful neon-blue string meandered in search of understanding, seeking its place in this time, this body, this universe, bonding with the strings of those around it.
As the shockwave subsided, their minds found a fragile equilibrium. Memories and consciousness began to flow like rivers—sometimes parallel, sometimes merging, separating, then meeting again, in an endless rhythm. What once had been chaos became symmetry, a dance of two souls learning to move as one.
Over time, the chaos gave way to harmony. The two strings, the two souls, found their rhythm—a relationship of balance, complementarity, playfulness, and love. They became siblings of the closest, most extraordinary kind.
But harmony is delicate, and even the most elegant dances can falter. Something neither of them could have foreseen was coming, and it threatened to unravel everything they had built.
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Emily opened her eyes. The world was fuzzy as she was rushed through what felt like a brightly lit corridor. A voice blared from a nearby PA system, "Minor car crash, Route 9 vicinity, multiple injuries, patient critical."
“How the heck did I get here?” she thought, her vision fading in and out. Pain surged through her abdomen as she instinctively reached to touch it.
“Hey hey! Sweetie, don’t move, okay?” a voice said, gently but firmly moving her hand back.
“Mmm….Danny, I don’t feel good, what's going on?,” Emily mumbled, slipping back into unconsciousness.
—
Time passed—minutes, hours? There was no way to tell for sure. However, when Emily did finally open her eyes again, she wasn’t in her body. She felt herself light, ethereal, like a leaf floating in the air, her form translucent, hovering above a scene that felt distant yet for some reason - urgent. She found herself inside an operating room, watching doctors who seemed to be operating almost frantically on someone.
“Code Blue, room 5!” a voice called urgently.
She drifted closer, her eyes narrowing in confusion. The figure on the table was small, surrounded by tubes and machines. She rubbed her eyes and focused, realizing with a jolt that the person lying there, flatlining on the monitor, was her.
“Oh…oh no…I’m dying aren't I?,” she thought, the realization surprisingly sad yet calm. The pain was gone, and she felt oddly at peace with it. She knew she should not, this was potentially endgame but she just couldn’t care a whole lot one way or the other in that moment.
A familiar voice broke through the sterile atmosphere.
“Emily, no! Please, God, no!” someone cried in the distance, the sound thick with anguish.
Emily sighed. “Well… this sucks. I rather enjoyed this life.”
“We both did,” a gentle voice said from behind her.
She turned to see her older brother, Daniel, standing nearby, his eyes focused on her body. He looked sad, but there was a calm acceptance in his gaze.
Daniel wasn’t her brother in the conventional sense. Some time ago, she’d learned that Daniel had been a real person from another universe. His consciousness had inexplicably merged with hers - neither knew why - but it was a reality both of them had struggled to accept.
At first, their bond had been chaotic, with Daniel inadvertently having suppressed her consciousness for a few weeks, then realizing he was not alone and surrendering it back to Emily. Even so, for a few months, Emily had existed without realizing that she now had her very own guardian as she fought to understand how thoughts and emotions that didn’t seem to be hers intertwined and interrelated.
Over time, both consciousnesses achieved equilibrium. Their bond had become seamless—so much so that at times, Emily felt like she couldn’t remember a life without him. When he and Emily were synchronized, their movement, their actions, and sometimes even thoughts were virtually indistinguishable; each experiencing control of their body together in perfect harmony. Gradually - Emily had taken on the role of the sweet but sassy little sister, and Daniel the role of the exasperated, amused older sibling.
Additionally, Emily had gained most of Daniel’s knowledge and memories - knowledge from another universe and timeline - and together they had become walking supercomputers, time surprising them with new capabilities and nuggets of truth.
Daniel in turn experienced the world through Emily - a second childhood in a manner of speaking. He had seen, felt the kindness that Emily’s reality offered - one that he had not experienced in his own universe; be it her friends, society or even her parents - Sarah and Thomas. There were secrets - memories and abilities that Daniel had not shared with Emily - some because he felt they were inappropriate for a child, or others that were a burden.
Her parents, Sarah and Thomas, had eventually learned the truth. The shock and confusion had been hard for them at first, but they had, somewhat reluctantly, accepted Daniel as part of Emily’s reality especially after they learned of the synergistic nature of this bond, even though the secret of his existence was closely guarded between the three of them.
No one else could know—no one else would understand.
“Hey, Danny” Emily said softly, reaching for his hand and looking up imploringly at him. “I’m sorry for this - I don’t even remember how I got here.”
Daniel was silent for a moment, as though choosing his words carefully. “Emily we sacrificed ourselves for someone we loved.” He gently ruffled her hair, pulling her into their shared dream world—the dreamscape, as they called it.
Ordinarily, the dreamscape was a place of vibrant beauty. A sunny meadow stretched out beneath a bright sky, with a cherry blossom tree gently swaying in the breeze - the symbol of Emily and Daniel’s joint existence - perhaps of the Parker’s family’s existence itself. Ordinarily, birds chirped happily in the distance, and a soft, refreshing wind always seemed to brush through the grass.
Above them, strings of energy floated, like glowing tendrils of light that depicted her and Daniel’s harmonious consciousness bond. Each thread shimmered with life, connected not only to them but also to the individuals who had touched their lives, the ones they were bound to in some deeper way. It was their sanctuary—their world, their little dimension, where they could explore freely, relive memories, or simply find peace in each other’s presence.
However, today, the dreamscape was eerily still. There was no breeze. The sun, once warm and golden, hung dimly in the sky. The birds were silent, and the cherry blossom stood frozen, its petals unmoving. Emily felt a pang of unease as she looked up. The threads of energy that usually danced so vibrantly in the air now flickered weakly, her thread in particular pulsing as though they were struggling to stay alive.
“Let’s take a stroll, Shrimp” Daniel said softly, using his affectionate nickname for his little sister. His grip still firm on her hand, without waiting for a response, he began leading her forward, their footsteps soft against the meadow as they walked deeper into a memory.
–
Time shifted, and the memory slowly began to play. Emily watched as she and her best friend Lily sat together on the floor of Lily’s house, surrounded by a sea of art supplies and sheets of paper. Both girls were completely engrossed in their latest project: designing a futuristic cityscape.
“Ha, look, Lily! I added solar panels to the rooftops! They collect sunlight and power the whole building,” Emily exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over.
Lily rolled over to examine the drawing. “That’s awesome, Emily! You’re so smart! But hey, check this out—I made hover cars in my drawing. See how they zoom between buildings?”
They exchanged excited glances, giggling as their shared creativity spilled onto the paper.
“We’re really good at this, Lily! We should do this more often,” Emily giggled.
Lily blushed, her usual shyness peeking through. “I dunno, Emily. I think you’re going to be a famous inventor one day”
Without hesitation, Emily pulled her friend into a tight hug. “Nope! We’re going to invent things together!”
As they munched on cookies that Lily’s mother had kindly brought them, they shifted their conversation to the upcoming weekend. Their plans for a sleepover—filled with movies, games, and more drawing—were well underway.
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“We’ll have to invite Lucy, of course!” Emily proclaimed. “This sisterhood isn’t complete without all three of us.”
Their laughter filled the room, creating a bubble of happiness that seemed to freeze time for just a moment—a pause before the day would take a fateful turn.
Once they’d finished plotting their weekend adventures, the girls decided to head to the park, eager to continue their day of fun.
“I bet we can climb all the way to the top of the jungle gym today!” Lily said with a hopeful grin.
Emily matched her excitement. “You’re on! I’ll race you to the top! And then we can finish planning our sleepover!”
The two girls strolled down the street, their laughter mixing with the sounds of the other children around them. The sun shone brightly overhead, and everything felt perfect.
In a rare burst of competitive energy, Lily took off running. “Come on, Emily! Last one to the park is a rotten egg!” she called, giggling as she sprinted ahead.
Emily was about to follow, when suddenly, she felt a jolt—a warning deep within her.
Startled, she froze mid-step, her smile evaporating into confusion. The familiar voice echoed inside her head—Daniel’s voice—but it wasn’t calm or playful this time - instead it was sharp and urgent. Over the past year, Daniel had always been her invisible protector, a constant presence in the back of her mind. Though sometimes overprotective, he had never sounded this terrified before.
"Emily, danger—MOVE—NOW!"
“What is it, Daniel?” she thought, her mind scrambling to catch up as unease rippled through her. She had never heard him like this. It was almost as if he was panicking.
Before she could fully process the thought, she felt it—her muscles twitching, her body responding without her permission. Daniel was trying to take over, to force her to move. Her legs jerked slightly, her arms tensed. "Danny?!" Emily gasped inwardly in shock.
"Look ahead, Shrimp! PAY ATTENTION! We aren't in sync!" Daniel's voice screamed through her mind. He had never tried to move her like this - there was real, immediate danger.
Her vision snapped to the street, and suddenly, time seemed to slow. Lily was halfway across the road, carefree, oblivious, laughing. Emily's heart, however, lurched as she saw what Daniel had seen.
The car. It was barreling toward Lily, its driver distracted, unaware of the small girl in its path.
“Oh my God” Emily’s breath caught in her throat as she realized the implications of that singular moment. The distance between her and Lily felt insurmountable, and the car—moving far too fast—was already closing in. She could feel Daniel’s panic pulse through her, merging with and amplifying her own.
Without thinking, Emily relinquished control, allowing Daniel to flood into her body. A surge of energy rushed through her, adrenaline, and something more—Daniel’s consciousness merging - truly merging - with hers, fueling her limbs, making her move faster than she ever thought possible.
She was running before her mind caught up, her legs pounding against the pavement, her breath ragged.
“LILY, WATCH OUT!” she screamed, the words raw, tearing from her throat - a scream from both Daniel and herself in one voice.
But it wasn’t enough. They were not fast enough.
Emily threw herself forward, pushing Lily out of harm's way with all the force she could muster. Lily stumbled, barely keeping her balance as she tumbled forward to safety, but there wasn’t enough time for Emily to secure her own escape.
Time slowed to a crawl.
Emily's wide eyes locked onto the oncoming car. The driver finally looked up, his eyes widening and face contorting in horror as he realized what was about to happen. His hands abruptly gripped the steering wheel, and Emily saw his foot slam down on the brakes.
Together, she and Daniel screamed, “Oh fu—!” but the words were cut short as the car hit.
There was a sharp burst of pain—searing, like fire—but then, for an instant, there was nothing. She felt herself leave the ground, seemingly weightless as her body was flung. The world spun violently, a blur of sky, soil and pavement.
For a moment, there was only silence. No pain. Just a hollow stillness. Then she crashed on the ground - hard.
The world snapped back into focus, and agony rushed in like a tidal wave. Emily gasped, the taste of blood filling her mouth as the crushing pain stabbed through her entire body - her chest, her limbs, everywhere. Waves of nausea and dizziness washed over her and then - everything went black.
—
In the blackness, Emily heard voices—seemingly distant yet frantic, cutting through the void.
“Oh my God! That kid got hit by a car! Where’s the driver? He ran away?? Someone call an ambulance! Someone help her!”
Emily’s awareness drifted in and out, her body feeling distant and numb, as if it didn’t belong to her anymore. Her senses flickered back for a moment—life a blur of flashing lights, a horrendous cacophony of sounds that she couldn’t place or identify. Salt touched her cheeks and then her lips, and it took her a second to realize these weren’t her tears, but Lily’s, streaming down her friend’s face as she clutched Emily’s hand.
She picked out Lily’s familiar voice, soft, scared and trembling and crying. “Emily! Em, please wake up, please get up!” Lily’s voice cracked with desperation.
The pain was slow at first, dull, like a distant echo in her chest. Then it flared, sharper and stronger before fading again. Emily’s vision blurred again as she murmured, scarcely aware of the words leaving her mouth: “Mom... Dad... Danny... help...”
She slipped into the darkness again.
—
She was conscious again and felt herself being gently lifted, voices speaking around her in calm, controlled tones.
“He sweetie, just hang in there” a paramedic said as he came into her view. His voice was steady, though Emily sensed the urgency beneath it “We’re taking you to the hospital okay?”
Her mind raced trying to guess at her injuries, though it felt disjointed, trying to hold onto any kind of logical thought. “Broken ribs? Fractured leg? Abdomen? Internal bleeding?” Her brain, struggling to function through the pain, switched into analytical mode. Or perhaps it was Daniel taking over? ”Can I move my fingers and toes? Good..not paralyzed” he or she thought wiggling her appendages.
But then the pain sharpened, exploding through her abdomen in a way that tore through her rational thoughts, and she gasped.
“Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?” another paramedic asked gently.
It took all of Emily’s energy to force out a response. “E-Emily... Daniel... no, Emily Parker...” Her thoughts, and her words, tangled in confusion. “Why is it hard to breathe...”
Her vision flickered again, darkness tugging at the periphery of her awareness.
“We’re going to help you, Emily. Just try to stay calm.” The paramedic’s voice was soothing, but she couldn’t focus on his words - the world seemingly losing and gaining contrast
With effort, Emily whispered, half childlike, half clinical: “Ribs... maybe internal injuries from the impact... fingers and toes moving... not paralyzed...”
The last thing Emily saw as she passed out again was the paramedics exchanging a look, ostensibly surprised at her level of understanding as they continued working to stabilize her.
–
Emily groggily awoke again. The world was white, harsh antiseptic lights above her blurring her vision with their sharp intensity. Her entire being felt heavy, as though her body had become an anchor, dragging her down into an ocean of exhaustion. An oxygen mask covered her face, making it awkward to breathe deeply.
She tried to move, but pain flared sharply in her chest, forcing her to wince. Her body felt like it had been through a war zone—bruised, battered, and broken.
Footsteps approached, and Emily’s spirits cautiously lifted as she heard voices—familiar voices.
“Where’s my daughter? Where’s Emily?” Sarah’s voice cut through the haze—frantic, almost hysterical, and well past the verge of tears.
“Sarah, stay with me—panicking won’t help our daughter.” Thomas, her father’s steady voice, followed, though even he couldn’t fully hide the fear embedded in it.
Both her parents were in the medical field—they understood the severity of the situation better than most. But it was always her father who anchored the world when it spiraled out of control, and her mom who gave the nurturing energy that kept her going.
A nurse’s voice, calm and professional, answered, “She’s being examined by the doctors right now. She’s stable, but she has multiple injuries.”
The words echoed in Emily’s mind, though they barely registered. Pain throbbed through her body in waves—fading, then crashing back harder. Everything felt distant, like she was watching the world through a fogged-up window.
Suddenly, time seemed to skip, and her parents were by her side. Their faces were a mixture of relief and fear, tears glistening in their eyes.
“Mom... Dad...” Emily whispered, her voice barely audible, trembling with pain.
Her dad’s hand wrapped around hers, warm and steady. “We’re here, Emily. We’re right here,” he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Her mom gently stroked her hair, her touch soothing even through the ache. “You’re going to be okay, sweetie. The doctors will take care of you.”
The voices swirled around her, grounding her momentarily, but this enabled something else to gnaw at the edge of her mind. A familiar presence was missing. Even through her pain, Emily instinctively reached out to her invisible brother, her thoughts fumbling for the constant comfort of Danny’s consciousness.
There was nothing - for the first time in forever - there was absolute silence.
Her eyes widened as panic gripped her. “Oh no did he... die? He was in my body when I got hit. No he’s probably just...” Her mind fogged over before she could finish the thought, unable to complete the thread.
Her dad’s hand wrapped around hers, warm and steady. “We’re here, Emily. We’re right here,” Thomas said, his voice thick with emotion.
A doctor entered the room, his expression serious but reassuring. “She has a couple of fractured ribs, significant bruising, and we’re concerned about internal bleeding. We’re going to take her for a CT scan to get a clearer picture.”
A surge of panic rushed through Emily’s body momentarily granting her complete visual and sensory acuity.. “Lily” she whispered, her voice laced with worry. The accident flashed through her mind again. “Is she okay? Did she make it? I think I heard her before…”
Her mom squeezed her hand tighter, her voice soft and comforting. “She’s fine, Emily. She’s safe because of you. She is outside with her parents”. Leaning over and giving Emily a gentle kiss on the head she added as tears broke through “You were so brave Emily, I’m so proud”
Relief washed over Emily, but it was fleeting. Exhaustion pulled at her, and her eyes began to droop again, her strength fading.
“Mom - Lily, she’s going to feel guilty. Tell her it’s not her fault... it’s... that... a**hole... who shouldn’t have been driving distracted… sorry for cursing...”
Her mom managed a small, relieved smile despite everything. “I’ll tell her, honey. Just focus on getting better.”
The doctor gave Emily a curious glance but didn’t comment. Instead, he turned to the nurses, preparing for the scan. Emily felt the bed start to move beneath her, the ceiling tiles blurring as she was wheeled away, her parents’ faces fading as exhaustion finally claimed her.