It’s been days since those dreams started distressing me every now and then. They were about different people and places; some were nightmares, while others were meaningless visions. And always led by the same protagonist, who again wasn’t me.

I thought it was a natural occurrence for dreams to be unrelated to the logic and principles we live with. For every little movement or thought, the anonymous energy sustaining my existence depletes little by little, but not the way it did when I got expelled from my body. Its end seemed solid, that force me to slumber, while the other one’s way, rooted in the abyss.

What made me uneasy and turned the tides of my doubts was the occurrence of those visions during my waking hours. It may seem strange coming from me, but I'm beginning to consider adding this as a third theory or considering it the progenitor of them all. I believe I am being possessed.

As a first hand experienced in possession, two possible results are, success of dominating the host, or being absorbed. Thinking about it now, I was lucky to be accepted as a substitute soul, but it seems the one in the remnant failed and only his thoughts remained.

Perhaps it was all because of him - the bad luck, the negative feelings, the miserable life, and even my brush with death. Despite the hardships, I never felt truly attached to my old life. And now, despite encountering terrifying beings, this new life feels more refreshing and worth living than ever before. I'm looking forward to it.

Ever since the father arrived, the house has been buzzing with activity, so I rarely got the chance to use the twin’s tablet to research what I learned through the visions, or what came to my mind. They may freak out if I was caught in action, at least when they aren’t the one who wants me to use it.

After they downloaded some games ‘For Cats’, and kept watching me tapping on a flea or a mouse — I let Benny do it of course — for a couple of minutes, they got bored and tried doing other things, while I got to have the tablet for my research.

I started with familiar keywords such as magic, ghost, possession… but even if I took out the works of fiction, the amount of info was still enormous and I couldn't proceed in a couple of hours, so I was just skimming through.

And until now, I couldn't find any similarity with the visions I have, except for the part about supernatural phenomena of possession and the little I read about astral projection that I tried to perform before.

Of course I also tried the magic tricks I saw on the dreams to check its authenticity, except my cat's tongue can't help me perform the same words.

Well, I thought I would be able to do it when I turn into the astral form, which might take a little time, because I can't take the risk of exposing myself to the humanoid-like people I'm seeing outside, without knowing how they would react to my presence or if they are able to interact with me

It was already late in the evening, and the sun had already set. I sat at the window, contemplating the unusual burst of life and wondering if it was always like this on Earth. Well surely, a new perspective means a new understanding, and this what it means to be enlightened.

Despite the lack of color perception in these cat eyes, the street was vivid with candle-like lights of different hues, emanating from people of a humanoid form. I would have assumed them as ghosts of the dead if not for their different appearance, their attire, and the way they interacted like intelligent beings.

“Everyone, the dinner is ready.”

Oh finally, it’s about time; I was starting to feel sleepy.

I was nearing the dining room when my perspective shifted, as Benny took control like he always does when smelling food —Well I once held up against him and took over a bit— and jumped up the table. The food menu for today is bangers and mash. I wish I could have a taste.

“No, Benny, your food is here. Get down from the table”

Aneta, the mother, seems to be in her mid-thirties, blessed with ginger hair, like she’s been playing with fire since birth, which was reflected in her magnificent cooking skills. Aside from the older child, none of her children inherited her traits. The twins, who finally arrived at the table, resemble their father more, having his unique Hispanic features and dark hair. They were always excited and chatty, telling their mother about their day at school, while their father listened attentively.

I couldn't help but feel envious of them and their ability to lead such normal lives. It was a stark contrast to my own situation, when I had to fight for a miserable life. And now, I'm stuck in a feline body that I can't control without permission, but it was never truly mine. It is a borrowed vessel, and I am a mere passenger.

Never missing a mealtime was another person who seemed to go unnoticed by everyone except me. He snuck in through the front door like a ghost, and disgustingly shared every bite of the family's meal. His demonic-like fizzog, bedizened in patchy leather clothes, made him look as if he might catch fire at any moment.

Lost in thought, I was startled when Aneta suddenly addressed me. "Are you okay, little one?" she asked, looking at me with a concerned expression. I realized that we have been staring off into space for a while. Benny quickly meowed in response, hoping that it would pass off as normal cat behavior.

The demon-like person continued to devour the meal, his tongue licking every crumb and even pieces on the utensils and plate waste. Though he was aware that I could see him, his nonchalant attitude made me think that it was not a new disclosure to him.

Many like him were getting in and out of the house. It was a freaky sight at first, but the longer it lasted, the more normal it became. They weren't paying attention to me, even when I kept observing and following whatever they did. Eventually, a sense of ease seeped into my mind, added to Benny's nonchalant demeanor, which contrasted with the horror he felt during my first encounter with them.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Dinner ended quickly as it started, and the house fell in silence as the twin brothers heeded to sleep. I was again in controle, but had nothing in mind to do. Time was running slowly, so I roamed every corner of the house and decided to follow one of the "ghouls," as I named them.

As I drew closer to him, I could clearly see that his frustum-shaped head was not the only unsettling feature he possessed. His reddish skin shimmered in the dim light, giving him an otherworldly, sickly appearance. Despite his humanoid form, there was no mistaking the fact that this creature was anything but human, yet until now it felt natural.

And then there were the horns. Two twisted little protrusions that jutted out from its forehead, bent at unnatural angles like they had been modified or deliberately bent to create an even more disturbing appearance. The effect was disorienting, as if the ghoul was both a twisted version of a human and something else entirely, an abomination born of dark magic and sinister intent.

As closed in, he passed directly through the wall entering the kitchen, where the two parents were sitting next to the table, closing to each other and speaking in a low voice. I curled up at the door's entrance, eavesdropping and observing the ghoul whispering with them.

Even though his words were understandable to some extent, it was barely audible even with my enhanced hearing, distorted by the flow of the parents' voices.

“Love, it's no use. I’m trying to bear with his indifferent attitude, but Aiden, just won’t open up to me again. I started to think we shouldn’t have told him”

The father seemed a bit worried about their older son, it seemed to me their bond isn’t that good from what i saw in the past days. He rarely spent time at home and even wasn’t showing in meal times.

“All he needs is time hubby, time will solve everything”

Aneta held her bulky man’s hand while gazing at him in a way that made me envious despite our differences. Oh, my single life, how should I sort it now? No, that's not what I should be thinking. Let's keep an eye on the mission.

“how much more we need, a year has already passed. he did have time alone when i was away, but what i see is that our bond was broken beyond repair”

“Worry not, you’ve done everything you could, raised him as if he was your own child”

“And shouldn’t I be the one who felt betrayed? I can’t keep up the face like this I front of my children”

“Roy, if they are your children, they are mine more than you; if you feel betrayed, so do I. Seven months it took for him to forgive me, So we have to be strong for them, for the family. We'll mend this together.”

Aneta's words were comforting, and her tone was reassuring. It was clear that she loved and supported her husband, and he reciprocated those feelings.

The ghoul, on the other hand, continued to whisper and mutter, almost as if it was adding to the tension in the room. I couldn't help but wonder what its role was in all of this. Was it simply observing, or was it somehow influencing.

I wanted to know more about their abilities, as I may be able to relate to them with what is happening to me. I nudged Benny mentally for compliance, but he seemed uninterested and uncaring. Despite this, I mustered the foolish courage to stand and move while they continued to speak, but soon I began to hear white noise and my vision began to shift.

The scenery changed, and suddenly I found myself standing behind a wooden door with voices coming from the other side. One voice was high-pitched and feminine, while the other was submissive and low in tone. It was a new vision, yet again.

The door wasn't new, so it had small gaps between the wooden planks. I could barely see the other room illuminated by a single lantern on an end table. Inside, an old woman towered over a young man seated on the floor.

“... a woman who will look after your home and give you offsprings? She did give you no daughter nor son, and now that she’s in the Seven Land, you won’t change your mind, and keep closing yourself off”

“Mother, even though she's gone, can't you show some respect for her?”

“She's gone and she won't be back. At least marry for the sake of that poor child you've fostered. Wasn't she like a loving doting to him”

The young man seemed to be struggling with some internal conflict, and his mother was pressuring him to make a decision.

I couldn't help but wonder what this new situation is. Where am I now? And is the child they mentioned the ‘me’ whom this memory belongs to?

As I tried to piece together the puzzle in my mind despite the noises in my ears, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my head, and my vision began to blur. The next thing I knew, I was back in the kitchen. No, I was resting on my pillow in the living room.

‘...’

The lights in the house were off, as it seems like a lot of time elapsed during the vision. and Benny did take over and moved us here.

“Thanks buddy”

My progress wasn’t going quickly as I hoped, and my fear kept me questioning every action I was about to do. I wanted to ensure nothing would go out of control, and this is why I had decided to look thoroughly for as much information as I could. I chained myself again, when I should have been open to new perspectives.

At least I should be more ambitious if I want to truly escape my mental cage. Postponing this won’t get me anywhere it is now or never. I closed my eyes, following what I found before, and this time using another perspective as a full body, not entering the ethereal domain.

I was already exhausted, so this might be the last bit of energy for today. I began to move parts of my body without actually physically moving them, starting with smaller parts like my ears and philtrum before moving on to bigger parts like my limbs and tail, which was the most difficult. It became increasingly challenging, especially since I didn't know when I did open my eyes. My heart started to race and my breathing became irregular. There was no turning back now.

Suddenly, I felt a strange sensation. It was like my body was vibrating, and my vision started to blur. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, trying to calm myself down. When I opened my eyes again, I saw that my vision had changed.

It was like I was seeing everything through a different lens. I could see the aura surrounding the objects, and it was all so vibrant and colorful. It was like the world had come alive, and I was seeing it for the first time.

I realized that I was in my astral form. It was an exhilarating feeling, but I knew I had to be careful. I couldn't let anyone see me in this form, or it could cause my demise.