Adventures of Drock: Episode 10

      The morning I was supposed to go to Zukro, I experienced something very strange. I woke up in the body of another man. This man had very similar features to me, but apparently had a different background. I looked around the room, I was in what looked like a small housing facility, surrounded by technology that looked 400 years less advanced and saw pictures of people I didn't even know. I had absolutely no control of my actions, so it was more like I was watching a movie where I was feeling every sensual and emotional experience that the other person was feeling. I was drinking this weird, hot drink that tasted like something I never would've imagined existed, and all the sudden I felt an external presence within me, it was a feminine presence that weirdly felt familiar, even though I have not yet experienced this particular presence. At first it was welcoming, expressing gladness towards my existence and making me feel special, alive, and desirable. It quickly changed to a hateful presence, expressing extreme anger and hostility towards me and making me feel ashamed, betrayed, and hurt. It was unlike what I ever experienced, because I felt everything the presence was, but I never knew it, so it was like experiencing an emotion that I am not experiencing myself. I heard the words, "She was a lie" escape my lips, without even thinking about them, and hanging my head in shame, I felt hopeless.

      I immediately came back to my own self, remembering every moment of the pain I experienced. I went to Tuka's tent to ask her about it, knowing she probably has more insight into this 'chosen one' stuff then I do. "I know why you came", Tuka said in a creepily stoic way. I kept staring at her, waiting for her to get to the point. "You always experienced what you experienced today, but now it has grown stronger." Tuka said cryptically. I couldn't remember what the heck she was talking about. "But what have I experienced? That's what I want to know." Tuka gave me a patronizing look, acting like it was obvious. "You saw beyond yourself. You witnessed the emotions of others, as you always have." It all flashed before me. That's how I was able to figure out something involving me was wrong with Lydia before I met her. I literally felt her emotion behind that smile masking her face. I always knew I had a enhanced ability to read people, but I never actually thought of it as a superpower. I just thought that everyone around me was an idiot. I couldn't help but laugh. I could have fun with this. Peering into Tuka's mind, I felt a flash of misery that was being hidden by a cold exterior. I then felt a strong annoyance that was directed to the person next to where the annoyance was coming from. I then realized that the annoyance was with me. "Whoops, sorry Tuka. I know your emotions are private and all and-" I got a whack from Tuka, who still looked completely emotionless even though slapping me in the face kinda betrayed that. "Too much talking leads to less listening." She said, still hiding what I felt from her, "Though the sheep can be read without them knowing, the lion can't. Remember that next time you try to get inside my head." So everyone else can be read without them knowing? I couldn't help but grin at the thought of feeling what everyone was feeling. "Let's have some fun with this." I thought. Before I could walk out, Tuka said, "Heed my warning, what one feels is not always what it seems. You may cause yourself extreme pain unnecessarily if you abuse your abilities." I looked at Tuka and smiled, "I'll be careful" I headed out to test my ability.

       I had a lot of fun for the next 20 minutes, feeling the taste of other people's eating and the rush of other people's fun. It was amazing. I knew everyone in the village without even saying a word, and everyone was so happy. I felt minimal pain. I was curious about what Lydia felt. The idea of feeling what it was like to love myself was crazily intriguing. Going into Lydia's tent, I knocked on the knock pad in front. "Hello my sweet princess, are you well rested?" I said. Lydia smiled sweetly replying, "I am always well when around you." I didn't want to be invasive, so I told her about my ability and asked for her permission. Lydia paused, uttered a soft breath, and said that she was mine and I was hers, and that there was nothing to hide. I then peered inside her beautiful mind, feeling a sense of happiness and a sense of being loved, but then a rush of many other emotions hit me full force. I felt Love, insecurity, confusion, fear, a sense of wanting more of myself, happiness, leftover guilt over Jona, and an intense amount of pain at the thought of ever losing myself, all at the same time. It was more intense than I felt from anyone else in the tribe. So mixed , so overwhelming, so strong. My body started to seizure from all the intensity and then I felt the most horrible amount of anxiety and fear of loss that I've ever felt in my entire life. I felt so desperate to hold onto what I cared about, as if I was drowning in the middle of the ocean with nothing to grab onto and struggling to stay afloat for any breath I can take. I came back to my own consciousness and saw Lydia crying and pleading for me to stay with her, and then I blacked out.

Author's Note

looking for future suggestions