Free What Hides Within by Jason Parent Page A

in both the sink and the tub and peeked down the drains. He tore the hamper from the wall, not knowing what he'd find. Still, he found nothing out of the ordinary.
    "What do you want from me?" he shouted at the light bulb.
    I'm not up there, either.
    "Then . . . where are you?"
    Clive already knew the answer. He just didn't want to accept it. Maybe his roommate was playing some sort of prank. His roommate, who never even wanted to make eye contact with Clive, had now decided to show him some attention? Clive held on to a modicum of hope, adverse to the alternative explanation.
    I'm in you, Clive. In a way, I guess you could say I am you, in a matter of speaking. I know everything about you, everything that you know. Even everything you once knew and have since forgotten.
    Clive swallowed hard, choking on his own desolation. He hesitated to ask, but there was one question to which he needed an immediate answer, one question that consumed his every thought and exasperated his fright. It was the same question he had just asked and had answered, but he needed to hear the answer one more time in plain language before he'd believe it.
    "Where are you?"
    Now, Clive, we both know that you already know the answer to that question. But if you insist on fighting the truth, I'm okay with that.
    "Am I insane?" he asked his reflection.
    Isn't that a relative question? Clive heard the voice respond, but the lips he saw reflected in his mirror weren't moving.
    How should I know? I'm no psychiatrist. However, if you're merely referring to the fact that you think you're having a full-fledged conversation with yourself, then no, that doesn't make you insane. Besides, some of the greatest geniuses in world history talked to themselves. Of course, so did Hitler, but let's not be so judgmental.
    "What are you?" Clive persisted. He needed answers, but the circumstances seemed unfathomable.
    What's with all the questions? I've been screaming at you all week, and now, you finally choose to acknowledge me? Well, forgive me if I'm somewhat less than receptive.
    "The noise I've been hearing, that was you? What do you want with me?"
    Oh, Clive. You're beginning to sound like a broken record. You need to relax. You're much too young for a heart attack. Consider me a blessing, the outer--well, I guess this would still be inner--expression of your subconscious mind. Call me your conscience, your intuition or whatever else makes you feel better.
    "Are you alive? Are you something living inside me?"
    The idea of some ugly parasite making a living room out of Clive's skull crippled him. He pressed his forehead against the mirror, his eyes losing focus until his reflection cyclopsed. His rational thoughts told him he was being irrational, but his irrational thoughts prevailed. Clive's horrified look cast a ghastly pale reflection under the low-wattage light. A wayward trail of mucus ran from his nose. His eyes swelled.
    Don't be so dramatic. You'll see. Having me around is a good thing.
    "I don't want you around!" Clive yelled in defiance. He pounded his fist against the wall. "I'm going to the doctor's today, and he's going to fix whatever is wrong with me. That means he'll get rid of you."
    If you say so, big guy. Good luck with that. It's getting late for me. I need some rest, so try to keep it down. We'll talk later when you're more rational.
    "Wait." Clive's voice turned as beaten as the rest of him. There was little more he desired than to have the voice disappear forever, but not without it granting him a resolution. "You never answered my questions," he whined.
    It was no use. The voice in Clive's head had gone. He hoped it had gone for good.
    After taking a moment to regroup, Clive readied himself for his appointment with newfound conviction. With still a few hours to go before he needed to leave, Clive distracted himself with the likes of Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and their guest, Miley Cyrus. Even being sucked in again by the low-grade entertainment