They Know My Name

Chapter Two

As we were driving, the voices got worse and worse, so bad that I couldn’t even focus on my dad singing a bad version of “I Want It That Way.”

All I could do was sit still and wait for the pain to subside. I usually can’t really hear anything, but today the voices were much clearer, almost as if they were talking to me. Almost as if they were warning me.

…………………………………………………………

As we drove on, I tried focusing on anything to keep me distracted.

I looked at the scenery outside: the green grass, the grey mountains all around us, and the occasional waterfall.

Every now and then, I would see a buck or a flock of birds.

I was in the middle of looking at a particularly large waterfall when I heard it.

As clear as day.

“Mira…”

I froze, barely breathing. For a second, I thought I imagined it, but then…

“Mira…”

It happened again.

It wasn’t just my name they were saying. I could also make out “council,” “have to find,” and “need to protect.”

They kept on repeating my name, like it meant something.

It was so loud that I thought surely everyone in this car could hear it too.

So I worked up the courage to ask, “Did you guys hear something?”

Mom looked back worriedly at me, while Dad was looking through the rear-view mirror.

“Hear what?” Mom asked.

Well, it was too late to stop now, so I answered.

“Those… those voices.”

As soon as I said that, Mom gave me a look. But not the “you’re crazy, what’s going on?” look. A look of fear and worry, almost as if she knew exactly what I was talking about.

She didn’t say anything to me, and neither did Dad, who was driving the car.

They both started whispering in low voices, too low to hear clearly, but I caught some bits and pieces.

It’s like the voices and the pieces I’m hearing from my parents’ conversation are connected.

I again heard the word “council,” but instead of hearing “need to find,” I heard “need to hide.”