Alex, a mind reader - Second Thought

“I couldn’t help but notice you looked distracted. You’ve been hearing voices for several weeks, right?” I asked the woman sitting across from me as we sat in the coffee café. Snapping out of her thoughts, she looked at me with surprise as she set her textbook on her lap. Her eyes moved around the café, presumably to see if anyone else was paying attention to this conversation.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have multiple voices. I have normal thoughts just like everyone else,” said the woman, but I could tell she was trying to convince herself more than convince me. “If you don’t mind, I want to return to my book.”

I chuckled softly, understanding her attempt to brush off the conversation. “It’s not exactly ‘voices’ in the traditional sense,” I clarified, leaning in a bit. “I meant the little thought that pops up in your head. The one that makes you stop and question yourself. The one thought that sounds like your voice but isn’t.”

Emma’s eyes widened, and she leaned in closer, relief and curiosity showing her face. “Wait, how did you know about that?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “I thought I was going crazy or something. I’m not sure what it is, but I think I have this voice that keeps creeping into my mind. At first, I thought it was just stress or anxiety, but it’s been going on for weeks, and it’s starting to get to the point where I struggle between what’s real and not.”

“My name is Alex,” I said. Getting up from my bench, I sat next to Emma and extended my hand to her.

Emma hesitated before saying, “Emma.” She shook my hand.

I reread her mind but couldn’t hear that “second voice” anymore. Weird. “Can you tell more about this voice you hear?”

Emma took a deep breath, seemingly relieved to finally open up about her experience. “It’s strange, really,” she began, her voice filled with uncertainty. “At first, I thought it was just a result of stress and overthinking, you know, the usual stuff. But this voice, it doesn’t sound like an external voice, like you talking to me. It’s more like a thought, my own voice, but it says things that I wouldn’t normally think. It’s hard to tell when my thoughts end and where this voice begins.”

“I hear that, but on some level, you understand what this voice is, and you are aware of it. I know people tend to have thoughts that come out of the blue and have difficulty telling the good from the bad thoughts. But with you, and if I understand you right, you seemed to depersonalize this thought,” I said. While a more grounded person would have chalked Emma’s case of having intrusive thoughts due to stress, I feel that something more is at work.

“Don’t do that. I’ve been trying to make sense of this thought, but I can’t understand it. My… thing is not like other people’s. It’s not caused by some emotional state or shows up randomly. This thought is not like my regular thoughts. It always talks to me, trying to convince me… of something,” said Emma, looking deeply troubled. She glanced around the café again, hoping to find an answer amid the light conversations and coffee smell.

I listened intently, my interest in understanding Emma’s case growing. It was clear that this was more than just stress-induced intrusive thoughts. “Emma,” I said gently. “I think it’s best to understand what is happening to you. Let’s try to understand it together. What exactly is your thought trying to convince you?”

“Well, um, these thoughts, this voice is… well… very sexual,” said Emma. She glanced at her feet as she blushed very hard. I nodded my head as it took everything in me not to smirk. She was going to be one of those kinds of people. This could get interesting. “I mean, I know everyone thinks about sex, but I’m the kind of woman who gets too embarrassed when I see something that even hints at being pornographic. I’ve been trying to work up the courage of trying to be more ‘out there’ with my husband in the bedroom. Now I’m having these thoughts about men… and other women.”

I knew there was something I liked about this woman. If my theory is correct, she might be a Deviant like me and several of my friends. Most people in this city are ordinary everyday folks with boring lives. But occasionally, a person wins a prize from the superpower lottery. Sometimes you could win big by being the most powerful person on Earth who can bend reality to their perverted whims. But most of our abilities are relatively tame in comparison. I wish I could control minds like my buddy Frank. People would obey that guy and wouldn’t even question it, no matter how hard he tried to point it out, or so I’ve been told.

“Don’t worry, those kinds of thoughts are normal, especially for someone who tries to avoid thinking about sex,” I said, trying to keep Emma calm. The poor woman looked like she was about to die from embarrassment. “The most important thing right now is figuring out how your thoughts affect you. Tell me, is it just your thoughts, or do they affect you more?”

There was an awkward pause as Emma twirled a strand of her hair and looked everywhere at the café instead of me. I was used to these kinds of interactions, the awkwardness of people slowly realizing that they’re special, and someone noticed it before they did. I know, I’m a natural. Now, if only there was something valuable about her second voice. Maybe it could predict the future or give her educated guesses about people. I’m trying to read her second voice, but I hear nothing. Poor Emma is probably trying to suppress a gift she didn’t know she had.

“I think my thoughts are affecting everything,” Emma finally said. I raised my eyebrow, prompting her to continue. “I don’t do what my, uh, voice tells me, but the voice, my thoughts… I don’t know what it is. I thought it was a bunch of coincidences at first, but the more I think about it, the thoughts are making their perverted desires real.”

Truth be told, I didn’t see that coming. I’m used to encountering people with unique abilities, but Emma’s situation seemed to surpass the few Deviants I’ve met before. First, she had my curiosity, but now she has my attention. I needed to understand more.

“Interesting,” I said, trying to hide my excitement. “So, you’re saying that you can use your fantasies, no matter how sexy and absurd they may seem, to influence reality?”

Emma’s eyes narrowed as she spoke to me, “You don’t have to make fun of me. I know what I’m saying sounds ridiculous. That’s why I’ve been trying to not think about it.” She looked both ashamed and offended. “I didn’t want to believe it initially, but I’ve noticed patterns. Whenever I agree with it or get lost in those thoughts, something related to those thoughts actually happens. I can’t control it. It’s as if my imagination came to life, and I’m the passenger in my head.”

I tapped my chin as I considered my next thoughts and actions carefully. I’ve been duped before by other Deviants who claimed to rewrite reality (when really they just mess with my memories). The part about not being in control was fascinating and could be used to my advantage. I needed to see how deep this rabbit hole goes.

“If I’m hearing you right, these fantasies don’t just happen in your head, but they play out in the real world, and other people can see it as well,” I said, mentally crossing my fingers for her to say yes.

“Something like that,” replied Emma, her face filled with relief as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulder though she still looked conflicted. “However, the changes I imagine become real, but only I can see the difference.”

Dammit. I should have known it was too good to be true. Most likely, Emma was haunted by a strange voice that fed her what she wanted to see. Whether or not it’s by her own making is someone else’s problem.

“But reality is changing?” I asked, deciding to press further. “You’re not merely imagining things.”

“Look, you’re the one who said I had a voice in my head when I was willing to dismiss it,” Emma said as she massaged her temple. “But yes, things are changing. One minute it was one way, and the next, it’s entirely different!”

I nodded, absorbing this new information. “So, the reality changes are real, but others around you don’t seem to notice or remember the differences?” I asked, trying to wrap my head around the complexity of her situation.

Emma sighed, looking both frustrated and unsure. “I think so. It’s like a brief moment of confusion for them, and then they continue on as if everything has always been that way. You can start to see why I thought they were just coincidences.”

That puts a wrinkle on things. I leaned back in my seat, taking in what I heard. If what Emma was saying was true, it meant that her ability to influence reality was genuine, even if only she could perceive the changes. I would have chalked this up as a problem for the psychologist if I were an average person. But fortunately, I have a leg up over those doctors. I can read her mind and can feel the inner conflict. That was enough for me.

“You’re just humoring me,” said Emma, looking disappointed. “When I first believed something was happening, I could make perverted things happen, though I thought they happened despite me. I could try to show you what I mean, but you would be like everyone else and wouldn’t notice anything has changed.”

If only she knew what I knew. Now, I know my abilities can’t exactly tell if Emma is imagining these things or if she can make changes to everyone and everything, or maybe it’s a mixture of both. What I did know is that I need other Deviants to help me use Emma.

I shook my head as I spoke, “Please don’t worry about it. I’ve seen and experienced things that others might consider impossible. Embracing your unique gift is the first step toward understanding and controlling it. I know a group of people who can help you make sense of what’s going on in your head.” I know Deviants would be all over a plain woman like her. However, Emma seemed to hate the idea.

“No, I’m done going to doctors, or at least I think I went to doctors,” Emma said as she picked up her book. Wait, was she reading a book? No, I definitely remember her reading a romance novel. “Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to return to my… book?”

As Emma got upset with her magazine, for some reason, I tapped my fingers on my table. I decided to take a risk and prove my mind-reading abilities to Emma. If she had doubts about her own powers, witnessing mine in action could help build trust between us.

I focused my attention on Emma’s thoughts, honing in on the content of the magazine she was reading. Hang on, what’s this about a romance novel? For some reason, I could see the pages of a romance novel filled with passion and heartache. However, the pages were quickly fading from her memories. Strange, as I didn’t recall her bringing a romance novel.

“Emma,” I said, interrupting her reading of the dirty magazine. “You were reading a romance novel just a moment ago, weren’t you?”

Emma lowered the magazine, her eyes wide with astonishment. “How did you...?” she stammered, clearly taken aback.

“I have a unique ability of my own,” I explained, deciding not to delve into the specifics of my mind-reading. “I can see and understand the thoughts of others. Though I didn’t see you bringing in a book, I believe you believe that your book transformed into that magazine.”

Emma looked both amazed and apprehensive as she looked at me and her magazine. “You’re not just making this up, are you?” she asked skeptically.

“I promise you, I’m not,” I replied earnestly. “I wouldn’t lie about something like this. It’s a rare gift, just like yours.”

“It’s not a gift,” Emma said as she put the magazine in her bag. She seemed to wrestle with her thoughts for a moment before slowly nodding. “But, if you can read minds, then I suppose there’s a chance you might notice if something changes. Just be careful as to not be tempted by the perverted thought.”

I grinned. “I’ll do my best,” I said, eager to see a reality warper firsthand. “Feel free to try something. It could be big or small. I’ll pay close attention and see if I notice any changes.”

Emma hesitated, looking around the café, seemingly searching for inspiration. After a moment, she closed her eyes in concentration. A brief, perplexed expression crossed her face, and she reopened her eyes.

“Okay, I think I did something,” she said, both excited and unsure. She looked at me expectantly. “What did I change?”

I focused my mind, tapping into my abilities to see if there was any noticeable change in the café. As I scanned the surroundings, everything seemed exactly the same as before. The tables were in the same positions, the customers were engaged in their conversations, and the soft background music continued playing.

I couldn’t detect any immediate changes, which was somewhat puzzling but expected if Emma was to be believed. Perhaps Emma’s reality-warping powers were subtle or took some time to manifest. Or maybe I just wasn’t sensitive enough to her particular type of power. Trying not to reveal my confusion, I nodded to Emma, attempting to maintain an air of confidence.

“Something’s definitely different,” I said, trying to sound confident without overselling it. “It’ll just take me a second to notice it.”

Emma seemed a bit disappointed by my response but remained hopeful. “Okay, I’ll give you a little more time, then,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee. “Maybe you might surprise me.”

I kept my focus sharp, observing every detail of the coffee shop. A woman was working on her laptop. A recently married couple was sitting by the corner after their mid-morning jog. A man with an old-fashioned suit was reading a newspaper. The baristas were doing a great job managing the lines. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something I was missing.

“Just let me know if you see anything out of the ordinary,” Emma said, trying to hide her disappointment.

“Of course,” I replied, not wanting to disappoint her further. It was time for the nuclear option. I focused on Emma. “This is a very lively café. I’m sure I’m going to find something you changed.”

As I continued scanning the surroundings, my attention was drawn to the windows. Emma seemed to be fixated on them in her thoughts, and I wondered if they had something to do with her reality-warping. I got up from our table and casually walked towards the windows, pretending to adjust my seat and look closer at the outside view.

To my surprise, I noticed that the windows were slightly tinted. It was an unusual feature for a coffee shop, making me wonder if this was part of Emma’s reality-warping abilities. The tint gave the café a cozy, intimate atmosphere, and combined with the dimmed lights, it created a warm and inviting ambiance. It was an odd choice for a coffee shop, but it did make for a cozy atmosphere, complementing the dimmed lights.

Speaking of the lights, they seemed ordinary, but Emma’s thoughts were still focused on them. Sure, the lights were dimmed, and the neon tubes snaked around the edges of the coffee shop, but could she really change the coffee shop to add something the café already had? Of course, the other patrons didn’t notice anything as they continued to eat, chat, or work. I noticed that some of them were confused about the lighting.

With a hunch, I decided to test Emma’s reaction. “Ah, I see what you did there,” I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. “You changed the lighting, didn’t you? Changing it from white to red. It’s a nice touch. Gives the café a warm vibe.”

Emma shook her head. “My thoughts, the voice, didn’t just change the lighting,” she said. “It changed the window and the lights, though the voice made things a bit sexier. I tried to hold it back but couldn’t. It wasn’t like this before.”

That was disappointing.

“Two things. Don’t refer to what’s happening in your head as a voice. It makes it harder for you to control your abilities since you think what’s happening is foreign and external when really it’s an extension of you.” Emma tried to interrupt me, but I raised my finger. “Second, you just described how the coffee shop is right now. I recently started having coffee here at Roast & Relax, distinctly remembering the dark windows and dimmed lights. I’m surprised more coffee shops aren’t like this,” I said. Reading Emma’s mind, I was shocked by the mental whiplash she was experiencing, but it actually makes sense the more I think about it. The thoughts in Emma’s head represent her normal and sane side, the one that sees the world for what it is. However, the other part of Emma, who is talking, is imaginative but limited in not being grounded in reality. An odd but unfortunate matching. She’s trying to convince herself she’s changing reality without realizing she’s not even using her powers. It’s a shame, really.

“No, you don’t understand. The place wasn’t like this until the voice, well, my thoughts, made it this way. I feel things will only get worse if I keep using it. I’m trying to tell you, my... my thoughts, they don’t just change things, they change people, and I’m not just saying physically,” argued Emma, sending me a frustrated look toward my direction.

“I thought you said this voice wasn’t real?” I said. If what she said about changing people was true, I might be out of my league.

Emma leaned forward and rubbed her temples, almost knocking her cup. A friendly barista noticed us, but I signaled that everything was fine. “I ‘thought’ they were coincidences and tried not to think about it. Now that I have someone willing to entertain the idea, maybe I, or we, can beat this thing.”

I nodded my head. “How about we switch tactics for a second? When did you notice something was off?” Maybe there was a clue in Emma’s past that could help me figure out if her reality-shifting abilities were the real deal.

Emma sighed and leaned back on her chair, passing her brown hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. It was several weeks ago after my husband gave me a gift. Soon, he noticed something off about me and the house. ‘More porn than usual,’ he said or something like that. After visiting someone to deal with… something, the problem seemed to go away, but I then noticed… changes in places and people whenever I thought about them, and no one seemed to care. Anytime I try to remember that visit, my thoughts get louder and louder until I stop thinking about it and focus on something else.” She looked at me with unsure eyes. “Are you sure you can help me?”

And another layer peeled away. Something obviously happened to Emma on that day. Reading her mind offered no clues as it was just a cloud of uncertainty and shouting. I could read it from her mind if she actively thought about that day. I’ll have to be subtle about it. And then, from there, I can finally prove whether she can actually change reality. This woman is still valuable to me.

“Alright, Emma, I can help you figure your thoughts out, but I need you to trust me,” I said. Emma looked back at me, hesitant but optimistic, as she nodded. “The first step is to let me know what your thoughts are telling you, even the horny thoughts. I can see that bottling them up is exhausting you and causing you to think you’re changing reality. If your thoughts can change reality, speaking them out loud might help you gain control and understand what’s happening.”

Emma hesitated for a moment, contemplating my words. I could see the internal struggle on her face, torn between wanting to trust me and fearing what her supposed thoughts could do. After a deep breath, she finally said, “Okay, fine. But I warn you, they can be really perverted and might sound embarrassing.” Emma reached out toward my hand and whispered, “Just promise me that you won’t let my thoughts influence you!”

“I won’t, I promise,” I replied plainly.