The Reader

"Hmm." Jon thought for a moment. "I wish ..." *Maybe you should think about it a little longer.* "Okay, that's it. Now I *know* you're talking to me," Jon said. Jon waited for almost half a minute, but there was no voice. But just when he was about to say something, the voice came back. *It's not worth your life.* "Huh?" *Just take a deep breath. I'm sure you'll feel better.* "Are you talking to me?" *You wanna a coke?* "What?" *No. It's diet.* Jon wasn't sure, but he was starting to think that maybe he was hearing a conversation between two people, but only getting one side of it. But how exactly was this happening? It didn't start until he started walking home from school. *Hold on a minute. He's at home.* "Who's *he*?" Jon asked, but then he figured he wouldn't get an answer. *Apparently nothing. He's just sitting on his bed.* Jon looked down at himself. *He* was sitting on his bed. Was the voice talking about *him*? Or was it just a coincidence? Jon stood up and walked to his window. *No, wait. Now he's at his window.* Now Jon was getting freaked out. Somehow, this disembodied voice *knew* where Jon was and what he was doing. *He's just standing there.* "Who are you?!" Jon yelled. *No, it's not really that exciting at all. You know what? I think I'm gonna go back to one of those Narayanne stories.* "Who the hell is Narayanne?" Jon asked. *Wait a minute. Did you see this?* There was a pause. *Look at it. Look what it says.* Another pause. *I swear. It didn't say that before. At least ... not until I said it.* Jon walked away from the window and sat back down on his bed. "I know you can hear me. Who are you?" *I can't believe this is happening. He's actually **talking** to me,* the voice said.