Читать книгу Our Collective Life - JD Kennedy - Страница 34

David studied the alter sitting there. They weren’t immediately recognisable, so he watched them for a moment, while they seemed to be getting their bearings. They looked alarmed at where they were and, when they saw David, the alarm seemed to transform to terror.

“It’s ok, you’re safe,” he said, gently.

The alter stared at him. Who was this? David wondered. Whilst the look of fear was unfortunately common especially with some younger members, he felt as if he had seen this particular alter before. However the fact he didn’t know who it was must mean each time he had seen them it was brief and/or he was never given a name.

“Have we met?” he asked, still talking in a soothing manner.

She looked at him for a few seconds, the fear still evident, before dropping her head again.

“Well in case we haven’t met, I’m David, I’m the doctor that sees the Collective. I am pleased to meet you. I would really like to know who I am talking with. Would you be able to tell me your name?”

She looked at him, then dropped her eyes again without answering. That wasn’t unheard of - sometimes it took a while for them to trust him enough to tell him their name. But David couldn’t help wishing he knew who he was speaking with.

He waited, studying this obviously young person. It was hard to know where to begin, without any knowledge of who he was with.

“Can you tell me how long you have been around?”

Shaking the head, no.

“That’s ok. Can you tell me what you get up to when you are out here? Or maybe within?”

Again a shaking of the head.

This was a challenge, David thought. The alter looked around the room, still appearing to be terrified, and David took the opportunity to study them a little more. It was interesting that, although he knew it was the same body, it could look quite different with different alters in control. Studying this one, he could see they were more slumped in the seat than some of the more confident alters, but not as depressed in appearance as someone like Jo. And they definitely appeared to have a somewhat younger appearance and if he had to guess, he would say they were not an adult. And she was obviously scared. No, David mentally corrected himself. She wasn’t just scared, she was clearly terrified.

So, a teen who is terrified. He spoke to Jodie and Josephine quite often, and they had mentioned one within their midst who seemed to fit the bill.

He took a punt. “Danielle?”

The alters eyes widened and then she was gone.