(Y/N) = Your Name
(F/F)    =   Favorite Food
Your POV:

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

I slammed my hand on my alarm clock.

Another day of going to work and being pushed around by my old college bully.

Yes,COLLEGE bully.

You'd think people would smarten up since kindergarten,right?

Haha,not in this county.

I work as a grocery bagger at the local grocery store down town. One of the worker's boyfriends just so happens to be one of my most miserable life-changing bullies I've ever had.

Chase.

I've thought about moving but I don't have the money. No other job would accept me,I got no talent,I got no friends but my cousin Liu and the voices in my head,and my loving grandmother died a week ago.

In this county,you're constantly surrounded by extremely ignorant people that act like Karens. Nothing but Karens live here. It's basically a race around here.

On top of all of that,I can't stop having these awful thoughts and conversations with myself in my head. But it doesn't feel like I'm talking to myself,it feels like I'm having a full-out conversation with someone.

     Or something.

     I threw my legs over the bed,got dressed for work,brushed my teeth,and ate an apple on the way out to the lobby.

     I walked out of the lobby into the outside world and hopped on my bike,instantly started pedaling towards the Grocery Store.

     "How did you wake up today?" The voice in my head asked.

    "Like usual. Wake up from a dream about yellow glowing strings slowly wrapping around my body,wake up to that small TV on my wall in front of me showing the news about Liu being released from prison from being accused of beating up some people. That doesn't sound like the Liu I know though,ya know?"

"Well now,we all have a dark side. . . Even little Liu."

I shook my head to make it go away but he wouldn't leave that easily.

"You have one too,my dear."

"Please leave me alone. . ." I begged,trying to focus on the sidewalk as I kept peddling.

"(Y/N). . . You'll see. You're going to get sooo sick and tired of being pushed around,you're gonna want me."

"Want you for what?"

"To end your suffering. . ."

"And how are you gonna do that? You're just a voice in my head."

"Oh,I'm much more than just a voice,my dear. . . I control people. I get what I want easily. . .I adore you,though,(Y/N). . .I wouldn't ever want to. . .hurt you. There's just something I want from you which can be given to me pretty easily if you be a good girl. . ."

"And what exactly do you want from me?" This was starting to get humorous. Like,it's just a voice,what's it gonna do? Give me a migraine? Change the way I think? Eat my brain? I let out a small,"Ha ha." at the whole thing.

     "You. I want you. Your everything."

     "The hell do you mean?"

     "You'll see. Tonight. Before I come back,something so bad will happen that you'll feel like you need me."

     I started thinking of (F/F) and he shut up. What does he mean that something bad will happen?

     Eventually I made it to the small grocery store and parked my bike in it's hiding spot: beside the grocery store, so that my bully doesn't try to destroy it. Again. I walked inside and as soon as I got to my spot,the second I only lady worker here hollered at me.

    "(Y/N),boss wants to see ya. E' says it's som'n about not staying professional." Sandy said turning the scanning machine on. Sandy's always been a cut-up. We weren't really friends in school,but one time in third grade they ran out of milk cartons and she let me have hers. It was icy though. Still till this day,I'm not sure if she was just being nice or if she knew it was icy and just didn't want it.

But what did that mean? I always try to stay professional!

I walked towards my boss's room,trembling. He's always been a prick but he pays well. I knocked on the door.

"Girl?"

He doesn't like my name so he just calls me 'girl'.

"Yes,sir."

"Get your ass in here."

I opened the door and looked at him. He looked exactly what you'd imagine a fat-ass business man smocking a cigar stuffed-FULL of tobacco.

The room was full of smoke,thank god I don't have awful asthma. I just covered my mouth and nose and stood there.

"You needed to see me?"

"Yeah. Sit down." He said,taking another drag of his cigar.

I sat down and listened.

"A young man,not too much older than you,"he blew the smoke out of his mouth, "came in my office yesterday right after you left. Said' you were giving him a hard time baggin' his shit."

"C-Can you elaborate,sir?"

"Dammit,girl." He dragged his cigar again, "He said you refused to bag his shit. All because he was Hispanic? Really,girl?!"

"Wh-What?! I would never do such a-"

"Don't argue with me,girl! I pay you to do your job professionally! You should be lucky I even hired you!"

I thought about who might've said that and I instantly came to the conclusion.

"It was Chase,wasn't it?"

"I don't know his fuckin' name! Who cares who he was? The next time you screw up your job again,you're fired!" He threw his cigar down, "Now get your ass outta my office."

I was on the verge of tears but I held them in. I walked out,still holding my breath and my hand still covering my nose and mouth and shut the door.

That son of a bitch.

"Aye,(Y/N)! Ya think you can watch over for me while I go take a smoke?" Sandy hollered.

I really didn't want to but I nodded.

"Thanks,kid. I'll be right back." Sandy walked outside.

"The day's just starting,(Y/N). That's just the first 25% of your hell you're going to get put through." The voice in my head came back.

"Please go away."

"Just sayin'. Would you like it if I sung you that calming song you grew up with hearing me sing to you?"

As I walked to the scanning machine I was watching over for Sandy I thought about it.

"Yes,please." I said calmly.

"Oh,Puppeteer. . .

Dry your tears. . .

Broken hearts,my nimble fingers steer. . .

Oh,Puppeteer. . .

Dry your tears. . ."

(Yes,I changed it cuz I can😜)

I inhaled and exhaled.

I'm calm now.

He always calmed me down like that since I was a baby and my parents were fighting. Or when I got hurt he would sing it to me. I don't think he ages though.

"Calm?" He asked.

"Mmhmm. I have a question-"

"Incoming customer." He warned.

I looked over at the next customer,"Ah motherfu-"

"Well,well,well. . ." Chase said.

"The hell do you want now?" I asked.

"Oh,what a rude introduction! I just came over here to buy this Snickers Bar!" He said pretending to be a fucking Karen, "Sigh-" he started to open it.

"You gotta pay for that." I said.

"I'd rather it come out of your paycheck." He smiled.

My heart was thumping to hard and I was trembling in anger, "You just wait until I tell my boss you're shop-lifting!"

"Shop-lifter?" Sandy came back inside, "Security!"

Security grabbed Chase by the arms and started dragging him outside.

"WHAT THE. . . (Y/N),YOU STUPID BITCH! OH, I'LL SEE YOU LATER AFTER YOU GET OFF!" Chase screamed as they dragged him.

Everyone's eyes turned to me and I blushed in embarrassment. I walked over to the bagging spot and looked down.

"51%" The voice said.

"Why the extra 1?"

"Because you're blushing."

"Shut up."

"It's kinda cute."

". . . Boi."

"Heh heh. . ."

"I still have that questio-"

"Save all questions until I feel like answering em'. Now look alive,another customer."

I felt my brain tingling. It felt weird but it kept me focused on the next customer coming over.

When I got off work,I got my stuff ready and went outside and walked towards the side of the store. When I got there, someone was already there.

I already know who it was.

"Nice bike." Chase said.

"If you're gonna destroy it just do it already. I don't give a shit anymore." I said.

"Oh the bike didn't humiliate me. The bike doesn't deserve being destroyed."

Ah shit.

"Why do you hate me so much?! What did I ever do to you?!" I yelled.

He aggressively walked up to me and I was backing up. He grabbed my shirt collar and threw me against the wall and pinned me there.

"100%" the voice said.

"HELP! HELP!" I screamed.

Chase quickly stuffed a huge pair of socks in my mouth. I tried to spit them out but they were too big.

He got in his pocket and pulled out a knife. My eyes widened and I started crying.

I need the voice.

He was right,I would want him.

"Help me,voice!" I said in my head.

"Finally."

Suddenly,I saw a glowing,yellow light coming from the other side of the store. Chase looked over at the light,lowering his knife.

I took this opportunity to kick him in the junk and he fell to the ground holding it, "AHH. . . DAMMIT!"

I ran off and stood behind a tree and watched what was about to happen.

I saw a figure walk up to Chase. Wearing a grey hoodie,black jacket,a grey beanie,black gloves and black shoes. His skin was grey and his eyes were glowing yellow.

(PUUUUPPETEER,CALM YER TEARS)

The glowing,yellow light was coming from the yellow strings in the tips of his fingers. They wiggled around in the air and he walked towards Chase.

Could that man be the voice in my head?

Chase let go of his junk and tried to get up to run but he ended up just standing up and getting his leg caught in a string.

The man was laughing lightly. He made the strings wrap around his arms and legs and spread them apart like a starfish.

"WH-WHAT THE HELL?" Chase yelled.

Suddenly-

RIPPLASH!!!

The strings ripped my bully apart.

My eyes widened and my mouth dropped down. I wasn't trembling anymore. I wanted him dead.

"Wh-who is that?" I gasped out loud.

He looked at me and came over to me.

"It's me,(Y/N)." He said.

Oh my god it's the voice.

He's so. . . Attractive. . .

"You had a question earlier?" He reminded me,grinning.

I was still shocked that he killed him with no hesitation. I shook my head to snap out of it, "U-Uh,Yeah. . . A-Are you the puppeteer you sing about?"

He smirked, "The one and only."

My heart dropped.

No shit.

"So anyway,(Y/N). . . Remember earlier when I said that you would feel like you needed me?"

I nodded.

"I want my reward now. . ."

"What do you want?"

"I told you I wanted you."

"I still don't understand what you mean."

He chuckled,"You're still so young and dumb aren't ya?"

I shrugged and smiled.

"Lemme give you a hint." He bent down to my height and smooched my cheek.

My eyes widened.

     I thought about it.

     Holy shit he wants sex.

     He want mah luvins.

     "Your house or mine?" He asked.

     "You have a house?" I asked surprised.

     "Ha ha,of course!" He smirked.

     "Your place then."

     He smiled and then he got me in a hugging position,held me to his chest,and started climbing over things with his strings towards the woods.