Survival
Chapter I - Survival
“I found myself immobilized, ensconced within the comforting embrace of my bed’s familiar blanket, unable to even commence the slightest physical movement. A primal urge to vocalize my distress surged within me, echoing within the depths of my ethereal consciousness. In the dimness of my perception, a nebulous figure loomed, poised between the sanctuary of my bed and the aperture of my window, its outstretched hands a spectral invitation. Instinctively, a crescendo of determination welled within me, compelling me towards a decisive response. This internal struggle persisted unabated until the disruptive intrusion of profound emotional upheaval abruptly shattered the fragile confines of my dream, rousing me from my slumber.”
Augustus woke up. Sudden surge of disruptive inputs flanking the flawless tetsudo formation of tamed rhetorics of Augustus. Battle after battle, conclusions after conclusions. The bed was not his. His hair was long. His body felt different. Memories were twice as much. His was not his. It was her. Contemplated, internalized, ready to take action. Even though the supernaturality of the event. His? No... Hers, Gloria’s hands reached to her phone.The only logical option would be to call his own phone. Dialed the number, on the other hand…
Augustus’ original body woke up as well, yet a different ownership. Gloria owned his previous body. The criteria were same. Gloria also stored both her and Augustus’ memories. Yet, the phone kept ringing. Gloria was trying to digest the memories of the other side.
Three missed calls. In the end Gloria picked up the phone. “Hard to digest, huh?” Augustus said in Gloria’s voice. Gloria couldn’t voice out anything but her anxious breathings. “Swallow the pill, the qualudes, you see on the table, sleep. We are going to meet tomorrow.” Augustus sent her a location of a cafe that they both are close.
Augustus stood by the expansive window of Gloria’s room, watching her father conversing with two men clad in black. He was well aware that her father was involved with the Mafia. Officially, they operated a plastic manufacturing company, but the Angelus family was, in reality, the foremost Mafia organization in Boston. The recollections provided little insight into the criminal enterprise, as no parent would divulge such distressing details to their daughter. However, Augustus knew that Gloria harbored defiance towards her parents for their dominion over the city’s criminal underworld, resulting in her profound resentment towards them.
While watching her parents in a apathetic way, Augustus felt dizziness, he knew this body would pass out soon. Just the moment before passing out, he jumped to Gloria’s bed to prevent any chance of dying. Eventually, Gloria slept in Augustus’ body, and Augustus passed out in Gloria’s body.
Now it is familiar, the surroundings, the feeling of a male body, the need for nicotine, the burden of the head and spine. Augustus woke back up in his own original body. Constant evaluations, eventually he would outline what was happening without any glimpse of “Why? Or Scientific explanation.” It would be another day’s topic. Right now he needed to comprehend how this works and negotiate with the other party, Gloria to secure a future. What he didn’t account for was that he had a hole in his heart a different type of hole rather than loneliness, a type of whole that accounts for emotional distress that he hates the most. He knew he needed to figure the mechanics of this body shifting during his shift in a convenience store. Augustus informed Gloria tha t after his shift, they will be meeting in“The Cave” the local cafe.
“The night started hunting again. Being catered similiar to a baby, it is young, it is not effective yet, it is the grown hunter when it reaches the phase before the sunrise.” Thought, Augustus while breathing out the smoke he inhaled. “Hey! Loneliest man in the universe.” Gloria finally arrived to The Cave’s parking lot. Augustus, inatenntive, walked past Gloria, she followed.
The steps of Augustus’s boots echoed loudly, blending with the chaotic sounds of traffic outside. Inside the cafe, the warm glow of lights and candles created a cozy atmosphere, yet dangerous for a possible fire. She scanned the room meticulously, noting every detail. The second exit door likely led to the employees’ area in the back. The modest number of patrons meant that, in an emergency, evacuating would be relatively straightforward. Despite the seemingly friendly demeanor of the local clients, she couldn’t help but overanalyze, crafting various survival scenarios in her mind. “Oi, wake up. You’ll get used to the worse. I will get a cup of americano.” Augustus sat down they waited for their orders without a single word uttered.
“What is the plan, now?” She asked to Augustus.
“I have drafted a emergency plan. I will be giving to you after I explain what is the situation.” Augustus zoned out. Gloria knew she shouldn’t disturb him.
The cigarette burned away, in the end hurt Augustus’ hand, a facial grimace zoning back in to the real life. “Simple… We shared memories of the past. We do not share the future. We store the memories in the body we are in that day. We shift bodies when one of us goes sleep. The other one passes out simultaneously. I don’t sleep so you will be sleeping. We will have like a trial week. We need people around us not to get suspicious of any mental illness that could result into psychiatric hospital. We will share the schedules of our daily lives, at the end of the day please note and share important events and notes for the upcoming day. Go to sleep at two, take drugs while in my body, wake up at eight in the morning.” Augustus gave the draft to Gloria. It had details he just explained about the trial week to get used to this. The moment Gloria wanted to speak, she was interrupted. “Why? You ask.” Augustus lighted another cigarette. “Fuck the why. At least for now...” Augustus got up and left without finishing his cigarette.
As Augustus departed, leaving behind the ashy body of his cigarette, Gloria sat in the dimly lit cafe, her mind racing. She felt a whirlwind of emotions, confusion, apprehension, and a spark of determination. The bizarre situation they were entangled in defied logic, yet Augustus’s stern demeanor and meticulous plan hinted at the gravity of their predicament. Gloria dwelled on the details he had shared, trying to piece together the implications of their shared consciousness and the looming trial week. The weight of the unknown pressed on her, but beneath her anxiety was a resolve to adapt and uncover the truth. She stared at the draft, her thoughts a jumble of survival strategies and the need to maintain normalcy, aware that their very sanity might depend on their ability to navigate this uncharted territory together.
Before the deadline for Gloria to sleep according to the schedule, Augustus sat on the edge of the bed, his left hand cradling his head, deep in thought. The emotional distress he felt was compounded by the influx of another person’s memories, an overwhelming gift that weighed heavily on his psyche. The effects of the Quaaludes and speed pills coursed through his system, a chemical cocktail meant to keep him functional but leaving him feeling more disoriented and conflicted than ever.
As he sat there, Augustus couldn’t ignore the burgeoning emotions stirring within him. “No need to disregard the fact that I have grown feelings towards her in a quick time, yet… It is impossible to follow,” he admitted to himself, the words a quiet confession in the solitude of the room. These feelings for Gloria had developed unexpectedly, catching him off guard. Her strength, her defiance, her ability to remain steadfast in the face of chaos, all these traits drew him to her.
However, the complexity of their situation made these emotions a double-edged sword. He was acutely aware of the impossibility of pursuing any romantic notion given their intertwined fates and the precariousness of their shared existence. The memories he bore were a constant reminder of the barriers between them, not just of body and mind, but of the distinct lives they led. Augustus felt a deep, protective instinct towards Gloria, yet he knew that these feelings could cloud his judgment, making their already dangerous situation even more perilous.
Sitting there, Augustus grappled with the paradox of his emotions. The vulnerability that came with caring for someone in such an intense and immediate way was at odds with his need to remain detached and focused. The affection he felt was real and powerful, but he questioned its place in the chaos they were navigating. He sighed heavily, the weight of his unspoken words hanging in the air, as he prepared himself for the next step in their bizarre, shared journey.
Augustus woke up in Gloria’s body. He zoned out for half an hour, assessing the emotional distress and his feelings for Gloria, not to mention he is in her body right now. The moment he skimmed through her phone she saw a lot of messages. Augustus was not used to texting and it would be excruiating and waste to go through the messages, replying them, yet he had to struggle through it. Checking the schedule Gloria left to him for today, he saw a note apart from the univercity classess and the meeting with her friends. “Check the most left drawer ;)” she left a note at the end. Augustus went to check her drawer, bumped into a pack of cigarettes and a small whiskey bottle. Ironically, it left a enigmatic smile on his face, in fact on her face. “Fucking feelings…” he uttered. They shared memories but he was not sure if she possess simliar feelings for him. The only thing he knew there is this guy that could be a candidate, soon will be meeting with him, for her according to the memories he obtained.
Bells rang, a figure stood in front of the table. Gloria, in Augustus’ body, rushed over the table grabbed the arms of Augustus as in her body. Kenny tried to interrupt. “Go the fuck away Kenny.” Augustus said in Gloria’s voice.
“What the fuck is this pain?” Gloria exclaimed, gripping Augustus’s arms tightly.
“Welcome to my world,” Augustus replied with a wry smile. “It’s a migraine. Take the painkillers inside your jacket. I’ll grab a coffee and a smoke, it helps.”
They returned to the table, the air thick with tension and confusion. Augustus, now in Gloria’s body, gazed through her eyes at Kenny and Ashley. Ashley seemed distracted, her mind elsewhere, while Kenny looked visibly annoyed, as if someone had just interrupted his big moment. “Sorry for the misunderstanding,” Augustus said, attempting to smooth things over. “Augustus, these are my friends, Kenny and Ashley. Guys, this is Augustus, the loneliest man in the entire universe. Unlike Kenny, he’s more spontaneous, an alcoholic, a junkie, and an overthinker.”
Augustus glanced at his own body, now smiling wryly. “Ashley, sweetheart, don’t you think he’s charismatic in some way?” he teased, causing Ashley to blush deeply.
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the supernatural event settling in. “We will see if this works…” Augustus said after a long pause, sighing deeply. His words hung in the air, pointing out not only the bizarre body-swapping phenomenon but also hinting at his own tangled feelings.
