Author: Mark Renney

It is difficult now for Jess to pinpoint exactly when the other one began to take hold but it had been years, at least five and maybe even more, since the visitor first arrived, appearing in her head, determined to see through her eyes and to take control of her limbs, commandeering all senses and emotions, eventually forcing Jess up against the precipice in order to feel both fear and elation.

The physical transformation occurred just a few weeks ago but Jess didn’t find it sudden, the other one having been part of her for so long already. A passenger and albeit an unwelcome confidant. When she awoke on that chilly morning and hobbled across to the mirror and discovered the other one peering out at her she had been relieved,

‘You are older than I imagined.’ she said, watching the new mouth moving and forming the words, escaping from the unfamiliar face. ‘Older than I imagined. ‘ she repeated, wanting to be unkind, cruel. But Jess felt revitalised and fresh, the new skin stretching tight in places where before it had been loose.

Since the transformation, Jess had started to ask herself ‘Why, why me?’ It had become a mantra of sorts, ringing out in her head constantly. She supposed it was a way of clinging on but why couldn’t she let go? And then suddenly it dawned on Jess – she was no longer possessed but she was now the demon within, the passenger gazing out through someone else’s eyes and making use of their limbs, commandeering another’s senses and emotions and pushing towards the precipice.