Chapter 2

Voices in the Quiet

The next morning, Kory woke up to the dull ache of her migraine still pulsing behind her eyes. She groaned softly, rolling over in bed and pulling the blanket over her head as if that would shield her from the world’s demands. The events of the previous day played on a loop in her mind—the near miss, the car crash, and the image of that little girl, Lila, unconscious in her arms.

Forcing herself to sit up, Kory rubbed her temples. The hospital had insisted on giving her two days off after the accident, but she wasn’t sure how restful they would be, especially with the strange heaviness that lingered in her chest. She couldn’t stop thinking about Adrian, the man who had almost hit her, and Lila, now probably alone in the hospital without anyone to comfort her.

I wonder how they’re doing, she thought, glancing at her phone on the nightstand. The hospital was only a few miles away, and it wouldn’t be hard to call for an update.

No, she told herself. She needed to rest, to recover. The doctors and nurses were more than capable of looking after them. Still, the nagging sense of responsibility gnawed at her. She had pulled them from the wreckage, had seen them at their most vulnerable. How could she not care?

By the time Kory managed to get dressed and brew herself a cup of tea, the headache had settled into a manageable throb. She stood by the kitchen window, watching the trees sway gently in the breeze, and tried to lose herself in the quiet of the countryside. The peace of her small cottage usually helped, but not today. Her mind kept drifting back to Lila’s tiny face and Adrian’s bloodied, unconscious body.

Unable to shake the urge, Kory decided to walk to the nearby pharmacy to get something stronger for her headache. She pulled on her jacket and grabbed her keys, hoping the walk would also clear her head.

The little pharmacy was nestled on the edge of town, its brick facade welcoming and familiar. The bell above the door jingled as Kory stepped inside, the cool air immediately soothing against her flushed skin. The pharmacist, a young man with messy brown hair and an easy smile, waved at her from behind the counter.

“Hey, Kory,” he greeted her warmly. “You need something for that migraine?”

Kory managed a small smile and nodded. “Yeah, it’s been killing me for days.”

“Let me get you something stronger,” he said, disappearing behind a shelf. She waited by the counter, rubbing her temples again as she glanced around the small shop. It was quiet this time of day, with only one other customer browsing the shelves.

As the pharmacist returned and rang up her medication, Kory heard him mumble under his breath, “She’s really pretty. Should I ask her out? Nah, she’s probably not interested.”

Kory blinked, momentarily confused. Had he really just said that out loud?

She glanced at him, waiting for some sign of embarrassment, but he just continued bagging her medication, completely unaware of what he’d just said. Confusion swept over her, but she shook it off. Maybe her migraine was playing tricks on her.

Still, something compelled her to respond. “I’m… not interested, by the way,” she said gently.

The pharmacist’s head shot up, eyes wide with shock. “What? I—wait, did I say that out loud?”

“You, uh… mumbled it,” Kory replied, her voice a little uncertain now. “Didn’t you?”

“No,” he said slowly, looking at her as though she had just sprouted a second head. “I didn’t say anything out loud.”

Kory felt a shiver run down her spine. “Oh,” she muttered, grabbing the bag from the counter. “Right. Sorry, I must’ve misheard.”

The pharmacist gave her a nervous smile, clearly unsettled. “It’s fine. Have a good day, Kory.”

She muttered a quick “thanks” and hurried out of the store, her heart thudding in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something very strange had just happened. She was certain she had heard his thoughts—clear as day, as if he had spoken them aloud.

As she made her way down the sidewalk, the voices came again, but this time from passersby.

A woman walking her dog glanced in Kory’s direction, and suddenly, Kory heard her voice—Where did I leave my keys? Did I drop them at the park? Ugh, I hate when I do this.

Kory stopped in her tracks, eyes widening. She hadn’t said a word. No one had. But the thoughts, that inner voice, had been as real as any spoken sentence. She turned to look at the woman, who was now distracted, rummaging through her bag. Kory’s hands trembled.

This can’t be happening, she thought. But as she continued walking, the voices followed. Random snippets of conversations people were having in their minds, echoing inside her own head.

I forgot to lock the door… I hope they don’t see that I’m late… Did I leave the stove on?

Kory pressed her hands to her ears, hoping to block out the noise, but it made no difference. The voices—thoughts—kept coming. She quickened her pace, her mind racing, trying to make sense of what was happening. She was reading people’s thoughts. Somehow, someway, she was hearing what they weren’t saying aloud.

She rushed back home, her heart pounding in her chest. The moment she shut the door behind her, the silence was deafening. No voices, no thoughts. Just the sound of her own shallow breathing.

This couldn’t be real. She couldn’t possibly be… mind reading. Could she?

For the rest of the day, Kory tested the theory, cautiously venturing outside again and listening to the flood of thoughts that came her way. She walked past people in the park, in the grocery store, even the mailman who dropped off letters at her door. Each time, their thoughts were clear as a bell in her head. She hadn’t imagined it. This was real.

Two days passed, and though the migraine had finally dulled, her newfound ability left her restless. Kory found herself pacing her living room, replaying the moments over and over again. How had this happened? Was it triggered by the accident? By stress?

The second day of her leave ended, and the reality of her situation sank in. Kory could now read minds. And, as bizarre as it was, she was going to have to live with it.

Her migraine gone but her mind still reeling, Kory returned to the hospital on her next shift. Despite everything, one thought occupied her mind more than any other—Adrian and Lila. She had to know how they were doing.

As she arrived at the hospital, she found herself drawn to Adrian’s room. She stood at the door for a moment, gathering her courage, before stepping inside. Lila was sound asleep in a small bed beside him, her tiny form curled up under the blankets. Kory’s heart ached at the sight—such a small child with no one in the world but an unconscious father who might never wake up.

She moved closer to Adrian’s bed, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. He was handsome, even with the bandages covering parts of his face, and for a moment, she felt a pang of sadness. Would he ever wake up? And if he didn’t, what would happen to Lila?

As Kory reached out, gently brushing a lock of hair from his forehead, a sudden voice filled her head.

I’m so worried about Lila. What’s going to happen to her if I can’t wake up? I don’t want her to end up in the foster system. I wish I could protect her…

Kory gasped, stepping back from the bed. It was him. She was hearing Adrian’s thoughts—just like she had with the others. But unlike the random thoughts she’d picked up from strangers, this was raw, filled with emotion and fear. He was still in there, still conscious in some way.

Without thinking, Kory whispered, “I’ll take care of her.”

The voice went silent. She didn’t know if Adrian had heard her, if he even knew what was happening, but she knew one thing for certain: she couldn’t abandon this little girl.

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