A.L.T.E.R.N.A.T.E

"My name is Lucias."( Lucias- "light," but symbolizing calm or quiet light as opposed to a fiery transformation.)

Or Lucy..that's the name people here call me around.. and yes I am a man and proud to be but people around have other understanding of the term..Man just because I am weak and always ran from trouble… Doesn't sound manly isn't.But it is what it is….

This year I turn 20 and I am a student in Axilston University. My hobby is reading and making research in rare phenomenon that happen around the world…I guess you could call that a hobby.

" Hey isn't that Lucius ? or should I call lucy…" Frank in girly tone as his friends laughing to their heart content as I walked pass them to our college entrance.

Ever wonder why did assholes like them still exist in college life? To be honest I didn't have the answer to that question but… yeah assholes like them still exist nowadays.

" Hey lucy, show your dick if you want me to stop calling that name or.. wait a minute that guy didn't have a dick." as Frank and his friends laugh until i disappeared from their point of view.

Make me question myself what pleasure do they attain doing this thing to me. Well I guess I need to confront them to know the answer which i won't have the balls to do it. I guess in 5 years science will have to do the explanation.

" What a great moment to start the day as Lucy ." as I walked in class and sat at my usual place. Did i have a friend ? Well I guess….

" What's up Lucian….um.. Lucy ..yup.. Lucy sound better ." Mia giggling as she sat beside me.

" Well the day did not start off pretty good. That Frank and his asshole friend doesn't have any sense of respect towards me."

" It couldn't be that that bad is it ? " as Mia takeout notebook from her bag.

" Yeah, telling me that I don't have a dick doesn't sound pretty bad." As I make annoyed expression towards her.

" Well, if I was Frank friend maybe i start believing that assumption."

Lucias stares at Mia in disbelief.

Mia awares that Lucias are staring at her in disbelief at what she just said. " Which is i'm not… Lucias…" Making a guilt expression.

Yup that's my one and only I considered as friend in my life. Her name is Mia and she the same age as me. Our hobby are pretty are pretty much the same except she's a bit annoying sometime…. many time… I wondered sometime how did a girl like Mia stuck with being friend with the weakest human in this place. Well having the same hobby doesn't strengthen the fact that a girl wanna be friends with some weak ass men that don't like violence. And no...she does not like me…neither do i. That brings me to assumption that.... She probably think I'm gay…

"Good morning, everyone. Today, we'll delve into a fascinating and complex topic: Dual Personality. Has anyone heard of this term before? Maybe from movies or books?" as Dr. Sarah entered our class to start the topic of today.

As soon as Lucias heard about the topic he start feeling anxious and dizziness around his body.

(Why…..why this topic make me so uncomfortable)

"Yes, Dr. Sarah! I've seen movies where characters have two completely different personalities. Is that what this is about?" Mia answered.

"Good observation, Mia. Those movies often exaggerate, but they do touch on the concept. Dual personality, also known as dissociative identity disorder or DID, is a psychological condition where a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states. These personalities can have their own names, behaviors, and even memories. Fascinating, right?" As Dr. Sarah smile.

" Hey.. Lucias are you okay...you looked a bit pale. What's wrong." Mia making worried expression.

" I'm fine. Just didn't have enough of sleep that's all. Don't worry about it."

" If you say so.. Well if anything happens let me know."

Lucias nods.

"Why does this happen, Dr. Sarah? Is it something someone is born with?" ask Aaron

"Excellent question, Aaron. DID is usually linked to severe trauma during early childhood, such as abuse or neglect. The mind creates alternate personalities as a coping mechanism to deal with pain or stress that feels unbearable. It's the brain's way of protecting itself." Dr. Sarah explained.

"So, can these personalities be completely different? Like, could one be super strong and the other really weak?" Mia asking curiously.

"Absolutely, Mia. The personalities, or 'alters,' can have stark differences. For example, one might be outgoing, while another is reserved. They may even have different preferences, accents, or handwriting styles. It's like different people living in the same body." Dr. Sarah answered.

Lucius couldn't hold any longer…the more he hears about the topic the more his uneasiness consume in.

"Each personality has its own perspective, and understanding their role or purpose is key. For example, one personality might be a protector, while another might be a childlike version of the person."Dr.Sarah explained.

" I guess this phenomenon is what we call…."

" Our ALTERNATE ." Dr. Sarah in serious tone.

Lucius couldn't hold longer and storm out of classroom.

" Lucius!! Where are you going…" Mia in high tone.

" I'm sorry Dr.Sarah..i go check on Lucius." As Mia storm out class to find Lucius.

"Alright, class, let's wrap up. For next week, I'd like you to read about a case study on DID. It's a real-life account of someone's journey with this condition. Remember, the more we understand, the more we can empathize. See you tomorrow." saying Dr. Sarah while wondering what happen.

Lucias stumbled into the dimly lit restroom, his hands trembling as he gripped the edge of the sink. Cold water splashed against his face, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. His heart was pounding like a drum, and his reflection in the mirror seemed almost foreign—like it wasn't entirely him.

"Why… why can't I control this?" he whispered to himself, gripping the sink tighter as dizziness washed over him. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he felt the faintest hint of something—or someone—stirring in the depths of his mind.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and the sound of laughter echoed behind him. Lucias stiffened as two familiar figures entered. It was Frank and Troy, the, their smug grins already plastered on their faces.

"Well, well, look who we have here," Frank sneered, leaning against the wall. "The One and only . What's wrong, Lucy? You look like you've seen a demon."

"Or maybe he's just finally realizing how pathetic he is," Troy added with a cruel laugh.

Lucias didn't respond. He kept his head down, his fists clenched, trying desperately to ignore them. But the mocking continued.

"Hey, don't ignore us," Frank barked, shoving Lucias against the sink. "We're talking to you, girly."

Lucias winced but stayed silent, his breath quickening. The world around him seemed to blur, their voices blending into a distant hum. That feeling—something lurking in the back of his mind—was growing stronger.

"Look at him," Troy said, smirking. "Doesn't even have the guts to stand up for himself. What a joke."

Frank leaned closer, his tone taunting. "Maybe we should teach him a lesson. Remind him where he belongs."

That was the final straw. A sharp pain shot through Lucias' head, and his vision went completely dark. His breathing slowed, and his body relaxed unnaturally. For a moment, everything was silent.

Then he looked up.

Lucias' eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. The cold, hard tiles of the bathroom floor pressed against his palms as he pushed himself upright. His head throbbed, and the faint metallic taste of adrenaline lingered on his tongue.

"What… happened?" he muttered, his voice hoarse. He blinked a few times, and as his vision cleared, his breath caught in his throat.

Frank and Troy lay sprawled across the bathroom floor, completely unconscious. Jackson's shirt was torn, his face bruised and swollen, while Troy had a trickle of blood running from his nose. The mirror above the sink was cracked, shards of glass scattered across the floor.

Lucias' heart pounded in his chest as he scrambled backward, his back hitting the wall. "No, no, no… what happen?" he whispered, his hands trembling as he stared at the scene before him.

His mind raced, trying to piece together fragments of memory, but all he could recall was the feeling of suffocating rage, a darkness swallowing him whole. Everything after that was blank—just a void.

"I… I didn't…," Lucias stammered, his breathing ragged. He looked down at his hands, noticing the faint bruises forming on his knuckles. They felt foreign, as if they belonged to someone else entirely.

His reflection in the cracked mirror caught his eye. For a moment, it felt like he was staring at a stranger. The person looking back at him wasn't just him—it was someone else, someone he didn't recognize. His eyes, though still his, seemed sharper, darker, and filled with something unexplainable.

"What's happening to me?" he whispered, his voice breaking.

The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway, growing louder with each passing second. Lucias' panic spiked. He couldn't be found here—not like this.

Grabbing his bag, he stumbled to his feet, his legs shaky as he moved toward the door. Before leaving, he glanced back at the two unconscious bullies, guilt and confusion twisting in his chest. He didn't want to hurt them. He wasn't the type to fight back, let alone… this.

" Lucias where're you going?" Mia said worryingly.

" I ….i have to go." Lucias in panic tone.

As he slipped out of the restroom, his mind spiraled with questions. Who—or what—had taken control of him? And why did it feel like this wasn't the first time?

And for the first time, Lucias truly understood: he wasn't alone in his own body.