[ WP ] A collective consciousness that can not take control of people 's bodies by force . It must persuade people to join willingly .

Alex held the razor blade up against his wrist and looked the mirror one last time. 
 
 He saw the reflection of a black figure materializing behind him; it seemed to be pulling substance from all around it and swirling it into a single figure. 
 
 `` Hello,'' it said. 
 
 Alex did n't know what to say. There a long silence. It did n't seem to mind. 
 
 `` Death?'' he said, eventually. 
 
 The figure laughed. It was deep and rumbling and sinister and... comforting. Because Alex was n't alone anymore. 
 
 `` No,'' it said. `` I'm alive. I'm more alive than anyone this planet.'' 
 
 `` Oh.'' 
 
 `` Do you want to talk?'' 
 
 Alex shrugged. He did n't really know how to talk anymore. 
 
 `` Do you want to sit?'' 
 
 He shrugged a bit and sat down on the floor. 
 
 It walked over to the other side of the room next to Alex. Or It glided. Alex could n't tell 
 
 They sat for a while. 
 
 `` Who are you, then?'' said Alex. 
 
 `` My name is Simul.'' 
 
 `` What's that?'' 
 
 It laughed again, and Alex noticed that it did n't really have a face -- it had one, but if you looked too hard, or tried to make out any details, it became distorted and blurry. 
 
 `` A collective consciousness. A hive-mind.'' 
 
 `` Like...'' 
 
 `` Invasion of the body snatchers? That's most people's first thought.'' It laughed again. 
 
 Alex noticed that, for the first time in a while, he felt full. There was a pit in his stomach that went away. 
 
 It felt nice. 
 
 And then it was gone. 
 
 `` Yeah. Like that.'' 
 
 They were quiet for a while. 
 
 `` Are you going to... you know...'' 
 
 `` Body-snatch you?'' 
 
 `` Yeah.'' 
 
 `` No. Those are n't the rules.'' 
 
 `` What are they?'' 
 
 `` You have to want to.'' 
 
 `` Why would I do that?'' 
 
 `` Would n't it be great, though? To be part of something?'' 
 
 `` But I would n't be able to do anything. I would n't have free will.'' 
 
 `` You'd be alive. You'd be conscious. But you'd be part of something... big. Something great.'' 
 
 Alex was quiet for a while. 
 
 `` Okay.''
