Lone wolves fall first

Some minutes before
At first, panic courses through you. What the hell did she just stuff down my throat?

Wait, these aren't your thoughts. It's Cassidy's.

You're breathing heavily, sitting on the floor with your back against the lockers. Cassidy must have crumpled when you possessed her, but you didn't mean to, you were just trying to...

"Nadi!" You recall. Nadira is here, and she's seen you! Damn, damn, this is the last thing you wanted!

With no other option, as you now have to play your role in the attempt to defuse the situation, you shut your eyes and allow your host's mind to unfurl before you. In the span of a heartbeat, you cease being Tina Harris, the Little Miss Know-It-All. You're now Cassidy Reynolds, and you're...

Terrified.

As awoken by a sudden light that annihilates your dreams, your chaotic thoughts instantly converge on a single person, someone you must reach immediately, whatever the cost. An animalistic urge takes over, you rise to your feet and dart toward the school entrance, your heart pulsing with anticipation, oblivious to Tina, to Nadira, and to whatever that was important up to a moment ago. Right now, your thoughts are simply a sequence of primal, straightforward impulses.

Danger. Protection. Home.

---

5 years ago

You leap out of the car, eager to escape your stupidly-smiling parents and kickstart this dreaded first day of school, just so it can be over with. The entrance teems with obnoxious students, and you can barely contain the eye roll you want to unleash. But your spirits lift a bit when you spot the one person that you tolerate heading your way.

-Oh, Megan! So happy to see you!-.

-Likewise, Sonja.- You exchange quick cheek kisses and then both of you cast disdainful glances at the crowd.

-Ugh, here it goes again.-.

-Gosh, I'm so-freaking-done with these losers! I'm way above all this crap, you know?-.

You stride forward with confidence, unflinching in pushing fellow students out of your way; soon enough, they yield without protest. A smug grin creeps onto your face: perfect, they remember who's in charge.

-Fresh meat?- You inquire your companion, since she arrived ahead of you.

She shrugs: -Nah, no one we should really care about.-.

Probably she's right, but you are so bored that anything would suffice. You distractedly scan the crowd: mostly familiar faces, no surprises there, and the newcomers seem even duller than the rest.

-Hold on, what about her?-.

Sonja halts, following your nod. There's a Latina geek you've never seen before, sporting pigtails, glasses, and -seriously? Isn't she sixteen already?- sparkly braces on her overly enthusiastic grin. She's looking around like in an amusement park, clearly she's one of those "look at me, the Sun is shining and I'm so eager to make new friends!!!" types that you heartedly despise.

-Hm! Shall we introduce ourselves?-.

Unfortunately, the bell rings, saving her. Well, there will surely be plenty of time later.

---

You're swearing into the phone, but once again the call goes to voicemail. You rev up the bike and speed off, taking sharp turns and blowing through a few red lights.

You've just uncovered some key things about Cassidy Reynolds. First, she's not 18 like she claimed; she's 21, but had been posing as a minor when she was admitted into the high school. Second, she's gotten into some shady dealings that you really should steer clear of if you want to avoid trouble. And third, the most crucial, she's done all of this for the sake of her little sister, the one you're desperately trying to find. Part of you is screaming, 'What the hell are you doing? You should stick to Kim's plan!' but right now, you couldn't give a rat's ass about Kim's plan or anything else besides finding Dawn.

"This city's becoming a shithole! I need to get her out of here! Dammit, stupid traffic!" Of course, there's a line, and the last thing you want is to be caught by a cop driving the wrong way. **** – you ditch the bike and sprint like there's no tomorrow. Within two minutes, you've covered what normally takes ten, and now you're charging up the three flights of stairs separating you from your rundown apartment that barely qualifies as 'home'. You yank out your keys and burst through the door.

-Dawn! Dawn, where are you? We need to- Words die in your throat when you find a girl in the kitchen. It's not her, but someone you know all too well; a punkette with hair dyed dark blue and combed in a side-parted pompadour fade with long fringe, and complexively sporting no less ink than you. She turns to you with surprise and a hint of alarm.

-Cass! Shouldn't you be, uhm, at school now?-.

-Rachel. What the hell are you doing in my place?- You retort, not seeing why it should be you to justify its presence in your own damn apartment.

-Hey, you gave me your key.- She replies casually, resuming her rummaging through your stuff, very typical of her: -Ran out of my stash this morning, thought you could hook me up with something-something.-.

-I gave you keys for emergencies only! And you know that I don't keep the stuff here, where Dawn could find it! Besides, wher's she? Have you seen her?-.

-Your sis?- She pauses for a second, casting a sideways glance your way: -Why?-.

Fuck. You know that look, a mix of tedium and curiosity that, on Rachel Fredricks, means you're about to get an earful of shit.

You check her for a resonance. Nope. She's not one of you, yet it can easily change. Even if you prefer to leave no trace, her presence here now is too damn suspicious: maybe she's the same old Rachel, who's here only to search for a high; or, maybe, she isn't.

-It's the Old Bastard. I think he's on to us. Gotta lay low for a while, and Dawn's coming with me.- You respond, choosing your words carefully. You've gone with the reason why Rachel knows you're here in the first place. The Old Bastard is, technically and freakin' unluckily, the dishbag from whose dick you spurt out about twenty-two years ago. Long story short, he used to beat the shit out of you around as a kid, which was fine, you didn't mind it. Then he married Dawn's mom, a junkie, and the hits became fewer since he believed in fair distribution, which was still fine, maybe even better. But when the lady died and he started looking at your little sis in a way you really, really didn't like, that shit stopped being fine. So, you took matters into your own hands, and you two disappeared. Rachel knows about this, at least whatever you blabbered out while drunk, which is hard to gauge since, indeed, you were pretty damn drunk that time. You've kept your real surname, Belluci, to yourself, which is for the best: the less she knows, the less she can snitch.

-So, I'll ask you again: where-is-she?-.

Rachel shrugs, having lost interest, a perk of her ADHD: -Dunno. Been here for half an hour, and she wasn't around.-.

"What the fuck?" This ain't good. No, it's goddamn bad. The big problem with your little escape plan is that Dawn's anemic, like, seriously anemic, and she also gets sick easily. That's why she hardly ever leaves the house. She studies from your books – that anyway you don't use, so no biggie –, she eats the food you buy, and in general, she lives off the money you make from the friends you and Rachel have in common.

-Whatever, who cares? She's probably off doing her own things again.- Rachel mutters, slamming shut a drawer with a snort that voices her delusion. You, on the other hand, give those last words a double-take with wide eyes.

-Again? What do you mean again? You've seen her around before and never bothered to tell me???-.

-Hey, I thought you knew. Plus, not my business, so...- She scans the area, looking for a spot she hasn't searched yet: -You sure you don't have anything here?-.

-Argh!!!- You let out a frustrated groan and head over to the cutlery box. There's a secret compartment under the peeler, which you hastily uncover.

-Take this and get the fuck out of my...- Your words catch in your throat. Right next to the bag you were after there is an unmistakable patch of green goo.

"Fuck.".

---

Gosh, you're totally drained. Three freakin' hours wasted on a pair of bald, bespectacled professors who believe they have some wisdom to sprinkle on someone like you. It's beyond ridiculous, as it's obvious they're just major losers, like every other teacher in this lame school. Anyway, food's calling, so you're heading to the vending machines. And then, bam! Your eyes lock onto a pair of students chit-chatting in the hallway. You recognize them: one is a guy you're stringing along for kicks, and the second is... No, you're bullshitting me!

-Hey!- You call out as you approach, taking furious strides. The girl looks at you with surprise; you were right, it's the same prissy chick from before. With a swift motion of your hand, you knock the apple she's holding to the floor.

-What the hell do you think you're doing, huh?-.

-I-I don't...- She stammers, her face a mix of confusion and humiliation. The guy she was talking to tries to step in, but you shoot him a look that commands him to step the hell back. Head down, he obeys.

-You think you can just stroll in here and flirt with my boyfriend?- Again, he's not really your boyfriend, but why bother explaining more than she needs to know?

Indeed, the girl is taken aback by your sudden rage. She flinches as she realizes that everyone is looking at the two of you. She realizes the situation she's in, and she tries to explain herself: -N-No, I swear, I wasn't flirting! My name is Maria, and I only asked him if he knew where to find a-

-Save it! I knew the moment I laid eyes on your trashy face!- Then, your anger apparently subsides into a devious smile: -You know what? Since it's your first day here, and you're a junior, I'm gonna have the pleasure of showing you your place.- you step closer, oozing menace, and she instinctively backs away. But Sonja arrives just in time and swoops in from behind, pinning the girl against the lockers with a loud thud.

-And where do you think you're going, huh? Megan says you need a little lesson!- Sonja then pauses, taking a moment to size the girl up, from top to bottom, and then she adds with a sneer: -Oh my god, have you seen her outfit? Seriously, where did you get that cardigan? From a rat's nest?-.

-That'd make sense, she probably lives there!- You chime in with a smirk: -Sonja, maybe you should donate one of yours, just so she can finally toss that disaster in the trash!-. Your friend here hesitates for a moment, then she turns her attention back to your victim.

-I-It's my mom's...- Maria is stammering, tears welling up in her eyes. You both burst into laughter, ready to keep taunting her. But the commotion around you escalates, a clear sign that the ring of nosy students is dispersing to make way for a teacher.

-Lucky day, rat nest. But mark my words, we'll catch you soon.- You and Sonja turn away, leaving her to stew in fear, while you bask in a victorious laugh.

---

-Get off, get off!- You're yelling, both to the slimy green goo that has landed on the dorso of your hand and to 'Rachel', who has grappled you from behind and is trying to, what, strangle you?

"Yeah, that's it." You have the confirm when she locks her arm around your neck. Fucking crazy bitch!

-Let me go!!!- You writhe to break loose, repeatedly crashing into the kitchen furniture, until your flailing hand snatches something from the cutlery drawer and, without a second's hesitation, you jam it into her thigh. She groans in pain, and you push backward making you both slam against the wall. Finally, you manage to get free, and you instantly throw away the disgusting jelly phlegm that is crawling on your arm.

The goop squashes down on the floor right by 'Rachel''s feet. You noticed that you stabbed her with a knife, which she's extracting with a contemptible expression, but without any complaint. When she's done, you're astonished to see her bloody wound seemingly regenerate from the inside, until what is left is just a hole in her jeans that can easily blend in with the ones already there.

-Sorry Rach. I don't feel like sharing with you anymore.- You spit out with all your scorn. The facade of the punkish, hotheaded brat crumbles down before Charity's natural coolness, as your supposed friend straightens up.

-I don't think so. Unless your concern about Dawn was just a pretense.-.

You boggle: -You lying bitch! What have you done to her???- you make a move, ignoring the knife she still holds in her hand. However, you come to an abrupt halt when she points her phone at you, showing that she has just answered a call. You can hear sighs and heavy breaths coming from the other side.

-What is it?-.

The numbers on the screen are scrolling, and then a freaked-out voice speaks, disturbed by some environmental rumor that muffles her words.

-Cassidy? Cassidy, i-is that you?-.

Your heart skips a beat. It's your sister.

---

-Dang, I'm beat.- Sonja shuts closed her book. Luckily for both of you, the detention you were both stuck in along with a handful of other students (all, of course, many rungs lower than you on the school's social ladder) just wrapped up after the final bell, and the teacher beat you out the door. You're still pissed that one of those stinking dorks has burst out crying in the middle of the corridor after you told him something, you don't remember what, probably about his lifelong subscription to the V-card. You'd take your **** if he just wasn't so meaningless that you hadn't kept note of his face.

-Yeah, tell me about it. Way to pass your Friday afternoon.-.

The other students storm out as well, leaving you two alone to pack up your stuff. The place is hot, and not in the good sense, with the low afternoon sun is heating up the already stuffy air in the room.

-I hate this place.- You comment while furiously fidgeting with your backpack.

-Me too. Ugh, I think some raccoon has died in that corner.- She echoes you, and it's like an 'Open the gate!' for your enervated temper.

-No, I was meaning this entire place! This school is a total drag, I hate it!-.

-That's true, I hate it too.-.

-Five hours per day locked here with a bunch of losers who won't accomplish anything in their life!-.

-Yes, you're right Meg.-.

-There's nothing that's worth my while! Nothing on my level, no one worth talking to!-.

-Well, you've got me.-.

You stop. The sultry classroom has fallen silent, the last noise you've heard is Sonja holding her breath after her last words. You turn around. She's contracting her lips with a frantic expression in her eyes, which are wandering around unable to hold still on a point.

It's not the first time that she comes out like this, actually. But you usually simply dismiss her, because, well, it's just her babbling. This time, however, doesn't sound like babbling.

-I mean. I'm, I'm always by your side, you know.-.

-Yes. Of course.- You answer slowly, expecting her to drop the conversation, to back off as always. Instead, she takes a step towards you.

-T-That is, even if you don't say it explicitly, I know that when you say those things, you don't mean me. Right?- After this assumption, she looks up at you with very strange eyes.

You're starting to wonder what's this about. Like, seriously. And the fact that the stifling heat is making it hard to breathe doesn't help at all.

-Sonja dear, you know that I consider you better than the rest of them.- She's getting closer, and you're now really considering stepping back. No, that would be ridiculous! Like you should be scared of her!

-But I'm more than that! We talk about things! I support you every time! I am like you!- She grasps your wrist with a strength that catches you off guard. She's sweating, you're sweating, and, plus, you're confused. It's not just her behavior, but it's yours as well. Right now, should feel much more disgusted than you truly are.

-Sonja, what the fuck?- With a sharp gesture, you get free of her grip and then you blurt out: -My dad owns a business, your parents are accountants! Of course you support me!-.

Something shatters beneath the surface of her pupils. Even you are left speechless. Maybe, you're now thinking, you should have said it differently. Though, this is what happens to everyone who gets weird ideas. Even if it's her. Yeah.

-No, you're wrong... I do it because... because...-.

There is a part of you - the one that is normally in command, basically a default instinct after all this time - which is currently saying "ugh, please, don't say that we are friends!". But then there is this... something, that it's different, that is palpitating in your chest, and it grows stronger as you think at all the things you shared in the last three years, and for some mysterious reason you're doing so right now, and all of this is making your head spin, because it makes you feel that you are actually friends and yet, yet it's also pleading, 'Please. Please, just say that we are friends.', and so you're-

"!!!".

Something...

Something has happened.

You missed it. What was that?

Sonja is retracting. Not with her body, but with her face. She's staring at you, all flushed, wide-opened eyes, and at a certain moment she must have grabbed you by your shoulders, since now her hands are receding as well.

But you stop them. And you think that this room is too hot.

SLAM!!!

The door is suddenly opened.

You freeze.

-Mr. Rockwolfe, are y-

Pause.

A chill runs down your spine.

You stare at her, she stares at you.

-Rat nest?-.

She jabbers some excuses, then she closes the door and runs away.

---

-Dawn! Where are you? What have they done to you? I swear, if you whore have laid even a finger on her...!-.

-I'm sorry! I knew I shouldn't go out, I...- Though it's difficult at the beginning, you realize that she's now crying.

-No! No, Dawn, listen to me!- You get closer to the phone: -I'll get you out of there! Everything is gonna be alright! Where are you?-.

-I, I don't know! I'm in a van and t-there is a man in a suit, I-I think he's got a gun, oh my God please let me go!-.

What? A van? Has she been kidnapped? By who? That is, who else is Charity controlling?

CLICK

While you were thinking this, 'Rachel' has ended the call. Immediately, you let all your fury out and charge her, ready to break her bones down to dust. However, she seizes you by your collar as soon as you're within reach, and she slams you against the wall without much fuss. You try to recompose yourself, but damn, that has hitten hard.

-I must admit, I struggle to comprehend. She's just a pet that the original Cassidy adopted years ago, why are you so angry?- She mocks you with a disturbingly calm tone, like a soulless robot who's not even trying to sound human.

-Fucking slut! I fucking swear to God that if you hurt her I'll fucking tear you apart!!!-.

'Rachel' blinks, not at all impressed by your outrage.

-Yeah, I could. It would be easy, just a little... contact.- She opens her hand, revealing the same puke-like goo you tossed away before. You feel yourself faltering, like an icy grip is clutching your back. The mere perspective of that stuff creeping inside of her mind is draining the colors from your face.

-But, if you'll cooperate, that won't be necessary. It's a spare for me as well, after all: I prefer to concentrate on a few key players, and your, uhm, sister, is barely notable.-.

Cooperate? Cooperate on doing what?

You've never seen Rachel acting this, this inhuman, and it seriously gives you the creeps. What the hell is wrong with this girl?

-I wanted to infiltrate the high school via its most infamous bully, but you have just given me a better idea. I want you to keep me updated on Kim and the rest of your clones, and I promise I won't possess your dear Dawn.-.

What? She wants you to be her fucking spy??? Wait, she said 'Kim'? How does she know that... screw it, you will help her neither now nor ever!

-And who's stopping me from kicking your ass, sending your two goons to the hospital, and taking back my sister? 'Cause my fists are all tingly for minutes.- You intimidate her, clenching your fists tight.

She's not scared, though. She shows that by smiling at you, if that cold grimace can be considered a smile.

-If you had listened more attentively, you would already have the answer.-.

You frown. You're missing something. Listened to what? To her? Or to the call?

Hold on. Guy in a suit, gone in a puff, daylight snatch...

I prefer to concentrate on a few key players.

"No...".

It's the Big Man. She got him.

---

-Megan!-

Sonja's calling you from behind, but you ignore her, striding down your path.

-Megan! Meg! Megan, wait!- She manages to grab your arm, making you turn around to face her.

-What? You're sorry? You love me? You think it makes any difference?- You spit out. Her hurt expression tugs at you, but right now, you're too wound up to let it get to you.

-I'm-I'm scared! What do we do??- She pleads, desperation in her voice. Yet, you know she already knows what you're going to say.

-We can do nothing. It's over, Sonja. People will say we were alone in that classroom, some of those nerds already thought... yeah, they thought we were a couple, okay? So the rumor's going to spread, and we won't have any way to deny it. Hence, don't worry, I'm not mad at you, because there's no freaking point in being mad at you!-.

Sonja recoils, her breath catching. Her grip on your arm loosens, and you step away with resolute strides. Then, you hear sobbing behind you. You halt, grit your teeth, and then continue your march. When you arrive out of the school's front doors, you don't bother to slow down. That would only make it even tougher. No, you cross the threshold and brace yourself for what's coming.

For a moment, you feel everyone's eyes on you. And then... nothing. As you walk down the corridor, it's not stares of ridicule, fantasizing, or disbelief that follow you. The lowered gazes, the hesitant nods from the boys, the fake-friendly smiles from the girls... they are normal.

Everything is normal. And so it continues through the first period; it carries on during the second; and it doesn't change in the third.

Your first thought is, maybe she's sick. Maybe she got hit by a bus yesterday. Maybe she's so dumb that she already forgot what she saw.

During the break, you catch up with Sonja. She's clearly rattled and, upon closer inspection, you can't miss the reddening around her eyes.

-Megan, do you think that...-.

-I don't know.-.

Then you spot her, right by her locker, like any other normal day.

-Let's find out.-

You stride towards her, Maria Gonzales, the girl who should've wrecked your reputation this morning, but is now just sorting books in her backpack.

-Hey, rat nest. We need to talk.-.

Maria looks up at you, and truthfully she seems surprised: -Hi Megan, uh, sure, if I can help...-.

-Cut the act!- You shove her against the locker, you won't buy for a single minute this innocent facade of hers.

-Why the hell haven't you spilled the beans??-.

-Megan, people are looking. - Sonja's voice is a plea from behind you, but you make your point by loudly punching the metal plaque.

-Then tell them to mind their own damn business! ...I asked you a question, Maria. Why, haven't, you, talked?- You repeat, this time in a low, threatening tone. But she keeps up playing with you, looking at you with her big, trembling eyes.

-What? Y-You mean, about yesterday?-.

-Of course that's...!- You bite your lip, suppressing the urge to yell.

-Yes, about what you think you saw yesterday. What are you plotting? What the hell are you waiting for? A better opportunity, huh? Is that it?-.

-N-No, I'm not waiting for anything! I'm sorry if I interrupted, I don't think there's anything if you like g-

-I DON'T!!-.

Pause; sigh.

Sonja tells everyone to back off, but her voice quivers.

-I... don't. And even if I did, and you think it's fine, you know my reputation would be toast if anyone found out!-.

-I, I don't get it.- She stammers: -D-Do you want me to trash your reputation?-.

-You little...- Your blood is boiling, this bitch is full of bullshits. You raise your fist towards her face, but you hesitate when you see her flinch, closing her eyes and turning her head in an instinctive, yet useless, defense.

This girl... she's serious.

-Why?- You ask. She opens her eyes, taken aback by the fact that she's unharmed.

-I made your life a nightmare for months. So why? Why didn't you get back at me?-.

She doesn't reply for a moment, your words seemingly sinking in.

-...because it would be wrong.-.

You're stunned, you take a step back. Sonja asks what's wrong, but you shake your head and bolt from the scene.

---

The Big Man. They say a lot of things about him, like how he once shoved a guy's head into a microwave with some popcorn to make him spill the guts. And stuff like that.

However, no one's got a freakin' clue who this dude is; you're not one of those dumbasses who believe he's just a myth, but seriously, where the hell would you even start looking for his sorry ass? Rachel's had her run-ins with guys who used to work for guys who used to take orders from... you know, that kinda mess. The Big Man supposedly runs the whole damn criminal show in this city, some shadowy puppeteer whose strings reach up to the big shots of this town and even further.

"So now this psycho's got the city's underworld in her greedy palms? And she's got my sis???".

-You... you greedy bitch! You better hand over my sister, or I swear to fucking God, I'll...-.

'Rachel' makes this annoying clucking noise with her mouth and then WHAP! She slaps her hand across your face. Something slimy oozes up your nostrils, and you feel this unnatural squirming inside you, like a fkin' worm slithering through your veins. Then, the chick just drops like a sack of bricks right onto you, and this green goo spreads around her feet.

You're just watching in a mix of disgust and awe as this goo reshapes itself into a blonde little girl wearing a friggin' pink tutu – the same kid you, as Tina, saw in Cindy's memories.

-Don't sweat it! I'll take good care of my new Dawn sister!- She pipes up, her damn high-pitched voice clashing with the twisted crap she's saying.

-What the hell did you do to me?- You're practically hissing.

-Oh, just a precaution, in case you thought you'd pull a fast one on me. But you won't, right?-.

Your growl's muffled, 'cause you can't do jack about it. She's got you inside out, outside in, and she's even twisted your good old Tom-possessed thing into her favor. Now you're her sneaky, undetectable little spy.

-...no. I won't.- You eventually rely.

-Gotta jet now. Mummy's waiting! Catch ya later, Miss Cassidy!- The little punk strolls out the door like she's on a damn field trip, leaving you to deal with your **** so-called buddy and with the fact that you're utterly, royally screwed.

The only glimmer of hope now rests with Kim, and honestly, that's not reassuring you, not even a bit.

---

You spot her, just as she's about to step onto the street.

-Sonja!- You call out, but you curse yourself for even thinking it. She's not really Sonja, after all. Nonetheless, she turns to face you, and you catch up to her.

You know you can't wait for Kim's plan to play out, you can't let your friends remain in the clutches of that monster, not for another moment. You'll take the matter into your own hands.

-'Megan.' I'm kind of busy.- She tries to brush you off, but you grip her wrist tightly.

-Charity, release my friend, right now!- You demand. Sonja's completely unaffected expression sends shivers down your spine.

-Like I said, I'll let this one go soon. But as for my new body, well, you know that's not going to happen. Don't even think about it.- She cuts you off before you can voice your protests: -Focus your efforts on someone you might actually retrieve.-.

People are starting to give you strange looks, two girls having an intense conversation at a pedestrian crossing. It's oddly familiar, like a memory from the days when you were a different person, a different girl. But since that day with Maria, everything changed, you did: the next Monday, everyone knew not to bother Maria anymore, and the nickname 'rat next' was officially banned. Well, you wish it went out straight like this; but in any case, the power dynamics shifted, and now that she's about to become something even worse than the old you, something even more repulsive, you can't help but feel sickened. And Sonja, your first friend, the only one who has stayed with you from the beginning, is now standing right in front of you, a puppet of the same ruthless demon.

-Why me? Why did you release me before Sonja?- You ask, your voice trembling. 'Sonja' furrows her brow, as if trying to recall something. The light changes, and it's now red.

-That's intriguing. You've quite changed during the years. This girl here did too. Alright then, I'll keep her a bit longer.-.

Those words feel like a bucket of ice water being dumped over you. What have you done? Have you just condemned Sonja as well???

-N-No... Sonja, snap out of it! Don't let her control you!-.

People are still staring, all around you. But they don't act, they never do, do they? You're just a sideshow to them while they wait for the light. It turns green again, and they start flowing past you.

-A little piece of advice, just because it annoys me. Don't absorb all their memories at once. You end up looking pathetic like this.- She admonishes you. Sonja... Sonja never spoke like this. Even when she was your partner in crime, this cruelty in her voice, this heartlessness, no, it's all so wrong!

-No! Please! Sonja, please! I'm sorry, I should have done things differently back then! I should have talked to you, I never...- You swallow hard, your vision blurring: -I never told you this. Because I know... I know you still have feelings for me. And the truth is, you make me wish that... that I still liked girls. And it terrifies me, that's why I... oh God... oh God, I'm so stupid! I'm such an idiot! Sonja, please, come back to me!-.

In a burst of emotion, you press your lips against hers, something you should have done long ago. But her mouth remains sealed, unresponsive to your plea. A strand of your goo ut your throat: you could pull Charity out of her, you know she must be struggling to regain control, she just needs your help!

And then, the unexpected happens. Her digits graze your cheek softly, then move to the back of your neck. Her lips part, she leans in, and you taste that same soft, sweet flavor that you caught a glimpse of back then, that elusive taste that you couldn't recognize. It's working! Somehow, your words are reaching her! That's what you think as the goop flows from your tongue to hers.

But then, it encounters resistance. Another sticky substance. You're taken aback. She pulls her face away from yours, leaving your crimson goo dangling from your mouth like some sort of parasitic worm. She has one too, but it's a different, grotesque shade.

You're confused. Then, you notice that her eyes haven't changed.

You're in danger.

-That was... enjoyable.-.

It all unfolds in a split second, too quick for you to fully process. She steps back, pulling you along; not too far, just enough to place you in the middle of the road. But the traffic light has already become red. Something large and noisy hurtles towards you at high speed, then there's a collision, metal, glass, sky and the asphalt crashes down upon you.

Brakes screech. Someone is screaming, but you don't see who. You're lying there, unmoving, one eye pressed painfully against the concrete, the other barely open.

A croak escapes your lips. Sonja is sprawled next to you, her eyes shut, a streak of your reddish goo smeared on her nose. Or it's her blood. Her arm is outstretched towards you. Your hands are almost touching. You... you try to. But you can't.

You want to shout, to call for help, but an overwhelming exhaustion clouds your vision; you catch a fleeting glimpse of a streak of green darting away from Sonja's **** form, and then everything fades into darkness.