Quick, go back outside!

You don't feel like you could play Onyx's part in front of Gladys, she just knows her too well. Plus, what will you do when the real Onyx is back? No, it's just safer to run out for now and see with her. As you try to put back your shoes though, you hear a door crack.

"Oh, you're already back? It's not even 7 pm yet." A bubbly voice says.

You're caught now. Nowhere to run. Breathing deeply, you put back the shoe, and try your best act.

"Yo. The boss was here today, so he freed me an hour earlier. What about you? Didn't you tell me you had a party tonight?" You ask as you try to keep a low and monotone voice.

"Nah, Key blew it again. It's like the fourth time he's canceling a plan this month. What a douche. Not that I should have expected much but Julia was supposed to be there, so. I suggested we at least go to a pub, but everyone's like "Yeah, no, we should probably sleep tonight anyway, there's a test tomorrow, blah blah blah…". I swear, they're already becoming old, it's insane. So I'm stuck at home for tonight, boring myself on TikTak. I'm so happy you're here early though! I can at least spend time with my roooomie."

You have no idea who she's talking about but Gladys' speech rate is very impressive. You're glad she's doing much of the conversation all by herself.

"I'm actually pretty beaten, not gonna lie. I think I'm going to hit the bed soon."

"What? Oh no…" she says, sounding very disappointed. "I was hoping we could catch some Sucks&Howls episodes. It's been so long since we last watched one. I mean I know it's mostly my fault, being out most of the time, so I can't really blame you but that's just a bummer. Can't we at least watch one or two while we eat? Plus we were just in the best part. I know you're team Richard but you have to admit that Chloe's romance with Jack in that season is just the best. Well maybe not THE best with who's appearing in season siiix! You know who I mean! I just love how…"

Your mind is starting to drift. Wait, is Onyx watching such corny teen drama? You have new material to tease her. Gladys is such a chatterbox… Is she even breathing? As you watch her never closing her mouth, you start to take a better look at her general physique. Gladys is pretty cute, but so colorful that she's close to burning your retinas. Her platinum blonde hair is filled with green, blue, or pink braids and stops behind her shoulders. She's wearing a flashy yellow tank top and a black ruffle mini skirt with colored printed hearts. Her nails are painted with the same green, blue, and pink as her braids, as well as the big plastic bracelet around her thin wrists. She's a very small and slender girl in general that often appears younger than she is. Her pale skin is the spotless one you've ever seen. Is she spending her days in such an outfit? It must be what she planned to wear for her party.

"...but in a nice kinda way, you know? That was sooo out of character for him, OMG! I always tell Van' how compatible they are and each time she's…"

You realize that you've completely lost the subject of the conversation... if you can call it that. What time is it now? You don't have a phone on you so you can't even check. Is she ever gonna stop? You guess that you have to interrupt her if you want to be free one day.

"...which makes me think that you don't have your bag with you. Did you forget it?" Gladys seems to finish.

Hallelujah! She stopped on her own. And you realize she even gave you the perfect escape plan.

"Fuck, I think you're right", you lie. "I'm so tired, I think I left it at my desk… Well, I guess I should go back."

"Oh no! You really seem beat up, for sure. You didn't even stop me from ranting. You know what? I'll come with you to make sure you don't pass out!" She exclaims.

You start putting your shoes back again. "No, it's okay really. It'll be faster if I go by myself anyway."

"I won't take no for an answer. My best roomie needs help. Plus I was ready to go out anyways. That way I didn't prepare for nothing at least."

As she slips into a pair of sandals, you realize how utterly trapped you are.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. You're already out of the apartment with Gladys following your footsteps still rambling aimlessly. You cannot think of any good excuse and the farthest you go, the less you will. You try to take a longer route, hoping to avoid Onyx walking home but your caretaker is quick to catch your mistake.

"It's that way, Onyx! Damn, you're spacing out. Maybe you're not only tired but getting sick. Have you checked your temperature?"

"No, I'm fine, don't worry. I just wanted to change from my usual path…"

"Now's no time for a stroll. You must go to your bed as soon as possible!" She scowls at you, pulling your arm.

"Now that you're saying it, I do feel a bit sick. Let's forget about that bag, I'll come and take it tomorrow." You say desperately.

"If you're getting sick, you might be in a worse state tomorrow. We're halfway there, don't worry. Or give me the keys to the shop, I'll grab it for you." She adds, with concern.

It might be a slightly better outcome if Gladys doesn't meet Onyx while you're also here, but sadly the keys to the antique store are with the original. As you try and think of new ideas, an oh-too-familiar face comes out of the corner, 20 meters in front of you. You freeze, eyes wide. As she meets your gaze, she freezes, eyes wider. The widest ones are neither of yours, though.

"WHAT THE-!!" Gladys screams.

Onyx dashes back into the alley she came from. Gladys starts chasing her, but as she arrives at the corner, she seems to have lost her. She runs back at you.

"Did you see that!?" She yells as she's coming back.

"See what?" You try your best poker face.

"You were just there! How is that possible?"

"I'm right here. You must have seen another girl with a similar style…" You don't sound convincing at all.

"No, it's your doppelganger, I'm telling you! It's like in that episode of Extraordinary where-." She stops mid-sentence, staring into space, a few meters from you."Mike was in fact a doppelganger, f-from the start…"

Oh-ho.

She looks back at you with a look of genuine horror. "That's you, right? You're the fake. That's why you've been acting weird all that time. You're not the real Onyx!"

What you've been trying to avoid all along finally happened. As tense as the situation might be, it's also a relief. The gig is finally up and you don't have to pretend. You approach Gladys slowly.

"Ok, look. I can explain…"

"STAY AWAY! YOU WON'T TAKE ME!" Screams Gladys, horrified.

She runs away at an impressive speed in the direction of the main avenue. Oh boy… Chasing after her won't help your case, you think. You're pretty sure you have no chance to catch her anyway, despite your longer legs.

You stay there for a minute, thinking about the next best move, when Onyx reappears from the alley, wearing a sweatshirt hood on.

"What the fuck are you doing here with her?" She hisses.

"I swear I did everything I could to avoid that!" You object.

"Not here, let's go back to my apartment, quickly. This street is almost always empty, but let's try and limit the problem to one person."

As she forces you to a steady walk, you explain to her how the last hour went. Luckily, the three people you've crossed on your way back didn't notice the two perfect twins. As soon as you arrive, you slouch into the blank white sofa in the living room, happy to finally rest. Onyx is walking back and forth in front of you, her hand furiously massaging her brow.

"We're in big trouble, you know that?" Says Onyx who seems mad at you for relaxing in such a dreadful moment.

"I know, I know. But I need a breather. My head is throbbing right now." You respond, closing your eyes.

"So do I. It happens to me after a long day. You might have to get used to it."

Getting used to it. How long does she think it'll take for you to get back to your own life? You feel like sinking.

"Maybe I should go see a doctor. Or the authorities." You say in a meek voice.

"That, my friend, might be the worst idea you ever had. And you're the guy who thinks working in a shitty hotel might be a better idea than having a degree."

"Hey! That was uncalled for! Also why?"

"Have you ever heard of shapeshifting magic before?"

"Well, of course not."

"But we both learned it exists today." She starts explaining, with exaggerated gestures. "So there're 3 possibilities: the government knows about it and silences anyone who might speak publicly about it. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but that's my best guess. Second possibility: the government doesn't know about it, and will make every possible test on you before silencing us anyway. And the best case scenario and also most improbable: they don't know anything about it, won't be able to help us and will just let us in the same boat we already are. Does that still sound like a good idea to you?"

"What if they have hidden technology to help us and just make us sign some kind of non-disclosure agreement?"

"We're not talking about spoilers for the next game of the year, but an unheard-of science fiction machine. What are two lives against the sake of our entire civilization to them? Nothing. I would probably pull the trigger if it was my responsibility."

Onyx is sadly making a lot of sense. You knew it, really. Reality is just hard to accept.

You sigh. "What about Gladys?"

"Yeah, that's what I'm trying to get my head around. Do we tell her or not…" she says, thoughtfully.

"We still have a choice?"

"I could still try to make her believe she dreamt it. Not likely to work but telling her the truth is a double-edged sword."

"How so?"

"She might help us out, that's true. She's a good friend. But she's also the biggest mouth I know. She might involuntarily share our secret…"

That would be a problem for sure. But if she doesn't buy her roommate's story, she'll definitely tell everyone that doppelgangers are in town.

Suddenly, Onyx's phone starts to ring.

"It's her!" She exclaims.