People at Harris' house

-I can't believe you did that!-.

Your sister's voice echoes, barely two seconds after you've shut the door in front of Maylene's puzzled face. You groan, attempting to distance yourself from the situation, but she's hot on your heels like a duckling chasing her mother.

-Come on, I haven't done anything.- You retort.

-Yeah, that's the point! And you wanted to hide it from me? Like, wtf Tina? Are we keeping secrets now?-.

-Oh, please!- You snap around, glaring at Kim with boiling indignation: -As if we haven't done it for the entire week! No, scratch that, it was you all along!-.

-Me? What about turning into me to have sex with Tom, then? And it was your idea not to tell him the truth from the start!-.

-That...- You bite your tongue.

-Okay, you know what? That was a stupid decision. We only did it because we were afraid of his judgment... because we both know what we're doing isn't right! That's why I wanted to shield my friend from all this mess! Really, 'sis? Taking over other people's lives like this, it's practically ****, you know that, right?-.

Kim crosses her arms and flicks her tongue: -You're not being fair. I get your point, but we're not killing anyone. We're becoming them.-.

You groan and turn around, but she continues: -I am no less Kim than she was, and the same for you and Tina, and you know that! All the pleasure we feel through our bodies, things that they would have never been able to experience, now they're feeling it too, but they don't have to bother about all the bad stuff that happens! How is that akin to ****? Besides, what choice do we have, huh? Are you saying our lives aren't worthy of existence?-.

-This is... that... argh! I don't even know where to start!-.

-If you thought it was so terrible, then why did you do it to Heather?-.

-BECAUSE I'M NO BETTER THAN YOU, OK?- You shout, pointing a finger at her. She widens her eyes, and you lower your hand, feeling the weight of your own words sink in.

Suddenly, footsteps echo from the stairs in front of you. You both look up to see a confused and worried Cindy descending, clad in a cute crop top and shorts that you're pretty sure belong to Kim. You assumed she had gone home after Emily left her to go to the police station, but evidently not.

-What's going on? Has something bad happened again?- She asks, fear in her voice.

-No...- You both say, wincing in embarrassment.

-S-Sorry, we're just a bit stressed by the events, right Tina?- Kim says. You nod, assuring her that it was just a heated discussion and nothing more.

-I see. Ehm, I just wanted to thank you for the hospitality last night, but I think it's time to leave.-.

-Are you sure? We wouldn't mind if you stayed.- Kim insisted.

-Actually, we'd really like it!- You add, but she shakes her head.

-It's fine, don't worry. Kim, I'll wash your clothes and bring them back, ok?-.

-Oh... yeah, actually, I think they suit you better, you can keep them, you know.-.

You raise an eyebrow. She just complimented another person and offered her clothes, all in one sentence. You should have already started getting used to this version of your sister, but... well, it's still Kim Harris, the Kim Harris, we're talking about.

-Thank you, you're very kind.- Cindy finishes the stairs and gives each of you a hug.

-Thank you, Kim, Tina. I'm very glad you consider me a sister.-.

You blush, unsure of what to say. You bid her farewell as she disappears behind the front door.

You and Kim exchange glances, shame coursing through your veins.

-It's just...- You start.

-It's just, I know what you want to say: who says that only because they were the ones born with these bodies, they're more deserving of them than us? Why don't we deserve a chance too? How is it different from growing up and looking back at our childhood selves? I know you want to be happy, and I want to be happy, and I'm in love with, fuck, with me. And I don't even know where I end and she begins! But...-.

Tears stream down your cheeks, which you wipe away with your palms.

-But I feel horrible if I think about what we're doing. Why does it have to be this way? Why is this the only way that I know can make me happy? Am I... Am I a monster?-.

-Tina... oh, Tina, don't.- Kim squeezes you in a hug, her eyes also red. She then cups your face and kisses your forehead before leaning in for a deep, intense kiss.

You sniff, calming down a little, even if part of you feels again the same rage of before slowly building up. You don't want to be calm, you want to be, to be furious!

-I know what you're feeling. Believe me, I feel it too, really. But then I look at you,- She tucks some hair behind your ear: -and at Cindy, and at Trish, and I know that, at least you, you are not monsters. So don't think about that, not even for a second. Whatever this is, whatever we are... we'll go through it together, ok?-.

You swallow a dense lump, avoiding her gaze. You don't know if she truly understands you, if she's just pretending, or if she genuinely believes she does, and you don't know how you feel about that. The confusion swirls within you.

-I love you.- You say: -It's all wrong, and I hate what we're doing, but I love you.-.

-I know. I love you too.- She replies, a bitter smile on her face. You grimace and eventually break contact. For some reason, she's accepting this, and you can't; and you don't know if you're blaming her, or if you just feel envious.

-So, now, what happens?- You ask. Kim, usually sharp-tongued, remains silent.

As you close the door behind you, you squeeze your shoulders. This morning was good, thanks to Emily, but things have become complicated again. All because of you...

"No, I must not think like this. I can't be a burden to them, I must do my part.".

-Oh, hey there.- A familiar voice greets you.

-Maylene?- You ask bewildered. You haven't seen Maylene in years, not since she stole Kim's boyfriend. Honestly, even before that, you don't think she liked you much. Looking back with Tom's perspective in your mind, you realize she was probably the wannabe queen bee challenging the reigning one, while you were just a lackey of the latter.

But now it looks like she's one of you, so everything has changed. You guess.

-Cindy, how nice to see you! Oh, I was still part of Kim before, so I'm telling you now: I'm so, so sorry for everything that has happened to you. It must be... excruciating to feel all the responsibility on your shoulders!-.

You shiver, nodding nervously. Maylene clicks her tongue, brushing your shoulder with her hand: -But now you can count on me too. Uh, but these are Kim's clothes! How kind of her to lend them to you!-.

-Actually, aehm, I think she, she just gave them to me as a gift.- You mutter, looking down at yourself. She makes an impressed face.

-Quite atypical for her. But, I guess that being a shapeshifter means that clothes are much more a fluid concept, uh? Not to downplay her gesture, of course.-.

You divert your eyes, feeling a bit uncomfortable, just like when she hung out with you back in the days.

-By the way, I'm quite sure I started something when they locked me out. Is our Big Chief having problems?-.

-Kim? Uh... I think that she and Tina disagree on the possession thing...-.

-Mh? I see. By the way, what do you think about it? No, forget that- She hastily adds, seeing your pout intensify: -where are you going now?-.

It's not really easier to answer that. Part of you wants to stay in your old house, the one you just left, but you feel it would be wrong. Where else can you go?

-Home, maybe?- Maylene asks as you hesitate. Home. No, no, you can't go there.

-M-My mom, I... I don't think that I can face her.-.

She crosses her arms, genuinely interested in your response.

-Why is that?-.

-I think she's... she's angry at me. And she's right. I don't deserve her love. I've been awful with her.-.

You hit her, that's what you can't say. It happened during your breakdown, before you possessed her, but still, you hit her, you hit your mom, and you didn't want to stop.

And maybe, yes, the fact that you possessed her only makes things worse. The goo residing in Amanda Hope knows everything about you, but she's not you, not anymore. She can judge you for the horrible person you truly are.

-Cindy, she's your mom.-.

You frown. For the first time in the discussion... no, maybe for the first time you've known her, Maylene sounds sincerely serious. She, who was always reserved with you and Kim, even during gossip, now looks at you with solemn apprehension.

-Whatever happened, she will forgive you. She has to, it's embedded in her nature. Just like in ours there's the body snatching stuff.-.

Your lips twitch as you recall the brief moment you saw her last evening when she talked with Kim about you staying the night. Her face was... worried. Not angry, not disappointed. She wanted to talk with you.

-But what if she doesn't forgive me?- You fainly retort.

-And what if she does?-.

-But...-.

-But? But what? Seriously, do you think you should just run away from her?-.

You puff out your cheeks and then lightly shake your head.

-You're right, Maylene. Thank you, you're a friend.-.

Maylene opens her mouth, but no words exit for a few seconds.

-Yeah, sure.-.

You fix your purse on your shoulder, and then you go back home, for real this time. Your heart climbs to your throat with each step, and your legs grow increasingly fragile until you're standing in front of the apartment door, inserting the key.

-Mom? It's me.- You announce yourself timidly. No answer.

-Mom?-.

The silence in the apartment weighs heavily as you call out for your mom, your voice echoing off the walls. You check the living room, where she usually works at the computer. She's not there. You go to her bedroom, but it's empty.

But these are working hours for her, you know, so she should be there working. Perhaps, you reason, she just left for a minute; so you settle on the couch and wait.

That minute ends, and the sinking feeling in your stomach grows heavier with each tick of the clock. Then five more passes, then ten. Then it becomes an hour, two, five.

Then it's evening, and still, there's no sign of her. Tears well up in your eyes, cascading down your cheeks as you sit alone in the dimly lit apartment.

You've called her countless times, you resisted barely one hour before doing it, and each ring met with the harsh sting of rejection as your calls go unanswered. And when you tried to send her a message, you've been met with the crushing realization that your number had been blocked. It was at that point that you started crying. And with the darkness of the evening surrounding you, casting eerie shadows across the room, the once familiar space now feels unfamiliar, almost haunted.

"Mom... Mom, please... where are you...".