>> Mirror, Mirror

My reflection warps with horror in the shadowy steel door.... but nothing so wild as the thing behind me. Crooked leather fingers slam my helmet into the metal. Leaving me barely able to see the room at all, except for the finest sliver of half-shadow face gathering behind me. A demon smile splitting it, as my armoured joints begin to creak.

## Impact :: [Cranial]

"Situational awareness, kiddykins." A familiar voice breathes, every word ripe with dark mockery and hideous amusement. "Wouldn't want to take a bullet in the ass. Or maybe worse." It leans in close to my soft ear. "I like worse."

I twist my head, violently, but I can't slip free. My skull jammed into the metal so hard I'd be a headless corpse without my helmet.

But I'm bloody tenacious.

I scream, and slam the eject. Fuzzy ears jerking, painfully, as I rip them free of my armour. Leaving it behind as I duck away, into a roll. SMG swinging to smack my face as I fumble it up. Locking into a kneeling position as I aim.

For a single instant, my helmet hangs in the air. Supported on nothing. Creaking as it is pressed, hard, against the metal.

And then it tumbles, with a thunk, and gently rolls to one side.

There's nobody here. Nobody..... but me.....

Breathless, and afraid, I snap my gun in every direction. Eyes wild and wide. Tail slashing the air as I try to feel for the creature - or whatever it is. Hunting reflections. Shadows. Nightmares that flicker in walls of shining glass, as if the thing is always behind me.

But it's gone.

I'm alone, again. Locked in a shining cube of stacked-up stasis crates, while the air runs out. With nothing more than trollies and bags for cover.

"You...." I whisper, spinning on the spot. "Where the Hell are....?"

"Here and there...." It purrs, so quietly. So mockingly. So lovingly, it hurts. "Or, perhaps, nowhere at all? Did you think of that? Perhaps I'm just a mirage....."

A flicker of reflection, slick and fast.

I turn, at speed, but all I see is myself.

"Sweet little things do have such wild imaginations, after all...."

Another flicker, deeper in the cubes. A shape. A twitch of colour.....

"You see and hear all..... kinds..... of things that aren't really there..... But...." It whispers, and I jolt in terror as half skull of silver gleams in the glass by my face. "....while you're busy pretending.... how about a little chat? 'Delusion' to 'delusional wretch', as it were....?"

"Moon....." I choke as the image vanishes in a flurry of red coat and darkness. A flash of teeth, and glee.

"But of course, my pet! And what should we talk about, I wonder?"

"Quit the bloody game." I spit as I back toward the door. "You bloody know what ya came for! So talk!"

Dark and hideous laughter echoes against shining-hard glass.

"An answer. Child. And nothing more." It says, so very softly. Yet building its volume with rabid intent. "Your freedom is give, as promised. But will you honour our Deal? Will you follow me to power? Wealth? Security? Safety, and madness and bloodshed and comfort? And a legion of followers at your every call....? Or.....?" It licks my sharp ears with cancerous tongues. ".....is the happy little filth-digger going to Try My Patience?"

I whip around. Fangs gritted. "Bullshit! You ain't here for 'answers'!" I snarl with a hissing fury of certainty. Gun dancing between shadows as I hunt its real form. "You're here to keep the bloody pressure on! To keep us afraid! To-"

A finger flicks my ear, and I spin again. But....

But there's still nothing....

Mere shivers of ink, dancing in every corner.

"Is that what you think I am?" Moon's voice slithers in my other ear. "A waking nightmare?"

"Always." I whisper, and it laughs at my mistake. My admission of fear.

But let it.

Let it think it's won, while I find a way to fight it.

A flicker of vile touch across the back of scalp that panics my heart. "Is that's so....?" It chuckles behind me, turning as I do to keep the finger pressed to my head. "But then.... don't you want me on your side? A devil in your corner, as it were?"

No. I don't.

But it needs me. Specifically, me. And it needs me badly.

I'm the Leader. Not just of my team, 'Omega Zero', but the whole of Omega Core.... whatever's left of it. Plus The School Rebellion itself. We're fractured, out here. Tossed to the wind by our escape. But I've got a damn funny feeling we're the only ones that can hear Moon's voice..... That we're the only ones that can see it, or feel it.

That the nightmare is just an AI Clone running on our private Network.

And, damn me, but if I want to kill The Real Moon.... I need that weapon it promised us. I need the intel it'll have to feed us to make this 'rescue' happen. Not just intel on itself, but on The School as well. The staff. And the... other..... things that lurk there....

And to do that, I need to get onboard. Fully. Completely. At least until we can subvert the Clone AI.

But if I'm too eager, it'll know something's up.

So I need to be 'forced into it'. I need to let it 'win'.

And, as much as I hate the idea....

I need to play victim.

"You ain't on anyone's side." I growl, backing towards the door. Then rushing. Slamming my back into it, so I can face the room at large, reaching to haul on the wedged-in tool. Yanking it, shakily, open. Inch by terrified inch.

Until it sticks suddenly tight.

As if something huge pressed a hand against it.

Long, sharp, leather-clad fingers streak down its surface. Jabbing hard into my neck, right under the armoured collar. Gripping me by the neck, and pressing me into the metal. "Is it so hard to believe I need a little friend? That I can be grateful? Gentle?" It breathes as I twist in its grip. Still dragging the pry tool. "Can't you just.... help out little old Moon?"

"DIE IN A FIRE!" I choke, and a gloved hand reaches from behind me. Pressing my mouth shut, as I struggle and kick and try to get away. Hammering both feet into the door, and slamming back against it. So hard I feel my tail going numb.

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"Oh. The little children have such vile manners." It whispers, so very slowly, as my breath locks against the pressure smothering my face. "You made a Deal. Sweet Thing. Signed in blood, and carnage. And that's the end of it."

I scream against the hands that pour through the jam of the door in a torrent of shadow and tar. Grabbing my arms. My legs. Slamming me back into the metal.

It feels to real. But it isn't. It can't be-

"Oh but does the precious little kiddykins still think it knows better?" Moon licks at my neck with its sordid mouths. "Thinks it can hide from Mummy, under the bed? All giggling! And grinning! And hoping she can't SEE!!?" More hands bind my waist and crotch as I strain and buck to get away. "But you know. You KNOW. You know this little hide-hole CANNOT last...." The dark strokes my face, with terrible fingers. Its face against the side of mine. Reflected eyes burning with a violent mockery of life. "You. Saw. Her.... Today..... Didn't you, my 'Poppet'?" It murmurs against my neck, and I go suddenly still. Unbreathing. Unmoving. Lungs pounding. "She told me, you know. She was here. She stabbed her little pinky-finger in your brain. Made you see things. Feel things...." It slithers across my hands. My face. "I do hope you didn't let her inside you...." It tuts. "If you did.... well.... then.... you better start running. And running! Before she drags you out by your little toesies! And spanks your little bum! And sends you back to School!"

I drag a screaming breath, and choke. But the thing smothers me again.

"Or maybe not.... not if she's having a real No-Good Frowny-Face Day. Maybe she'll just send Mister Gentle to crawl under the bed with you, and tickle your little skin....." Fingers jab and wiggle in my neck, as its mouths devour my scent in a single violent breath. "Tickle, and tickle, and then tickle some more! Like mutant maggots wiggling in flesh! Tickle and tickle, til there's nothing left but happy little bones!"

I shut my eyes. I don't have to fake the tears.

"You see, 'Poppet', she isn't as nice or friendly as me." It purrs, with absolute truth. "So pick your poison. Kiddy. Because it won't be long til' it picks you. And Daddy Dearest... oh my.... if he finds you too...." Hot flesh laps my face. My eyes. Up in my nose. "Well then. You know how Mummy and Daddy have a thing. How they compete. I don't like your chances, I weally weally don't....."

I slam my legs back as my head begins to crack with pressure and pain. Can't breathe. Can't breathe.... Can't even feel the freaking floor, as it drags me up the damn air, and.... Oh God, I can't breathe. I'm-

"Running out of time, aren't you? Tickity tick..... Bit by bit....." Moon purrs, as my knees inch out - tearing a leg free. Right until it grabs my ankles, slamming me back onto the door. "Funny, really, because I've got all night. But I suppose I better give you another chance. So go on. What's your answer? Will you? Won't you?"

A sudden breath slams into my lungs, and I cough and spit against its grip. Fighting the web of arms crushing me to the door. I choke. I gasp. I pull in breath until I can finally scream "-uck you, asshole....!"

"Me?" It gasps, in scandal and shock, as the hand slams back onto my face. "Little old Moonie? But I'm just giving you a little push to help you on your way..... Aren't I?" It grinds my head into the door. "See? Little pushes!" It jokes as I glare at the twisted half-half face through the gripping fingers. "So you can't blame me when it's all your fault...." I twist my head from the grip and spit again. Sucking as much air as I can.

"I SAID F-" Hands of smoke jam their fingers down my throat, and Moon lets out a worn little sigh.

"The boys and girls will learn. Or not, I suppose. And it's not like I need all of you. There are.... ooh, how many Omega Teams are left right now? Hm..... One.... two.... thr-"

With a massive wrench, I plant my feet on the door and heave myself off it. Arching my back, my arms, and everything as I rip one arm free to smash my fist through the broken-necked face. It roils like smoke around the blow, and I howl with rage and denial. Twisting to plant both pads on the door, and kick myself off it into a clumsy flip. I land, hard, and tumble onto my ass. Staggering. Choking. Gasping for breath, as the world tumbles and spins. I land on my side. Head cracking with pain, like a vice. Vision blurred. Heart pounding like a freaking hammer as I raise my SMG, and try to aim. Gun rattling in my grip as shadowy hands and faces drown the door in woven darkness.

Easy target. Even now.

But the instant my finger touches trigger, I freeze as an image from Basic Training stabs through my battered skull. A flickering roar of rain. A broken building. And Moon's foul laughter, wild and raw, as my bullets tear its coat.

Cracking the window behind it.

And the kid behind that.

Perfect, smoking, holes drilled deep into flesh.

He stares at me, and-

"No....." I sneer, into the floor. Drool spattering my chin. "You're just a damn.... walkin' delusion..... Like you said." My claw flicks open the camera-screens. Every view covered in suspicious, sifting, darkness..... and fingers..... and mocking eyes. It's as good as confirmation.. "My damn Team is out there! Ain't they!? Right outside that bloody door!" I swallow. "You just.... tried to kill my bloody friends....."

"I don't need dead weight." Moon purrs. "I need a monster."

"And you..... you bloody think I wouldn't kill ya myself if-"

A single thought hits my half-dead brain like a bullet. Sudden, and sharp. A realisation so pure, and basic, it stabs through the haze. The confusion. The pain.

And breaks my mind with fury. Stopping me cold.

That bastard....... It wouldn't. Even Moon.....

"An acceptable gamble. Sweet child." Moon purrs as inky, long-fingered, hands crawl up the walls in a boiling wave.

And I... break. I absolutely lose my mind.

"I.... KNEW.... IT!" My scream roars as loud as my lungs will allow. Gun wavering as I curse, then shove it away. "You..... You absolute BASTARD!! I KNEW IT!! You-" I stagger up. Hurling bags and trollies aside, with a crash and a bang. "You freakin'- You-" I slam my teeth shut, and hiss. Clawing at my face. But the words won't stop. The fury won't stop. I scream, kicking claws clear though a bag. Ripping it wide open. Splattering cake, and cream, and childish things.

Because I nearly said it.

Nearly gave the bloody game away. Right then.

Nearly showed all my cards to the enemy.

"I KNEW IT!" I scream again, changing direction to cover the damn flub. "YOU SICK BASTARD! YA NEVER WANTED A BLOODY ALLIANCE! Y'JUST WANT TO BLOODY TORTURE US! TO MAKE US AFRAID SO WE DO WHAT YOU BLOODY SAY!" It's not even a lie. But I grip at my face. Clawing. "That was your BLOODY PLAN all along! ....WASN'T IT!? You ain't here for anythin' but your own SICK PLEASURE! To make us HURT so we STAY IN LINE!" I stagger away from the boiling door. Heaving breath. So wrought with wrath I can't even think.

But the dark hands won't let me escape. Not now.

They pour across the ceiling. Weaving a sinuous net of blackened void and horrendous laughter.

But I barely pay it any heed. Moon isn't here to kill me. It can't. It's all a lie, no matter how much my body tells me I was bloody suffocating. It has to be. And I can see now. Through the half-truths, the darkness, and the lies, to the tiny shard of truth burning behind them all. Suddenly bright enough to touch.....

Because now I know Moon's real plan.

And it is beautiful. Simple.

Even childish.

And why not? Moon is a monster driven by the heart of a nasty, vile, evil little child. A sadistic, twisted, nasty little bully with way too much power. Goading us. Sneering at us. Dropping little hints it thinks will go right over our 'stupid little heads', so it can rub them right in our faces.

But not nearly as smart as it thinks it is.

And it slipped up. It told too much. Unless it has some deeper trick in play.... Some scam within a scam....

No. I'm bloody sure of it. It fits way too hard.

And it's every bit as mad as the laughter echoing around the warehouse, as it slithers down the walls. Pouring across glowing glass to blot the world with darkness. Shutting out the light, and leaving me alone.

Inside it.

But it can't undo what it just did. What it told me, without telling me.

And so, even as the dark reaches for the floor, I splay my claws to fight. To protect the kindling light of hope within me.

Because this changes everything.

Everything.

"Ya see.....?" I whisper. Coiling, viciously, on all fours as the floor begins to shrink. A pool of colour in a roaring torrent of void. "I ain't the useful bloody idiot you think I am. Am I? I worked out your damn plan, like it was nothing!" I heave a breath, as trollies tumble into oblivion. Falling forever. And ever. Not real...! Not real! "And.... And..... Four years of Hell..... Four years, and I got you figured out..... Moonie..... I see right through ya. You got nothin'." I choke, as the last of the bags is swallowed. Not real! Not real....! "Nothin' at all, 'cept a treat in one hand.... and a whip in the other!"

"Oh. Is that so....?" It whispers in the ravening black. ".....my sweet Monster?"

And I let out the mewl of terror it wants to hear. "No.... Not again....." It's not hard to beg. To act. To be the victim it's looking for. To give in. "Please..... please not again....."

"And what will you do to stop me!?" Moon laughs at me. Wild, and without reservation. Howling, with inky glee, as it pours faster. And faster.

Devouring my claws. My hands. My feet. Wrapping my ankles. My tail.

"No.... No! no! Nononononono-!!" I scream as the thing wraps my whole body. My arm clawing above the surface. Looking for a hold that doesn't exist. The darkness sucking be down into a world of suffocating hands.

"Do you know the most tricky trick?" It purrs, from every thrumming, undulating, direction as that half-a-face of gleaming silver smiles at me in the nothingness. Fingers of nothing jabbing my flesh from every angle. "The tricksiest trick.... that there ever, ever, was....?"

I can only gag through gritted teeth, as the things in the dark try to peel open my mouth. To play with my tongue. top crawl down my throat and-

"The bestest little trick....." It chuckles and sneers, leaning down and down. Close as skin. So close I feel it, like it's right my head. "....is the one you fall for, no matter how well you know it....." I feel it touch me. All over. Invading my throat. My claws gripped so tight they bury in skin, and dig for the bone. Many vile mouths nibbling the fur of my ears and tail with rotten, spiking, teeth. My skin. My face. Hammering me with panic as I fight for a single breath. "Thank you. For your participation." Moon whispers at last, as I fight to hold on to that golden secret. To clutch it tight to my chest. "I think.... yes.... I think I have my little answer." It kisses my face with vile mouths. "And it's exactly the one I wanted."

The darkness invades my mind.

And then it swallows me whole.

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