It was time to check on Mr. Moon and assess the progress with the secret cult situation while also addressing any suspicions he might have about me. I donned the X mask, realizing how easily she had taken control of my body. It was surprising that I hadn't noticed it before.

Approaching Mr. Moon with a smile, I found him immersed in paperwork at his desk. It was evident that he had been sleep-deprived since my disappearance.

"Moon," I greeted him, "Can you update me on the situation?"

He smiled back, "Leila's trial went smoothly, and she's now locked up." His smile faded, "Unfortunately, most of the Evil Book Club members escaped without a trace."

"I see. That complicates things," I replied, preparing to search for clues. "I'll continue my investigation then."

"Wait," he called out, "I have a few questions as well."

I turned to him, feeling slightly annoyed. "Make it quick, Moon."

He stammered, "I saw you threatening Henry. What were you doing?"

Ah, that. I sighed and lied, "That was another one of my sisters. Her name is Y."

He chuckled lightly, "Your family does seem to favor single-letter names."

I smirked, seizing the opportunity. "You reminded me—do you happen to have a mask similar to mine? I want to give one to Y, so people can easily differentiate between us."

He nodded and retrieved another plain white mask from his drawer. With a marker, he drew a large "Y" on the front of the mask before handing it to me.

"Thank you, Moon," I expressed my gratitude as I prepared to leave. "I appreciate all that you do for me." I placed the mask in my trench coat pocket and headed toward my dorm room.

***

Across from me, Colette sat studying, and I couldn't help but smile. I began devising a plan to solve the case at hand. First and foremost, I needed to interview Leila. She likely held valuable information regarding their potential whereabouts. I would follow the proper channels to schedule an interview and brainstorm ways to persuade her to tell the truth.

Suddenly, my arm started moving against my will. No! Why did it have to happen now? With my free hand, I desperately grabbed the arm that Y had taken control of.

"Colette, get away from me," I urged urgently.

Colette quickly stood up, but instead of running, she remained in place. I could no longer resist Y's control. She seized the new mask from my pocket and put it on. I gently touched Colette's cheek with my hand, attempting to reassure her.

"It's okay, darling. There's no need to run. I would never harm someone as beautiful as you," I said, struggling with the words.

Colette recoiled from my touch. "What are you doing?" she demanded.

"Just what needs to be done, darling," I replied, looking down at my attire. "Gods above, this is terrible. I need to change immediately." I began to remove my shirt. Oh my god! Why is Y making me do this? If I had control over my body, I would be blushing right now, although it seems Colette is blushing enough for both of us.

She covered her red face. "This is practically assault!"

I smirked. "I'm just changing. Have you never seen a girl change before?" I started taking off my pants.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

In her embarrassment, she blurted out a series of unintelligible words, peering through a crack in her hands. "This isn't your body!" she pointed out. "I bet Quinn doesn't want you to do this!"

I shrugged as I made my way toward the closet. "That's a fair point, I suppose. But technically, it isn't her body either," I retorted. Opening the closet, I continued, "Am I some sort of cartoon character with only one outfit?"

"I don't know what a cartoon is, but you better put some clothes on right now!" Colette yelled.

"Okay, okay!" I raised my hands in surrender. "Odin's beard, you're no fun." I chanted a spell, and clothes materialized in my hand. I put on a sports bra and jeans of a similar color. "Is this better?" I sighed.

Colette began to uncover her face, only to quickly cover it again. "No! That is very improper!"

"For the love of Baldr, stop being such a prude!" I exclaimed, starting to walk away. "I'm leaving, darling."

"You can't leave like that!" she protested, but I continued on my way, disregarding her plea.

As I distanced myself from Colette, her frustrated and concerned voice echoed behind me. It pained me to witness her distress, knowing that I had no control over my own actions. Y had taken over, and I could only hope that Colette would comprehend and forgive me once this ordeal reached its end.

With a sense of urgency, I swiftly located Leila's confinement, slipping in unnoticed. Stepping into the dimly lit cell, I could perceive everything clearly despite the scarce illumination. Leila smirked, her vision likely limited to my silhouette, yet it was enough for her to recognize me.

"X, I see you've come crawling back," she taunted.

Gripping her neck effortlessly, I pressed her against the cold wall. "I'm not X; I'm far more ruthless," I asserted, increasing the pressure and causing a slight indent in the wall. "Now, you will tell me what I want to know, or you will meet your demise."

Desperately clutching my hands, she struggled to breathe. "Ca... n't... bre... athe..." she gasped.

"What was that?" I feigned turning my head, seeking clarity. "I can't quite hear you."

"I'll... talk..."

A smirk adorned my face as I released my grip, letting her collapse to the ground. "Good. Now, start talking."

Gasping for air, she placed a hand on her chest. "Give me a second. I don't even know what you want," she weakly replied.

“Let’s say that little cult of yours–”

“Not a cult,” She interjected

“Don’t interrupt me.” I growled, “Let’s say they were discovered and need to get away. Where would they go?”

She let out a weary sigh, "Only the highest-ranking members would possess that knowledge. Honestly, I have no idea."

Lowering myself to her level, I locked my gaze with hers, a sense of determination in my eyes. "Don't play games with me. I won't hesitate to take the necessary measures."

She trembled under my intense stare. "Honestly, I have no idea!" She raised her hands defensively. "I swear, I wasn't of a high enough rank to be privy to such information."

"Then you are worthless," I uttered coldly. In one swift motion, I delivered a fatal kick, ending her life. The guilt and revulsion overwhelmed me. Y maintained control until I returned to the dorm room.

Collapsed on my knees, and the mask slipped off my face. Now that I regained control, tears streamed down my cheeks, a testament to the horror of my actions. Colette rushed to my side, kneeling in front of me. With utmost tenderness, she cradled my face in her hands, placing her forehead against mine.

"Quinn, please assure me that it's you right now," she pleaded, her voice filled with hope.

"It is," I assured her.

She gently wiped away my tears and hugged me. "This must be terrifying for you."

Clutching onto Colette, her embrace providing a much-needed anchor, I sought comfort in her presence. Her unwavering support reminded me that amidst the chaos, I still had an identity to hold onto. Resting my head against her shoulder, I gathered my strength to speak, my voice filled with remorse and regret.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do it. I had no control. I never wanted to harm anyone."

"I know, Quinn," she reassured me, holding me tighter. "I understand that everything you did was under the influence of Y. You didn't cause any harm."

"But I killed Leila. No, Y killed Leila. I was powerless to stop it," I confessed, the weight of that truth crashing down on me.

Colette momentarily released me from her embrace, her face flushed with realization. "Okay, I wasn't aware of that. Nevertheless, it still wasn't you."

I nodded, wiping away my tears. "I'm going to uncover more about Y. If I can gain a deeper understanding of her, perhaps I'll be better equipped to anticipate her actions."

“You won’t be doing it alone. I’ll help you,” Colette smiled.