As the tension in the room was about to reach a boiling point, the door suddenly slammed open, interrupting the standoff and causing everyone to tense up. Standing in the doorway was Trixie, who had been quietly following behind Esther.
Trixie's eyes widened as she took in the scene before her. Esther standing protectively in front of Piper, Katyusha glaring coldly at them, the doctor and the nurse looking on in suspense.
Trixie took a cautious step forward into the room, her voice taut with determination. "Katyusha. Step away from Piper now.”
Katyusha's gaze flicked from the defiant Esther to the new challenger, Trixie, who had just entered the room. She let out a dry laugh.
"Oh, and what will you do if I don't?" Katyusha asked, her voice laced with challenge and bravado. "Are you going to try and stop me?”
"Damn right I will," Trixie retorted, her voice firm. "You're not going anywhere near Piper."
Katyusha smirked, clearly amused by Trixie's boldness. "And just how are you going to stop me, little girl?”
Trixie clenched her fists, her determination undaunted. "Don't underestimate me. We're not leaving without Piper, and we certainly won't be backing down.”
Katyusha's smirk turned into a cruel smile. "Oh, really? You two truly think you stand a chance against me? I'd like to see you try.”
Esther shifted on her feet, her eyes narrowing as she prepared to fight. But before either side could make a move, the scientist finally found the courage to speak up, his voice trembling, "General, if I may…”
Katyusha's eyes flicked to the scientist, her impatience clear. "What? I'm in the middle of something right now, doctor. This better be good.”
During Katyusha's moment of distraction, Esther summoned her book once more. Trixie looked at the book, it being titled ‘Heaven's Arsenal’ in the Albionish alphabet. Esther quickly flipped to a specific page, a red card appearing in her hand. She extended an arm towards Katyusha, who became enveloped in Esther's aura as she was then forcibly teleported away.
Katyusha found herself materialized in a small, dark room. She tried to take in her surroundings, but the room was too dimly lit to see anything beyond a few feet in front of her. She could make out some shadowy objects, but nothing definite in the darkness.
The only sound in the room is her own breathing and the soft shuffling of her own feet as she took a step forward.
Suddenly, a light flickered on, illuminating the room in a pale, eerie glow. Katyusha's eyes widened as she took in the room. She was standing in a small, windowless chamber. The walls and floor were made of cold, gray stone, and the room was almost empty except for a single chair and a small table.
As she turned to look behind her, she realized the door through which she had entered was gone, replaced by a solid expanse of stone. She was trapped. She spun around, looking for any sort of exit or weakness in the walls, but they appeared to be unassailable.
Katyusha tried to stay calm, but her heart was racing. She had been teleported into this strange room, with no clear way out. She needed to think, to figure out what was happening.
As she took a few steps around the room, she noticed a small mirror on the far wall, almost hidden by the shadows…
Katyusha slowly walked towards the mirror, her footsteps echoing in the silence. As she got closer, she saw that it was a full-length mirror, propped up against the wall. The surface was slightly dusty, but the mirror was otherwise intact.
She approached the mirror, her reflection staring back at her. She took in her appearance, seeing her own stern, pale face staring back at her.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, sharp and clear.
"Do you recognize yourself in the mirror?"
Katyusha spun around, searching for the source of the voice. It seemed to come from all around her, like it was everywhere and nowhere at once.
"Who's there?" Katyusha called out, her eyes darting around the room. "Show yourself!"
There was no answer, just the echoing silence of the room. But then, the voice came again.
"I ask again, do you recognize yourself in the mirror?"
Katyusha turned to look at the mirror again, confused and a little scared. What was this disembodied voice's angle?
"Of course, I recognize myself," Katyusha said irritably. "What kind of question is that? I know who I am.”
"Are you sure about that?" The voice pressed, a hint of amusement in its tone.
Katyusha's irritation turned to unease. "What do you mean, am I sure? I'm General Katyusha, leader of the Platinum Army. Who the hell else would I be?”
The Voice chuckled, a soft, almost mocking sound. "Oh, you're General Katyusha. The big, bad warrior, fearless and powerful, leading the Platinum Army with an iron fist. Is that who you really are?”
Katyusha bristled at the taunting tone, feeling defensive. "Yes, that's who I am! I've worked hard to build the Army, to make it the force it is today. I've fought and I've won. I'm respected, feared. That's who I am.”
The Voice continued, unfazed by Katyusha's defensiveness. "Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think about WHY you've done all these things, General? Deep down, WHY do you lead the Platinum Army with such unwavering determination?”
Katyusha's breath hitched in her chest. That question had hit far too close to home. It was a question that had long plagued her, a question she had tried to avoid, bury deep within herself. But it was always there, a nagging feeling, like a splinter buried in her skin that she couldn't ignore.
The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The Voice continued, its tone mock-sympathetic. "What is it that drives you, General? The need for power? Control? Or is it something more, something hidden beneath your armor, something you're too afraid to look at?”
Katyusha's thoughts spiraled. How could this mysterious voice know these things? How could it see right through her, see the very thoughts and fears she had tried so desperately to suppress?
The Voice pressed on, seeming to sense her turmoil. "You built the Platinum Army into a powerhouse, but at what cost, dear General? How many bodies had to lie at your feet? How many lives had to be sacrificed in the name of your cause?”
Katyusha clenched her fists, shaking with anger and shame. She had tried to keep that truth buried deep, pretending the cost was worth it. She had told herself it was for the greater good, that the innocent people she had sacrificed were necessary collateral damage.
The Voice continued, relentless. "How many times have you told yourself that the end justifies the means, General? How many times have you told yourself that the lives you've taken, the families you've destroyed, were necessary prices to pay? That you were doing this for the greater good?”
Katyusha's breath was coming in ragged gasps now. The Voice was speaking the very words that haunted her nightmares, the thoughts she had tried so hard to keep locked away. She clutched her head, trying to shut out the Voice's harsh truth.
The Voice continued to pick Katyusha's brain, its next words coming out almost as a sigh. "Oh, how you deceive yourself, General. You justify, you rationalize, you convince yourself that what you're doing is right, when deep down, you know the truth. You're a killer, a conqueror, a monster.”
Katyusha's eyes darkened as she listened to the Voice. It was clear that it was trying to get a rise out of her, to question her identity. But she wasn't about to let it.
"Yes, that's what I am," she said with conviction. "Now stop playing games and tell me who you are.”
The Voice hummed in thought for a moment before replying, "Very well. I'll tell you who I am. But first, you need to answer one question for me.”
Katyusha clenched her jaw in irritation but managed to reply, "Alright, fine. What's your question?”
The Voice chuckled again, as if it was enjoying its little game. "The question is simple: What do you fear, General Katyusha?”
Katyusha paused, taken off guard by the question. Fear wasn't something she liked to admit. But the Voice seemed insistent on getting an answer.
"I don't fear anything," she said after a moment, her voice a little shaky. "I'm a strong, fearless leader. I've never known fear. What do I have to be afraid of?”
The Voice let out a harsh laugh. "That's a lie, and we both know it. Everyone fears something. Even big, powerful leaders like you. So, let me ask you again: What do you fear, General Katyusha?”
"Not a damn thing. Now scram."
"Oh, do tell," the Voice said in a mocking tone. "What could possibly scare the fearsome General Katyusha so much?”
Katyusha took a deep breath, hating that she was even admitting this. "I... I fear being weak," she said quietly. "I'm known for my strength and power. I've built my entire life on this image. If I show weakness, even a hint of vulnerability, everything I've worked for will crumble. I can't have that. I WON'T have that.”
The Voice was silent for a moment, pondering this revelation. Then, it spoke again.
"So, you're afraid of being seen as weak. That makes sense. But what if I told you that your fear of weakness is what makes you weak in the first place?”
Katyusha's brows pinched in confusion. "What do you mean? How can fearing weakness make me weak?”
The Voice chuckled again. "It's simple, really. When you spend all your energy and focus on avoiding appearing weak, you're not putting enough effort into being strong. You spend too much time worrying about how others perceive you instead of truly investing in your own strength. In a way, your fear of weakness is what's holding you back from reaching your full potential.”
Katyusha's face darkened. The Voice was right, of course. She spent so much time obsessing over her image and how others saw her that she often neglected her own development and wellbeing. But she couldn't let this Voice know it had gotten through to her.
"That's easy for you to say," she snapped back. "You're just a voice in a mirror. You don't know what it's like to lead an army and carry the weight of so many lives on your shoulders.”
"But do you recognize the REAL you in your reflection? Have another look; do you see it?"
Katyusha looked at her own reflection again, confusion and irritation battling in her mind. "Of course, I recognize my own reflection. Why are you asking this stupid-ass question over and over again?”
The Voice chuckled once more, clearly enjoying this game. "Oh, I will tell you who I am, but not just yet. We're not done here. First, you need to take a good, hard look at yourself. And when I say yourself, I mean the person reflected in the mirror, not the version you want everyone else to see.”
Katyusha's irritation flared at the Voice's words, but she tried to remain calm. "What do you mean, the version I want everyone else to see? This is who I am - General Katyusha, the leader of the Platinum Army!”
The Voice tsked, clearly not buying her act. "Oh, come on now. You know that's not entirely true. You're only showing me a fraction of yourself, a carefully constructed persona you've built to project strength and power. But I want the real Katyusha—flaws and all.”
Katyusha's face reddened in anger. How dare this Voice question her authenticity and strength? But no matter how hard she tried to deny it, a small part of her knew that it was right. She had worked for years to cultivate this image of strength and authority. But deep down, there was so much more to her.
"Fine," she said through gritted teeth. "I'll humor you. I'll show you the real me.”
"Good," the Voice cooed. "Now, really look at your face in the mirror. See yourself as you truly are, not as others see you. And tell me what you see.”
Katyusha took a deep, steadying breath and turned back to the mirror again. This time, she tried to look past the stern, authoritative figure she normally saw. She tried to focus on the details of her face, the flaws and imperfections that she often tried to hide.
As she peered into the mirror, she noticed the faint circles under her eyes, signs of the many sleepless nights she had endured as a leader. She noticed the tightness in her jaw, the tension she always held in her body.
"I see..." Katyusha's voice had lost its usual harsh edge. "I see signs of fatigue, of stress. The weight of my responsibilities has taken its toll on me more than I'd like to admit.”
The Voice hummed, pleased. "Very good. Now look past your physical features. What else do you see?”
Katyusha forced herself to look deeper, past the weariness and the tension. As she did, she began to notice more about herself.
"I see... determination," she said slowly. "A stubbornness to keep going, no matter what. A need to prove myself.”
"That's one way to look at it," the Voice acknowledged. "But why do you think you feel the need to prove yourself? Is it because you're not confident in your abilities? Or is it something more?”
Katyusha's jaw tightened again, and she fought to keep her cool. The Voice was pushing her, prying into her insecurities. But she couldn't deny the questions...
"Maybe... maybe both," she admitted. "I do have doubts. Who wouldn't, in my position? But I also feel like I have something to prove. To myself, and to the world.”
"That's understandable," the Voice said, its tone still annoyingly calm. "But don't you see? The need to prove yourself, to always appear strong and infallible, is what's eating away at your confidence. You're so busy trying to be perfect that you're forgetting to accept your flaws and grow from them.”
"What choice do I have?" Katyusha snapped back. "As the leader of the Platinum Army, I don't have the luxury of showing weakness. I have to be strong for my people. Showing my flaws would show them that I'm not capable of leading them. I can't have that.”
The Voice let out a low chuckle, almost like it was taunting her. "You are so stubborn, General Katyusha. So unwilling to admit that showing vulnerability can be a strength. It's no wonder you're so stressed out and exhausted all the time. You're carrying a weight that's too heavy for one person to bear alone.”
Katyusha's eyes narrowed. The Voice seemed to know her too well, pushing all the right buttons to get under her skin. "And I suppose you have a solution for me?" she asked through gritted teeth. "Some wise words that will magically fix all my problems?”
The Voice chuckled again, obviously enjoying the power it had over her. "Oh, that I do. But it's not a solution that comes easy. You see, accepting your own weaknesses is a difficult thing to do. It takes a lot of courage and introspection. Are you sure you're ready to take on that challenge, General Katyusha?”
"I did enough introspection already. Buzz off."
The Voice simply waited, silent and unmoving. It was clear that it wasn't going to offer any revelations until she played its game.
Katyusha let out a frustrated huff but turned her gaze back to the mirror. She tried to look even deeper, to see past the layers of stress and determination to the very core of herself.
As she peered further inward, she began to see something...a hint of vulnerability that she thought she had long buried. Her eyes widened as she realized what she was looking at. Beneath the facade of strength and confidence, she saw a fragile, scared girl who desperately wanted to be loved and accepted. She had spent so many years building walls around that part of her, pretending it didn't exist at all.
As this realization dawned on her, Katyusha's eyes clouded with tears. She felt strangely exposed, as if the Voice had ripped away all her defenses and laid her bare. She didn't know how to handle these emotions, these feelings that she had pushed down for so long.
The Voice's tone shifted to be more neutral, losing its mocking edge. "Yes, there it is. The real you. The true Katyusha that you keep hidden from the world. The Katyusha who longs for love and acceptance, who fears being judged and rejected.”
Katyusha's shoulders slumped as the weight of her own emotions hit her like a ton of bricks. The Voice was right, as much as she hated to admit it. She had spent so much time trying to be strong and fearless that she had forgotten how to be vulnerable.
"You see, General Katyusha," the Voice continued, "it's not weakness to show your vulnerability. It's strength. Strength to admit that you're not perfect, that you have flaws and fears just like everyone else. And when you accept your true self, you open yourself up to growth and change. You can become the leader your army truly needs - a strong commander with a compassionate heart.”
Katyusha was quiet for a moment, absorbing the Voice's words. As much as she didn't want to admit it, it was making sense. She had been so obsessed with projecting strength that she had neglected to take care of herself and build genuine connections with her soldiers. Maybe opening up a bit wouldn't be a bad thing…or just keep up the tough act.
"L-Listen here, I'm tired of this, I don't have all day. I need to get out of here and back to my soldiers. So tell me who you are already and get me out of here.”
The Voice chuckled at her impatience, but there was no hint of mockery this time. "Very well, General Katyusha. I'll tell you who I am. Are you ready to hear the truth?”
Katyusha nodded, bracing herself for whatever revelation was coming. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she was ready to face it head-on.