They said that our brains trick us everytime we look into the mirror to make us look more attractive. Was that applicable on identical twins? Because in alternate reality where you're facing your other self was certainly not.
Maybe it was his bared teeth, tensed nose and crossed eyebrows that were making him look so unattractive. But it could also be the long wooden stick he was holding tight on his right hand. Both factors made me tremble in front of him. I was so sure that would not look good, neither.
"Who are you!?" He shouted from a good distance. I looked into Colonel and I saw him prepare an offensive stance that I saw in every Martial Arts films. Do I really have to kill myself, too? Could I really be able to do it?
"We are just as confused as you are! Let's talk, first!" Now, that sure was a better tactic than brawling this out. Colonel was not fazed. His eyes were looking straight like they were locked on this target.
I looked at the other me, the real John, and I saw his flushed face. His breathing became heavy and slow and I noticed his grip tighten around the wooden stick.
"Let's talk," John said to us. I felt my shoulders relax and released a good comforting sigh when suddenly, he growled and charged straight. "Over your dead body, impostor!"
Colonel quickly grabbed my back collar and pulled me aside so he would take the front. "I told you, we have to get rid of it or he will get rid of us!"
It was sweet of him to include himself in MY problem but that only made me feel worse. John was obviously targeting me and the only thing that was stopping him from doing that earlier was Colonel's presence.
I heard Colonel's harsher growl and stood tall in front of me. The other me was still charging straight with the stick while shouting loud. 'Gosh, he looks so stupid.' I necessarily thought at the worst possible moment out of nowhere.
John got close to Colonel and swung his bat right at him but Colonel only raised his arm probably to defend. "No!" I shouted as I raise my arms as well but to cover my sight.
I peeked in and I saw Colonel, now with one hand gripping the stick and the other raised above his head. John shouted louder than before and pulled himself closer to kick Colonel's abdomen.
Colonel lowered his elbow with such force at John's thigh that I felt a hollow pain upon myself. I heard John's painful groan and I saw him fell down on the ground. Colonel took control of the stick and moved closer to John who was in the middle of standing up.
"Stop it!" I shouted from the back but both guys' ears were close and their eyes locked for a moment. John glared at me with an angry eyes that I felt being drenched in cold water. How could I look so menacing like that!? Last time I checked, I was still the weak-looking boy who could not even have the strength to raise cameras for long because he was actually weak.
John growled up in the air like a rabid monster. Was not his bone broken, already!? He dived on Colonel's side and fell right over me. The back of my head bounced back from the hard ground and I thought I blacked out there for a second. He pinned me tight, sitting hard on my lower chest and I saw him raise his fist before landing it spot on my face. Pain started crawling on to my cheeks and my teeth bit the tissues inside my mouth. I tried forcing my arms free from one of his but the shock did not allow me.
I tried opening my eyes but another fist was already flying on my face. I felt my lips burning in pain and I could taste rust in my mouth. I got too scared opening my eyes but suddenly the weight was pulled away from me. I heard a loud thud and heavy groans but I could no longer open my eyes properly.
My whole face was burning and I could feel the upper part was swelling. Blood won't stop flowing from my lips and I had to cough them off my mouth. Even breathing was painful as hell. I coughed more blood as I try to raise my upper body.
I saw Colonel kneeling down on John's throat and his blooded fist over his head. I tried opening my mouth to say something but I only created a sound of a hissing snake. "Stop," I coughed even more. My head started feeling numb as well my face. A sudden rush of footsteps was heard elsewhere, probably from the main street.
I looked up in the sky and rain started dropping on my face. John's groans and coughs were still audible but Colonel was already on his feet, eyes still locked on John. "We have to kill him or he will keep hunting you down."
'So my death was inevitable' I thought. It could only mean that one of us have to die. I felt John's raging eyes earlier. Was he really meant to kill me? Was this thought even right? I couldn't tell. I also could not tell what was the right thing to do using my rationality, but my conscience could.
"No." I said with all the certainty I can. "Leave him be." I saw Colonel glance at me, studying my face. I looked right back at him to show him I mean it.
"He doesn't know how to fight." I said to Colonel. "He's exactly like me." I heard his sigh over the intensifying rain and looked back to John.
He's no longer moving aside from his raising chest, blinking eyes and open mouth and both his arms were lying straight on his side. Colonel turned his back on him. He looked at my face and I thought he would walk back to me but he growled, turned again and kick John's legs so hard that I was able to hear it over a loud thunder. My jaw dropped from the sight of bending John. He couldn't hide his tears from the rain.
My chest contracted and I felt my legs have gone cold. I looked at Colonel but his straight face did not calm me. I wanted to ask him why but I already know the answer for that. He doesn't want him to chase us and he made sure that John wouldn't be able to.
"Let's get out of here, kid," He pulled me up and fortunately, my legs were not badly hurt aside from all those running earlier so I could still stand up and walk. "Follow me." he said before leading the way for me.
I looked back to the defeated John that was still bending over his legs. I walked by his side and touched his shoulders. "Sorry, buddy."
I am sorry but I have to live.