The moment you decide to force Alex out, your body seizes. Pain radiates through your jaw from your clenched teeth. Your arms and legs tremble. You can't breathe.
Your right arm lifts. Your thumb extends, pointed at your eye. It grows closer, filling half of your vision. Alex's going to put your eye out. You struggle but can't stop your hand. You can't even blink.
The full-body lock ends. You slump onto your desk. It was a terrifying example of what Alex can do to you.
"Don't do that, Alex." It's a empty demand. You can't make them stop.
"Don't try to kill me. I survive. With you, or without you."
This Gets Better and Better
You don't know how to fight them—yet. You'll have to find a way to live with them for now. "I'm super not happy about this, Alex. You promise to work with me to find a safe way for you to live outside my mind?"
"Yes. But I don't know any way. That was a mystery we never solved."
That suggests Alex's people dabbled in cross-dimensional travel. "Your English is getting better."
"Yes. Practice with you helps. Can see how you respond to my words, adjust the next time. Feedback loop."
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