There I was, plunged into darkness, and suddenly, I spot a figure across from me—a girl with dark hair just like mine. But wait, she's not just any girl; she looks like a total clone of me, but with this crazy angry face. Seriously, it was like looking in a mirror but finding out that mirror was, like, possessed or something.
Could it be… the real Irina?
She glares at me, and it's like her eyes are shooting lasers. "No matter how hard you try to be kind, everyone will hate you," she snaps. "Because you're in my body."
I was taken aback. Her words cut deep, but I wasn't about to let her intimidate me. "Idiot girl," she sneered, stepping closer. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you?" With a harsh shove, she pushed me back.
"A girl like you is nothing compared to me," she adds, strutting around like she owns the place.
Oh no, she did NOT just say that. Something inside me snapped. I mean, come on—who does she think she is? Without even thinking, I raised my hand and SLAP. The sound echoed like a thunderclap in the void. "A villain like you has no power over me. I'm the one in control now!" I said, feeling all kinds of fierce.
She glares back at me like I just declared war. "You're only here because you're dead," she hisses. "Lucky for you that you were reincarnated as me."
Ugh, her words were like a punch to the gut. She reminded me so much of Melly—Seth's girlfriend, who always acted like she was better than everyone. But this girl? She had the whole "woe is me" vibe going on. I almost felt bad for her, but then she rolled her eyes, and all my sympathy disappeared.
"Just so you know, I'm going to survive as you," I said, smirking. Fighting with her felt totally bizarre, like I was battling my own reflection, only way less pretty.
"You think being nice to Celine makes you good?" she sneered.
I froze, my mouth dropping open. "How do you know that?"
Her face twisted like she just ate something sour. "Because of you," she snarled, "I'm trapped in this endless, black nothingness. Every time you do something, I see it. And I hate it. I'll get my body back. I don't care how long it takes."
Her words sent a chill down my spine, and I felt a wave of panic rise. "But… how did this even happen? Why am I here?"
She rolled her eyes, like I just asked the dumbest question in the universe. "I don't know. All I know is that one moment I'm gone, and the next… you're here, and I'm stuck in this place."
The thought settled heavily within me. I didn't want this fate thrust upon me, nor did I want to steal her life. "I never asked for any of this," I murmured.
She scoffed. "It doesn't matter. You're dead. Accept it."
Then she stepped closer, lowering her voice like she was about to share some deep, dark secret. "And I want my life back. So disappear."
"How?" I demanded, my heart racing in confusion.
She glared at me like I was the biggest annoyance ever. "I don't know… but I'll find a way."
I stared at her, really stared. Beneath her anger, there was a girl whose life had been ripped apart, someone who'd been hurt beyond measure. "Fine," I said slowly. "I'll find a way to give your life back. But only if you promise to be nice to me if we ever meet again."
She crossed her arms, unimpressed. "I don't make promises," she said flatly.
"Then forget it," I replied, crossing my arms right back at her.
She scowled but then let out a sigh, giving a reluctant nod. "Fine," she muttered. "But only because I don't want you running around pretending to be me."
Something else occurred to me. "How will we even meet again?"
She raised an eyebrow, looking like she thought I was missing some brain cells. "This only happened because you fainted. I don't know for sure, but maybe… if you pass out again."
I hesitated, trying to process that. "You think I just want to pass out again?!" But she just rolled her eyes like I was impossible.
she snapped, "I'm just saying! It's not like i had a clue or something."
"Fine. Then, wake me up already," I said, feeling this weird pull back to the real world.
Everything faded, and suddenly I was back in reality. My eyes flew open, and there were Celine and Aunty Rachel, their faces all worried, looking like I just told them I ate all the cookies. Ezra stood there too, his expression like he was trying not to show he cared, which, come on, was so obvious.
I sat up, feeling their stares boring into me. And what do I say? Nothing. I just sat there, totally silent, because honestly? I had no idea what to even think or where to start.