“I don’t think it’s such a good idea…” I whispered softly, careful not to be heard by the two guards situated only a few meters away from us, at the corner of the corridor. “They don’t look like they want to play that much.”
Of course they want to play ‘hide and seek’. Verso replied at the back my mind. And you’re doing great! We’re nearly at the exit. Don’t forget, Recto, we reach the lift, we win!
“You’re usually the one on the front for such games,” I quietly replied. “Are you really so tired? Maybe we could go to sleep instead.”
I would be doing that if our previous encounter didn’t force me to… hide as I could. It burned away a lot of my power.

I nodded at his explication and concentrated, extending my sense-field just like Verso had instructed me. Grinning when I finally felt them, I pulled softly on the nearest one’s ears and curled as much as I could behind the conveniently well placed boxes.

“Hey, you felt that?” he said, his voice deformed by his full helmet, turning his head in my direction.
“Felt what?” the other responded with a more high pitched voice.

I quickly acted the second part of the plan and felt my brain pinching the inside of my skull as I hid part of the light to create a moving shadow at the end of the corridor I was coming from.

“I saw something moving over there!” the first guard said quickly.
“You think it’s him?”
“Someone else would have contacted us already,” he explained while pointing his rifle to the corner. “Remember, we must use our paralyzing ammo.”
The second guard nodded and flipped a switch on his weapon. “Why don’t we just use regular ones? He already caught another team, we should…”
“Don’t speak blasphemy, soldier,” the first one growled angrily. “You know he mustn’t be harmed.”
“But it’s a monster! Didn’t you see what he did to Jess’ an hour ago?”

What are they talking about? I asked Verso. Did we do something wrong?
Of course you didn’t! They’re just… Well, I don’t know. Maybe they’re talking about someone else?
You really think so? I thought ‘monster’ was our nickname. They wouldn’t be using it for someone else, would they?
… Maybe…
Oh, well. I guess it can be used for more than us.

They slowly walked past us and I silently crept further when they were far enough, moving toward what Verso indicated as the lift’s direction as fast as I could.

Good job! Now, there’s only a door between us and the exit. We’re winning!

I smiled widely, sharing Verso’s joy. After half a minute of careful walking, we arrived in front of said doors. Extending my senses behind it again, I discovered that nobody was guarding the lift’s room.

I opened the door by messing with the electronic lock like Verso showed me and entered the room. In front of us was our final goal, the metallic doors of the elevator, shining like the beautiful gateway to the outside they were.

Finally, we can get outside of this institute! I’m sure the city will be much better, Verso rejoiced. Go on, enter! They may catch us any second now!

I pressed the upward button on the side and the doors opened, revealing another small room. I was a bit confused.

I thought it would open to the outside? Are you sure it’s not a broom closet or something?
It’s a moving cabin, Recto. We must get inside and choose the floor we want to get to.

I stepped in and discovered a board full of numbered buttons. On Verso’s advice, I pressed the highest number and the doors closed. The cabin started to move, making me feel a little dizzy.

But we won! Yay!

“You’ve been doing well, Kay,” a metallic voice cracked out of nowhere. “But you know we can’t allow you to get out.”

Or not.

CRAP! Quick, press the other buttons, we have to get out of here!

I did as I was told but the lift didn’t stop anyway. I heard a faint hiss and suddenly felt a bit funny.

Shit, those bastards are using gas!

“We are sorry. You will wake up in your room, as always.”

Oh well. We lost. Bah, I’m sure Verso will find another game soon. I sat down and felt our eyelids becoming heavier and heavier, until I finally closed them and drifted off to sleep.

I woke up on our bed, in our white paneled-wall room. Sitting up, I stretched our back with a groan of pleasure and waved happily at the cameras in each corner. They surely replaced them quickly after Verso disconnected them from the walls earlier.

I got up and walked to the big shiny mirror-screen thingy on one side of our chamber and waited as the panels moved and brought the sink inside. The shower also got out of one corner, as it always had in the past twelve years.

After I took a shower, I brushed our brown hair and stared for a second at my blue eye and Verso’s yellow one. I always wondered why our eyes changed color when we switched positions. And why is Verso’s yellow and mine blue? It’s not even my favorite color! Well, yellow is Verso’s favorite, but I prefer green. So why blue for me?

After my morning routine, I walked back to our bed and knocked on the panel that hid our books, wondering what I could read before our day really started. Levitating the final Harry Potter tome, I sat on the bed and continued the story.

Those… bastards! They cheated! Verso complained.
Do you mind? I’m reading here. I thought back.
But, we nearly escaped! I worked on this plan for two weeks! We waited for the best moment! And they fucking GAS us on the exit? Who the hell installs a gas room in a freaking elevator?!
Seems like they were prepared for this.

I left Verso at his growling and concentrated back on the book in front of me. I simply couldn’t let him distract me off the best part.

Half an hour later, the panels hiding the door moved, revealing a wheeled android carrying a food tray.

Well, that’s new.

I quickly got next to it and examined it. There was usually that nice lady that brought me my breakfast. Why wasn’t Jessica here?

“Hey, can you talk?” I asked.
“Accessing: authorized informations. Answering: this model is indeed able to produce sounds to copy the human ability to speak.” A funny buzzing voice answered.

I clapped happily. I knew there were a few robots working out there, but it was the first talking android I saw.

“What’s your name?”
“Accessing: authorized informations. Answering: this unit is designated as XT_3D410.”
“That’s a funny name. I’m Recto. Can I call Hixxy? That would be much simpler.”
“Accessing: editing informations. Status: unauthorized administrator. Answering request: You don’t have the authorization to edit this unit designation.”
“Is that a ‘no’?” I questioned, confused, while Verso snickered.
“Accessing: general informations. Answering: Yes.”

I blinked and looked at the food tray, groaning when I discovered the artificial protein and vitamin food supplement that mostly composed it. What wouldn’t I do for a real apple?

Glancing at the strange but funny sounding robot, I levitated the tray and sat down on the floor, still examining the machine while I started to eat.

“Do you have to talk like that? It’s confusing.”
“Accessing: factory programming. Analyzing for inquiry. Answering: No.”

I blinked twice and Verso started to laugh.

“But… why do you keep talking like that then?”
“Accessing: editing commands history. Searching for comment. Answering: An administrator wanted to see your reaction. Command ‘analysis’ completed. Switching to primary speech programming.”

I didn't think these guys had any kind of humor. There must be a newbie in the programming unit. I like him.

“You can speak normally now?”
“Please define: normally.”

I stared at the robot for a second, wondering if that was some kind of joke and finishing my meal. I got up and levitated the tray back on his arm.

“By the way, why isn’t it Jessica that brought it today? Is she sick?”
“Unauthorized information.”

I sighed. Hixxy – I’m totally going to call him that way now – left a few seconds later. When the panels closed, I walked back to the sink and brushed our teeth again. I would have walked back to continue reading, but the mirror-screen flashed and changed its colors to show the hooded face of one of our instructors.

“I’m a bit disappointed, Kay. I thought you understood that we are keeping you here for your own good,” he said. “Why do you constantly try to escape?”
“My name’s not Kay, it’s Recto,” I corrected with a smile. It’s funny how they keep forgetting it. “And I was playing Hide and Seek with Verso. And everybody else, I guess. Verso said we had to reach the elevator in order to win.” I scratched my chin for a second, and beamed: “Is that why you sent Hixxy? Because we won?”
The hooded figure shook its head and sighed. “You know the rules. You mustn’t leave your room without someone guarding you. And the robot is here to replace officer Smeet.”
“So she is sick. I hope she get better,” I concluded.
“I... suppose you can say that, in a sense,” the instructor hesitated. “Now, we have a busy schedule to keep. Today, we’ll start with…”

I immediately disconnected. As much as I enjoy talking with someone else than Verso…

Hey!

… The lessons were just plain boring. Always ‘calculate this’ or ‘remember that’. You know there’s something wrong with education when you spend your time surrounded by problems.

Now, don’t be like that. I think it’s rather entertaining. And easy.
Why don’t you get on front like you usually do while I go off to sleep, huh?

We exchanged our positions and I left Verso to listen to this ‘quantics physum’ or something and drifted off to mind-sleeping.
I was awoken later by the magnificent sound that was Verso’s voice imitating an alarm clock.

Hey, Sleeping Beauty, He playfully said. Time to wake up. Lesson’s over and I used enough of the database for today.
Guh… What time is it?
We had lunch two hours ago. Now, get back on front, you know I dislike being here unless necessary.

I reluctantly got back to the front and discovered that Verso left the screen on the home page. I switched it back to the mirror configuration and grabbed my book. I was totally finishing it today!

Exactly six paragraphs later, the screen changed again to reveal another hooded face. But I don’t remember ever seeing that one before.

“Kay, stand back. Two people will enter. You will not move unless they tell you to.”
“I’m Recto,” I corrected with a smile. First, reaching for the elevator, then, encountering Hixxy, and now even more new people! Best day ever!

A panel opened in the wall and I saw the unusual duo that entered my room: a funny looking overweight man wearing a lab coat, small round glasses and a big white beard accompanied by a guard in full armor carrying a cloth bag that looked like it contained a rectangular thingy.

The bearded man looked like someone I saw before though… Of course!

“Is it Christmas already? Why is Santa coming to see me personally?”

Verso face-palmed, Santa looked at me with confusion in his eyes and the guard groaned silently. Then, Santa laughed, in a typical Santa way.

“Oh, oh, oh! No, I’m not Santa Claus, sorry to disappoint you. I’m Father Nic. I’m happy to finally meet you.”
“Oh… I’d have loved to meet Santa…” I shook my head and smiled. “Hello, I’m Recto!” I glanced at the guard. “What’s your name?” I asked.

The guard didn’t answer. Rude.

“She’s Kim,” Santa-like Father Nic answered instead. “Ignore her; she’s just here to look angry.”

I chuckled and Father Nic walked next to a panel and it opened, revealing a strange looking plastic ball.

That’s unusual. Verso noted. I don’t like that.

“So, Recto, right?”
“Yep.”
“Father Nic, you shouldn’t use his delusion-based name,” the hooded figure said.
“With all due respect, Father Luc, I prefer being in his good mindset while I’m here.” He turned back to us with a happy face.

Look at his eyes.
Huh?
His eyes. They’re afraid.
Why is that?
I have no idea~ He answered happily, confusing me.

Father Nic walked to us and I indeed caught a glimpse of apprehension and maybe fear in his eyes, despite his confident smile.

“I heard you could levitate objects with your mind,” he said. “Can you show me with this?”

I happily made the ball float around, flying it around our heads. It was a bit difficult to correctly control its trajectory, but I did fine.

“Great! Now, I heard you could also feel what’s inside objects. The ball is hollow. Can you tell me what’s inside?”

I lost my smile.

“I… I can’t do that on something to small,” I hesitantly said. I perked up. “But Verso can! You want me to ask him?”

I don’t think it would be a good idea…

Kim failed to discretely grab her gun and Father Nic paled a little but didn’t lose his smile.

“Of course. It’s just a little routine test.”

I nodded.

Could you do that? I don’t want to disappoint someone that looks like Santa. He could be Santa hiding himself to test if we’ve been bad this year!
... You’re not serious, are you?
Of course I am! I don’t want to get coal this year!
… If it’s so important to you…
Yay! Thank you!

I exchanged positions with Verso and watched what was happening with disguised Santa.

“You wouldn’t believe why he asked me to do this,” Verso groaned. Both Kim and Santa Claus in disguise tensed up. “Give me that freaking ball so I can go back to sleep as soon as possible.”

Be nicer! You could upset Santa!

“You gotta be kidding me…” he muttered inaudibly while he deployed his own sense-field to inspect the inside of the plastic ball. He rose an eyebrow. “You put a small cross inside that thing? I guess the rest of the electronic is supposed to measure the pressure we exercise on this, but why would you also put a cross in it?”
Santa-Nic was sweating for some reason, even though it wasn’t that warm inside our room. “You felt the electronic too? Well, that’s better that what we were expecting you to. The last time you did such a test, you couldn’t feel it.”
“Last test was over a year ago. You really didn’t think I had progressed since?”
“Well, that’s good for you.” He grabbed the plastic ball and put it back into a wall.
“What’s inside the bag?” Verso asked.

Well, duh… It’s Santa, he carries a cloth bag with a rectangular thing inside. It’s our gift of course!

Badly-hiding Santa turned to look at the bag with apprehension, but the hooded face on the screen answered before him.

“Look at it like a little… present.”

Ah! I knew it!
I don’t like the way he said that.

Santa-Father Nic grabbed the bag from Kim and it looked like it was really heavy all of a sudden. Verso deployed his sense-field to take a look at it and it felt… empty?

While Verso was frowning in confusion, Father Santa arrived in front of us.

“Well, here it is.” He offered the bag us.

Open it, open it! Christmas gift, yay!
I really don’t like that. Maybe they’re afraid of me, but why are they so terrified when they give that thing to me?
It’s a gift, nothing can go wrong!

Verso lazily levitated the bag to us and emptied it on the floor, a few meters away from us. A strange box fell out of the bag and Verso froze.

How to describe it… It was rectangular, but also round and triangular. It wasn’t reflecting light, but it wasn’t black either. We could see it, but it felt like I wasn’t there. And it had an oddly normal looking silver lock on the top side.

Well, that’s a strange box. You think our present is inside that? Verso?

His side of our soul was frozen in an emotion I didn’t even know my mindmate could have: pure terror. Being in control of our body, he stepped back to put more distance between us and the strange box.

“W… What…WHAT IS THAT?!” he screamed. “It isn’t supposed to exist! Get that thing away from me!”
“It seems like you recognize it, Kay. Could you please enlighten us?” the hooded figure said.

He turned our head so fast I’m pretty sure I heard our neck pop. His mind quickly changed from a frozen pit of terror into a fiery enraged hell.

Recto, go to sleep.
What? But why? You…
GO TO SLEEP NOW! Verso snapped.

I shivered. Verso never snapped at me. He was often angry with most other people and sometimes shouted at some other before telling me to sleep for a little while, but he never ever snapped at me.

And right now, he just did.

O… Okay… I muttered. And I drifted away in the unconsciousness.

That son of a… As if imprisoning us in this fucking mad-house for our entire life until now wasn’t enough, he dares to bring THAT here?! How is it even possible? That… That thing shouldn’t even exist! It can’t be real! It CAN’T be real!

As I was storing more and more of our inexplicable magic inside me in my rage, I saw Father Nic backing away and that guard raising her gun, ready to shoot me. I roared and used my telekinesis to first crush her weapon before hurling both of them against the wall at a deadly speed. The satisfying sound of their bone shattering against the reinforced ceramic composing the panels would have usually allowed me to calm down.

But today was obviously far from a usual day.

The instant I unleashed my powers to kill those two freaking cockroaches, IT began to talk.

W̫͋̅e̲̗͉̟̽ͥͥ̄ͦ͛͗ ̞͐̓ͯ͒͂͗f̬̟̹̰̭̳̍̒̃͗̍̚ǐͥ̑͊̂ͨ͑n̤a͕̪̭̺̳l̗̎l̻͈̻̅̉͐̂̈ỷ͇̤̏͛͆̄ͯ ͕́m̳̓̿̏̃̈́ë͙̖͕̻̗̣͔́̇̓̆ͦe͈̞̝̤̟͂͑ͅt̆ ̼̝̲̥̣̙͊ea̩̟̳̾͗̅ͬch̔͆ ̩̘̪̬̩͎̩͂ͣͥ͐̈́̔ͥŏ̹̳̝̮̜̐t̥h͔͇̓e̦ͪṙ͈̯̼̦̻̪̺ͨ̅̚,̆̿ ̳̦̤̣͈̓̒̑̈́͒̃̚K͙͔̊ͤ̉̍ͪ͑ͪa̬̖y̤ͭ͑̇̆́̇̚.͕̲̺͍̒̊̓ͫ̒̅

A terrible shiver ran through my spine. No, this voice isn’t real. It can’t be real. It can’t be real.

“You bastard!” I thundered at the hooded man. “How dare you bring that thing in front of me?”
“His Highness has decided the time has come. His prophecies are always right,” the cocksucker calmly answered me. He brought a book before him and started to read: “A century after the Swan Song, the Devil will be awoken in the Haven of the Mountain. Its crimes will be many during the Winter and all of what is left of Mankind will discover what true despair he is to bring. And when his evil will be too grand to be kept away, when the age of reason and hope will end, he will be brought to the core of the Mountain. There, Judgment will fall and the Son of Man will fade out to free the Concealed and to open the Gate for the Age of the Gods.”

He then began to repeat those four sentences in a loop, in his religious butt-crap. Another roar, a hand directed toward this blasted screen and I crush his picture. But not without hearing ITS voice again.

Y͉͚̿̿̚o̯̪̯̦̥̞͛ͨ̀̔̅ͭu̩̜͛̐̓̋ͤ̀͂ ͖̉̀͛͑k̥̣̾̆̽ͩn̹̮̳̈́̑̍̓͆ͅo̩̙͚͕͕̲ͥͅw͂ͮ̒̏̿̂̿ ̝̼̫̼̪̺ͅy͚͔̼ͨͭ̑͂̄o͚͔ͯ̒u͖̳̳̯̐́͌̐ͮ ̳͓͕̠̻͙͓͐͑̈͆̓̽c̝͔͎̓̊͆a̦̝͎͐̆ͧ̇n͙͙͐͆ͭ̅̋’̟̺͕̔̇̇̄̈̈t̾̇͑ͯ̒ ͇͖̭̠̋̂̈́̄̈ͣ͐e͖͈͚̙̟s͇̼̣̥͉̣̲̅c̘̲͎̘ͫ̑̇̑a̼̭̜͚̚p̝̖͕̞̲ͧ͐e̫͍̓ ͔͈͖͚̬̚y̰͙̮̍̑͆͛ͥ̽ͅọ͙̮̟͑͋̏ͫ͌̚u͎͚͍̭͙̠̞r̖̳̮̱̞̈̇ ̜̣̾̇̈́͛ͬ̆d̤̳̝̪ͯ̑̂̒e̺̰̝̞̲̋̃͋̂̅̃ͯs̮͈̣ͥ̒̔t̫̂͌͗̽̍̉í̹n̤̟͉͔͔̲̭y̭̺̰̯͈͙ͫ̌,͇͙̹̤̪̖̰̽̈̄̃̃͑ ͇̮͚̱̇ͭ̒K͈̙͒̾͊͌ͭả̬̺̞̖͗͒ͬy̭̻̙͉ͬ͋̎.̻̽̈ͩ̍̈ͤ͋

It can’t be real. It can’t be real. It can’t be real.

I use my powers to rip off the panels blocking the door only to discover a corridor filled with terrified gunmen aiming at me. With reflexes I didn’t even know I had, I take cover next to my room’s exit, escaping their first salve of bullets only by a few heartbeats.

W͎̘̯̳̥͔̺ͯh̩̤͚̪͉̟̪̮͚͆̉̓̒ͫ̄y͚͔͙̠͙̬̦̬̭̓̈́ͤ̓̿͋ ̭̞̱͛̀͗͒̈́̅̽a͔̟̫͕̖̋͆̂ͦ̔ͪ̈́ͮr͍̥͋̄̆̿̈ͫ̔̑e̘͎̤̫͊n͙̰͈̙̩ͪ̄̌̑͊̈’̙̬͓͍̌̋̆͌̏̐͊ͅt̰̹̼̟̮̼̯̥ͮ͐̃͛ ̟̣ͣͬ̏̒͑ỳ͕̦̲̩̽̽ͭȍ̺͚̼ͨ̒ͭ̋̄u̺͔̓ͬͯ́̊ͫ ̣̆̌̈́a̝͓̞̪̺̱̥͒̓̈́ͧͧc͚̫̝̈̆ͣ̉c̫̟̥̯̫͕̜̈̋́̊ͭ̏ͅͅe̳̭̻͇͇͆ͧ̈́̈͐̍p͉̭̘̹̱̺͓̀̓̈́ͦ̀́t̤̝͎̓̽͌̊̑i͈̮͎̬̰̞̋̋̅͌ͣ̋̒ṋ̬̬͇̜̹̞̒͛g̼̜͖͉̺̮̭̭ͪ͌̽̃ͧ ͉̠̺̱͙ͭͪͣ̂͐ͭ͆ͭͪy̬̻͕͇͓̖̠̓̌͑ͩo̥̗̗͙͉̳̖ͭ̇ͥ̀̆ͅu̱ͬͧͯ͛̉̀r̻̰̝̞̒ ̰̪̤̟͎̦̗ͣ̄̿̑͆̽͛͌f̳̥̫̱̮̹̯̼̐̍͒̇͆a͎̳͉̣̗͚̗̺ͥ̔̆͛̿͒̑̅t̫̆̽ͭͪͬe͇͔͉̻̰̋,̥̳̪̰̺̺̐̽ ͇̭̠̰̺̰̹̤ͤ͒̾K̜͈̲͇̅ͯ̅̂͗͌ͭa̩͍̞̦̬̱̘ͭͣẙ̲̣̻̳̙̔̍?̤̗͓̩ͦ̈́ͤͯ͑͋ͦͩ

“My name is not Kay…” I reply to the impossible voice.

It can’t be real. Please, let it not be real!

I grab one of the panels in my telekinesis and throw it spinning in the corridor fast enough to knock two of those fucking guards out. Seems like they learned their lesson yesterday and stayed away a few meters too far for me to simply break their limbs off. Those fanatic bastards…

T̤͍ͦ̽̿̓ͅͅh̘͚̰̼̬̣̦͖͑͌̿͐̎̚ȇ̩͖̣͚̣̬̊͒ͩ̒ ̩͍̜̣͙͚̺̄̊̇ͅͅt͖̤̳̺̯̟̖͖͆ͪ̽ͪ́i̭̪̎͊ͨͫ͋̔̇m͎̮̼̦̤͗ͅe͍ͬͫ̀̅͌͐̃ ̮̜͓͙̱̓̐̅h͉̫̟͖̰̯̱̳ͨ͒ͭ̈́̃̓̒a̙̳͇̰͖ͯ̅̀̇͂̃̃ͥ̐s̺͕̺͍͋ͣ͌͂̓̔ ̼͔̤͇̜̱͍͔͊̿̀ͧ̒ͮ̈́c̗̮ͦ̑̈́͑͑o̖̯ͮ̈̏́ͅm̦͙͎̬͖̝͙̑͛ͫe̦̙͑ͣͫ̐̀̓̀ ͕̭͔͔̂ͭ̃͐a͈̪̹̠̻͈̩͉ͨ͊͗̅͐ͥͪ̈́̚g͉̞̫̼̹̹̳̀͗ͨ͋a͇̰ͭͦ̈i̭̠̐͆́̊̍n̞̦̰͂͋̍̔͐̚,̝̰̯̖̭̪͉̫͙̋̈́ͦ̇ ͕͔͈͕̆ͨͫ̽ͥ̒ͧK̖̗͐͛ͯ̑̍ͣͣͨa̠̺ͫ̋̎͊ͪŷ̮̪̱̮̊ͯ̊̐̚.̤̮̰̻͋ͩ̒ͪ̽ ̺̹̺̖̮̯̬͌ͣ͂͐͋ͅA͇̫͍ͫ̔̅ͦͭ̇͂ṟ͉̙͔̮̯̥͓̍ͥ̐̈́̽̊e͔̝̬͍̬̲̣͕̣ͦ̋ͯ̎ͫ̍̂ͭn̗̙̜̙̺͙̩͐̃͂̐̈́ͧ̾ͅ’̦͙̼̗͉̺̃̓̂̌̀̐ͅt͙̩̼̺͒ͣ ̜̝̜̬ͩ̒͛y̙̺͓͙̓̇ͪ̾ỏ̻͚̱͌̒͛̿ͅu̲̱̭̫͕̯̽ ̙̬̩͚̤̙ͥ͆ͩͨg͍̹͓͈͗̊ͨ͒l͈̮̘̥̣̂̄̿͋̂a̺͔̰ͩd̦͕̥̯̈̎ ͓̾̈ͬ͑̉t̹̗̣͙͒o̪̱͖͍̮͇͔ͨͤ̾ ̫̬͎ͣͨ͑ͨ́s͈̙ͯ͂ͧe̩͉̙̺͖͈͓̒͗͐ĕ̯̟͚̱ͯͮͅ ͕̘̺̤̿͐͒̿m̳͈̓ͭ͐ͤ͊̂̽e̻ͬ̆̐?͖̳̰͉̹̈̓

“My name is not Kay.”

Not real. Not real. Not real.

I glanced at the thing on the floor and paled when I discovered it had actually moved, the freaking lock facing me now. I cursed myself for destroying the only ranged weapon in the room and levitated a panel partially hiding a corpse it the corridor, both of them receiving more than a few impacts.

Y̳̣͍͚̏ͥ̾̑ͯ̉͂͗ͫȏ̫͎͓͉͎̭̭̣ͨ̉͗ͪ̏̚u͓̣̞̞̪͚̟̯̱ͯͦ͑̌ ̞̣̦̉̒̐k̲͓̪̼̻̱̉͐̽ͫn̜̲̗͍̞͓̤͚ͮ̏͊̃̏o̖̹̱̖͌́̇ͦ̊̚ͅw̹̖̝̹̬̙͙͚͇̎ͩ̍̓̔̍ ̖̮̩̜̘͎̠̗̃͊ŷ͇̙͙̼̯ͪͦ̾͆ͥͩo̲͗ͯͭ͗͊u̫͕̻̳͑ͮ̏̔͐r̗̜͚͉͈̎̅ ̰̙͙͉ͦ̀d̼̭̈ͥ̿̆u̝͚͚ͨ̏̑ͅt̰̼̭̲̤̥͑̓̃ͨͨͪy̳̽̈ͧ̀͂͌͑̃,̠̮͛ ̼̼̬͎̝͎̔̐͌͐ͅK̺̙̭̪͙̜̆a͍͓͐y̙̯̰͙̙̹̥̱ͩ̍͛̐́.̭̰̠͛̏̚̚ ̭͕̦͕̲̼̘̰̑̑̈͋Y̯̙̪̠͚̔̆ͯͅo̺̠̙͎̺͛̒̊̍̇̈́̊u̗̖͐̑ͪ̃͌̎ ̪̖̓͑h̠̤̯̅̓̈́̌̏ă̼̤͓̲͊̂̄̌ͮ̿͑̚v̟̭̑͒ͮe̘̪̯͍͎̼̪̒ ͎̳̇̃͋̆ͧ͐̓̈t͔̭͓̭̫̱̒̒͐̽o͎̳̤̠̰͍̍̍ͫͩ̓͋ͨ̂ ̭̦̯̓̏͗͛o͉͖̳̭̠͎̹ͮͤ͌͑͋̽p͕̼͇̝͇̂ͯ̅̔̔̄ͭ͑e̮͉͇̤̘͇̼̙̋̿͂n̫̩̳̣̩̱͒ͫ̾͐̎̚ ̬̲̘̳̼̬̋ͧͭ̋ͧ̆̊̋ͅt͉̯͍̺̠̺̬̳͂͛̂͒̌h͙̻̳̦̦̄̀ͫ͆̉̔͑e̝͈̲̺̙̼̙̩ͦ̋̈̌̒̈̊ ̤͎̗̞͍̬̓ͫ̀ͣ͑͛͊͆ͅG̹̭̽͑ͪͯ̏̄̍ͨȧ̭͎̫͙̪̼̓ͦ̌ͪ̎ͨ͐ť̹̥͈͇̦̭̥̞ͭͦ͋̅́̚e͙͉̜͎̍͌̍̋͒ͩͭ͗.͇̯͙̹̺̉̃̇̏

“My name is not Kay!”

Tears started to flow out of my eyes, brought by the sudden pain the voice was running through my head. But I saw that the ceramic panel had withhold the metallic fire just fine, not letting even bullets piercing it. Maybe I could use it as a shield? I couldn’t just stop bullets with my mind, barely change their trajectory, but a shield would protect me long enough for me to reach 'ripping arms off' distance.

I levitated enough of these to cover me while I progress into the hall and penetrated the ‘Death Row’.

Y̭̟̝̣̥̔̂͒ͣͮ̍ͅô̪̜̤͍̬̰̥̐̄͌u͙̰̐̿ ̩͚͓͇͎̻̜̥̱̽̾ͪ̇ͪ͒͋k̮̖͙̳̠̋̉ͯ̒͑ͭn͚̯͙̳̦͛̽̃͐̿̔̄̚o͕̜̗ͩw̰̮̮̗̞̓͛ͯ̈̂ͨ͐ ̰͎̰̠͉̥̗ͤ̔̎̆ͨ͌ͮ͆̉y̘̼̆̉ỏ͙̹̻̲̗͂ͤͅu̳̯ͪͣ̔͒͊̂̎ ̬̭̞̟̝̤͑͋w̲̬ͥͤ͌ͭ̃ͣͅo̬̩̙̮̲̞̺͛͊̅ͦ̋ͦ̏ͪn͖̫ͦͣ̃̆’̹̝̺̟̓̑̑̋̈́̎̎̈́͆t͚͓̮̹͖͙͙̮̹ͧ̔̈̂̋ ̜ͪ̎̂͊ͭͪ͗ͮͅs̤̱̲̻͓͇̙̍͗͐̆ͭͣͬͅu͙̼͔̯̩̲͒̅͆ͤ̈ͨr̩͒̐̏v͍̟̈̄͊i̥̖̮̮̩̺̒̀͗ͭͅv͈̞̫͙̮̣̞͇̓̆̀ͭ̅ͬͬe̻̫̹͎͕͇ͬ̇ͨ ͈͊̉ͫ̿ͮͤt͎̺̫͍̣̤̉͛̓͆ͥͅh̻͂̌̏ï̻̩̣̱̼̩̟̀s̼̦͓̼ͭ̔͆́ ͙͈̣̻͈̬̳͍̈́͆͑͐͐̈́ḋ̦̹͓̲̠͊̉͂̅ȁ͙̱̗͚̰̙y̲̗̳͓̟̲͔̣̔͋ͅ,͙̼̮̦̘̜͛̅̈̋̒̏̚ ͙̫̞̝̗̇K͔̪͎̤͉ͭ̐ͣ̚̚a̯̞͔͙̪̖͉̼̋̔̀̀ͧ̅̅̃y͇̯̬̙̭̹̜̳͈͌͂ͯͫ̅̐̚.̞͍̘ͭ̌ ̻̪̜̩̺͉̩͓̊̂̌D̠͚̤̘͚̖͔͓͋ͪͣͧo̤͙̳̝̓̉͂̓ͥ̅͂̍ ̠̝͇̘̭̜̼̻̤̄̊̃y̠̼̩̦͊̌͛͐o͍̓͂ŭ͍̣̮͇ͭ̑ͥ͂̐ͥ̆r͕̞̩͍͍͉͛ ̬̬̪̦̬͌ͩ̂d̟̜̰͙ͩ̅̅́̉̀͑u̙̼ͨ̒ͤ̊́t͚͒̾̏y̘͙̝̦ͤ.̜̲̦͉̺̙̪̹̱ͪ͛͋̾͒̚

“I’m not Kay!” I shouted, dropping my attention for half a second.

Half a second that was enough for one of these white hot metal shits to hit me in the hip, earning a pain scream out of me. But I continued to walk anyway, nearly close enough to send all these crazy monsters to hell.

Ḍ̖̫̠̟̹͓͉͊̎̈͋o̪̦͍ͯͮ̇ ̺̗̩͖ͨͭy͈̖͉̪͈̠̘̙ͫ̅̓ȏ̭̪̥̘̲̐͒̎ͦ̽ͮ͆u̹͚̬͔̻̦̺ͥ͗ͤ̋͗̀̓̾r̯͔̣̟̮͋̉̿̿͛ͫ ̰̤̜ͬ̋̋͑d̜̻̝͚̣͍̼͉͂́͑̈́̇͆̚ṵ̳̹̠ͥ̈́ͯ̎̊t̪̱̜̰̙̭̃͐ͦ̆̌ͤy̜͍͓̬̰̘̒̅ͅ,̤̫̥̜̭͚̠̝ͮ̇ͬ̆̔̈͋͛ ̭̦ͤͭ̇K̤̝̉ͦͧͯ̎a̻̰͙̼̘̍̎ͣͩ̽y̯̫͓̯̦͖͉̓͂̊̏̂̑.͈̘͉̪͍̓̑͑͂

“I’m Verso! Kay died long ago!” I roared, tears now running free out of my eyes. Only a few meters left…

“Rocket launcher! Take cover!”

What?

The soldiers retreated further, leaving only one of them in front of me, armed with an entirely different kind of gun. The bastard was already aiming at me with a freaking ROCKET LAUNCHER for heaven’s sake!

I dropped soon to be useless protection and ran to that man, crushing both his weapon and his body in a simple desperate thought.

That was a bad idea.

“Fire!”

I didn’t really felt it. I think at least one of the first bullets sectioned part of my spine, leaving me only in control of my head. But it sure hurt like hell.

In a throat-splitting scream, I fell on my back. I rapidly deployed my sense-field and I felt these men running to me, shouting in victory. I smiled when I tore the first one in half, and started to laugh when I snapped the second’s neck.

T͍̗̘̹̠̭̘̆̒ȋ͈͖̜̺͔͙̆ͨͦm̼̹̜̻̣̽̈̃ͬ̚ḙ̗̞̳̖̓͛̏͌̄̅ͦ̒ ̝̦̦̈̂̚̚h̹͉͕̥͈̮̰̒̈́͐ͭ̏ͧͅằ̝̟̉̈̽s͎͓͖͖̯ͥ̌͗ ̩͖̻̫̟̞͕ͯ̈̋́͛c͔̜̖̜͙̪̿͗ò̮̱̥̼̮̬̘̖͛m͖̹̼ͩ̄͐ͧͣĕ̜̻͔͕͉̆ͩ.̩̙̥̼̝̣̥̮ͨ͑ͥ ̯̻͖͐͂ͩ̔̾ͧÒ̦̟͈̗̞̳̈̽̐̂̎ͨp͍̥̮̼ͪ̀̍̽ͣͣ̐́e͖͍͍̣̳͎̩̭̋̉̃͊̋ͤͥ̿n̗̙͙̟̖̲͚̯ͪͣ̓̅͋̄̉ ̻̳͈̦͚͖̜̻̈̊͛͂̐ͬ̏ͣ̚t͓͕̪͖̟̰̱̻̑ͦͦ͊ͫ̚ȟ͉̝̮̘̱̘̫ͪ́ͦ̆è͓͈͔͍̗̥͎͉̇́ͩ ̻̞̝̓͊̽̆͛ͨ̉G͕͇̯̹̳͌̿a̝͍̝͇̗͎̒ͣ͐͆̂̚t̗̙͙͍̗̼͚̝̟ͬ̆̏ͬ̓ͦ̚e̖͍̅ͤ̓̌̾͛͐ͅ,̜̻̞ͮ͌̓̒̐ͬ ̰̀ͣͥ͌ͥ̎́̾ͧḰ͍͓̘̚ă̪̞̦̬͍̘̌̄y̖̺̬̲͉̫̋ͥ̀̋̅̊̋.͚̗̭̋̋͑͒ͫ

“I’m sorry, Recto. I failed…” I whispered, killing a third guard.

IT was right under my head, I knew it. A blood coughing fit, another kill, and a fifth man was standing right above me, his handgun pointed at my forehead, fear, disgust and victory in his mind.
I was too exhausted to kill this one. I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

That is supposed to have arrived by now.

I opened my eyes again to discover a strange sight: the cannon of a gun full of frozen fire, the metal bullet stopped centimeters away from my skull. No sound, no movement, except mine of course.

“Well, isn’t the afterlife a lot shittier than what they said in the pamphlet…” I muttered.

I then heard laughter, resonating from everywhere and nowhere at once. A giant ball of light exploded at the corner of my sight, a bizarre-looking serpentine form appearing out of it.

Yep, definitely worse than the freaking cherubs singing for the eternity. Slightly better than an eternity in lava pool though.

The creature circled around me, and I discovered that it was the origin of the laughter. Great, serpentine freaks laughing for all eternity. I suddenly felt myself longing for a burning hot bath here.

“Now, now, don’t be like that, little guy. You’re not even dead yet.”

Okay, talking serpentine freaks laughing for all eternity. My hallucinations just reached a whole new level of creepy.

“You aren’t hallucinating,” it said. “And I know that’s what all hallucinations say, but how do you expect me to prove otherwise? I’m here to save you! Well, not exactly. I can’t risk altering a timeline as important as yours after all. So I’m just going to do that.”

I heard something that sounded like snapping fingers and suddenly found myself standing unharmed in front of the most fucked up creature I’ve ever heard of: head of a horse with a deer’s antler and a ram’s horn, snake or dragon tail, right arm of a lion, left arm looking like an eagle’s claw, with legs borrowed from a giant green lizard and a goat.

All in all, the most ridiculous yet strangely real chimera ever imagined. It even had bat and bird like wings on its back, definitely too small to allow him to fly.

“Hello, I’m Discord. Nice to meet you, Kay.”

Author's Note

And here we are. Both Recto and Verso are finally introduced and Discord arrives and saves the day!