Page 83 of The Stone Curse
“And therein lies your problem,” version one drawled. “You’re weak.” She pointed at version two. “Shemakes you weak. Get rid of her, and we can claim our shield and pass to the next stage of this trial.”
Once again, my gaze bounced between them.
“It’s all right,” version two said. “We don’t feel pain, and we want what’s best for you.” She glanced at version one. “In our own way, of course.”
“Just pick already,” version one said.
They weren’t real, and if I had to eliminate one to save Derek and move on with this test, then so be it.
“That’s the spirit,” version one said. “Maybe there’s hope for you yet. You know what you need to do. You know which version of yourself you need to be to achieve your goals.”
My goal was to save the people I loved, and no doubt the warrior version could help me do that, but she was cold, selfish, and kind of an ass. Version two was sweet and kind, but sweet and kind wouldn’t help me fight graynites. She’d be plagued by doubts and indecision.
Chains rattled, and Derek dropped a foot closer to the abyss. “What’s happening?”
“You’re running out of time,” version two said. “You have to choose. Now. Who do you want to be? Me…” She smiled sweetly. “Or her.”
Version one stood tall, her eyes cold, flat, and ready to take on anything. With her on my side, I could defeat the graynites. I could have the kind of grit needed to make the decisions that could save lives, but…would I care about those lives anymore? And version two would help me nurture the connections I’d made, be part of a family and care enough to keep them safe, but…would I be strong enough to do so?
They were two sides of a coin that I’d spent my whole life attempting to balance on the edge of, and up until now I’d thought I was doing pretty well.
Were they here to tell me otherwise or to test my conviction?
The chains rattled again, and Derek dropped another foot.
“Tick-tock, Cameron,” version one said. “You know what you have to do.”
A blade appeared in my hand, the hilt cold and hard against my palm. “I have to kill one of you.”
“Doubts will cripple you,” version one said. “Those feelings of abandonment, the need to belong, to connect, they will make you weak. Kill her and remove those fears.”
“Fear keeps us safe,” version two said. “The desire to belong gives us family.”
Version one tutted. “Family who will hold you back and act like a noose stopping you from rising. Stopping you from making the decisions that will give you the things you want. Family stops you being invincible.”
Invincible…Palia’s words filled my mind… “If we felt invincible, truly invincible all the time, then the world would be filled with egomaniacs with superiority complexes and no fear. Doubts keep us on our toes, they make us think and question before making decisions. They keep us safe…surely…”
My doubts forced me to think through plans, and my fear of loneliness forced me to make connections and value them. My fear of abandonment made me a better friend. I had turned my weaknesses into strengths, and I suddenly knew what I had to do.
I turned to version two. “I’m sorry.” I stabbed her in the heart, and she disintegrated, a smile on her face.
“Perfect,” version one said. “Now we can?—”
I stabbed her in the chest too.
“What…” She looked down at the blade in shock.
I released the hilt and stepped back. “I don’t need either of you. I’m good just the way I am.”
She vanished in a blaze of cinders, and I was alone on the platform with Derek suspended out of reach. What now?
“Hey! Come on! I made my choice.” Unless I’d fucked up. What if I had to pick one of them to stay? What if by eliminating them both, I’d messed up the test?
No. This was right. I was right. I didn’t want to become either of those versions. This version of me was who I wanted to be.It was who I’d worked hard to become, and up until now I’d doubted that. Not any longer.
The platform rumbled and began to move forward.
Yes! I reached for Derek as I got closer. “I’m coming, buddy. I’m coming.” The platform stopped abreast of him. I was high enough to be able to wrap my arms around his neck if I wanted, but not high enough to get to the pulley system on the chains that held him suspended. I could try climbing up, but what if the weight dragged us down?
