Chapter 43 · The Mirror Session

"You left her to die, Julian."

The thing wearing my face said it like a joke. Same voice. Same tired, lying smile I use when I'm hiding something.

"Don't listen to it!" Sloane hissed. She slammed her forearm across my chest, shoving me back. Her blade was out, the tip shaking. "It's not him. It's a trick!"

"Is it?" The other me tilted its head. Same hair, same dark circles, same cheap shirt. But the eyes were dead. "Come on. Maya was screaming for you. And you picked her. You picked the monster with the knife."

My stomach dropped. Hard.

"Shut up," I snapped.

"Make me." It stepped closer. The white floor rippled under its boots like water. "Say it out loud. You didn't stay because you're brave. You're selfish. You want her to need you because back on Earth, you're nothing."

Sloane's grip on my wrist tightened. Her nails bit into my skin.

"He doesn't have to say a word to you," she spat. "You don't get to talk to him."

"Oh, but he wants to." The double looked right through her, locking onto me. "Don't you, Julian? You've always wanted someone to call you out.