Camrin has never had the urge of kill a human, to tear its limbs apart, until now, until her dear friend opened her mouth. It takes a surprising amount of effort to stop herself from throwing herself at Lila, choking her. She could imagine it, in her mind's eyes, thoroughly. She would tighten her hands on her neck. Even when Lila choked, she would not stop, even when her face pales and lips drain of color Cam would not stop, even when her friend stopped moving in her arms, she would not stop. She would keep tightening and tightening and tightening!....
Alarm bells blare in her mind. When has she ever been this violent? Taking deep calm breaths, she looks to Lila, who is staring at her unapologetic, saying nothing with words, and everything with eyes. They're stuck together, no place to move. What is she supposed to do now? None of what they said back in the garden made sense. The competition? The scent on Lila? Their similarity to humans?, which finally solidified Cam's belief that she is really here. On this world. In this hell. Feeling this helpless with no way out.
The girls don't speak to each other, don't even look at each other. Two years of friendship, of challenges, of emotional breakdowns, times where Cam refused to leave Lila's side, where she helped her stop self-destructing, the peace they had the last few days in the forest, gone, gone. All of it gone. Undeniably, Cam knows she's looking at a completely different person. Another mind in Lila's body. She is no longer herself; she decided to be someone else.
So be it. Cam can change too-
At once memories rip into her mind.
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"Do you think he noticed you called him Mr. Hellish in front of all the students or..." "I think he forgot that he threatened us with suspension..." "That was just a lie he made up..." "Does he know why it's his nickname yet...." "Why does he even know about some random Charlie Ladson..." "I for one did not know the university was that old..." The girls talk over each other, and the conversation returns to its original path. They walk off laughing and hugging until they reach their building and branch off to their perspective classes.
It's in this moment that the voice decides to invade Camrin's mind and rip it to shreds.
It comes to her in a mental light, a glaring contrast with the feel of its voice.
~We the people of Heis Chora, chose this human, whose conscious we have infiltrated as a glorious effort in saving our species. May this be a sacrifice and invitation to the Sens to do and chose and they please. We are forever under your control.
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"Your Majesty, the first of our chosen humans is losing her life."
"What? Unacceptable! How dare the sacrifice try to escape. Call Elizabeth. Tell her to return everything in its place!"
~Initiate consciousness
~Creature 16657 has run out of essential substances
~INITIATE CONSCIOUSNESS
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Camrin almost throws up after her mind recalls everything. That was it? The feelings of uneasy, the instinct, her actions, her rush to get out of the forests, were they just controlling her actions? Was she just an empty brain? But why would they create unease on her coming her? Was one part of her fighting against the other? The birds. Were they part of it as well? Why were they there? What was their purpose?
A loud knock interrupts her thoughts and without waiting for an answer, a guard opens the tiny oak door, following behind, a maid. They glance at each other.
"Do you have the ability to make her look presentable before midnight?" The maid trembles.
"No sir. This would take at least two full days of work."
"Are you positive you cannot push everything into these next ten hours. The King would be impressed with your efforts then. Maybe His Majesty will even move you to serve the lady in waiting, Anne. But if you're uncapable, His Majesty might get impatient. Have you replaced or who knows, beheaded."
The maid trembles and cleverly avoids the question.
"Does His Majesty wish to meet with a dirty, unclean human. When I am finished with her, every inch of her with shine, worthy of seeing the King. But for that I must thoroughly examine and clean everything." A pause and a glance later.
"Will I be cleaning the yellow haired one or both the humans." The guard scoffs.
"Leave the dog to its own devices. After this here girl leaves this room, do not bring clothes or bath water into the room. Nothing but food. The dog has a whole room to itself. What more could it want?"
As the two leave and lock the door after them again, Camrin grinds here teeth audibly. This could easily have been the most Camrin has ever been humiliated. The forest and all its predators and its harsh environment as well, are more preferable to Camrin over this. Anything over this. Even staying in a cave and never coming out.
Camrin suddenly inhales a sharp breath, tears pricking her eyes. Lilith said she was exiled from here. Using magic to corner her into a cave. Was this why? Was she in her position? With that explanation, Camrin stags, all the fight leaving her body. She couldn't blame the poor illtreated beast from leaving. If someone was leading her into utter humiliation and suffering, she would leave too. Suddenly grateful nobody knew about Lilith but her, Camrin goes to rest her head on the wall. She would sleep. She would force herself to sleep. If this past hour is any indication, she needs to calm down and think clearer and block out the tortures coming ahead. Being only a college student, she has no idea how she's going to get through it or if she's strong enough for it at all. Who knows? If they beat her for every little thing, she might just die. Camrin sighs.
It's going to be a long day.
As she closes her eyes, she feels herself asking, "Now what?"