fallin' out of love (stemxstud)

8

Anaela

"If Dom was last seen here...how did she...end up at that factory?" I mumbled to myself, tracing my finger along the map I had created of Houston.

Three sharp knocks, and I quickly shoved my things underneath my desk and fixed my mother with a quick glare.

"Happy to see me?"

"No," I chuckled, with a huff.

"Figured. I have an assignment for you. Another deal. This time not with family," she threw a folder onto my desk, her expression impenetrable. "Or cousins." Like it was somehow my fault for not knowing. Like she hadn't been with Tino's mother back in the day.

I guess if she couldn't be happy, then I couldn't be.

"Where?"

"Louisiana. I'll pay for your fairs."

"You're not coming?"

My mother let out a long sigh, the only answer I ever needed.

"Is this all?"

"Don't do anything stupid, Anaela. I've got eyes on you," she warned me, like she knew what was hiding underneath my desk. Probably did.

I only stared back at her, waiting until she broke eye contact with a final glare and turned for the door.

"I've got eyes on you too...Mama."

The door closed behind her with a final click.

I turned to the folder on my desk, flipping through it boredly. Exchange. Gain. Or terminate. That's all this business was. Nothing in it had Anaela written over it- this was my mother's life. Not mine. That's all it'll ever be.

I got up to lock my door, sending out any further interruptions, my mind set on pulling back out that map and trying to make some connections on what happened to poor, sweet Dom.

Anaela!

I jumped, looking around suspiciously.

Just my luck that this would happen right after my mother left, I thought.

I know a way we can find out way happened to Dom, the voice sung.

"How?" I asked, my eyes surveying the room sharply. My mother had to have planted something.

This had to have been her doing. 

Let me take control again, it sung.

"Take control of what? And what do you mean by again?"

How do you think you got those bruises on your hands?

"I don't know," I answered unsurely.

Me, it said proudly, adding a little chuckle at the end.

"What did you do to me? Is somebody poisoning me?" I swiveled around the room, clutching my desk as I felt that same wave of dizziness that I had yesterday.

I'm not a poison, sweetheart. I'm the cure.

"What do you get out of this?"

A nice, warm body, it whispered.

"The fuck," I mumbled, "are you some type of...evil entity?"

Hell no! Gosh...you really are stupid, huh?

"Apparently so," I put my hands on my hips. "Please elaborate, oh wise one."

I'm right here, the voice giggled.

I flipped around, looking behind me.

No, right here, Anaela.

I turned again, this time looking up and down.

Definitely a ghost, right?

"Stop playing with me. Reveal yourself," I demanded.

Go to the bathroom, will you? Look into the mirror, and tell me what you see.

Reluctantly, I went to the bathroom attached to my office, flipping on the light switch and watching the shadows of tiredness flit across my reflection.

Do you see me, it whispered.

My eyes flew to my right side, as that's where it sounded like the voice was coming from. And when my eyes went back to the mirror...I gasped, stumbling backwards.

I was still me, but my eyes were danger-hungry, my lips curved into a wild smile, and I squeezed my eyes shut. If I can't see the reflection then...

The reflection can't get me?

How are you here? Inside of me? I asked in my head, hot tears dribbling down my face.

Because I am you, Anaela. I'm your other side. AS.

I don't want another side.

Too late. That's what happens when you're broken.

I feel like a million pieces.

A million pieces sounds stressful- two is better.

And what have you been doing with my body? When you take over me? I asked.

It's all like a joy ride for me: Wild sex. Rough fun. All the works.

And you want to take over again...so you can have that, and in exchange, you'll find out who killed Dom for me?

I do have more wits than you after all.

But how...if we're supposed to be the same person?

I'm the side of you that you deny, Anaela. Everything that you deny...is me. Roughly, though, I suppose. But you get the point. You've been through a lot of stress in this past year: your mind created me as a way to give you a break from it.

If I let you take control, AS...please don't fail me. Don't do anything stupid, okay?

You have my word, little leader.