Run With The Devil

Out of Control

Lunch had started off normal enough. Deon sat at the head of the table, his eyes flicking from face to face as he spoke with Vincent and Angelo. Harper was by my side, offering me soft smiles of encouragement, and I tried to focus on the food in front of me. The conversation around the table hummed with an undercurrent of business, alliances, and power moves. It was all background noise to me, though.

I was more focused on myself-trying to stay in control, to keep the strange sensations at bay. But halfway through lunch, as I picked up my fork and knife, that familiar, unsettling vibration started again.

I felt it in my fingertips first-an odd, buzzing sensation that traveled up my arms, spreading through my body like wildfire. The vibrations intensified quickly, and before I could stop it, the knife slipped from my fingers, clattering loudly onto the plate.

The noise made everyone pause for a moment, glancing at me. I felt their eyes on me, but my focus was elsewhere-on the rippling in my vision, the way my body seemed to blur at the edges.

No, no, not now. Please, not now.

But it was too late.

Suddenly, the vibrations spiked, and the familiar pulling sensation tore through me. A sharp gasp escaped my lips as it happened-the split.

My duplicate stepped out of me, just like before. This time, there was no shock, no hesitation. She stood beside me, stretching lazily, as if waking from a long nap.

Everyone at the table froze, their expressions shifting from confusion to disbelief. Harper's eyes widened in horror, and Deon stood halfway out of his seat, his face a mask of controlled panic.

The duplicate, though, didn't care. She looked around the table, smirking as she took in the stunned faces. "Well, isn't this cozy?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Please, don't," I whispered to her, desperate to keep her under control.

But she wasn't listening.

She sauntered over to the table, running her fingers along the edge of a glass, completely unbothered by the chaos she was causing. "You all look so tense. What's wrong? Never seen two of the same person before?" Her tone was mocking, her smile sharp.

Harper looked between me and my duplicate, clearly horrified. "Lyra... what is this?"

I shook my head, not knowing how to explain. I didn't even understand it myself. "I don't know," I whispered, feeling my stomach twist with anxiety. "She just... happens."

The duplicate laughed, the sound harsh and grating. "Don't listen to her," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm just the part of her that doesn't want to play nice."

Deon finally stepped around the table, his eyes locking onto my duplicate with a mixture of concern and anger. "Get back inside her," he demanded, his voice low and authoritative.

She rolled her eyes dramatically, looking entirely unimpressed. "Oh, relax, big man. I'm not hurting anyone... yet." She flicked her gaze to me, grinning wickedly. "But who knows? I might get bored."

My heart pounded in my chest, panic rising as I tried to figure out what to do. I could feel the energy crackling in the air between us, like a tether connecting me to her, but I didn't know how to pull her back in-how to make her stop.

The others at the table watched in stunned silence, unsure of what was happening. Angelo leaned forward, intrigued but clearly concerned, while Vincent seemed ready to jump in if things escalated.

"Go back," I pleaded, my voice shaking. "Please."

But she just smirked. "Why? You need me. You're nothing without me, Lyra."

I shook my head, my fists clenching at my sides. "That's not true."

Deon took a step closer to her, his gaze hard and unrelenting. "You don't belong out here," he said coldly. "Get back inside her before I make you."

The duplicate laughed again, a harsh sound that made my skin crawl. "Oh, you think you can make me, Deon? I'd love to see you try."

Deon's jaw tightened, and I could tell he was about to do something drastic. My body tensed, knowing this was about to spiral out of control if I didn't do something.

Desperate, I forced myself to concentrate, to feel that tether between us, the invisible link. I focused all my energy on pulling her back in, on reuniting us. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I had to try.

The duplicate suddenly stiffened, her smirk faltering as she felt the pull. "What are you-"

I concentrated harder, drawing her back toward me. Her form wavered, her body flickering like a glitch in reality. She stumbled toward me, struggling against the pull, her face twisting in frustration.

"No! I'm not done yet!" she snarled, but it was too late.

With a final, sharp tug, I yanked her back inside me. The sensation was overwhelming-a rush of energy, a brief moment of dizziness-and then she was gone.

I gasped, collapsing into the chair behind me, my heart racing. The room was silent, everyone staring at me, unsure of what to say.

Deon stepped forward, kneeling beside me. "Lyra," he said softly, his hand resting on my arm. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, though I wasn't sure if I believed it myself. "I think so. For now."

He studied me carefully, his expression unreadable. "We need to figure out what's happening to you."

I swallowed, nodding again. "I know."

But deep down, I wasn't sure if I wanted to figure it out. Because part of me knew... she wasn't just a glitch or a mistake. She was a part of me, and she wasn't going away anytime soon.