Liminal 3: Shattered Dimensions

For Ben, For Atty

Adaliya's legs pumped as fast as they could carry her, Sarah right behind her, both of them racing through the rusted, broken remains of the splash park. The wet, filthy ground splashed underfoot, the dilapidated rides loomed around them like twisted sentinels, and the air was thick with the stink of mold and decay. The piercing shriek still echoed in the distance, but there was something far worse ahead of them—something that made Adaliya's blood run cold.

She skidded to a stop at the edge of an old, waterlogged slide, her breath catching in her throat.

There it was.

Standing on the raised platform, just ahead of them, was the **Mimic**. The one she knew too well. Its form was twisted and grotesque, its pale skin stretched tightly over long, unnaturally thin limbs. Its jagged, uneven teeth glistened with fresh blood.

Ben's blood.

Its hollow, predatory eyes locked onto her, and that voice—**Atty's voice**—croaked out of its throat.

"Adaliya... don't leave me... please, help me."

The sound twisted something deep inside her, like a knife carving into her heart. Atty's voice. Her best friend. Her brother. But she knew better. She knew it wasn't real. This thing—this monster—had murdered Ben. It had used the voices of the people she loved to taunt her, to break her.

And she'd be damned if she let it break her again.

Adaliya's hands tightened around her weapon, knuckles white as she raised it, fury boiling in her chest. The Mimic grinned, its mouth splitting wider than it should, as it spoke again, this time sounding more like Atty, more like the boy she grew up with.

"You couldn't save me... You failed..."

Rage surged through her, and she charged forward with a snarl. "I'm not failing this time!"

With terrifying speed, the Mimic leaped down from the platform, its long, clawed fingers stretching toward her. Adaliya ducked, rolling to the side just as those claws slashed through the air where her head had been. It moved faster than anything she'd ever faced before, and she had to move with every ounce of strength and instinct she had to keep up.

The creature swung at her again, and this time its claws scraped against her suit, tearing a jagged line across her chest. She stumbled back, gasping in pain, but she didn't let it slow her. Raising her gun, she fired several rounds directly into its chest, the shots ringing out in the enclosed space.

But the Mimic barely flinched.

It smiled, cocking its head as it mimicked **Atty's voice again**, but this time, more warped, more twisted. "You can't run, Adaliya... You'll join him soon."

Her heart pounded in her chest, and adrenaline coursed through her veins as she rushed toward it again. Her knife flashed in the dim light, and she slashed at the Mimic, catching it across the arm. Black, oily blood sprayed from the wound, but the creature didn't howl or retreat. Instead, it grabbed her wrist with inhuman strength and yanked her forward, throwing her against the wall of the old park. Pain exploded across her back as she hit the metal with a loud clang, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to give in.

"Sarah, run!" she shouted, trying to scramble back to her feet, but the Mimic was on her in a flash, its weight crashing down on her as it pinned her against the wall.

Its jagged teeth were inches from her face, those horrible, hollow eyes staring into hers as it whispered again in Atty's voice. "Just like Ben... You'll bleed just like him."

"No!" Adaliya roared, driving her knee into its side. The creature staggered back, and she seized the opportunity, plunging her knife into its throat. The Mimic screeched, a horrible, guttural sound, but it didn't fall. Instead, it lashed out, claws raking across her side, tearing through her suit and flesh alike.

Agonizing pain shot through her, and she cried out, stumbling backward as her hand flew to her side. Blood seeped through her fingers, warm and sticky. The Mimic grinned again, even as black blood poured from its throat, its voice gurgling and distorted.

"Bleed for me, Adaliya..."

She staggered, vision swimming, but she refused to go down. Not like this. Not to this monster. With a grunt of effort, she raised her gun once more, her breath ragged. The Mimic lunged at her, but this time, Adaliya was ready. She pulled the trigger, and the bullet tore through its face, splattering black ichor across the walls.

The Mimic jerked back, its head snapping to the side, and for the first time, it screamed. Not the eerie mimicry of Atty's voice, but its own. A horrible, high-pitched wail that made Adaliya's blood freeze.

The creature staggered, clutching its face, and Adaliya used the moment to dive forward, driving her knife into its chest with all the strength she had left. It screeched again, writhing and thrashing as she twisted the blade, her teeth gritted in fury.

"For Ben," she snarled, her voice hoarse. "For Atty."

With a final, savage twist, she pulled the knife free, and the Mimic collapsed to the ground, its body twitching and spasming. Black blood pooled around it, thick and oily, but it didn't move again.

Adaliya stood over it, breathing heavily, her body trembling from exhaustion and pain. She pressed her hand harder against her side, trying to slow the bleeding. The wound was deep, and she could feel the warmth of her own blood soaking through her suit. Her vision wavered, but she forced herself to stay upright.

Sarah rushed to her side, eyes wide with panic. "Adaliya, you're hurt—"

"I'm fine," Adaliya gasped, though the pain was nearly unbearable. She leaned against the wall, her legs threatening to give out. "We... we need to keep moving. We're not safe yet."

Sarah shook her head, her voice shaking. "You're bleeding too much. We need to stop it—"

A loud, shrill shriek echoed through the park again, and both of them froze. Another Mimic.

No time.

Adaliya gritted her teeth, pushing herself forward. "We need to go. Now."

Sarah grabbed her arm, supporting her as they began to move, adrenaline the only thing keeping Adaliya on her feet.

But deep down, she knew the truth.

She didn't have much time left.