Demise Game

34. imposter advisory

Getting the knife out of the door jamb was a bit harder than you thought it would be.  Shuuen had thrown it good, and you had just managed to dislodge the knife as Shuuen tried to push you against the door.  It was pure luck and adrenaline fueling your actions as you rolled along the wall and out of the way, blindly swiping the knife at Shuuen.  It didn't connect.

        You needed to put some distance between the two of you.  And maybe get a different weapon, because holding a knife with the intent to stab somebody felt weird, the handle awkward in your grip.

        "You don't have to make this so hard," Shuuen purred, and the way that he said it with your voice made you nauseous.  "If you die, you can see A-me and B-sei in purgatory... Maybe."  He laughed, and his voice sounded far too giddy for the subject matter.

        A-me and B-sei...

        A part of you — a very small part — wondered if you should just give in.  You were so tired, and perhaps this was karma for letting A-me and B-sei die....

        No.  If you died here, Hanami would most likely die too.  Isora may very well die as well.  You couldn't let everything be for naught.

        You refused to die here.

        You didn't dignify his taunting with a response.  Instead, you focused on making it to Hanami's kitchen.

        Shuuen wasn't far behind, unfortunately.  Before you could pull a pan off the rack (intending to smack Shuuen in the face with it), Shuuen practically bodyslammed you into the counter.  The edge dug into your stomach, and you felt all the air leave you for a moment before he was twisting your wrist back.  On reflex, you dropped the knife.  You couldn't see if he had caught it — and you weren't going to risk it.  In a panic, you slammed your head back into his face, relishing in the loud cracking noise and the yelp of pain that came from him.

        He retaliated with grabbing the back of your head and slamming it down on the counter once, then twice.

        For a moment, the world swayed around you as he shoved you down, and you could feel the trickle of something warm down the side of your head.  Your head dully throbbed, but it was forgotten in the moment as you blinked a couple times.

        Shit, he had another knife.

        Bile rose in your throat, but you forced it back down as you kicked your legs out, hitting him right in the knees and sending him toppling backwards as he cussed.

        "This stupid fucking body!"

        Your movements were sluggish as you stumbled to a stand, attempting to move only for a hand to tightly wrap around your ankle and send you careening into the ground once more.

        Shit.  Shit.  Shit.

        You rolled over onto your back just in time as Shuuen got up only to pin you down and slam your head back into the floor once more.  Moments later, his fingers were wrapped around your throat, choking the air out of you as you gaped and gasped.  No amount of pulling at his hands could get him to loosen up.

        No...!

        The grin on your doppelgänger's face was eerie, and you reached out to the side, hoping something would be in reach...  But there was nothing.  Fuck!

        In a panic, you reached up and raked your nails down Shuuen's face.  It did the trick as he cried out, letting up, and you attempted to jam your thumbs into his eyes.  It did the trick.  While it didn't do as much damage as you hoped, it was enough to send him reeling back, enough to allow you to dislodge him once more and drag yourself back.  Your back collided painfully with one of the cabinets from the force of you trying to get away, and you heard a rattle from deep within.