Shadows of the Mind

Part 4

Chad's head was on fire.  The fire wasn't visible, because it was internal.  He couldn't breathe, couldn't function.  He just lay there, writhing, until it was over and the voices took over.  He knew fighting was useless, that would only make it worse.  Slowly, his conscious slipped away, leaving behind a person he never wanted Alyssa to meet.

Ryan walked through the halls, clutching his club in hand.  Where had the weakling worm hidden that wretched girl?  He wasn't worried, though.  He would find her.  He just had to search his memories for when the weakling had last beat him and pushed him to the back of his subconscious, to where he could easily steal and store the worm's memories.  What was it the weakling called himself again?  Chad?  Such a weak name.  Ryan smiled and flexed his fingers as he got full function of the body again.  It was good to be out.  He kicked open the nearest door; it slammed, satisfyingly, against the wall.  He marched into the room.  No sign of her.  Next room.  Empty.  This continued on until he reached the last room of all.  He quietly, gently pushed the door open.  Ah ha!  There she was.  Ryan stroked his club and grinned, twisting Chad's lips into a wicked sort of sneer.  He was going to have some fun with this wretch, and, if he was lucky, it would cause Chad pain, too.  

"No!" Chad screamed.  "If you hurt her, it will only hurt you, too.  Because if you hurt her, you hurt me.  And if you hurt me, you hurt you."  Ryan paused, listening to the worm's logic.  "After all, we're the same person, so if you hurt me, it will hurt you."  Ryan grinned.  There was were the worm had it wrong.  They might share the same body, but he had been formed to counteract the worm's weakness.  He was stronger than he was; far stronger.  And besides, he cared nothing for this wretch of a girl.  If your personalities didn't share the emotion, how could they get hurt by it?  Ryan tuned the weakling out and strode into the room.