Devil's Daughter

Chapter Seven

It's me. The girl standing in front of me is ME. But, technically, not me at all.

She looks exactly like me - her hair, her eyes, everything - but more prim and proper. Her hair is yanked into a braid and the bow at the back of her gingham dress is neatly tweaked. There's a shine of lip gloss on her lips and her shoes are so polished, you could see your reflection in them. Her eyes are haunting, though. Pained. Like someone's done something horrible to her.

"Hello.. Are you my double?" she says cautiously. "But you look nothing like me."

"I guess so.. And I do look like you! Very similar, in fact," I say grouchily.

"Your hair is down and your eyes are.. Wilder, more reckless than mine. And darker grey. My cheeks are rosier. I have freckles and you don't. And now your eyes are tinting red and mine have certainly never done that before," she articulates, more confidently.

"Well excuse me all over the place. Just because you're so picky and attentive to detail doesn't mean you have to let everybody else know."

She sighs and fiddles with the braid. "What's it feel like? When Mum hugs you?" she says eagerly, completely going off topic.

"Um.. Well.. It feels like a hug." I'd always hated being hugged. "I don't really like her doing it myself."

"I've always wondered what it would be like, if you hadn't come and replaced me just because my stupid Aunt Frances wanted Granny's fortune." She made it sound like an accusation.

"Your Aunt Frances? She's more MY Aunt Frances than yours. You never even met her." I have no idea why I'm talking like I want Aunt Frances to be my aunt. Even before she sent me to another world, she was always.. Weird. Sneaky, somehow. If old women can be sneaky.

"You have no idea, do you?" says the other me softly.

"No idea about what?"

"What it's like. Here. To have been here forever and made to watch you, the false me, filling my space!" Her voice rises to a shout.

"Shhhh! They'll hear you! Look, I'm not supposed to be in here!"

"That isn't my fault. For all you've done to me, I should probably let them find you," she says curtly, turning her nose up at me.

I sigh, frustrated. This isn't going to plan at all.

"Look," I say."I'm busting out of here and I'll take you with me - as annoyingly perfect as you are - so long as you promise to shut up right now!"

"You'll never get out," she says mournfully. "But if you do.. I'm coming?"

"Yes. I already said."

"I won't tell a soul."

Tomato Coat's face appears in the window. Along with Annie. But they haven't seen me.. Yet.

"Hide me!" I hiss. "Anywhere!"

Other Me motions towards a cupboard to the back of the room and I fling open the doors, hoping they won't think to open it. It's dark in here, and it smells of musty wood.

"Roza! How are you?" I almost jump at the sound of my own name, then remember Annie must be talking to the other me.

"I am fine, thank you."

"Must have been nice to have some conversation for a change." Tomato Coat's voice is icily calm.

I can sense Other Me's fear. I don't..understand..what do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Now 139F's going to have to come out or we're going to have to force her."

"She's not here! Why would she be here?"

"139F, come out, or your little friend isn't going to like it."

I step out of the cupboard.