Don't fear your demons—own them, control them.
My gaze fell down to Scarlett. The giggles I heard only made my blood boil with anger. I looked to my right—Scarlett, giggling. I looked back in front of me—Scarlett, staring at me. My attention turned to my left—another Scarlett, this one smirking. I looked around again. Every second, a new Scarlett appeared. My breath grew heavy. My knees struggled to hold my weight. Tears ran down my cheeks. For ten years, I hadn't shed a single tear, no matter what happened. I really am a disappointment to my mother. Maybe that's why my dad sold me to Finn. I will never become a good assassin. I am useless, pathetic, and weak.
"Lilith!" I heard someone scream my name. I looked behind me—it was Max. I wiped the tears from my cheeks with my palm. Max was running toward me. I took a deep breath after slapping some sense into myself.
"Max, what the fuck brought you to the forest? Are you crazy? Oh wait—what kind of question is that? Of course you're crazy."
As he reached me, I slapped him on the back.
"It's a long story, but that aside—what's happening here? Who is that girl over there?" he asked, looking at Scarlett.
I glanced over my shoulder at Scarlett."Don't mind her, and let's get out of here," I said, grabbing his arm and dragging him away from Scarlett.
As we started moving, I bumped into something—or rather, someone. Another Scarlett. She looked up at me, her eyes wide open.
"Where are you going, Scarlett?"A Scarlett from behind me questioned me.
"Don't call me that," I responded angrily.
"Why not? You are us, Scarlett."
I clenched my fists tightly—tight enough for my wound to start bleeding again. My eyes never left Scarlett's.
"Lilith, why is she calling you Scarlett? What's happening?"My grip on Max's arm tightened enough to bruise him. I ignored his confusion.
"Lilith, answer me, goddamn it!" he shouted, pulling me closer to him. My attention returned to Max, and my grip on his arm loosened.
"Max, stay behind me. Looks like I have to deal with someone I've ignored for a long time."
I stepped slowly toward Scarlett—the one who kept calling me Scarlett.
To be continued…