The other me was wearing my usual clothes, casually walking.

I was so shocked that the words got stuck in my throat. there is also a possibility that I didn’t have a throat at that very moment. I was basically a pulp of broken everything, slowly putting itself together.

The clapping didn’t stop until the mysterious being a few steps away from me, where it stopped.

– I’m shocked. I thought you won’t make it, but you proved me wrong – the other me said.

Then, whatever it was, smiled at me. It was the nasty grin of somebody who just proved to the other person that they are better than them.

– You have no idea what is going on, don’t you? You see yourself, but it’s impossible, right? After all, you are laying on the ground, barely holding on to your own life. And yet, here I am, the other you – the creature laughed.

It laughed as I would laugh, which on its own was creepy. In my state even worse, because I had no freaking clue what was happening, not to mention my physical state.

– The logic says I should do what I came here to do, but I just can’t. I waited for so long for this moment, that I refuse to go with it without celebrating it properly, so we are going to celebrate. You and me – he informed me. – We are going to celebrate, by you finally understanding your position and everything that was going on. I can’t wait!

He giggled once more.

I tried to heal myself with what I had left from the fight, just to discover that I couldn’t I didn’t have the energy, but I would swear I still had some left. It was weird. Didn’t have any sense. If not for the skills, I probably would start to panic.

– I can’t wait to see the despair on your face when you realize everything you have done! – the other me added. – Oh, it’s gonna be so satisfying. You, obviously, don’t understand my possession at this moment, but you didn’t have to wait as long as I did. But I was patient. I didn’t give up despite all the setbacks, all the failures, and all the problems along the way. It was worth it, because here we are, about to conclude it all!

​

– But, just so you know, I will have to hurt you a little bit, so you will stay in your current state. After all, it’s necessary for me – he informed me, before his telekinetic power tore the flesh that put itself together, and broke the bones that managed to heal.

I would probably scream if I could, but I couldn’t.

– It’s kinda sad that you don’t speak to me right now – he said after that. – I would hope for a little bit of back and forth. Sadly you are so silent… Well… Maybe it’s for the better. I will just speak, and you will just listen. This way it will be done faster. There is still so much to do…

I wished to scream “Speak you, idiot! Stop the torture! Just say it!”, but the words wouldn’t leave my throat – if I had any.

– So, shall we start with the grand revelation, or, perhaps, from the beginning? I kinda want to see your face when you realize everything, but starting from the beginning also has its benefits – he shrugged his shoulders.

He then genuinely got lost in his thoughts, thinking about which option should he choose. Because of that, he went silent for a moment, but a couple of seconds later he smiled at me again.

– The revelation just sounds too good to dismiss it – he confessed. – I wouldn’t forgive myself if I would pass on the option of seeing your face. So, here I am. The real me.

The other me morphed, changing color into a completely white silhouette. The shape got blurry until it assumed the familiar outline of the human figure I knew as the avatar of Hope.

I would be genuinely shocked if not for the fact I couldn’t really move my muscles and showcase any emotion on my face.

– Oh! – he sighed, although nothing in his visual representation didn’t really change. – I forgot that you can’t really move anything. Well, I’m just gonna assume you are shocked. Of course, things still have very little sense for you, but just hold on. We will put it all together. Don’t you worry.

The shape didn’t really move its lips, and the voice seemed to be transmitted in a different way, but I still could understand all the nuances.

– Oh, I wonder… I wonder what you’re thinking right now. Hope? Why? It doesn’t have any sense. His story was so sad, and he was so peaceful – another chuckle left the silhouette. – First of all, it’s kinda ironic that you gave me that name. Don’t they say that hope dies last? And you were the one to pick that name!

He bent in half to slap his knee while laughing out loud.

– You have to forgive me. I’m just feeling so happy right now, that I might behave a little bit silly – he said, just to pressure me with telekinetic powers to break my bones and tear the flesh apart. – This is serious, despite my behavior. And I want you to remember that, so I can see the despair in your eyes by the end of it.

He smiled at me.

– So, where were we? – he asked. – Oh right. My original shape… I have other shapes too. Maybe those will shine a bit more light on this mystery.

He giggled once more, before, just like previously, changing the shape. The subtle differences made him look like a human disappeared, and the whole body became longer and thinner.

At first, I had no idea what he will become, but with the transformation progressing, I could see it more and more. Again, a very familiar shape.