The blinding light receded the moment that my feet touched pavement. My body materialized as if someone had parted nature's curtain to allow me entrance. The sound of heels clicking against concrete rang out around me as the breeze attempted to dry the trickles of sadness that still clung to my features. Behind me the sun melted into the horizon, dissolving into the cracks of earth as if a metaphor for my descent into darkness. Hazel lenses shifted toward the glass of a deserted shop as I paused to gaze at the image of a girl I no longer recognized.

My fingers rose to caress a stray curl wondering if witnessing so much death had put such overwhelming sadness within my eyes. I pondered if fear of what pursued me had placed the tinge of darkness around my lashes. Had taking lives captured the innocence I used to convey? Gone was the naivety I once held as I begged my mother to join Andrea inside death's carriage. My fingers trailed past my hazel gaze now tinged forever with that cruel scarlet tint while noticing that panic no longer dominated their appearance. Vanished was that terrified youth I used to be as I ran from shadows intent on feasting on flesh. My hands stroked the fullness of my lips feeling them tighten at the sudden resentment that seemed to consume me. My palms fell uselessly to my sides knowing that as my past fear lessened it had devoured that sense of overwhelming confusion that had once plagued my mentality. From the moment this world was opened up to me everything that I had held dear had exploded into nothingness.

My chin trembled as I watched my composure crumple as visions of what brought me to this moment assailed my mind. I thought of everything I had lost just so the powers beyond me could force me into this realm of impossibility. Andrea's smiling face appeared along the glass only to transform into the sight of her weeping in the center of complete devastation.

Men should not have the power to steal purity...

I envisioned my sister joking in the car with my father just as the vehicle was violently jolted before it began to spin uncontrollably.

No one should be able to order chaos...

Then, there... just beyond my shoulder I saw my sister's image appear behind me. She smiled her slow smirk, her blonde hair flowing in the wind, her form still clothed in her short mini and tee. Andrea's hand rose to sweep back her tresses causing her butterfly ring to glitter in the dying sun. Colorless liquid blinded my view as my hand rose to tenderly touch the cold glass. The butterfly ring sparkled upon my finger as the image dissolved within the wind. My eyes dropped taking tears along with it.

The dead should not have the ability to return only to heart wrenchingly depart once again. The blameless should not be the definition of fragility so easily vanquished from existence.

My irises ascended to clash with my reflection once again.

No, this cruel new world now released to my comprehension should not be real, and yet its presence in my life could not be denied. My family had been snatched from my reach. Death had used me like a deadly pawn intent on slaughtering all who came near me while darkness's touch seemed to taint the most honorable of souls. Evil's caress continued to corrupt my way of thinking, and even now mere footsteps from my damned future I could sense its call. I could sense its desire to claim me. It was a temptation I knew I would be forced to endure until my dying day. Call it a birthright, a burdensome legacy of great power gifted upon my fragile shoulders... but in this moment it felt more similar to a curse.

Taking a deep breath I waved a hand before my features allowing a tiny spike of power to wipe my face clean; to conceal such debilitating sadness. Stiffening my spine I obliterated even the smallest morsel of fear lingering within me before I left my former self behind. Turning away from the glass I continued my determined stride toward Rick's office building. I continued onward deserting the person I used to be.

The breeze playfully swirled around me as angry storm clouds slowly assembled along the skyline. A discarded piece of paper twirled within the gust as my vision trailed it watching as it landed along the dying grass. With every footstep I took closer to my objective the earth withered beneath my touch. I observed as blades of greenery faded of its lush color until they appeared brown, lifeless. All the while I could feel life enter my form. I felt it renewing my strength, feeding my power. The sudden painful throb within my orbs alerted me to the fact that red had defeated hazel, and yet they felt different somehow. The pain felt more intense as if my lenses had altered into a luminescent hue that they had never been before. I gazed down at skin that seemed to glow as light's influence flowed throughout my blood while darkness twirled playfully throughout my curls. The two opposite strengths seemed cohesive, obliging in its need to defend. It was dissimilar to past occasions when dark ribbons laced around demons, slicing into its host while seemingly intent to feed. The devil's pest would consume as if payment for services rendered.

The sound of traffic in the distance gradually lessened as I came closer to my destination. It seemed as if those blessed with enough common sense knew to listen to that instinctive warning of danger and had wisely fled from evil's proximity. I halted to gaze upon such darkened elevation. Its massive levels appeared tinted as if to conceal its enclosed wickedness to naked eyes. One foot pushed forward only to pause as I heard Andrea's urgent voice erupt within my head. "Turn back, Anna. I don't want you to do this!"

Closing my eyes to the agony erupting within my chest, I swallowed my emotions before moving forward. I quietly whispered, "She's gone."

Gabe internally screamed, "Marie, this isn't what Andrea would want for you!"

Placing one foot in front of the other, I assured myself, "our bond is severed. He can't reach me."

My heeled feet were steady as I crossed the threshold. My fingers trembled as I pushed against the glass to permit my entrance into hell's foyer. In hushed tones my mother pleaded, "It's not safe for you here, Marie. For once listen to common sense and just leave before it's too late."

Taking a deep breath, I permitted my body to exhale while allowing her words to depart unheeded within the air. I felt the bite of artic temperatures as my heels clicked against polished flooring. My scarlet lenses were instantly captured by the huge framed photo of detestation personified. Rick's arrogant features grinned charmingly down toward me. His figure remained clothed in ridiculously expensive finery while those piercing green eyes projected glorious lies of compassion. Those deceiving irises spoke of honor, of trust. Feeling as if Rick's eyes followed me my sight remained fixated upon them as I continued to bypass such displayed horror.

Around his neck still lied that fucking red tie.

My sight rendered the other individuals occupying this space into nothing more than a blurred background. My focus seemed captured upon an endless array of framed deceptions. Along such hallowed walls rested photographs of my Stepfather shaking hands with CEOs, his arm thrown around a smiling family, or his revolting lips kissing the cheeks of ill children. What stopped me cold was the photograph that displayed wedded bliss between Rick and my mom. There it sat, slightly larger than the others. After all, it was the biggest fraud in the entire collection. The photo had been taken in the beginning of their marriage. It was back when his political career had just began. Back when our mother had just tossed our father's heart in the trash only to force us inside the devil's lair. Back in a time when Carmen could actually delude herself enough into believing that Rick hung the moon. A time when she assumed that all her dreams were coming true, and yet...

I took a step closer to inspect my Mom's expression, and there underneath the forced smile that tinge of sadness was already seeping in. Somehow... she had already started to see the cracks breaking apart the dream. I wondered if her fictional soulmate was already secretly beating her.

"Excuse me, Miss. Can I help you?"

I attempted and yet failed to blink away my morbid contemplations to gaze at the receptionist addressing me. I could hear her replace her phone's receiver before allowing my presence to devour her attention, but in that moment her intrusion seemed so trivial.

"I-," I struggled to formulate words as the image of my mother's false smile altered into a blended recollection of the past. Her features transformed into an expression of astonishment as she watched Rick ascend after being shot.

"Are you here to see someone? Do you have an appointment? Are headed to the restaurant?" the receptionist attempted once more. I felt her eyes take in my appearance before she sneered. "Do you have a reservation?"

Such horror had lied within my mother's big hazel eyes. Eyes we shared... Then with one vicious twist and an unearthly snap my mom no longer existed at all.

Through a vision hazy with unshed tears I could easily detect the frustration upon this woman's face. "Look, we don't allow unsolicited visitors, so unless you have a scheduled appointment or a reservation I'm going to have to call security."

At my continued silence her hands moved to pick up the phone before her whole body simply immobilized. Her expression remained fixed in annoyance. Her mouth was slightly ajar displaying pearly white teeth with just a hint of lipstick staining their surface. A silk blouse hugged her slim figure while her long brown hair was swept away from her pretty features. Dismissing her forgettable appearance along with my tears, I stalked pass her station with a sad and yet ironic smirk gracing my lips. Rick always did like his pretty little ornaments.

Compartmentalizing my emotions surrounding past memories into a mental box marked, 'do not open' I continued in the direction of the elevators. The echo of my heels sounded remarkably deafening in the wake of such silence. I side stepped a group of suits trapped in a noiseless conversation. I sauntered by the entrance of a restaurant noticing the absolute stillness within its confines. Patrons sat paused with forks still tilted toward lips. Stationary servers balanced heavy trays within their hands while the bartender with a fixed smile upon his lips had halted in mid-pour of wine into a glass.

The elevator opened at my presence. It wasn't until the doors began to seal shut that I observed the scene slowly commence once again. The last thing I witnessed through sliding steel was the look of complete confusion as it stole over the receptionist's face at my sudden disappearance.

The world was once again shut out as I stood within this box of metal. With every second that passed I found myself struggling to even my labored breathing. I wrestled with the unsettling thought of how easy humans were manipulated, of how easy it would be to eliminate them completely. My lashes merged as lids closed; scarlet lenses now hidden behind slightly pale lids. I attempted to center myself in order to contain my unexpected bloodlust; my veiled craving to kill. Slowly its desire became neutralized for the time being. I needed to gain control and I needed it now if I was going to succumb to the role I'd soon be forced to play.

My eyes opened to collide with the reflection mirrored along the doors before me. Instead of seeing my image I saw myself as a little girl, and I instantly knew that damn lid had slipped off that internal box once again. Long pigtails caressed my spine, dimples creased cheeks while pink lips quivered uncontrollably as I watched the police take my father away. The vision departed only to be replaced by one of Andrea's hands taking hold of mine as we walked up toward Rick's house for the first time. My mind replayed scenes of a withdrawn Andrea at the breakfast table while having to endure Rick's merriment before it altered into a memory of my attendance to my father and sister's funeral escorted by law enforcement. Then suddenly everything reflected before me vanished before morphing into the image of an expression of pure panicked devastation I usually wore while being frightened of my own shadow while back inside the institution. Before finally...

I once again saw my reflection clearly... or more likely I saw an image that felt familiar. A slow grin tugged at the edges of pink tinted lushness as if the mere thought of what was to come delighted her. She fixed stray curls with steady fingers. A tongue snaked out to moisten lips until they glistened invitingly. A palm made the deliberate stroke over curves as if smoothing out imaginary wrinkles before they gripped the hips of a woman on a mission.

"I thought you were gone-," I began to question only to realize that only my lips moved within the reflection. There was no separation of images. It was my hands that had fixed imaginary flaws. It had been my body that had swayed seductively as I inspected my attire. My darker self no longer existed.

She no longer existed... because I am her.

As the numbers climbed higher levels were bypassed during metal's ascension. I peered deeply into my eyes watching as the hatred incinerated my soul. I watched as it reduced my ingrained decency to ash.

The funny thing was... for once I didn't want to stop it.

I was rising to encounter the epitome of darkness, so then why was I holding on to the good parts of my soul?

Surrendering to my darker self, I allowed rage to swallow every other emotion I had ever felt. Who was I kidding? This wasn't about finding Andrea. It never had been. I could feel my blood literally boiling beneath my skin. A person could never trust words supplied by demons, so even if they admitted to knowing my sister's location I knew I could never follow their direction. I felt sweat begin to trickle down the back of my spine. This was about everything that they had put me through. This was about every hellish moment I was forced to survive. This was about every innocent soul that they had ravaged for nothing more than simple amusement.

My lenses begin to burn, to excruciatingly throb before like a match struck scarlet transformed to gold with flicks of reds and oranges. My eyes literally appeared enflamed.

I heard the small sound alerting me to the fact that I was nearing the top floor. My fingers began to fidget at my sides as blackness gobbled the white within my orbs and red veins tore a scarring path along my skin.

No, this wasn't a search party. This was about vengeance!

The entrance detached awarding me with the view of a lobby covered with nothing more than black marble and endless glass. My heels tapped out a rhythmic beat as if an unwanted soundtrack to the coming attractions as I placed myself fully within sight of so many cloaked demons. Everywhere I looked possessed humans had frozen behind a multitude of desks behind transparent cubicles to watch my slow progression into their den. I had the perfect view of the sun's beautiful defeat to night from the surrounding glass as I volunteered to enter into the gruesome circle of hell. I could sense the hunger that they barely managed to contain, could see the desire to capture my form consuming any lingering common sense. I paused in the heart of encircling lust allowing my eyes to wander over such an array of overzealous minions all avid to offer me up to Rick if only for the reward. I was the sacrificial lamb, and everyone wanted their piece of the slaughter.

The only thing that remained a mystery was who would attempt to capture me first. My heeled foot separated until my stance appeared ready. My image nothing more than long sun kissed legs as my chin rose as if a silent challenge.

I took a deep breath knowing inwardly that this right here might be my last reprieve. Then like a controlled orchestra uniformed security rushed to bark orders into receivers, and every breathing figure enclosed in such vastness hunched before mercilessly endless bodies sprung forward. My palms opened at my sides to release a sphere of white light of power. On contact its white force caused every demon to propel in reverse back into the surrounding crowd.

A rather large figure recovered quickly before he launched himself in my direction only to have his body hurled into a distant glass partition. I watched as its surface shattered on impact while several shards managed to sink into skin before my attention was once again captured. My influence seized another concealed demon as he ran at full speed toward me only to be vaulted, trapped within a series of twists and turns back into the ravenous crowd.

I ducked swiftly to avoid another diving figure before I swept out a leg tripping those who had come too close. I straightened into defensive stance only to extend a heeled boot into the throat of another potential captor. I evaded hands reaching for me before I allowed my body to roll over the back of another unlucky minion. As I landed back on to my feet I turned hastily to immobilize the nearest attacking fiends before I jerked livid eyes toward their advancing friends. I watched coldly as these ambitious fiends caught ablaze beneath my stare. Screams pierced the air as thrashing bodies fell onto others before I leniently extinguished the flames. Apathetically, I briefly noticed how their charred shapes collapsed lifelessly to the ground before my attention traveled elsewhere.

Those I still held frozen in their own fear struggled to break free. Suddenly bored with the sight I twisted a hand before watching necks snap one by one whilst more bodies decorated to the ground. My leg kicked out at the still advancing crowd, the power behind my extended limb sending several bodies flying into each other. I punched and ducked their defense. My body moved in a blurred swirl of hatred as I moved closer to who they so devotedly guarded.

One coward had actually taken to swinging a tall lamp toward my skull. Evading its strike, I allowed my body to leap over a desk while knowing from the distinctive sound of crunching bone the demon's swing had collided with someone. I landed onto the floor in a roll before I felt an inescapable hand take hold of my heeled boot. This unknown force physically dragged my struggling form through a crowd of hands yanking at my skin and hair. I felt curls being pulled out at the roots. Nails dug into skin as fingers became too eager to taste such a coveted possession whilst unidentifiable palms reached to touch places I had never permitted anyone to caress.

It was the experience of an idol being ripped apart by a beloved crowd. My screams were drowned out by growls and snarls of lust and greed as panic began to take over. All I could see was red lenses everywhere and a thousand hands tugging my jacket free, slicing my skin, and attempting to reach beneath the hem of dress.

No, I internally screamed. My eyes closed to the ravenous fiends before I centered in on utilizing my inner strength.

"Get off of me!" I screeched. The force within my screams projected the bodies near me back into the surrounding air. Figures crashed into the encircling glass; their forms creating large cracks along the window's surface before sliding unmoving to the ground. I bound back to my feet unable to inspect wounds as I commenced with striking all who dared to attack.

It seemed no matter how many I killed or hindered another took its place.

An overweight man sprinted off the nearest desk in full on tackle mode aimed at my small figure. Sending a surge of dwindling power up the length of my arms I managed to withstand holding him above my head before I launched his full frame into an adjacent wall. His collision created a colossal hole, a cloud of dust, and from the way he landed on his neck I knew he wouldn't be charging me again. I felt a woman's hands grab hold of me from behind holding my writhing arms behind my back. Seeing an open opportunity another cloaked demon bent to grab my legs only to taste the bottom of my boot as I slammed my heel into his face. Blood poured from his wounds as gradually I allowed my internal temperature to rise. While still struggling to be released I managed to wrap my legs around another assailant's neck before firmly squeezing my thighs together in an effort to put him to sleep. The only problem that came with this plan was that I had no more limbs to fight with. I instantly felt nails once again clawing up the length of my form and yet I refused to let go of the man struggling to breath within my tightened legs.

Releasing all internal control over to my abilities, my core temperature spiked to feverous proportions. I shifted my weight quickly while forcibly vaulting the top section of my body forward caused the woman holding me to go tumbling over my head into the surging crowd. My hold on the man beneath me weakened allowing him to rise with my body sitting atop his shoulders. His hands instantly attempted to pull me into his arms while everyone around me reached to yank me into the sea of hungry demons. My hands took hold of his face while I tried to avoid the grasp of so many. It wasn't until his shrieks of pain littered the air that I realized that my hands, like hot coals, where melting the surface of his skin. The agony of charring features caused him to plummet backward into the mob just as I reached for the edge of the nearest filing cabinet in an effort to escape desperate claws.

As soon as my heels landed steadily upon the top of the cabinet demons dressed in office attire began to rock it back and forth in an attempt to send me falling back into their clutches. Taking a flying leap, I managed to land atop another cabinet just as the other one fell. I paused with indecision gripping me as I gazed out into the endless sea of voracious underlings rushing in my direction. Crouched in my defensive stance, I glared down at so many yearning for my capture while quickly realizing that this was fast becoming nothing more than a suicide mission. I'd be dead long before I inflicted any damage if I kept this up.

Running once more I soared forward aiming for the nearest desk instead of another filing cabinet while knowing to do so would be unexpected. A fireball thrown almost engulfed my form. Its trajectory forced me to jump into the outskirts of the crowd in an aim to avoid its course. Sending authority through the palms of my hands I managed a small display of power to propel back the few that surrounded me. Twisting away from the horde, I bolted for the nearest empty hall while veering off from the direction I truly desired to take.

I could hear the thunder of footsteps behind me while I attempted to formulate a plan within such a cloud of panic within my mind. I rounded another corner knowing that soon my body would run out of steam.

I thought to myself internally, when exhaustion takes over I'll either be dinner, a toy to be played with, or served on a platter to Rick.

I heard doors smash open as more demons joined the chase and yet I knew better than to risk glancing behind me. My eyes combed the corridor for any opportunity at escape. At the hall's end lied a door leading to the stairwell, and although tempting I wasn't sure I'd ever make it to the ground floor before another level full of demons took me out. Making a split second decision, I ran in the opposite direction toward the double doors marked executive conference room. Yanking back wood, I sprinted into the huge expanse until I literally ran out of flooring.

My hands landed against frozen glass with shoulders that rose and fell in the effort to catch my breath. Peering out at the night sky I watched as royal blue slowly surrendered to darker tones. Clouds shifted to block the moon whilst tiny lights fought for notice appearing like fireflies twinkling along its expanse. Down below such massive heights as if a part of another world commuters made the slow crawl home on clogged streets.

"Marie, you have nowhere else to run. Just surrender and come with us. The unfortunate occurrences that transpired at your arrival will not happen again. I assure you that if you come with me now you will appear at Rick's side unharmed. This fight here is over," a new commanding voice reasoned.

The smile that crept upon my cut lips was genuine as its appearance formed dimples deeply within my cheeks. Slowly, I turned to confront so many. My eyes landed on a man I vaguely recognized as Rick's latest assistant. "This fight will never be over."

I watched as he took a hesitant step closer, his hands ascended as if in silent submission. Through the spectacles that rested upon his plain features I could see my reflection. I appeared to be that of a bedraggled doll that had seen hard times. Cuts graced every inch of my skin. I could no longer tell whose blood coated my dress, and my hair appeared wild with tiny sparkles of glass lingering throughout its curls. It was no wonder that he regarded me so cautiously.

"Resistance at this point would be useless. Look around you. You're surrounded, Anna. Do you see another exit? Whatever you aimed to accomplish by coming here has failed."

Laughing at the obvious confusion within his features as he confronted my merriment. I retorted, "You think that I'm surrounded?"

He glanced around the room while clearly perplexed.

"You think that I'm surrounded?" I repeated before my grin vanished as swiftly as it had formed. "Tell me, what makes you think that being surrounded wasn't what I wanted all along?"

Centering myself I called onto every ounce of power I possessed within. I felt my influence as it was ripped grudgingly from its fierce clasp it had onto muscle. I felt it internally as it was dragged forward leaving behind a searing path throughout my body. It bound from raised palms sweeping over the crowd in a swirling gust like that of a tornado. Wisps of blackness streamed forcibly out into the air before its darkened forms were compulsorily vaulted back into a gathering mass at the back of the room. The potency behind the propelled force had actually yanked each malevolent essence from within its imprisoned host. Devoid of possession the expressions upon the human horde ranged from bewildered to plain terrified before I focused what little power I had left on the crowd in front of me.

I knew I had precious seconds before the circling ominous spirits regained occupancy of the defenseless few I had freed. Before they climbed back into their human costumes it was urgent that I extracted what I needed to remove. My eyes closed while instantly blocking out the combined voices around me. I blocked out humanity's tears and the angry outbursts of the growing darkness stuck on the outskirts. Then I let my influence spread out over the helpless human inhabitants within the room slowly consuming their energy. This was different than when I had drained the demon in the hospital's basement. The energy that entered my figure felt pure, untainted of darkness. It didn't rip into my soul demolishing pieces of my humanity. It nourished portions of me that felt broken while healing past scars. I halted my consumption the moment I saw the color drain from one of my contributors.

Unfortunately, my moment of leniency brought forth these citizens doom. The moment the link ruptured demons roamed over innocence like ants of deserted food.

I observed in silence as a wave of corruption gradually drifted over the crowd before they glided into the mouths of the enslaved. Heads snapped back forward at attention before bodies crouched down in unison like that of a demented army. They bared sharpened incisors like rapid dogs held back only by the raised palm of Rick's assistant as he silently commanded obedience. I watched as he departed from the crowd to inspect me closer.

"And I repeat," he started with eyes that examined every crevice I possessed. "Surrender, Anna Marie. Do you honestly believe that consuming a morsel of power will help you conquer so many? This display will not aid your victory here. It will simply be a repeat of your entrance to this level. A small power play that will eventually extinguish. One way or another you will be handed over to Rick. The only real option that I see here for you, is whether you will go the easy way or the hard. Which will it be, Chosen one?"

"You see, that's where you're wrong."

Brows ceased over confused reddened eyes before he questioned, "and what the hel-."

I opened my mouth to effectively cut him off. "It's not a small fragment of control that I plan to utilize." The side of my lips lifted. "I plan to shake foundations."

Confusion plagued his features just as his cohorts ignored his silent instructions in order to surge forward. As I hunkered down into my defensive stance once more I used my hands to form a white dome of protection around me before I expelled it forward to thrust my enemies from my side. As they collapsed backward I didn't allow the chance for recovery. White light in the shape of a huge piercing disc plunged forward dismembering bodies that dared to rise from onto their feet. Torsos separated causing blood to ooze onto tile like a scarlet tinted never-ending flood. I held back my torrent of guilt at the loss of innocent lives. Those smarter than the mutilated members of the horde lying on the ground either crouched low only to be drenched in scarlet liquid or they leapt high within the air to avoid the beam's contact. The blood soaked ground began to tremble beneath our feet before its very foundation began to disband.

Claws struggled to find something, anything to hold onto before shock surpassed anger within their furious expressions when they found nothing. Bodies tumbled along with severed remains as they collapsed from dizzying heights only to land bone crushingly to the ground. Shapes landed on other surprised workers as rubble drove down in a white hail of thunderous plaster. The level's flooring continued to disconnect like puzzle pieces pulled apart as my eyes collided with those of that same underling who spoke of my impending downfall. Others rushed to try and escape the collapse by bounding for the entrance only to tumble so far below, but that one demon stood stationary while merely watching the chaos.

It was as if he was waiting for me to make a move.

The collapse surged toward us and just as I allowed shadows to wrap around my form to aid my exit... I felt the clutch of an intruder.

My body was no more than a collection of wisps and still the grip that seized me was unbreakable. I tried to evade its touch but my well of energy felt dry. Its pull dragged me back into the hall. This unknown entity shoved me down corridors forcing me to witness the chaos left behind after my arrival. Some demons reappeared in blood covered clothing to amend the damage erected. I was yanked forward, forced to merely observe as I was compulsorily yanked further down the corridor as demons waved palms to erase my initiated wreckage. Desks were righted back into their proper place, and glass disappeared from the flooring only to slide back into place until partitions appeared untouched. Chairs shifted back into formation, blood melted away into nothingness while darkness slid over the surface of cracked windows until they appeared flawless.

I was dragged pass guard after guard as each piece of trash was cleaned up, and flames extinguished. Soon it would appear as if I had never arrived here. The risk I took would be for nothing, and the wounds I sustained and inflected would be nothing more than a distant memory. Thrashing wildly in an attempt to escape, I allowed nails that never took form to dig deeply into plaster leaving finger sized holes along the walls. Vases smashed as I fought only to witness demons that trailed from behind use abilities to fix any destruction I created.

My final glimpse of the entry I once so brazenly entered awarded me with the sight of elevator doors opening. A group of unpossessed humans walked into the lobby marveling at the structure of the room as a demon gave them the façade of what appeared to be a tour. Witless suited men stood with arms thrown casually around trophy wives as they made the slow trail further inside. I wanted to scream a word of warning out to them but the same presence that held me seemed to prevent the movement of my lips.

The humans were gathered like unsuspecting cattle before injured demons appeared along the outskirts of the circle. They pounced on human flesh before the horror of the minion's appearance was able to register within the minds of these fresh victims. Blood poured down gaping wounds as human screams did nothing but excite the surrounding uninjured demons who seemed forced to simply watch the spectacle. Women were torn from the arms of their husbands only to be dragged into more secluded areas of this hell, and as masculine screams slowly died the only sound to remain was the feminine wails that I instinctively knew would continue far into the night.

The moment my body crashed harshly into a rolling tumble atop carpeted flooring I was grateful if only for the loss of the sight of innocent bloodshed. The crash into this windowless room was done with such a powerful force that I was knocked out from cloaked shadows, and panting wildly on all fours as I was forced to listen to the chorus of pain filled screams that bounced off the walls from the adjacent hall.

I heard the whispered order, "leave us," before a door closed whilst at last dousing us into silence.

Shoving back curls, I allowed my hazel lenses to gaze daggers up at that same demon that seemed intent to capture me.

"Quite the petulant child, aren't we?" he mocked as he turned to walk further from my side.

My palm rose intent to incinerate that smirk right off his face only to incur his annoying laughter.

"Baby girl, I'm afraid your shit out of luck. You didn't really think defeating us would be that easy, did you?"

Noticing the absence of power propelling from my palms, I focused on compelling all of my rage toward the tips of my fingers. Sweat trickled from my brows, and still nothing happened. Stunned, I gazed bewildered down at my palms before I spat, "What have you done to me?"

He snorted in contemptuous amusement before he retorted, "What have we done to you?" He took his time to remove a cloth from the breast pocket of his unsoiled black suit to wipe an imaginary smudge from the lenses of his glasses before he replaced the spectacles back upon his arrogant features. "I don't believe it was our people who decided to enter this building like Rambo with a vendetta, little girl."

He straightened his royal blue tie with dried blood still caked beneath his fingernails. "My dear Anna, I'd like to believe we're more civilized than that."

Laughing weakly at the obvious hypocrisy within that statement, I rose back to my feet before I allowed my hands to rest upon my hips. "And you call the feeding frenzy that just happened to those innocent people out there... civilized?"

A swift metallic coldness smothered the semblance of warmth within his irises as red surpassed the blue hue within his gaze. "No, I'd call it a necessary means. You injured many and the survivors deserve a little... recreational activity."

He took delight in the expression of disgust I wasn't quick enough to hide.

"I guess you could say that we demons have a certain appetite for every commandment humans strive to live by. Lust, murder, and power are the only decrees we yearn to bring forth once we are in complete control." He paused before pondering aloud, "Let me ask you a question, Marie. Did you honestly think defeated warriors couldn't be replaced?"

At my refusal to respond he continued, "Those 'innocent people' as you deem to call them cloak our identities from the human race's fragile mentality. Besides, every wasted sack of flesh out there that was consumed or used were all but eager applicants and business associates determined to forge a connection to this company."

A sinister grin took over his customary grimace before he remarked, "I'd like to think in some form or other that we've just granted their wishes."

"You're a sick son of a B-," I spat out only for his scornful chuckle to interrupt me.

"That's rich coming from someone like you. You, the Princess of Double Standards. Did you or did you not just slaughter a room full of innocents? It's a bit disingenuous to weep for our human targets if you won't weep for your own, don't you think?"

My eyes casually swept the crimson tinted room in the hopes that conversation would distract him long enough for me to find an escape route. "Don't speak to me as if you're the first demon I've come across."

Heels sunk into carpet as I unhurriedly began to stalk around the room. I appeared indifferent while in reality I was taking stock of every conceivable exit and object that could possibly become a weapon. Keyboard, no. Vase in the corner, too heavy. My eyes fell to the letter opener lying on a small desk off to the side before they swung to take in the closed door to the right and the vent located high up in the right corner of the room.

"Oh believe me, I've heard of how you like to make simple situations difficult," he snorted as if exasperated by my insolence.

My body twisted hastily to award him with my obvious disdain while unnoticeably moving closer towards the letter opener. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize how my attempts to foil your kidnapping plans had made YOUR lives difficult."

He shrugged with evident indifference before remarking, "I'm just saying, think of how many lives wouldn't have been lost if you had simply accepted this as your fate."

I halted directly in front of the opener before I allowed my hands to rest behind me in an effort to blindly search for its shape. "Oh, so you're saying that if I hadn't sliced into those demons in the other room those humans that you possessed would have eventually went home safe and sound?"

I felt my fingers finally grip cold silver before my hands tightened around its surface as I continued, "that's odd because from my experience if the human is not eventually killed they usually begin to decompose from having such wickedness rotting inside of them. Then low and behold, another innocent is chosen to take its place."

He grimaced at the laden impudence within my tone. "It's the circle of life. Only the strong can survive."

I snorted at such a ludicrous notion. "Strong? Dude, do you honestly think that it's strong to prey on the weak? The funny thing is that you creatures actually believe humans are so beneath you and yet you can't survive without them." Laughing, I continued to rub salt in the wounds of a seriously pissed off demon by retorting, "no matter what you do, you will always need the one thing you detest the most."

The moment that he pounced was done with such speed and skill that had it not been my intention all along I would not have seen it coming. His anger made his actions careless and as he grasped my neck causing my small frame to dangle from the ground I knew it was not his brain that controlled him. Red lensed blazed into my golden irises as long fingers constricted my windpipe with such a vicious force that my eyes began to water before I felt my body slam harshly atop the desk. My head collided with the computer; the impact causing the monitor to crash to the ground. My legs were ripped apart as his body quickly shifted above me.

"You call this weak, Princess?" he ridiculed as fingers squeezed tighter causing my feet to kick out helplessly out around him. "Humanity will soon be nothing more than prepackaged livestock as easy to select from like meat at a supermarket."

My free palm beat uselessly against the muscles lining his back as I felt him lean in closer. The scent of decay assailed my senses as every inch him seemed to mold to my curves. I detested the sensation of a droplet of moisture that crept from the corner of my eye at having him so intimately close. He reached down further to caress the moisture upon my cheek. The delight my discomfort gave him forced my lids closed if only to gain a reprieve from his unconcealed lust.

His grip around my neck loosened as he shifted closer to whisper, "Soon this will be Rick, and finally you will be in the position you were born to reprise. At last your destiny to be mother to every future child of darkness will be fulfilled and civilization will be a thing of the past." His hand left my neck to suddenly grip my curls while forcing my neck to extend backward. I visually shivered in revulsion at the sensation of his tongue caressing the bruises he created that lined the length of my neck.

"I have a feeling, my dear Anna, that if I play my cards right when the lord finishes with you he'll let me have his left overs firs-."

The letter opener eased into his neck with very little effort. I enjoyed every minute of watching the shock slowly consume the lust within his reddened eyes as they rose to meet mine. His cherry colored life force oozed down the expanse of my chest before it burrowed into every crevice my torso possessed. His lips attempted to form words; however, instead of insults tumbling from his tongue trickles of blood sprinkled forth to stain my cheeks. Before anger could begin to ignite once more within his frame I used all of my human strength to drag the letter opener currently plunged deeply within his flesh further along his neck. The force used caused his skin to flap apart exposing muscle to air. His hands rose to remove the obstruction just as I pushed him off me and onto the floor.

The sound of him choking on his own blood became a background soundtrack as I attempted to wipe the blood off my hands with a box of discarded Kleenex. I was contemplating my next move just as I heard the commencement of gentle clapping from within the room's entrance.

"I must say, your beauty does tend to be your downfall, doesn't it Anna Marie?"

I stilled instantly at the sound of this voice while knowing the last time I'd heard it this vile creation was slicing my sister into a million fucking pieces. Pure unadulterated hatred blazed within my gaze as I turned to glare up into Adrianna's amused expression. I watched in silence as she regarded the now motionless body on the ground.

She laughed animatedly causing brown waves to tumble over one shoulder of her tiny black mini dress as she took in the true extent of my rage. "I, for one thought with powers no longer a problem in this room he might actually sample you before Daddy could. Didn't think you had it in you. Bravo Marie, major points for ingenuity."

My eyes fell back to my blood covered hands as I attempted to cover their trembling by continuously scrubbing them. I retorted contemptuously, "I would think that, Daddy as you deem to call him, would frown at the idea of you simply watching as I was being attacked."

My Stepsister's face contorted into an expression of complete devastation before she spouted pitifully, "Daddy, she was with Howard, your forever loyal aid. I assumed she would be safe. I didn't arrive until Howard was squawking on the ground choking on his own blood." Adrianna's expression reverted back to her usual cruel expression so quickly that I could have almost convinced myself I had imagines her false sadness.

"What do you think, Anna?" she mocked. "Sound authentic enough to you?"

I quickly turned my back toward her to hide the tears as the sudden image of Andrea reaching out to me assailed my mind. While managing to keep my voice free from emotions I replied, "Well if he hasn't seen through your crap by now I highly doubt today will be any different."

I felt the wadded tissues fall from my fingertips into the waste basket while I listened to her snort in amusement.

"Some of us realize early what a winning side looks like. That's the problem with you Anna-," she lectured and yet quickly her voice became nothing but a low hum as rage obliterated all semblance of calm I once forged.

My palms shook at my sides, my chest rose and fell in a quick procession as all reason that told me to wait evaded my grasp. Moving with speed I never knew I was capable of with only human abilities I dashed toward the other side of the desk allowing fingers to hastily take hold of the glass vase before I hurled at my sister's head. It shattered on impact before she could dodge its aim. The glass embedded into skin causing blood to rain down one side of her perfect face. My fingers still shook with unexpressed anger as I ripped the phone from the wall before I hurled that too at her hunched form. I watched as the object hit her shoulder as tears dripped uselessly from my chin. The stapler slapped her chin and just as a released pair of scissors in a perfect spiral toward the empty spot where Adrianna's heart should have been they stopped in mid-air. Its sharpened edge actually managed to scrap her chest just enough to place a tiny scratch along her skin. It was then that I finally acknowledged exactly where Adrianna now stood. With each blow I had stupidly inflected Adrianna had managed to take a step back until she stood firmly implanted just outside the doorway. Four huge wedges of glass remained firmly implanted inside the right side of her face causing the fountain of blood to stream from her features down the side of her neck. The tint of its liquid in no way compared to the hue of pure rage pulsating within her livid irises.

I watched in silence as emotionlessly she physically pulled each piece of glass from her flesh. She never even flinched as her fingers caused her wounds to deepen.

Then one by fucking one each wound began to heal right before my eyes.

...And instantly I realized just how royally screwed I truly was...

Her wrath captured my tiny frame from the ground before she catapulted my thrashing and yet helpless form into the adjacent wall. The impact caused the plaster to become dented and my vision to temporary fade into blackness. My body collapsed onto the table of office clutter while my ringing ears listened as glass smashed beneath me. I couldn't smother the sound of pained gasps as pieces of shattered decor sliced into my skin. My vision didn't return until my battered form at last rolled off the wooden surface to crash to the ground. I felt my skull collide with the side of the desk as like a rag doll Adrianna swept me along the ground toward the other side of the space. Her outburst of power made my earlier attempt appear that of a childish tantrum.

Wheezing in order to breathe through the pain, I felt her control compel my body to sail airborne until it smacked ruthlessly into another wall, resulting in another cloud of broken plaster. Coughing, I noticed that blood sprinkled from my lips as I struggled to release myself from my imprisoned position. By the time I could focus my vision on my stepsister again her appearance was completely unblemished. There were no wounds corrupting her beautiful face, no blood caked into her silky long mane, and no bruises marring tanned skin.

"Stupid doesn't even begin to describe you, Anna Marie!" she roared in a voice that sounded far deeper than it should have.

I felt her strength compel my arm to extend out against the wall even as I struggled to bring it back to my side. My hazel lenses flew back to the sight of those scissors I had intended to impale her with as they rose beside her to float in mid-air. My eyes rounded in horror as I began to struggle in a blind panic to fight the control that still held me captured. A blood curdling scream ripped from my vocal cords just as its shiny metal surface pierced straight through my hand into the wall. The immense pain that ravaged my body was indescribable as it traveled from my damaged palm throughout my figure. Tears comingled with the clotted blood that clung to my skin just as her abilities forced my other arm apart.

She smiled cruelly at the sight of the pain she had inflicted before she responded gleefully, "What can I say? I always was one to enjoy target practice."

Panting, my tear filled gaze met hers before they followed her gaze to her next weapon of choice. Curls smacked my face as I shook my head in hopeless denial as that letter opener was pulled from the corpse on the ground. I barely had time to open my mouth to cry out before I felt it slice uncaringly into the center of my other hand. My eyes closed causing droplets of sadness to fall to the ground as I tried to breathe through the agony.

Inwardly, I attempted to appease my fear with the notion that Adrianna couldn't kill me. She would never intentional risk incurring Rick's disapproval. Ironically, the one person I detested the most was the one thing keeping me alive. My lids detracted, my sight took in the pure insanity blaring within her eyes and instantly all sense of relief that notion once brought me vanished. As every shard that once created the smashed vase now stood suspended around her I knew I was screwed.

My lips fell agape in horror.

This nutcase was going to kill me.

"Adrianna, you can't-," I began to reason before I fell into silence to simply stare at the pieces of shattered pottery as they began to literally vibrate with her need to end me.

"This goes against your orders!" I inserted quickly while trying and yet still failing to remove myself from my position. I could hear the pounding of my heart vibrating throughout my ears as I attempted to formulate something to halt her vengeance. "Do-do you really think this is what Rick wants?" I stuttered.

Her lips trembled, a sight that seemed to betray her searing fury. A tear slipped from her lids allowing a trickle of hope to settle within my heart. "Rick doesn't love me. He never did." Her eyes fell from mine while those life ending shards lowered along with her guard. "Rick could only think of Andrea and..."

I watched her pause before her palms balled into tight fists at her sides. When those eyes rose again her lenses appeared completely black.

Aww shit! I inwardly screamed just as a single shard entered my leg causing me to cry out.

"You," she uttered in disgust before she hurled another shard deep into my stomach. It was you! You ruined everything!" A portion of glass slashed ruthlessly into my shoulder.

My eyes closed at the feel of continual torment as I internally prayed –Oh god, I cannot die like this.

Another piece of pottery entered my upper thigh as I gave in to the pain. Releasing my anguish, I shrieked a sound of absolute horror as shard after shard continue to stab into my skin. Between screams I allowed eyes blinded by tears to gaze down at my shredded body noticing that most of the cuts inflicted were superficial. It was as if she was enjoying toying with me. I glanced up to meet her eyes as another portion of hell was lodged into my breast. She smiled dementedly as she watched the pain caused force more tears to trickle forth. It was as if she was feeding off my pain before she would finally take my life. A shard sliced into the side of neck and desolately I wondered when that fatal piece would cut into my heart.

The pain became so overwhelming I found myself attempting to do the impossible and escape... myself.

Ingenuously, I managed to take shadow form before I pulled my soul from within my body. I allowed my darkened figure to depart from my damaged form to step down onto the ground. Dumbfounded, I looked down at my hands to see that my shape was nothing more than a black shadow. Wondering if I was dead, I glanced back at my figure. My body still writhed in pain with every shard hurled, tears still trickled from my long lashes, and blood still dripped from my lips.

Panicking, I tried to formulate a plan. I attempted to understand how my newfound discovery of being able to rip myself apart could benefit me. Seeing another piece of glass ascend, I jumped in front of it only for the sharpened sliver to pierce straight through my eclipsed body like smoke. My damaged suspended shape screamed as it sunk into its intended target.

Flustered, I attempted to kick the trash can only for my foot to glide through its surface.

Closing my eyes I tried to center myself. Think Anna. You're nothing more than an essence, a spirit, the core of everything that makes you, you. Why does that matter?

My eyes opened as the realization at last donned on me. This room prevented anyone from using their powers, but...

I evaporated into shadows appearing directly next to Adrianna while secretly reveling in the discovery that demons could not see my shadowed form like I could see theirs. Knowing that I could not inflict physical pain I did the only thing I knew that would devastate her.

My palm moved to rest upon her shoulder.

Adrianna's body froze, her lips opened to release a gasp as those forever hateful eyes widened.

Her gaze rose to rest upon my wilted form still suspended above her.

"What have you done?" She whispered before her weapons fell to the carpet one by one.

Her skin paled as her limbs began to tremble. Sweat broke out across her brow as she attempted to fight the compulsion, but it was impossible to battle what she couldn't even understand. Adrianna crumpled to her knees as morsel after morsel of power left her form to enter mine.

My shadowed palm rose in the direction of my defeated form. I felt power soar through my darkened essence into the farthest recesses of my shattered body. It poured from Adrianna's form into my shadowed essence before it leaked through my black palm like dark liquid bounding into my blood coated mouth.

My shadowed form became nothing more than a conductor of life and abilities from one soul to the next.

I felt Adrianna's heart falter. Although I would have loved to have sucked the life from her right here and now, I relented if only to witness her reaction to what would happen next. I released her from my grasp and watched her collapse fully to the ground like a person deprived of oxygen for too long.

Calmly I regarded her pale form as she glared up at my battered figure helplessly before I allowed my shadowed form to sway back toward my other half. Smirking, I stepped back into my former self while still in awe at my ability to allow my phantom presence to become one with my solid identity. The pain came back instantly only this time as quickly as it came it departed. It was like every ounce of pain transformed into this burning sense of rage from within incinerating any semblance of compassion I once held.

Adrianna watched crimson surpass hazel and ebony conquer what was once ivory. Whatever compulsion that prevented power usage within this room no longer seemed to apply to me. The scissors withdrew from my skin only to penetrate deeply into the wooden desk on the other side of the room. The letter opener like a dart whizzed from my skin in the direction of Adrianna's head. It only missed her skull by mere seconds of her rolling weakly out of the way. I floated easily to the ground below. The massive holes in the palms of my hand began to magically fuse back together. With every footstep that I took pieces of glass fell to trail after me as every cut and abrasion healed before my stepsister's widened eyes.

That's right, you fucking coward. You should be afraid...

Adrianna scrambled back further into the hall while silky strands shook out around her in a gesture of denial to her sight. "No, it's not possible."

My presence now appeared as flawless as it had when I stepped into this hellhole of a building. The sight caused fear to consume Adrianna's features. My arms extended at its side feeling the fury gather within me before I uttered, "By now dear sister you should have realized when dealing with me anything is possible."

She rose shakily to her feet while almost tripping in her five inch heels. "You need to understand things from my side," she pleaded as she slowly backed further into the hall.

I could feel the tips of my fingernails begin to heat up as I stalked her movements.

"What's there to understand? You love a sadistic psycho no matter what he has made you endure."

Her lips trembled as she eagerly agreed whilst keeping her body in constant retreat. "My love for him clouds my better judgement. It weakens me."

Flames suddenly began to engulf my fingers and yet my skin remained unharmed by its stroke. Adrianna's lenses seemed entranced by the sight.

"No Adrianna, it's your love for him that feeds that ingrained sense of cruelty that already festers inside your withered soul." The fiery flickers began to grow as its warm glow traveled up to my wrists.

Her arms rose in surrender. Never had I seen such unadulterated fear on one usually so arrogant. "Look... Oh god! Just look, Marie," She appeased with that phony projection of devastation now plastered back on her features... only now it seemed... genuine. "I was merely following orders. Rick told me to watch your every move, so I did. He told me to help train Courtney, I did. He insisted that I get rid of your father and sister that nig-."

"Let me guess... you did," I inserted, the rage within me caused the ignited flames to spread further up my arms.

Upon seeing my increased power Adrianna's hands became to tremor as she openly pleaded for understanding, "Marie, think about it. I never would have entered your life if it hadn't been for Rick. I knew nothing about who you were to become, or what powers you might possess. I only did as I was told. Do you really think I cared about coming after you when you were already sentenced to live within that asylum?"

I beamed at the absolute truth within that last statement. "Oh, I know that no one cared," I hissed as I flicked a finger at her feet. I watched as she dodged the flames that suddenly singed the carpet.

"Anna-."

"No one sympathized about my nightmares that became reality." Another series of flames ignited the path Adrianna barely managed to evade. "Do you know what it's like to be an outcast to humans, angels, and demons? To continue to evolve into this monstrous being with no guidance, no knowledge, and no idea how to control abilities I never asked for?"

"I don't-."

A line of flames shot up behind Adrianna blocking her exit from the hallway.

"That's right you don't because in all that time that you wreaked havoc on my life you were simply following orders." The flames took siege of the hem of Adrianna's dress before her flustered fingers quickly patted wildly at its stroke in an attempt to extinguish its blaze.

Finally her eyes jerked back to mine while seeming to ignore growing flames she realized she couldn't put out. Raging she screamed, "You were never going to spare me, were you?"

Emotionlessly I mocked, "I could ask you the same thing?"

Her chin wobbled as she tried to ignore the sensation of burning flesh. With labored breath she accused, "This is about her, isn't it? I sent Andrea into her final death. This is payback, isn't it!"

The flames began to spread further up her torso, its touch caused sweat to pour down her untouched skin.

"It's always been about her," I whispered as I allowed the fire behind Adrianna to extinguish. It left behind only charred wood.

Circling my stepsister, I simply watched as the flames expanded along her skin and still she stayed composed. I paused to peer deeply into her eyes. There I found it... That undeniable vulnerability no one is capable of hiding forever, and I was intent on bringing it forth. I would not leave this hall until she recognized her inevitable defeat within the string of burns.

"There's something you haven't grasped yet, Adrianna."

I stepped back to watch as tears at last fell from her enraged eyes. Flamed, charred muscle became visible as flames melted holes into the fabric of her flesh. She collapsed to her knees as the flames licked her chin before her gorgeous features became lost in a sea of orange and red. It was only as it consumed her face that she at last admitted defeat. The heart wrenching bellow that pierced the hall was music to my ears before her body tilted further losing its battle to cling to life.

...At last the fire extinguished before me.

A charred, deceased lifeform lay crumpled at my feet.

The hall remained silent, still. Waiting patiently, I watched as blackened skin reverted back to its customary sun kissed tone. What was left of Adrianna's singed hair returned to its former glossy, thick auburn tresses, and her lips once again gained it full, cherry hued appearance. Seared holes turned back into smooth skin as her dress reappeared unblemished. Then at last, my stepsister stood shakily back to her feet while touching her form in obvious wonder.

"I'm not dead," she whispered. Panting, as she openly laughed in relief. "I'm not dead!" Turning quickly back toward me she spat, "Your powers couldn't kill me. They were only temporary." She glared vehemently before releasing threats like a gun shoots bullets, "You, my sweet little Anna Marie, are going to wish that you were never born!"

My sudden beam seemed to throw her. "It's a little late for that, don't you think?"

Unconcerned by her suddenly healed appearance, I simply watched as my stepsister attempted to use her powers to compel me into the nearest wall. When nothing happened I answered her bewilderment calmly. "As I was saying... There's something you haven't grasped yet, Adrianna. My goal here wasn't to simply fry you. Death would be too easy. You see, you took Andrea away from me that night in the car. Then you allowed her to come back only to constantly attempt to snatch her away... And then finally, you succeeded. You succeeded in taking the one person I cared about most from my life. The pain of constantly having to endure such torment is something I could never put into words. You see, my curse onto you was not to force you to experience a slow burning death..."

Adrianna began to panic as flickers once again began to consume the edges of her dress. "No," she screamed, "no, not again!" Agony stricken eyes clashed with mine.

"No Adrianna, my curse onto you was to compel you to constantly relive the experience of burning alive."

I gazed on emotionlessly as the show commenced. I watched with silent pleasure as flames literally boiled skin.

"There is something seriously sexy about the vindictive side of you, Anna Marie."

Pausing at the sound of evil incarnated, I continued watching Adrianna's flame encased prison with a casual demeanor as if the one person I pursued had not finally appeared behind me.

This one's for you big sis, I whispered internally.

"What? A girl can't admire a nice bond fire every once in a while?" I sadistically joked as I turned to gaze up into my living, breathing nightmare standing there in the flesh.

Rick beamed, his handsome features almost spellbinding. "You were always full of surprises, Baby Doll."

Oh you don't even know the half of what I have in store...

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(I haven't wrote a chapter in a long time so thanks to anyone who reads this. I love writing Being Anna Marie but it's hard to find time when you have work, college, and basically life in the way. I think I only have one chapter and tiny bit left. I'm excited to finally finish a story!)

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