(Author's Note: I'm doing something a bit different with this chapter--I don't normally add videos, but this song is really inspiring me in this story arc, so I figured I'd add it! Please be forewarned, it begins very, very quietly, and rather suddenly becomes quite loud. Do not, I repeat, do NOT turn your headphones up too loudly! In addition, the video may be difficult for those with epilepsy or other issues triggered by flashing lights and colors, and the...er...intensity might be an issue to those with anxiety issues. The lyrics of the song itself are really more important to me than the sound, so if you want to find the lyrics only, look up "Above the Broken, The Dark Half lyrics." Hope you all enjoy!)

Daylight wanes, fades, and turns into the soft glow of moonlight streaming in through the kitchen window. Our conversation winds down, diminishing into a comfortable, sleepy silence; she is the first one to break it by yawning and picking up both our cartons, placing them in the bag. "Well, it's getting pretty late," she sighs, crumpling the bag and opening a cabinet beneath the sink to reveal a trash can. "We should get some sleep." Shoving the take-out bag in the trash, she closes the door and straightens up, turning to me. "Heh, you look like you could fall asleep standing up."

"Don't tempt me," I joke, getting to my feet. "I just might try to."

"If you fall, I'm not catching you," she fires back, stifling giggles, and I smirk as she steps out of the kitchen/dining room area. "Goodnight, Shadow," she calls over her shoulder as I step out the kitchen, a few paces behind her; I hear her door open, and round the corner just in time to see it close.

"Goodnight," I answer absently, plodding tiredly to my room and shutting my own door behind me, leaning against it. There's no way I can sleep, I sigh, lowering my head. I was exhausted enough earlier that I didn't have any nightmares, but there's no telling if I'll have that same dreamless bliss...at least I managed to catch some Z's without terror for once. Yawning, I trek forward, flopping facedown onto my bed heavily. I was quite full--for the first time in my life, I'm so full I can hardly move. It's a wonderful feeling, I realize, beginning to purr as I roll onto my side, the sheets wrinkling beneath me. I pull at the ones in front of me, balling them up in my hands, and I curl around them, still purring with a slight smile on my face. Maybe this is what heaven is like, I think to myself as I drift off into sleep for the second time today, staring at white sheets and my own hands with a now-moonlit lavender wall serving as a soothing backdrop.

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It's dark and chilly in this place, and I shiver slightly. Where am I? Why is it so cold here? What am I doing here anyways, and how did I get here? Questions swirl around my head as I carefully walk forward, my bare feet sliding across some sort of ice-like material. Maybe it is ice, I don't know. I can't really see it too well, save for a slight glimmer of light reflected off it, but I don't know where the light originates from. I can't see a light source anywhere, no matter where I look. Pulling my arms close to me, I shudder with cold, my feet slipping and sliding along, my steps slow and hampered by my lack of balance. Where am I going? Why am I walking? Am I lost? Ahead of me, I can see something glittering brighter than the rest of this darkness. My ears perk up, and I begin to move towards it, picking up my pace, but even as I approach it it begins to glow brighter and brighter, a light greenish color; it overwhelms the darkness, and my eyes lance with pain as I squint, confused. The light intensifies, and I have no choice but to squeeze my eyes shut, head aching with agony. After a few moments, the brightness fades, and I crack my eyes open slightly.

"What're you doin', silly?" A familiar voice giggles, and my head snaps up, shocked.

"Heather?" I stare at her. She beams up at me, looking exactly the same as she did the last day I ever saw her. Her combat boots, still a bit too big for her, and her green scaled shirt glittering in the moonlight, contrasting her dark purple fur... "Is that really you?"

"I think so," she answers in her childish tone. Oh, how different it sounds, to hear it through an adult's ears, rather than a child's--! "At least, I don't think there's any other me's around here." She smiles up at me sweetly, and I find myself smiling back. "So I'm sure it's really me." She steps forward, taking my hand in hers. "Wow, you've gotten big, Shadezy! Try not to step on me, okay?"

"You're not that tiny," I answer with a laugh, feeling reassured. Her presence means that things will be okay, I know that. "You're just half a foot or so shorter than me." Nothing can go wrong when she's by my side... Right?

"I dunno," she answers, tugging me forward gently. "Come here, come here, lean close!" The lavender hedgehog yelps, and I bend down slightly, angling my ears forward, curious. She stretches up onto her tiptoes, pressing her muzzle against my ear, her warm breath stirring the delicate fur on my face. Her skin is warm against mine, and it brings me back to the days before my life was hell. But what she says to me makes my chest grow colder than the floor beneath me.

"It's here," she hisses, "and it's coming for you."

"Wh-What?!" I stutter, pulling back and stumbling, slipping on the icy floor.

"Look down," she stage-whispers childishly, stepping away from me. Uncomprehending, I stare down, and a shriek of terror escapes me as I stare at my reflection in the glasslike ground. That stare, that blackened flesh, the purple aura, the cheshire grin--I howl, horrified, and the demon stretches its mouth into an expression I assume is similar to mine, as if mocking me. Harsh hyena laughter spills from its mouth as it leans forward, towards me, stretching one arm out; its hands break the surface of the glass as if it were water, complete with the spray of silvery, glittering fluid across my body. Its claws wrap around my throat as it pulls itself from the water, beaming maniacally at me. I choke, spluttering, as its grip tightens.

"Did you really think you could escape me?" It snarls, lifting its other hand to my neck. "Did you think you were safe? I told you you can't run from me," a darkness clouds the edge of my vision. "I am your conscience, I am a part of you." With a twist, it throws me, and I wheeze, sucking in air; unfortunately, before I hit the ground, it sweeps me up into its arms, digging its talons into me. "And you will never escape me. You're fucking mine!" Opening its mouth wide, it takes a massive bite out of my neck, and I screech as I feel its teeth scraping against my bones. "How pitiful," it hisses with venom, pulling back; I am limp in its arms, gasping like a fish out of water. "You ran and hid, like a COWARD. You truly are scum. You can't run from your past, and you will never escape your fate, so just give it up. You're worthless!"

Blood oozes down my shoulder, warm and sticky, and I shudder. "Why..." I cough, and it grins at me. "Why...are you...doing this?" Tears well at the edge of my eyes, fueled by pain and fear.

"Because," it snarls, "you cheated. It was my turn, and you took it away from me. You thought you could beat me? How does it feel," it snarls, slashing at my face, "How does it feel, Shadow? To be beaten?" Stabbing its fingers into my chest, it presses its face close to mine. "To feel your body growing numb?" Its mouth is inches from my eyes. "You're slowly dying from the inside," it whispers, and I tremble as its fangs glimmer in the green light. "And I will be the one to do the honors and lay your poor, poor soul to rest." It pouts, then smiles wickedly, throwing me once more. I cry out when my head hits the glass, and it shatters beneath me, turning to liquid and swallowing me within it, and I'm screaming and struggling as I lose consciousness.  "By devouring it."

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"Shadow!" Someone shakes me roughly, and my eyes fly open, blurry vision showing me a wonderful view of the ceiling, a strangled yelp escaping me. My eyes are still sleep-blurred, and I can't see anything clearly, but I know that voice anywhere as she cries, "Shadow, are you okay?!" Blinking, I try to re-focus; my vision suddenly becomes unnaturally sharp, tinged with red, and when I glance up at her face, I'm not really seeing it. Terror blazes through me and I flinch, my sight returning to normal.

I sit up, clutching the covers in my hand, panting. What just happened? Sweat drips off my brow; disoriented, I look around. "Y-Yeah, sorry," I breathe, slowly coming back down to earth. It was just a dream--just another nightmare. Sudden worry spears me, and I look over at Rouge, standing by my bed in her pajamas. She looks terrified, yet sleepy. "Crap... Did I wake you?"

"Wh--No, I mean," she's starting to relax, seeing that I'm not injured. "I wasn't really asleep or anything," the azure-eyed bat assures me with a smile, but I know she's lying, and I feel terrible.

"I'm so sorry," I mumble, rubbing my eyes. "Truly, I am." This is why I don't usually stay with people... Pulling my knees up to my chin, I lower my arms, staring dully down at my feet.

She sighs, sitting down on my bed next to me. "Guess I'm not that much of a liar after midnight, huh." The white bat remarks, but I don't laugh. "Hey," she begins softly, and I glance over at her. Her eyes glimmer with concern as she asks, "Do you have nightmares often?"

I open my mouth, but find no words, and instead turn away. I don't want to tell her how weak I am--I don't want her to know. I refuse to let her see that side of me, but I know I can't lie to her... Can I? I flick my gaze back to her, and cringe inwardly, wounded by the thought. No. I can't lie. Not to that face, so sincere and caring. "Every time I sleep," I mutter, averting my eyes. Please don't pity me! I don't need your sympathy, I'm strong enough to deal with my problems!

She reaches forward, and I bristle, my quills standing on end, razor-sharp. I expect her to flinch, to stop, to get up and leave me alone, but she doesn't even react. "Poor thing," she sighs, gently placing a hand on my back. "I can only imagine how awful that is." Gingerly she starts to pet me, almost like a dog; it's unusual, yet somehow comforting, and I feel my fur relaxing. "How do you even manage to function?" Rouge's brows furrow in confusion. "I mean, if you have nightmares every time you sleep, and you obviously avoid sleeping because of it..." She trails off when I don't look back at her. The corner of my room has my full attention right now, and I don't want to divert my gaze from it. This is all too awkward, too personal, and I don't want to deal with it right now. I don't know how to.

"I don't need your pity," I seethe, bristling again. "I've been doing just fine on my own." My tone fades to a low growl, and I wonder if she can tell that my anger is insincere. I just want to be left alone.

She hums for a moment, thinking, and then pats my back cheerfully. "I know just the thing to make you feel better!" The snowy bat chirps, getting up. "Come with me." Whooshing out the door, she jogs down the hall, and I finally turn my head, puzzled. What does she mean? Standing up as well, I plod after her, dragging my feet with exhaustion. It's been so long since I've ever fully, deeply slept for hours, and while I love to deny it, I can't ignore my growing fatigue. My back aches, my feet are sore, my eyes are dry and my still-healing wounds throb. The scent of something brewing in the kitchen catches my attention, and I round the corner with a puzzled look on my face, holding onto the doorframe for support.

"What're you doing?" I ask sleepily as I step into the kitchen.

"You'll see!" She smiles over her shoulder at me, small wisps of steam rising from an object in front of her. "Sit over there, at the table and give me a few minutes, okay?"

"Mmkay," I yawn, slumping down into the wooden chair. I hadn't noticed before because I'd been too busy thinking of food, but this table and chair set are of a polished pine, sanded down rather well. I blink down at it blankly, trying to force myself to focus on it and not the nightmarish visions still dancing behind my eyelids. To distract myself, I decide to watch Rouge work out of the corner of my eye, curiously trying to figure out what she's doing. After a couple seconds, Rouge gently sets down a glass of something very warm next to me.

"Here," she says kindly, taking the seat across from me. "It's a latte--Chai, to be precise, and decaffeinated of course." I shift position, pulling the mug closer to me. The liquid inside is a tan color, and smells sweet. Gingerly I bring the cup to my lips, taking a small sip; it's incredibly hot, but that's so very soothing after my horrifically chilly dream, and its flavor is sugary and inviting.

"Thank you," I murmur, looking up at her over it. "It's wonderful." She looks a bit surprised for a moment, and then her cheeks flare red.

"I-It's nothing," she waves her hand, looking away, "I just--whenever I'm stressed-out, I drink one of those. It helps." Nodding, I don't answer, only take another sip of the warm drink.

The silence drags on, and Rouge fidgets, uncomfortable. I can tell she wants to say something, but the quiet is too binding, restrictive; I know she won't stay mute forever, so I take advantage of this pause to collect myself and try to make sense of what's happened. I thought I had finally beaten this demon, but it looks like I was wrong. Or was I? Does this nightmare even mean anything? Do any of my dreams mean anything? Anything at all? I don't know anymore. Sighing inwardly, I look down into the half-empty cup, feeling a dark cloud settle over my heart. I just don't know. I feel tired, broken--I'm so sick of having to deal with all of this. I don't ever want to sleep again. I don't even know if I want to be alive, especially not if this is all my life will ever be. Closing my eyes, I lower my head slightly. Why me? Why is my life like this? What did I do to deserve such a twisted and sadistic conscience?

"Hey," Rouge's voice jolts me back to reality as she gingerly slides one hand across the table; I open my eyes and glance up at her as she interlaces her fingers with mine. Her eyes are filled with sadness and worry, which only makes me feel worse. I don't want to bother her, not when she's done so much for me already! This is too much, I don't deserve to be treated so kindly. "Listen, I know you're having a rough time right now," she murmurs in a comforting tone as she stares into my eyes intently, "but things will get better, okay?" My eyes widen slightly, surprised by her tone--I've never heard her sound so gentle, almost motherly. It's oddly familiar, though, as if someone else once spoke to me this way, but I don't recall who that could be. "You've been through hell and back, and that's undoubtably left you a little damaged. But it's okay," she gently rubs her thumb across my knuckles, still not breaking eye contact, as if she thinks she can channel all of her kindness into me through a staring contest. My cheeks start to heat up awkwardly as she continues, "You can make it through whatever's plaguing you. I know you can." Smiling, she stands up, letting go of my hand; I pray that my face isn't showing the blush I can feel spreading across my snout. "Take your time and finish your tea. I'm going to try and get a bit more sleep before we have to go to work." I nod as she starts to walk past me; for a moment, she pauses, then impulsively leans forward and presses her muzzle to my forehead. "Don't worry, Shadow. The stuff in your dreams is just in your head, and it'll go away eventually, I'm sure. Time heals all wounds," she purrs into my fur, brushing past me rapidly as if she doesn't want to look back at me. Puzzled, I furrow my brows. What was that all about? I turn and look at the kitchen doorway, its empty darkness offering no answers. I'm touched that she cares so much about me, but at the same time I feel like her kindness is undeserved. Turning back to my tea, I groan, leaning over the mug, troubled. I've done so many awful things in my life, really. I don't understand what's going on--why is everyone giving me a second chance? Villains don't get second chances, that's not how it works. They get punished, they get beaten up as the hero saves the day. That's nothing less than I deserve, right? Sighing, I swirl one claw through the tan fluid, watching as it forms a small whirlpool. They certainly don't get good food, a bed to themselves, and tea. Nausea stirs within me, and I lean back, looking away from the tea. So why am I being treated so well by her? My eyes drift to the kitchen window, and the night skyline it reveals; in a flash, I remember how when It had control of me, It used my hands to strangle her. A shudder runs up my spine as I recall the feel of her neck in my hands, so delicate, and the look of terror and pain in her eyes. I could have killed her, I realize, and my hands start to shake. I'm a goddamn monster. Tears brew at the edge of my vision, and I don't even try to stop them as I clap one hand over my mouth, stifling a sob. Squeezing my eyes shut as the salty tears flow down my cheeks, I grit my teeth, biting my palm. Keep it together, Shadow. You have to try and control yourself, because if you let loose... Another sob racks my body, and I slump, laying my forehead on the table. Shut up, just shut up! I'd never do that! It wasn't me, it was HIM, it was the demon! I would never hurt her!

Would I?