“I know you, Star, because we are the same. The only difference is that I'm stronger than you. So why don't you give your life over to me completely? Let me be the one to fulfill our dreams. I'll take care of him and the little ones.”
His words and voice were so hypnotic and convincing that Star felt like he was in a dream and didn't want to wake up. Star's mind and any strength he had to resist were weakening. The doppelganger wrapped his arms around Star, and he felt as if he was sinking deep.
Why am I fighting it? This life wasn't mine in the first place.He closed his eyes and let go.He's right, I'm too weak.
“Yes, that's it. Give it all to me,” the voice cooed as Star's consciousness sank deeper. He did as the voice convinced him to do, slowly letting go of his past, present, and future. And just as it felt like he was about to disappear, he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He pulled away from the arms that held him and gasped for breath. Star knew he was inside his subconscious. It was the only way the doppelganger spirit could control him.
“Forget everything and listen to my voice.” The spirit went to touch him, and Star doubled over in pain, clutching his belly.
“Get the fuck away from me,” Star growled.
“Fuck, why is this so damn hard? You're not strong. You are weaker than all the other bodies I've possessed. This is taking too damn long.”
Star gasped, closing his eyes as the pain in his stomach intensified. He wasn't sure what was happening, but he felt as if he would truly die. He ignored the spirit's rambling and focused on alleviating the pain. He didn't understand how he was experiencing physical pain when he was trapped in his subconscious. Maybe it was another magical thing that could not be explained.
Star, don't leave me. Come back to me, baby boy. Come back to us. Let me take care of you. I need to tell you how much I'm falling in love with you. Don't let him possess you.
Star opened his eyes and looked around when he heard another familiar voice. At the voice, his midsection stopped hurting.
“Ignore that, it's nobody,” the doppelganger said.
“I don't believe you.” Star looked around, but he was shrouded in nothing but darkness, with the only light coming from his lookalike.
“I said don't pay it any mind,” the figure growled.
But Star didn't listen. “Help! Help me,” he shouted. He grabbed his stomach when it started hurting again.
Star, baby, I hope you can hear me.
Star sighed in relief, hearing Anubis's voice again, and was glad he wasn't imagining things. Once more, at the sound of his lover's voice, his stomach stopped hurting, and if it were any other time, Star would have wanted to understand the connection. But at that moment, all he could think of was finding Anubis.
“Anubis, help me. Where are you?” Star yelled.
Baby, I don't know if you can hear me, but fight him, Star. Show him how strong you are. I can feel you trying, Star. Don't give up. Please, baby. I need you. Our children need you.
Children. Star gasped.I have children. We don't have any kids. And then something occurred to him. Star pressed a hand to his stomach, recalling the pain that came and went whenever Anubis spoke.Am I pregnant?A small glow came from his stomach but disappeared quickly, and Star gasped in surprise. “Anubis, I'm pregnant.”
When no sound came back, Star realized Anubis couldn't hear him. Star felt ashamed that he was so easily manipulated that he'd allowed himself to become weak, but no more. Taking a deep breath, Star looked at the doppelganger that was still mumbling to himself like a crazy person. Star realized the irony in his thinking. A man trapped in his mind with a spirit that was trying to possess him whole. Closing his eyes, Star focused on his love for Anubis. There were many things he didn’t understand, like magic and how many different worlds there were, but one thing was certain: he loved Anubis like no other.
The doppelganger was right; he’d been holding back from Anubis because he feared being thrown away again if he opened his heart fully. He'd repeatedly lost everything that mattered to him in his last life, and he was so scared of history repeating. But he now understood that Anubis wouldn't let anything happen to him. Anubis really cared about him. Star felt a new sensation pass through him, knowing it was Anubis's love. And that was when he saw it, the threads connecting him and Anubis to their children.
“Anubis,” Star said as a smile formed on his mouth.
Star felt a warm touch on his cheek.“My Star, among all the stars. You can finally see our bond thread.”
“I'm so sorry. I didn't know,” Star cried.
“Shh...it's okay, baby, we'll talk about it later. Right now, let's get rid of the spirit.”
“How? He's so strong.”
“You're wrong, Star. You're stronger. Push him out of your mind, and I will take care of the rest.”Star felt something caress his lips.“I'm right here, baby boy. Right here next to you. When you doubt yourself, reach out to me, and I will help you.”
Star opened his eyes and saw the spirit looking at him with curiosity written all over his face. “I won't let you have my body. I won't let you have my family,” he said, getting the spirit's attention. “I don't know what you did when you lived in this world, and frankly, I don't care.”
The spirit laughed. “Look at you acting all big and bad. You still don't get it. You can't beat me.”
“You're wrong,” Star said, taking a step toward the doppelganger and pushing at him hard, and he was surprised when he moved back, but Star didn't stop his assault. “I've been such a fool too many times in my life. Letting others push me around, but no fucking more.” With as much strength as he could muster, Star shoved the man much harder than before. This time, the spirit moved and disappeared. Star waited for a minute before he let out a sigh of relief.
