My Koigni magic was protecting me. I wouldn’t let anyone drag me away from Monica ever again.
Monica nearly sang as she spoke her next words. “Come on, Ava. We need to get our nails done. They need to look perfect for our next video. Your album is almost complete. I know everyone’s going to love it. Just take my hand, and we can wrap up the last song.”
Our last song. I’d never finished it. It’d been too painful to finish my album without her. After all these years, it remained half-done, abandoned on my computer at home.
But maybe all those years had just been a fantasy, and nothing bad had happened at all. The Institute, the Darke Games… it’d all been a bad dream.
Monica bent over and extended her long fingers to me. Our grasps were within inches of connecting. She gave a mischievous grin as she said, “Let’s go back to Kinpago. We can hunt John down and wrap him in a tarp. I’ve got a baseball bat with his name on it. He’d look good floating at the bottom of the ocean. I’m gonnakillhim for hurting my best friend.”
I immediately drew back my hand, flinching with Monica’s words. I had to admit in my heart then that this was an illusion, and that Monica wasn’t here. All of that had happened after she died. She hadn’t been around to witness it.
I slid away from Monica, recoiling from the illusion’s stare. “I know this isn’t real. You aren’t here, Monica. And I can’t love you enough to bring you back. If love was enough to save you, you never would’ve died.”
Monica’s face shimmered, like she was wounded by my admission. Tears sparkled in her gaze as she retreated away from me, and it devastated me. I wished I was as blind as Charlie, so I didn’t have to see her face.
Charlie scrambled forward. My skin was still warm, but not hot enough to hurt anyone anymore. “Pidge.” He lifted me to my feet, but I was still too weak to stand. He placed me on Oberi’s back. I barely held in a sob.
Marcus appeared miserable. “I’m sorry,” he told me. He touched my knee lightly, and I wiped my face on the back of my sleeve.
I felt stupid. At least Marcus had conjured up an image of someone who was still alive. He wasn’t so silly to keep holding on to the past. It wasn’t like he’d imagined Anya. Charlie hadn’t brought back Marty, either. I was so embarrassed.
“Kallie, are you okay? I didn’t want to burn you,” I told her.
“I’m fine,” Kallie said as she cradled her hurt hand. “I know you didn’t mean it.”
Monica floated behind us, with Erica and Fake Me in tow. The false Ava and Monica held hands as they hovered. It was bizarre and heartbreaking. I kept my gaze locked forward as the specters continued floating behind us.
“We have to keep moving,” Charlie said. “Ava’s running out of time.”
Hardly cared if I did, at this point. I felt worthless.
But Kallie’s illusion, whatever it was, was still ahead, and I wanted to be there to support her through it. We continued through the tunnel, until we came to the last figure hiding in the darkness.
Oh, great, another clone. Except this time, it was of Kallie herself.
And damn, she’d sure dressed herself up. She had a glittering gold medal around her neck and a crown on her head. Her blonde hair fell in massive curls, and her makeup was done to perfection. She wore a big purple gown, and a bright smile on her face that was too white and clean. Her boobs were bigger, her middle was thinner, and there wasn’t a blemish or spot out of place.
She looked sofake.It was gross. Marcus appeared disgusted at the sight of the perfect Kallie, taking a step back and recoiling away.
Kallie’s eyes narrowed when she faced herself. “You,” she sneered.
The illusion flipped her hair and gave a girlish laugh, which I hated— it was far too feminine for Kallie. “Here I am.”
“Move out of the way,” Kallie said. “I killed you.”
“You didn’t kill me. I’ve been with you all along,” Perfect Kallie said. “Everyone knowsI’mthe version that you should’ve been.”
“I lost my chance,” Kallie replied. “It’s over now.”
Perfect Kallie raised a sculpted eyebrow. “I don’t give up. That’s why there’s a crown on my head, and not yours.”
“I don’t even know if Iwantedthe crown! I just did what was expected of me!” Kallie shouted.
“You wanted a chance to show yourflawlessbrother up!” Perfect Kallie spat. “I’m giving you another one. You can’t just throw it away! Aren’t you tired of living in his shadow? Because I am, and I made sure he knew it.”
Kallie’s nose wrinkled. “I’m nothing like you.”
“You can be!” Perfect Kallie straightened her shoulders. “I’m better-looking, I’m nicer, I’m thinner and everyone likesme.You could be me, too, if you just tried hard enough.”
