The corridor exploded into chaos.
Two Kais — identical, terrifying mirrors — clashed in a storm of shadow and flame.
The real Kai surged forward with a roar, Shadowsteel erupting around him like darkness given teeth.
The mimic-Kai didn't move.
He only smiled.
"Still so emotional," it purred.
The real Kai's blade struck first—
But passed straight through the mimic's chest.
Lina screamed.Seren covered her ears, hearing echoes shrieking.Reyon's illusions fractured into a thousand shards.
The mimic-Kai didn't even blink.
"You can't cut what isn't flesh," it whispered.
Kai staggered back, furious.
"You're not me," he snarled."You'll never be me."
The mimic tilted its head.
"But she believed I was."
Lina froze.
"Kai—don't listen— he's lying—"
The mimic turned to her, eyes softening with a perfect imitation of Kai's tenderness.
Perfect.
It hurt.
"Lina," mimic-Kai said, stepping closer,"I'm the one you followed that night."
Her heart stopped.
Kai roared, "DON'T TALK TO HER—!"
But the mimic kept going.
"You followed me because you trust me.Because you always have.Even in the dark.Even when you knew you shouldn't."
Lina trembled.
"No. I followed Reyon's face. Not yours."
The mimic smiled gently.
Too gently.
"Are you sure?"
Her breath hitched.
Memory fragments flickered again—
A shadowed figure.A comforting voice.A warm hand.A tall silhouette.
What if it wasn't Reyon?What if it was Kai?
Kai saw her confusion.
"No—Lina, STOP— that wasn't me. I swear on my life—"
But the mimic raised his voice over Kai's desperation.
"Do you remember the hand that led you?"
Lina closed her eyes.
She remembered—
A warm grip.Familiar.Steady.
Like Kai's.
She shook violently."No… no, that can't be right—"
Kai's face cracked with heartbreak.
"Lina, LOOK at me.I did NOT lead you.I was chasing you."
The mimic whispered:
"He speaks truth…from one point of view.But truth bends."
Kai charged again, fury tearing through him.
This time his blade sparked off the mimic—as if striking metal.
The mimic's voice deepened.
"Shadowsteel.Such a cursed gift."
Kai slashed harder.
"You don't get to talk about my curse."
The mimic leaned in close, face brushing his.
"Your curse is the only reason she followed you."
Kai froze.
Lina felt her knees weaken.
"What… what does that mean?"
The mimic stepped back, addressing Lina.
"Why do you think your flame reacts to him?"
Kai turned sharply."DON'T. Touch this. Don't you dare—"
But the mimic continued.
"Your flame recognizes him.His shadow recognizes you.Your souls are tangled far deeper than you understand."
Lina whispered, "Stop… please—"
"And tangled souls…"It smiled faintly."…are easiest to manipulate."
Kai snapped.
He grabbed Lina, pulling her behind him.
"You don't get to speak about us. EVER."
But the mimic wasn't done.
A shadowy hand extended toward Lina.
"Come with me again, little flame."
Her flame screamed inside her chest.
Pain.Heat.Fear.
She collapsed to her knees.
Kai spun toward her, horrified."Lina—!"
Seren gasped, "Her flame— something's pulling it!"
Reyon hurled a wall of illusions between Lina and the mimic.
"BACK OFF, SHADOW SLIME!"
The mimic laughed softly.
"Why do you resist?You already walked with me once.You will walk with me again."
The corridor dimmed.
Lina struggled to breathe."It's… pulling me… I can't—"
Kai grabbed her shoulders, voice breaking.
"STAY. With me. Look at ME. I've got you."
Her flame flickered violently — torn between two forces.
The mimic stepped closer.
"She cannot resist what she already obeyed."
Kai lunged.
A wrong move.
The mimic stopped him with a single whispered sentence:
"Do you want her to know the real reason you're cursed?"
Kai froze mid-strike.
His blade trembled.
Lina felt her heart drop.
"Kai…?"
His breath hitched.
"Don't listen," he whispered."Please. Lina, don't listen to it."
The mimic touched its chest — where Kai's heartbeat would be.
"The Oathbreaker curse isn't punishment."
Kai's eyes widened.
"No—STOP—"
"It's a seal."
Silence.
Even the shadows held still.
Lina stared at Kai in horror.
"A… seal?"
Kai shook his head, panic rising.
"Lina—don't— It's lying—"
But the mimic pressed its hand to its own heart.
"A seal forged from a vow he broke…to someone he loved."
Kai's face shattered.
Lina's flame dimmed.
Reyon whispered, "Kai… what is it talking about?"
Kai didn't speak.
Couldn't.
The mimic leaned close, eyes locked on Lina.
"Do you know what happens when a sealed vow is threatened?"
Lina whispered, "What?"
The corridor darkened completely.
The mimic's voice dropped to a whisper:
"The sealed heart destroys the one it's bound to protect."
Lina's heart stopped.
Kai recoiled as if stabbed.
Seren screamed.
Reyon's illusions shattered.
And the mimic, still wearing Kai's perfect face, whispered the final knife:
"The second betrayal is his."
Kai's Shadowsteel erupted in a violent, uncontrollable storm.
His knees buckled.
His mark burned black.
He whispered one word—
"No…"
Lina reached for him—
But Kai stepped back from her.
Terrified of himself.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
All rights reserved.