_Episode 13: Countdown Begins_
The air in Luna's room hung heavy with unspoken resolve. We'd each named our sacrifice, and the weight of it settled in like a storm cloud. _What if we fail?_ The thought crept in, but I pushed it away. We wouldn't fail.
Luna stood up, her eyes locked on the small altar in the corner of the room—a mix of crystals, candles, and a faded photo of her family. She'd never told me what that altar meant, but now she walked toward it like it held answers.
"I need to show you something," she said softly. I followed her gaze to the photo. It was of her parents… and a younger version of herself, laughing on a beach.
"This altar... it's where I connect with my family's energy," she said. "My sister was the one who loved this necklace – the one you're wearing. She gave it to me before she passed away. I keep it to remind myself of her and the happy times we had as a family."
My heart squeezed. _I've been wearing her sister's necklace this whole time._ No wonder she'd freaked out when I touched it.
"I've been feeling her presence... here," Luna tapped her chest. "Like she's telling me to fix things. To make up for... stuff." She paused. "My friends think I'm cold because I use people. But it's me trying to fill the hole. If I give up my rep... maybe I can finally be _me_."
I felt the switch click in my head. _I'm me. And I'm in Luna's body._ The thought grounded me.
"Tomorrow night is the equinox," I said, recalling Ajax's hint. "We need to do the ritual then. Are we really ready?"
Luna turned, her expression fierce. "We have to be."
We pulled out our phones and set the countdown timer together: _23:47:12_...
Luna's voice dropped to a whisper. "What if... what if it doesn't work? What if we stay like this?"
I grabbed her hand. "We'll figure it out. We have to."
The timer ticked down. _23:46:11_...
As it beeped, Luna's phone buzzed with a text. _Unknown number:_ _The sacrifice must be sealed with intent. No backing out._
Luna and I exchanged a look. _It's happening._
"We're in," I typed, hands shaking. The response came instantly: _Good. Midnight. The old clock tower. Come alone… but bring the other self._
The clock tower. Where we first switched.
Luna took a breath. "Guess we're doing this."