MABEL
That was the thing about aspirations and ambitions. They could have as many as they wanted.
Habit formed in the grasp of her twin’s hand, even though she couldn’t feel her, no warmth between laced fingers and enveloped palms, but they could guide, they could unite, they could sense and contort one another – and perhaps that would be enough. For now, for now, for now, while they explore their abilities, while they wandered into the threads of the evening, while they ventured forth into the unknown, sliding mercurial, capricious intentions into something more. She wouldn’t miss the sun. She wouldn’t miss the gnawing feeling of hunger. She wouldn’t miss the biting, clawing, ripping, tearing feeling of knowing she was about to die, just the same as the rest.
In between their marches down the road, there was another sound. A call into the void, and Mabel stilled, pondering which route, which direction, they should maneuver within, to ignore it completely, to rampage off into the woods, or to stand their ground.
And then it was in her mind, sharp and poignant, and she thought to hiss automatically, to intertwine like an asp, like a cobra, like a snake. Would it be too telling, to give herself entirely away?
Ascended, she responded instead, a neutral tone (was that possible, within her own brain?), careful, cautious, wary; squeezing Evelyn’s hand on impulse.
Habit formed in the grasp of her twin’s hand, even though she couldn’t feel her, no warmth between laced fingers and enveloped palms, but they could guide, they could unite, they could sense and contort one another – and perhaps that would be enough. For now, for now, for now, while they explore their abilities, while they wandered into the threads of the evening, while they ventured forth into the unknown, sliding mercurial, capricious intentions into something more. She wouldn’t miss the sun. She wouldn’t miss the gnawing feeling of hunger. She wouldn’t miss the biting, clawing, ripping, tearing feeling of knowing she was about to die, just the same as the rest.
In between their marches down the road, there was another sound. A call into the void, and Mabel stilled, pondering which route, which direction, they should maneuver within, to ignore it completely, to rampage off into the woods, or to stand their ground.
And then it was in her mind, sharp and poignant, and she thought to hiss automatically, to intertwine like an asp, like a cobra, like a snake. Would it be too telling, to give herself entirely away?
Ascended, she responded instead, a neutral tone (was that possible, within her own brain?), careful, cautious, wary; squeezing Evelyn’s hand on impulse.
I bare my teeth
and stretch my claws out
and stretch my claws out
