"Really? Is this how it’s going to be?!" Azula taunted, watching the human exhaust herself trying to escape the prison she had subconsciously created.
"Get me out of here!" Islinda screamed, her voice echoing in the void as she banged her hands against the black, reflective glass that confined her.
When Islinda had first awakened in this strange place, her initial scream had been so intense it shattered the glass into pieces. But her other self had found her and trapped her again almost effortlessly.
"I said get me out of here!" she yelled once more, causing a crack to form across the glass. Yet it merged back seamlessly, erasing any trace of damage and leaving Islinda stunned.
Azula burst into laughter. "Honestly, it’s cute, watching your bewildered expression. Like a newborn lion cub realizing it’s in way over its head."
It wasn’t funny for Islinda. It was unnerving to stare at a reflection of herself. They shared the same face, eyes, and lips—everything. The only difference was the hair: Islinda’s was brown, while Azula’s was platinum white, and her eyes glinted with a fiendish mischief as if she were a goddess of chaos.
"This is not funny. I want to go out now!" Islinda commanded, her voice echoing in the dark void around her.
Azula tsked in mock sympathy. "I wish I could, honey, but unfortunately, both of us can’t exist at the same time, and I’m not going back to that hole."
"I’m going to break out of this and hunt you down if you don’t get me out of here. So release me while I’m asking nicely!" Islinda’s voice was firm, filled with the steel of desperation.
"Sure, go ahead." Azula gestured mockingly. "Get yourself out."
Islinda slammed her hands against the glass, pounding with all her might. The glass absorbed each impact without so much as a scratch. She switched tactics, screaming at the top of her lungs. Cracks spread like a spiderweb across the glass, but just as before, it mended itself instantly. Her throat grew hoarse and raw, and she began to cough.
Azula watched expressionlessly. "Is that all? I am sorely disappointed, Islinda."
Without warning, Azula materialized inside the cell, causing Islinda to freeze in shock. Recovering quickly, Islinda lunged at her, but Azula vanished into thin air just inches away.
"Hello, are you looking for me?" A voice taunted from behind, followed by a tap on her shoulder.
Islinda whirled around to face Azula, who vanished again, leaving behind a villainous cackle.
"Boo!" Azula reappeared right in front of her, startling Islinda so much that she fell back onto the floor. Azula laughed cruelly. "I played this game for hundreds of years with your mother. Compared to her, you’re a weakling."
Humiliated, Islinda scrambled to her feet, her face burning. "I am not a weakling. You’re just a bully."
"Really? Godforsaken place? You couldn’t have named it better, Islinda," Azula snorted, having read her thoughts.
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