Chapter 13: Shadows and Strikes

Clarissa's laughter echoed in the dimly lit office, but Emily stood firm, her mind cycling through the advice of her alter personalities.

Nyx: "Don't waste time with words. Take her down now."

Mili: "No, Emily! Stay calm. We need to be smart about this."

Ayra: "Focus. Assess your surroundings. She wouldn't confront you alone unless she had the upper hand."

Clarissa leaned casually against her desk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "I must say, Emily, breaking into my office is bold. Reckless, but bold. Tell me, what were you hoping to find?"

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Emily didn't respond immediately. She shifted her weight, scanning the room for any exits or weapons. Her gaze flickered to a glass paperweight on the desk—heavy enough to be useful in a pinch.

Clarissa noticed. "Ah, planning your next move already? You've always been predictable."

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Emily (mentally): "What's the play here?"

Nyx: "Distract her. Make her overconfident, then strike."

Ayra: "No, bait her into revealing her plan. Information is power."

Mili: "And don't forget to keep yourself safe. We can't afford to lose control."

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Emily smiled faintly, masking the storm brewing inside her. "You talk too much, Clarissa. I didn't need to find anything—you've already told me enough by your reaction."

Clarissa's smirk faltered, just for a second, before she recovered. "Oh, darling, you think you're clever. But you're out of your depth."

Suddenly, the door burst open, and two armed guards stormed in, guns trained on Emily.

Clarissa stepped aside, her confidence returning. "You didn't think I'd let you waltz in here without a contingency plan, did you?"

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Emily (mentally): "Options?"

Nyx: "Take them out. Fast and brutal."

Mili: "No! They're just following orders. Find another way!"

Ayra: "Use the environment. Create a distraction and escape."

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Emily reached for the paperweight, but instead of throwing it, she smashed it against a nearby lamp. Sparks flew, and the room plunged into darkness.

Chaos erupted as the guards stumbled, shouting orders to each other. Emily ducked low, using the confusion to dart toward the door. She heard Clarissa's voice cutting through the commotion.

"Don't let her escape!"

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In the hallway, Emily sprinted toward the service exit. Her heart pounded as the voices of her personalities guided her.

Ayra: "Turn left. There's a staircase that leads to the alley."

Nyx: "Be ready for an ambush. They'll try to cut you off."

Mili: "You've got this, Emily! Stay focused!"

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She reached the staircase, only to find two more guards blocking her path. Without hesitation, she grabbed a metal trash can lid and hurled it at the nearest guard, hitting him square in the face. As he stumbled back, she lunged at the second guard, kicking him in the knee and sending him to the ground.

Emily bolted down the stairs, her adrenaline fueling her escape.

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Outside, the cold night air hit her like a wave. She didn't stop running until she was several blocks away, finally ducking into an abandoned building to catch her breath.

Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out to see a message from Josef.

Josef: "What happened? Are you okay?"

Emily hesitated before typing a response.

Emily: "I'm fine, but Clarissa knows I'm onto her. We need to regroup."

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As she leaned against the wall, her alter personalities began to chime in.

Mili: "That was too close, Emily. We need to be more careful."

Nyx: "Clarissa is getting bolder. We need to hit her where it hurts."

Ayra: "Agreed. But we need a plan. No more impulsive moves."

Emily nodded to herself, her resolve hardening.

"We'll make her pay," she whispered. "But we'll do it on our terms."

The chapter ends with Emily pulling up the note app on her phone, ready to strategize with her personalities for the next move.

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Would you like the next chapter to focus on Emily gathering allies or diving deeper into Clarissa's scheme?