Both versions of Tess had seen her now. In that instant, the battle between them ceased to be about dominance over each other. Their focus had shifted entirely, and the terrifying truth struck Tess like a blow: the fight was no longer between light and dark—it was about who would reach her first.
Her breath caught. She had no ability in that place, no powers, no way to defend herself. The emptiness of that reality pressed into her chest until it hurt. For once in a very long time, Tess felt utterly helpless. Weak. Cold. The certainty of failure sank into her like ice, and with it came something she had nearly forgotten how to feel: fear.
The dark version of herself grinned, eyes glowing like molten embers, while the Metasyne side staggered forward with desperate light clinging to its skin. Both began closing in.
