The grip on Luna's wrist was cold, a vise of polished chitin that felt nothing like her mother's hand. Hunger-Scarlett's face was a blank mask again, the single, clear tear a ghost of a memory. The green glow in her eyes was fixed, unwavering.
"Directive confirmed. Containing anomaly," the synthesized voice stated.
"Mama, no, please!" Luna cried, her own silver light flaring around the point of contact. It wasn't an attack, but a desperate, instinctive pushback. The light met the cold, hard shell of the hunger-entity's will and splintered, unable to find a crack to seep through this time.
Across the chamber, the roar of battle intensified. The true Alexander was a whirlwind of silver and fury, meeting the Hunger-Alexander's brute force with desperate agility. But he was battered, a bloody gash on his forehead dripping into his eye. Every time he tried to glance towards Luna, his doppelgänger exploited the distraction with a crushing blow that sent him staggering.
