Working With Phantoms

Forbidden Truths

Futaba slowly got up as Shadow Futaba continued talking.

"'Futaba, I love you. I'm sorry for my absence, but I'm now here for you.'"

Futaba's eyes widened.

"I... I remember! She said that right before the car..."

"What happened when that car came?"

"Her... her eyes rolled back, and she simply lurched towards it. Then..."

"Yes. Isn't it odd? The way she 'killed' herself simply makes no sense. What happened afterwards?"

"Those men came, and read the note..."

"Yes. The shock led you to avert your eyes, but they continued to read it."

"My relatives hated me... they called me all of those things, and all I could do was watch."

"Yes. Now, tell me. Was the suicide note real?"

Futaba gasped.

"No... it wasn't!"

"Exactly! They toyed with your young heart. Get mad! These horrid adults ruined your life!"

"Yeah, they did! They made it a living hell, all because of mom's research! I'll..."

Futaba looked at Cognitive Wakaba.

"I'll never forgive them!"

Shadow Futaba nodded, standing beside Futaba.

"You finally see the truth, at long last. Do you accept this truth?"

"Yes, I do! You're the voice I didn't listen to... I blocked you away, but now I understand!"

Futaba pointed at Cognitive Wakaba.

"You're nothing but a fake created by those horrible adults! My mom loved me, and wanted the best for me!"

Cognitive Wakaba roared at Futaba.

"FOOLISH! CHILDREN WHO DEFY THEIR MOTHERS SHOULD DIE!"

Futaba, that time, didn't cower. Instead, she took a few steps forwards with her shadow. The apparitions then began to dissolve, one by one.

"I see the entire truth now... I'm so sorry for not listening to you."

Futaba turned to her shadow.

"You're me, and I'm you. Thank you for showing me the full story."

Shadow Futaba smiled and began to float up. The area then made a purple pulse as Futaba grabbed her head and the transforming Shadow Futaba began to speak in a sinister, girl-like voice.

"What denies you is an illusion... a curse put upon you by the heartless. You knew from the very beginning, and yet you cowered in fear..."

"FUTABA...! THIS TIME, YOU'LL BE THE ONE TO DIE!"

Futaba stopped holding her head, and began to walk straight towards Cognitive Wakaba with intense confidence.

"Will you die as you are told...? Who will you obey? Cursed words spat out by a seething illusion, or the truth inside your very soul?"

Futaba nodded.

"I know who I am, and what I know. I reject that notion that I ever killed my mom! Those terrible people ruined my life, and now I'll ruin theirs!"

Shadow Futaba then fully transformed, with green light enveloping the area. Madran then looked up at the persona in shock.

"Wow, look at that...!"