Dark Mirror

A Word: Ibid.

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Damian's past ready for a break.

It's tiring. Traveling the maze like corridors and keeping track of a now freely wandering Richard. Whose eyes track Damian more and more, and is getting enough sense back to make decisions and fights Damian at times.

Few of the apartments they wander past are fit to be stepped in so Damian takes full advantage of the ones that are when he finds them. Scouting out the dilapidated rooms for danger as quickly as he can before allowing Richard in.

Richard takes more coaxing to go through this door, but Damian's nearly mastered the art of herding the senseless man. A firm hand on his back and a very pleading tone of voice seems to break through even his most stubborn refusals.

Damian catches movement behind him as he's shutting the door and he spins quickly to confront it. Richard is safe to the right as the door latches shut but Damian's not prepared for the sight that greets him.

In the main room —which had been empty mere seconds ago!— is a mirror. The surface blackened and already distorting around the image of his own face. It is mesmerizing. Watching a black veined version of his own face rip through the liquid darkness of the mirror. Twisted limbs breaking free to pull this new creature out into the world.

Damian watches in fascination even as a part of his mind rebels against it. Reminded of the trance Richard had suffered through even as his life was slowly being choked out of him.

"Nngh!" Damian clutches the axe. Splinters digging into his palms in small pinpricks of pain that help clear some of the sucking apathy creeping through him. Enough to get his weapon up as the twisted thing lurches into sudden motion. Throwing itself across the room. Sharp talons reaching for Damian's face. His vision darkening as it nears.

He cannot breathe. Cannot see. It is cold and blurry like he is under water. Damian feels trapped and weak. Unable to do more than press against the smooth glass of his prison. Watching motion outside until he is needed. Until he is no longer just another spare.

No. Damian lashes out. Against the illusion, against the creature. "No!"

The blow is weak and wild. He barely repels the thing's hands but the blade bites into blackened flesh. Just enough for it to shriek in pain. To pull back enough to breath. To feel a hot line of pain down his neck.

"Tt!" The scratch clears Damian's mind quicker than anything else has. Richard makes a distressed sound behind him and Damian risks a quick glance back to his brother to ensure nothing has appeared behind him.

It is a necessary mistake.

Richard is fine. Staring with something akin to horror as the creature takes the opening provided. Damian grunts as he is tackled to the floor. Weapon up and pressed under it's neck keeping it far enough away that it can barely reach his neck.

It hisses and spits like a feral cat. Talons scoring deep gouges in the places where his armor is light on his arms. It's eyes are dark and reflective. Damian cannot see himself in those eyes.

Dizziness creeps up on him as it tries to ensnare his mind once again. "I think not!"

Damian kicks out with both feet. Propelling the creature back into the crooked frame that once held it. He follows after. Pushing himself past the negligible pain and manufactured weakness. He has no time for it. Not with Richard helpless and still so open for attack. Not with their other brothers still missing.

The creature wails, high and sharp, as the axe bites into the soft joint of the neck and shoulder. Black, stinking blood pours out as he rips the weapon free. Swinging again before the creature can. Hacking away at the slick gap in its neck. Again and again until he crunches through bone and sinew. Severing the head from the twitching body.

The axe thuds into the floor one final time. The handle snapping in his hands with a loud crack followed by the thud of Damian's knees hitting the floor.

Damian chokes on something rotten and vile. His vision swimming again as he falls to the ground. Convulsing. Drowning. Suffocating.

Damian sees his own struggling face in the creatures dead eyes as he vomits up a tar black substance and passes out.

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