Fragment 28
When confronted with the mighty blank page, even I found myself faltering. I looked back at the dialogue I'd had with Luigi so far: his pathetic attempt to incite compassion by telling me that Mario was 'my' brother, my challenge to him that he even wrote that, and his act of contempt by writing an entire paragraph in his own, foreign language, with no intention to translate. If he expected me beg him to reveal what he'd written to me, he was wrong.
Nastasia settled herself on the chair next to where I lay, and waited. After my attempt to escape the room, I figured she wasn't going to leave me on my own any more, unless she paralysed me up to the neck again. I looked sideways at her, and rolled the pen between my fingers. I needed to test the waters with Luigi, but I needed to make it clear who was the boss. I put pen to paper.
Luigi,
So, you want me cut from your psyche like some unwanted tumor?
I know what I am, and where I came from, and so do you.
So you'll understand that there are only two ways you can be rid of me.
One involves our death, and the other, Mario's. I'll go with either, so I'll
let you choose.
L
Satisfied with the impossible choice I'd set him, I handed the note to Nastasia. I leaned back on the pillow and closed my eyes, ready for the continuity break. When I opened them a moment later, several hours had passed. Several hours of anguish for Luigi, I expected, but for me, I'd not even had to wait. Sometimes, the state of this wretched existence of mine had its advantages.
"How did it go?" I asked her.
She shrugged, and tilted her head to the paper that lay under my hand. I unfolded it.
L,
I repeat,
Mario is your brother.
Luigi
A disappointing response, but in a way, one I'd expected. He obviously understood that I was a part of him, or he wouldn't have insisted Mario was 'my' brother. But Mario wasn't my brother, and he never would be, until I'd taken back from Luigi what was rightfully mine. I couldn't just go in and demand his memory and identity. Not yet. No. It was time to toy with my prey. I snatched up the pen.
Luigi,
So, I take it, by your response, that Mario is to live,
and we are to die. How chivalrous of you, although I suspect your
choice was made easier, knowing that you'll be denying me the the
satisfaction of completing the task for which I'd been created.
Give Mario my regards, while you compose your last words to him.
Peace awaits; I look forward to it.
L
Nastasia looked at my note, and shook her head. "You know that's not what he meant, 'k? You know he doesn't want to die, and neither do you."
I glared at her. "Death is better than this. It's better than the madness I've had to endure since Dimentio died."
"But the madness will continue unless you and Luigi change the way you are."
"Give it to him," I said. "I want to do this my way."
She folded her arms. "And what do you suppose his answer will be? The barrier between you can only be knocked down if you are both willing. You let him read this, and you're only going to make things worse."
The barrier. I lunged for the mirror and held it close to my eyes. Even parting my lids as far as they would go showed no way of removing whatever it was that obscured my pupils and irises. He was hidden somewhere behind that blank whiteness. How could I get to him? How could I even start?
Nastasia cupped one hand around the mirror, and gently pried my fingers from it with the other. I flinched from the softness like it hurt, and kept my gaze on the notepaper. To my relief, her businesslike manner returned. "Engage him," she said.
The thought of starting idle conversation with Luigi left me cold. Apart from Mario, we had nothing in common that I could talk about, and from the curt notes I'd had from him so far, I doubted he'd answer any direct question I asked. I scoured my mind for something to write, but the more I tried, the more it wandered. I glared at the open door of my cell as my thoughts strayed to my encounter with the stupid mushroom-head I'd caught in the corridor. What had he said? We were in Princess Peach's castle. She and Mario were here, but that Bowser creature was not. And the mushroom-head seemed terrified at the very mention of Bowser's name. Who was he? Who was Princess Peach? If I was in her castle now, then she must be an ally of Mario and Luigi. But what about Bowser? Was it possible he wasn't an ally? The threat the great Count Bleck had posed would have been enough to unite even the greatest of enemies against him. Could it be possible that Bowser was an enemy of Mario and Luigi?
I needed to find out.
Luigi,
Mario may be the brother of the body we share, but he is your brother, not mine.
Perhaps, if I kill Princess Peach or Bowser, it will be enough to end my pathetic
existence and free you from it. Will you agree?
L
"That's hardly casual conversation," said Nastasia, squinting through her glasses at my words. "But better than before."
I allowed myself a smile. The touchpaper had been lit, and she hadn't spotted it. I settled back, and waited for Luigi's response.
