Chapter Ten
By Tallulah
Night. Hot night.
The girl's body lay in the back room of the garage, arms crossed over its chest. Blood was heavy and rough on its clothes, and its eyes, still rolled back, stared at the dusty, graffiti-spattered ceiling.
The door slid open, and Mew crept inside, clutching a torch. The warm light sent the shadows scurrying.
It smelt musty in here.
Mew sat down next to the body, and touched the shoulder. The skin was cold.
"Indigo?" she whispered. "Chloe?"
Silence.
"Come on, Indigo. You can't be dead. She wasn't you."
Scars. She'd been so sure she was right about the scars. And yet – this girl lay here, cold, quiet – dead? No. No.
You're a killer…
"I did what was needed, okay?"
Mew brought her knees up to her chest, and rested her head on them, and sighed.
"Shit. Thanks a bunch, Indigo. Way to screw up my head."
So where the hell was the girl?
Think. Mew chewed her lower lip, and then yawned suddenly, her eyes sandy and tired.
Scarlet had taken over Indigo. And the monster had come along for the ride. So that meant Indigo had been in Scarlet's subconscious all that time, just like Scarlet normally was in Indigo's.
But Scarlet's subconscious was destroyed now.
Wasn't it?
Who'd died back there?
She touched the girl's forehead. The skin seemed thinner; like she could reach the skull.
"Who the hell is in here?"
Dying?
Let me go…
Won't die…
Help me someone
Open my eyes? Can't
Help me
Help me
Mew tried to think it out.
Indigo had been taken over by Scarlet and the monster, and sunk into subconscious.
The body that had been stabbed had the scars of the monster, but Scarlet's face. So – so – Scarlet had possessed the body, but she'd somehow merged with the monster and taken on some of its physical characteristics too?
Go Miyazaki, she thought. Man, you could almost pass your science exams with this shit.
But then I stabbed it.
Did I kill both of them?
Scars…rough and shiny against skin.
Scars!
Mew reached over and slid back the girl's ripped, bloody top, and stared down at the stomach.
And froze.
There were no scars.
This wasn't Indigo's body.
But it wasn't the monster's either.
Mew gave a little yelp, and wriggled away from the girl a moment.
"But we killed it! That music! Maybe it died subconsciously – maybe its body's out on the streets somewhere…"
Maybe.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and she jumped. "Who's there?"
"It's me, Tab. Mew-chan, what are you doing?"
"Uh…nothing. Just…nothing."
Tab opened the door and stuck his head round it. "You shouldn't sit in here with it. Could be dangerous."
Mew shrugged. "I was looking for Indigo."
"Oh, yeah. Mew, I'm sorry –"
"She is still alive, Tab, I'm sure she is."
"Mew…"
"Look!" Mew pointed to the scarless skin of the girl. "Indigo had scars. Scarlet didn't. The monster did. It's Scarlet that's dead, not Indigo and not the monster." Suddenly she was trembling. "It's still out there –"
"Mew. Come on. It's nearly midnight. You should get some sleep." Tab hauled her to her feet. "Okay? We can think about this sort of stuff tomorrow."
Mew bit her lip. He should listen –
"Anyway," Tab said. "When someone dies, everything in their head dies. This girl died, so whoever was in there died too."
He led her out of the room, stroking her back. Mew rested her head on his shoulder, and told herself he was right, that it was all okay, that she didn't need to worry.
She didn't need to worry about that bitch Chloe Sumner – or her freaky psycho alter-ego who'd broken her arm – or some monster murdered by a record.
Nuh-uh. No worries. Everything was going to be fine.
Where am I?
Dark
Trapped
What happened? Scarlet…
Scarlet's gone…
It's in my head it's –
It's in me
Make it get out someone –
Anyone –
Mew yawned, wrapped the blankets round herself, closed her eyes, and fell asleep as quickly as if someone had shoved her into it.
She was in the factory area, which was filled with hot orange light. And there was sand under her bare toes. Skates gone.
And the music was playing and she danced –
But it was the other music, the new record, and as she danced, the sand poured itself away and the light turned from orange to purple to black – thick black light that clung to her face and hands –
"Hey! What's going on? Indigo, where are you?"
"Mew – Miyazaki – help me –"
And she saw Indigo drowning in the darkness –
"Make it get out – someone – anyone –" she choked.
"Where are you!"
"I'm in its head!"
"You're not dead?"
"No shit! Listen, it's trapped me and I can't get out – Scarlet's gone – it's too strong – she was equal, we could fight – it's doing something else – it's not part of me, it's taken over – you've got to help me –"
"How?"
"I don't know! Just do something! Help me!"
Indigo was falling through the darkness – Mew screamed and ran towards her – falling – falling – a tiny figure like the reflection in an eye – gone – gone –
"Indigo!"
And the dream slid off her like sand as she awoke.
"Mew?"
Tab was staring down at her.
"You all right?" he said. "You were twisting about and all."
"She's alive."
"Huh?"
"Indigo's alive. She's in the monster's head, and I've got to get in there and get her out."
Tab muttered something that might have been, "Oh, boy," and sighed. "Mew, you can't go into people's minds. This isn't the X-Files."
"Well, it sure seems to have been happening enough lately. It got into my mind, didn't it?"
It got into my mind…
"That's it!"
"What?"
"The first record – it connected me with its mind. I have a connection. I can get in there. I'm sure I can."
Tab sat down next to her, put his arm round her, and started to kiss her throat, but she hardly noticed as she tried to work out a plan.
It opened its eyes. It ached all over – so much –
But above it was the night sky, and the air was cool, gentle on its weakened body.
The girl pounded on its skull, screaming, cursing, but it could keep her down easily. Human minds were so easy to manipulate.
It tried to stand, claws scratching on the pavement, but it couldn't. Too weak.
Oh well. It could wait.
Slowly, the sun rose.
Mew sat in a corner of the garage, pressing her headphones to her ears. She had been sitting there for several hours, listening to song after song. They hadn't told K not to play the first record, had they? Which was probably stupid, but…she was sure they hadn't. Which meant if she heard it, the monster might crawl into her mind again.
She was hoping that maybe, maybe she could crawl into its mind too.
Tab mouthed something at her. She eased her headphones off one ear to hear him properly.
"I said, any luck yet?"
"No. I've had Miller Ball Breakers twice, Sweet Soul Brother three times, and Let Mom Sleep like every other song. K is obsessed…"
Tab nodded, but she could see he looked relieved.
"You don't think I should be doing this," she said.
"Well…no. C'mon, Mew, we could go out or summat, at least…it's getting really hot in here…"
"I told you. If I'm going to do this, I'm not going to hurt anyone else." She glanced at the car, where Yo-Yo had once sat, and swallowed. "I'm sorry to keep you in with me, but if I don't I could do anything."
"It's okay, babe." Tab grinned. "Hey, I can gaze at you while you listen…"
Mew stuck her tongue out at him, and suddenly wished they could cuddle up together, and kiss and…stuff. Right now.
But if they did – and then the music came on and she killed Tab –
No.
The song in her ears – 'Bout The City – ended, and K yelled, "Yo, this is your local resident rudie DJ Prof K, bringing you the latest and greatest tunes from the street! Quiet day so far after the showdown in Kogane – GGs Mew and Tab ain't been out all day, whew, I wonder what they're doing! Oh well, here's a little bit of voodoo hoodoo for the rest of you…"
Mew froze as that delicious beat sent goose bumps rushing over her skin.
"Now," she hissed to Tab. "Now!"
He hauled her to her feet and they hurried towards the room where Scarlet was still lying. Tab glanced at her as they reached the doorway. "Mew, are you sure –"
"Yes! Remember, do not let me out, and don't come in! If – if it works I'll be done in like three minutes –"
She dashed into the room, and heard the door close and lock behind her. It was pitch dark in here now, no windows, and the musty smell from the body was growing stronger. They should really do something with it…
The music still played.
"Okay," she whispered. "Showdown Part Two."
She began to dance.
What?
A mind opening. That blue mind, gentle and cool, widening, giving itself up…
Yes. Yes!
It dived.
"Indigo," Mew whispered. "Indigo. Indigo."
Sand…orange heat…those horrible concrete walls fell away and the sunset rushed in…free…and that smell had gone, she could smell fresh air…
Dance…dance…
"Indigo…"
Whispering that word was making it hard to follow the beat, though. It would be better if she shut up…
"In…di…go…"
Slowly, slowly, even as the thought was crushed, she remembered what she was meant to be doing…
Stop dancing. Stop…
"In…" Her throat was dry. "Indigo! Are you there? Indigo! It's me, Mew! Miyazaki!"
No!
The mind was breaking away! It was curling up, resisting the music…
Put a stop to it.
Dance. Dance.
If only she had a weapon…something to make the dance perfect…but the sand was bare.
Bare because she was locked up – locked up by someone evil – evil –
Locked up because I have to find Indigo –
"Indigo!"
Evil –
Kill –
"Indigo, come on!"
The sky was getting redder, and the air was hotter, and it was so hard to think…and her mouth was filling with grains of sand –
You will dance
"Indigo!"
She's dead
"No she's not! Indigo!"
It cursed. The blue mind was entwining itself into its mind!
How could this be happening?
It struggled to push her away, but it was too weak still…that record, that was it, it had cut its mind to the bone…
Mew! Mew, I'm here! I can feel you, help me!
The sky was blood-coloured. Mew's arms and legs felt heavy. Too heavy to lift – all they could do was follow the dance –
The ground was fading, darkening –
There was a pit opening in the sand –
And at the bottom of it, purple –
"Mew! Mew, I'm here! I can feel you, help me!"
"Indigo!"
And she ran towards the pit, and then – then –
Falling into darkness.
Darkness so cold and icy that she began to scream.
Tab stood outside the room, his ear pressed to the door. He could hear Mew calling Indigo's name, but her voice kept slurring as if she was dozing off. He was worried. If only he could see what was going on.
If only he had some idea of what to do.
She could die in there and he'd just be standing here, listening…
And then she screamed.
"Mew!"
He fumbled with the key, his hands damp and shaking, and the door swung open, and he dashed inside. Man, it was really beginning to stink in here…
Mew stood in the middle of the room, her face white, and then she fell –
He caught her just in time, and sank with her to the floor.
"Mew…Mew, come on…"
Dark. Darkness the colour of blood. It smelt of blood as well, thick, meaty, and her skates slid through swamp and sand dyed crimson…
Screams. Squawks and roars of beasts, and drum beats and chanting…someone sobbing…a little girl, murmuring a chant…
And so hot. Her skin was drenched with sweat.
Not that she could see her body. It was almost like this was VR or something.
"Indigo?" she called again.
The air noticed that.
The air hated her.
"Get out of my head, you little beast…"
"Indigo, I saw you! Where are you!"
"She's mine…"
The voice was low, rasping, and very, very loud, like the air itself was speaking.
And Mew saw her, crouched in a corner, and ran over.
"Indigo!"
"Hey, Miyazaki…"
Mew reached out, but it was like Indigo was behind ice.
"How do I get you out?"
"You think I know? If I did I'd tell you."
"Well…" Mew tried to think. It wasn't easy. The stink and the roaring and the hate were making her feel dizzy.
She didn't want to think about what would happen if she fainted in here.
"You must be in its subconscious. Like Scarlet was in yours – is she here, by the way?"
"Scarlet's gone." Indigo swallowed. "Okay…so what?"
"How did Scarlet get out?"
"She – she – well, normally I had to let her, like when you picked on me I'd let her out to take it for me. But sometimes she'd try and get the jump on me…and I did the same once or twice, when she got carried away…it has to stop focusing on us…forget we're there…"
"It won't do that."
"No." Indigo sighed, brushing her sweaty hair out of her face. "And it's way stronger than us. We're only human."
"Shit!" Mew punched at the ice, and yelped as bruising pain spread through her hand. "There's got to be a way out of this…"
She yawned despite herself.
"Mew…" Indigo said nervously, "uh, I wouldn't go to sleep now…"
"'M not…"
Her eyes ached so much, though…
Her arm was growing numb. She forced her eyes to open, and saw her hand sinking through the ice…
"Uh-oh…"
Far away, the record spun to a halt, and K whipped it off the turntable, issued a warning about police dogs in Kogane-cho, and started playing Yappy Feet.
Slowly, the darkness around Mew began to thin…and she could see walls, safe concrete walls, and a girl's body slumped on the ground…and…
Gentle hands clutching her shoulders.
"Mew! Wake up!"
The record's finished, Indigo mouthed through the ice. She was fading as well. Get out of here…
But Mew's hand was still stuck in the ice, and she could feel the cold sucking at her fingers…crawling up her arm…around her wrist the darkness was still strong, and it was widening, to engulf her…
"Mew!" Tab was yelling, and he was shaking her.
Indigo clutched Mew's hand, looking desperate. "Come on! Wake up!" Her touch was misty, hardly real – none of this was real except that she was still so tired…
She could only see the monster's mind now when she closed her eyes, but she wanted to so much…
Yes, little kitten…sleep…
The voice echoed round Mew's ears like thunder.
"I'm not letting go of her!" Indigo was louder now. "I'm real, she's real, you're not! Let us out!"
All right…
"Huh?"
Indigo was thrown out of the ice, and landed heavily on top of Mew – and then dissolved into purple light that rushed up Mew's arms, over her chest, through her shoulders –
And into Tab's palms.
He was thrown back, and he and Mew landed heavily on the garage floor.
"Tab…" Mew gasped. "Are you all right?"
He didn't answer.
"Tab!"
Grabbing the top of my hair, wrenching my head up… "Spit it out, Chloe. What were you saying about me?" Pretty brown eyes and shiny hair… I bring my scythe up and stab it into the monster's chest, I smell blood, thick and oozing on my skin…sitting; long, smooth legs crossed, a sweet smile on her face as she sees who's come in… "Wow, look who's here. Sorry, this classroom's for humans only." Rushing forward, clutching her skinny little arm, twisting, twisting, her eyes shocked with pain…Scarlet whispering in my head, snickering and humming, I didn't kill them, I'm sure of it…Pouring with rain outside, I can hear it, I strap on my skates and run out of the dark house, shivering as the icy cold hits me… "My name's Miyazaki." "Wow, nice name, pop princess." She shoves me and my legs shoot out from under me and I hit the ground hard. Won't cry. Won't. They've written U.G.L.Y across the back of my school bag and it's indelible ink. It stinks and it's smeared itself across my shirt. Snatching my school books and throwing them as far as she can across the playground and I'm screaming at her and she just laughs, she always just laughs…Mew curled up on a chair, crying, good, no we have to stick together…I can't stop her, I can't…lying on my bed crying…"I can help you" – voices in my head – it's in my head – Miyazaki – Mew –
Tab jerked himself away from Mew. Anger was twisting his face.
"You bitch," he yelled.
"Wait –"
He leapt to his feet, and marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him.