Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.
The projection smirked. His facial expression, cruel and arrogant, refused to yield. "You wouldn't," it said, shaking its head.
"What makes you think I wouldn't?" Arthur said, softly. "I have nothing to lose."
"No, you have everything to lose," the projection retorted. "Look at you, Arthur. Barely held together by your need to binge, and purge...and your pathetic need for her. That's all that keeps you going."
"Its not pathetic," Arthur almost spat out. "Its what I want."
"Yes...to shackle yourself to a woman whose pity for you will eventually turn into hatred. Is that what you really want? You know that you'll never be able to fully trust her. She'll hide your food, she'll try and give you drugs, she'll make you go to psychiatrists and she'll make you..."
The projection's eyes lingered over Ariadne, who moved closer to Arthur.
"...Fat." The projection finished, its mouth twisting into a cruel grin. He moved closer to Arthur. "She'll enjoy watching you plump up," he whispered, leaning closer. "Because then you'll be under her control. And that's what its about, Arthur- control. She'll be controlling your diet, watching every mouthful you eat. Persuading you to have 'just a little more', when you're feeling fat, and full, and unable to consume anything else. And at night time, she'll be running her hands down the fat, telling you she loves you, when really, she thinks you should get fatter...because then she can soothe you. Its all about control, Arthur. What are you going to do?"
Arthur swung round, delivering an uppercut to the projection's jaw. Stunned, it fell back, crashing into the wall. Arthur retaliated by punching again, only for the projection to dodge. His fist slammed into the wall, causing him to gasp with the pain.
"See, you're weak!" Snarled the projection. "Too weak to fight!"
Grabbing Arthur by the shoulders, he pushed him down onto the floor. Arthur retaliated by rolling over, dragging the projection with him, that immediately hooked its arm round his neck. As it started to pull tightly, Arthur reached up, punching it in the face. Shocked, it let go, and Arthur scrambled to his feet.
"Let's go." Grabbing Ariadne by the hand, he started to pull her out of the room. As they headed into the hallway, he went for the front door. "Let's get out of here."
"Where are we going?"
"Somewhere where I know it will follow us. Please, trust me." Ariadne's hand was tightly wrapped in his, and he could feel the warmth of her fingers.
"Arthur!"
Arthur stopped. "Eames! You're still here-" the Forger loomed, worried. Suddenly, a gunshot sounded, and he slumped, on the floor. "Oh, God, no!"
The Forger blinked. A gunshot wound, straight in his heart, was staining his shirt. He looked at Arthur, who turned. The projection was grinning at him, sadistically.
"They will all leave you," it commented, as Eames vanished. "All will leave you Arthur. All-"
Arthur lashed out, using a roundhouse kick, and knocked the projection to the floor. Taking Ariadne, they began to run, heading for the stairwell and practically jumping them.
"Where are we-"
"I'll show you," Arthur commented, flushed with rage. "Please, stay with me. Stay-"
She pulled him to her, and kissed him on the mouth. He blinked, feeling a wave of passion overcome him.
"I'm not leaving you," she said, firmly. "I'm with you."
He looked at her, and nodded. "You're all I have left."
"We're all we have left," she replied. "When you were under Fischer's influence - I knew it was the disease. I'm not going to let it beat us."
Arthur shook his head. "No. Not again. We need to run."
They headed for the parking lot of the apartment block. Quickly, Arthur hurried to a car, and pulled it open. "Come on." As she got in, he started the engine.
"Will it follow us?" she asked nervously.
Arthur looked at her. "Its been with me for most of my life. It won't give up now."
As he began to drive, she realised something was following them.
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