"Odalia!"
Gasping in horror, Odalia's blood went cold, her pupils shrank as this cracked reflection of Amity floated into the manor with her army standing around the Manor. Twisted Amity's demand echoed through the halls of Blight Manor, creating an atmosphere of tension that Odalia couldn't escape. Now she regrets how she treated Amity over the years.
No...
She regretted having anything to do with Amity at all.
"Yes...Mittens? You needed me?" Odalia said, warily.
"Indeed, I need a favor from you. Right now, I need you to get to Blight Industries, I plan on using your Abomination weapons to lure The Collector to a trap." Twisted Amity said, glancing at a picture of Alador at the Bonesborrough Brawl in Fall 1985. She sneered at it as the used her sharp finger nails to tear the photo in half. "Father was always great at creating things to trap and destroy. Ha! So I suggest you go get those weapons immediately."
"Well, that's the thing, I cant..." Odalia said, rubbing her neck nervously.
"Can't? Or won't?" Twisted Amity said, angrily glaring at her mother.
"Well...technically both, but mostly can't, after Belos and the Collector's temporary rule..."
"What?!"
"Well, you see, Mittens, Blight Industries is under Darius and Alador's control now."
"Well, go steal it, imbicile, you were the CEO and you know your way around the building!" Twisted Amity shouted.
Odalia gasps in horror as she stepped back, saying, "I can't! After the divorce, he might have taken everything with him, including the Abomatrons at a different location. And besides, even if I knew where they were at, it'd be complicated to get in there! Alador has maximum security to make sure I never set foot in Blight Industries again!"
Growling Twisted Amity's eyes narrowed with impatience. "Don't toy with me, Odalia. I don't care who owns what. My army and I need weapons, and we need them immediately."
"B...But..." Odalia stammered.
"No buts, and no excuses, and NO. More. LIES, Odalia," Twisted Amity scoffed, walking over to her putting her sharp fingers near Odalia's throat. "Find a way to get them from Blight Industries. Unless, of course, this is your way of saying you have nothing worth living for anymore, then I'd be more than happy to put you out of your misery."
Odalia, despite her usual composed demeanor, gulped audibly. She wasn't used to being on the receiving end of such threats. "I-I'll do my best, dearest. But I can't promise anything. Alador might have increased security measures after taking over."
Twisted Amity rolled her eyes. "Figure it out. I'm not interested in your excuses. I don't care if you have to fight that...Bird Tube... The Collector needs to be dealt with, and I won't let anyone stand in my way."
Odalia, now feeling the weight of the situation, nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Twisted Amity. I'll see what I can do. Just... be patient."
As Twisted Amity strode away, Odalia couldn't help but feel a shiver run down her spine. The twisted version of her daughter was more ruthless and murderous than she had ever imagined.
"Damn it! I knew I should've kept Vlad's child and abandon Amity. In fact, I should've gotten that abortion when I had the chance!" Odalia angrily muttered.
Twisted Amity's keen senses caught the muttered words of Odalia, and a sinister smile crept onto her face. She turned abruptly, facing Odalia with an air of malevolence. "Abort me, you say? Interesting thought, Mother."
Odalia, realizing her slip, frantically tried to backpedal. "Mittens, I didn't mean—"
But Twisted Amity interrupted with a mocking tone, "Oh, don't play "Innocent Widdle Odalia" now. I heard what you said. 'Should've gotten that abortion when she had the chance.' Quite a motherly sentiment, wouldn't you agree? Because I wouldn't have become the woman you molded me into right now if I was aborted."
Odalia, cornered, could feel the weight of her words turning against her. She tried to salvage the situation. "I was angry. I didn't mean it. In terms of...you...! You know how emotions can get the better of us." She then proceeded to dig herself deeper into her hole by lying, "It was Alador's idea!"
At first, she wanted to murder Odalia for testing her and throwing Alador under the Bus for HER choice she failed to follow through on, but stops for a moment. She realizes Odalia's words would be useful to her advantage. Twisted Amity chuckled darkly. "Emotions? Interesting. You know, Odalia, I find your honesty useful. Keep that attitude, and you might survive my little conquest. Plus, I'll use your words against Amity, crush her spirit, and make Luz witness the downfall of someone she cares about. To put it short, once Amity is broken, Luz will be next, it will be easy to kill two birds with one stone."
Odalia, still trying to regain her composure, cautiously asked, "And exactly how do you plan to achieve that? Mittens isn't as easily breakable as she was during the "Expulsion" incident, not even during the events of the Day of Unity could break her, she never gave up even when the Collector took over the Boiling Isles."
Twisted Amity grinned, revealing a set of menacing teeth. "That is so true, but on the other hand, Amity's vulnerabilities still exist. I'll exploit them, using her insecurities to make her doubt herself, and then I'll crush her. Luz won't be able to save her from the darkness that will consume her. And that's how I will inevitably destroy Luz. After all, I have a plan to make sure she never overpowers me. Do you know where it is?"
Odalia wasn't sure what she meant, that is until it clicked in her head. "You mean the Golden Apple?" The future evil witch nodded. "Then what do you need the Collector's Magic for? One bite of that Apple would make you invincible!"
"Trust me, The Collector's Magic is just for my army, the Apple is for me. They need a strong leader as well." Twisted Amity cackled.
Unbeknownst to them, the Leading Amity Clone, hidden in the shadows, was silently plotting her own move. She had overheard Twisted Amity's scheme, and a sly smile crossed her face. The Golden Apple? This might be the opportunity I need to take control, she thought.
As Twisted Amity and Odalia continued their conversation, the Leading Amity Clone began assembling a plan of betrayal. She knew that Twisted Amity's cruelty could be turned against her, and with the right allies, she might be able to outmaneuver the twisted version of herself.
The Hooded Figure gathered everyone in the bunker, his expression determined. "We can't leave the Hexside students behind. We need to find a way to distract those Amity clones so we can get them out of there."
Amity, still grappling with the shocking revelations about her alternate self, hesitated. "But there are so many of them, and they're relentless. How are we supposed to distract them?"
The Hooded Figure, glowing eyes focused, replied, "Leave that to me. I have a plan. The rest of you, focus on finding a way to get the students out. We need to move quickly; time is of the essence."
Gus, Willow, Hunter, Luz, Alternate Timeline Boscha, and the others exchanged concerned glances. They were well aware of the daunting task that lay ahead. Camila, worried for her daughter's safety, took Luz and Amity's hands, offering silent support.
As the Hooded Figure began explaining his plan in intricate detail, Amity tried to shake off the lingering doubts about her worth that had been plaguing her. She couldn't shake the feeling that without Luz, she would be the same old Amity. Spineless, weak, and just Odalia's pull-string doll. Luz noticed Amity's internal struggle and gently squeezed her hand.
"Amity," Luz whispered, "we're in this together. We'll find a way to save everyone, including your other self. Remember, you're not alone."
Amity managed a small, appreciative smile, grateful for Luz's reassuring words. The Hooded Figure's plan, though risky, provided a glimmer of hope. The group steeled themselves for the challenges ahead, knowing that their collective strength would be essential in overcoming the overwhelming odds stacked against them.
Eda looked at the map, frustration evident on her face. "We need a safe place to regroup and plan our next move, and the Owl House is too exposed. Lilith, I know you don't like it, but we've got to go to the Clawthorne Realm."
With an incredulous look on her face, Lilith crossed her arms, shaking her head. "Absolutely not, Eda. Those clones are unpredictable, and we can't trust them. Last time we went there, those Liliths that were loyal to the Emperor nearly took my head off for siding with you!"
"Still, more Lulus to have fun with! HOOT!" Hooty laughed.
"Hootsifer, you do realize there are some Liliths that hate your guts, right?" Lilith said, confused.
"So? Some Lulus like me." Hooty said, confident.
"See, Hooty's on board. And besides, Lilli, some of the Liliths that know that you buried the hatchet with me helped you, so what?" Eda shrugged.
The Collector, looking intrigued, chimed in, "What's the Clawthorne Realm, and why does it sound like one heck of an adventure?"
Eda smirked, "It's a realm filled with clones of me and Lilith from when we accidentally fell into a puddle of cloning goo as teenagers."
Lillith then proceeded to shudder as she said, "To say it led to chaos with millions of us is an understatement." After that, Lilith shot a glare at Eda. "And you want to bring us there now? It's bad enough we're dealing with an army of Amity clones, Eda!"
Eda placed a hand on Lilith's shoulder, attempting to reassure her. "Look, I know it's risky, but those clones might be able to help us. They know how to take care of The Collector, and besides, those Edas will do a good job of fooling Twisted Amity faster than a speeding bullet."
Lilith sighed, reluctantly nodding. "Fine, but I swear, if anything goes wrong, it's on you, Edalyn."
With a mischievous grin, Eda snapped her fingers, activating a magical portal to the Clawthorne Realm. The three of them stepped through, unsure of what awaited them on the other side.
Skara gathered the Hexside students in the Convention Center, their breaths shaky from the adrenaline of narrowly escaping the Amity clone onslaught. The air in the room was tense, a mixture of fear and uncertainty.
"Okay, we need a plan," Skara announced, trying to maintain a semblance of leadership. "We can't stay here forever. Those Amitys won't give up."
"Did anyone manage to contact the authorities?" one of the students asked, holding onto a glimmer of hope.
Skara sighed, shaking her head. "No signal. It's like the whole town is under some kind of magical interference. We're on our own."
Another student, clutching a book of spells, spoke up, "We should go to the witches' dueling arena. It's fortified, and we might find something useful there."
Skara nodded in agreement. "Good idea. It's better than staying out in the open. Let's move, everyone, and stick together."
As they cautiously made their way to the dueling arena, the eerie silence of Bonesborough seemed to amplify the students' anxiety. Skara couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and she kept a vigilant eye on the surroundings.
Once they reached the dueling arena, Skara pushed open the creaky doors, revealing the dimly lit, expansive space. The students huddled together, seeking comfort in their unity.
"We'll barricade the entrances and gather whatever supplies we can find," Skara declared, her voice steady despite the underlying fear. "We need to be prepared for whatever comes next."
The students nodded as they began fortifying the arena, trying to create a temporary sanctuary from the chaos outside. The Hexside students knew they had to stand strong together, hoping that somewhere in the turmoil, help would come.
"Boscha, Amity, wherever you are, please come up with a plan to save the day..." Skarra gulped.