The new restraint around my neck rendered me unable to move at all. Despite my form wasn't exactly physical in this chair, the pain was still just as strong. Demon 626 had ensured it tightened even further should I move so much as an inch and even just slight movement caused it to start choking me. For now I was frozen in place.

I went mute to him from that point on. No matter how much he taunted, teased and mocked me I remained blank. He couldn't get to me that way, no matter how hard he tried and it was the best defence mechanism I had against him. I planned to tire him out by doing so considering he got the most joy out of mocking me. Stupid idiot demon.

I hadn't seen my father since he'd left the room last night. He'd scrutinised me for a few moments before leaving and after that Lilo had sort of just sauntered away from the room as well. She'd noticed a huge change in me being so receptive to my behaviour and moods. Like my father, she knew me back to front and could read me like a book. Even if she wasn't able to register that it wasn't me talking to her, she knew something was off. She was smart like that. More in tune to emotions and feelings above anything else. Even so, I knew the worst was still to come, and it would come soon.

Demon 626 was asleep at the moment, snoring obnoxiously loud. As powerful was he was now ultimately he was just exactly like me at the end of the day. I tired out and felt exhaustion. He wasn't as supreme as he believed he was and needed to sleep too.

My body lay there on my bed. He had my eyes shut but I was still aware of everything around me and what was going on. I heard movement and then my eyes opened, my 'viewing windows' opening up before me. Had that blasted demon woken up?

No... it was my angel, gently prying open my eyes. She'd never done that before.

The dimwitted demon was completely unaware of what she was doing, snoring away like a pig. It was the strangest sensation to sit here and look out of my own eyes yet be unable to do a thing about it. I felt like I was wearing a suit of myself. I was living my life behind a mask.

Lilo gazed into my eyes. I looked back at her sadly as it was all I could do. I imagined she could hear me.

I gazed back into her pretty face. Hi Lilo.

She was quiet. She peered closely at me in the dark, but the look on her face said a lot. Those chocolate brown eyes darted back and forth quite a bit as she gazed into my two black voids. I knew she was looking for me. My angel was looking for her Stitch.

You're so beautiful.

"I can't—" she started quietly, mumbling to herself. All I could do was watch on in deep pain, hoping that somehow she saw me stuck in here. I opted to listen intently and keep my focus only on her. Her mere presence and voice was keeping me going right now. Keeping me from giving in against that blasted demon.

"I-I can't see anything. Why...?" She looked away from me, and I saw her crying slightly. "Why are you being like this? Where have you gone?"

I wish I could hold you. I wish I could tell you I'm still here and that I miss you so much.

She looked down. "I love you, Stitch." She let go of my eyelids but continued talking quietly. "Even if you're pushing me away again and I don't know why."

I'm not. I promise. I would never push you away.

Lilo went quiet after that. I couldn't feel the tears leaking down my face but my eyes were blurred. I could hear her climb back into her own bunk before eventually she fell back asleep. The tears finally stopped but only after a long while.

I sat there, staring into nothing. I couldn't feel anything anymore.

But there was one thing I could feel—deep, seething anger building up in my core. Demon 626 snored and as I stared at him a deep, savage growl emanated from my throat. My fur bristled.

You'll pay for this. Even if it's the last thing I do.

I lost track entirely. Of time. Of each passing day. Since becoming blank Demon 626 thought I'd given up. He would taunt me and then be quick to tire from my lack of response; I wouldn't allow myself to give in to him no matter what he tried to do. He kept coming up with new ways to annoy me, hoping for a spark of interest—even slight curiosity—yet I just remained as dead and still to the world to him as I could manage in my position. It was extremely uncomfortable. He even checked my pulse a few times to make sure I was still alive.

Being me and being in my body, Demon 626 needed to eat. In here I felt nothing so I had forgotten how it felt to be hungry, but apparently 626 felt it strong and once he discovered Nani's meals for some odd reason he seemed to develop an insatiable appetite for them that kept growing and god he was greedy. It was weird, but it was highly embarrassing for me. I'd gone from placid and polite at the dinner table to shoving entire plates into my mouth. If not sitting for five minutes afterwards just to lick them clean he would toss them at the sink and then burp loudly, picking at my teeth with a claw. It was disgusting. Despite he kept me in character for the most part, there was a few times he let himself go and acted like an utter slob. Sometimes he broke a few plates with his recklessness.

When it wasn't a mealtime, he would ask for food. If he had no access to food—due to eating it all himself beforehand—he would ask when there would be more food. He was insufferable and Nani was getting annoyed pretty quick by my weird new attitude after finally picking up on it. He'd been subtle to start with, but then once he'd realised I'd gone blank he'd just gone off the rails with how little he cared and acted around the family. Jumba hadn't made an appearance in a little while so Demon 626 took advantage of it. When he did make an appearance, he was much like Lilo, scrutinising me from a distance. I had thought he'd at least try to help me in someway by now after seeing my body twitch, but to my utter dismay there was nothing since that night. Demon 626 picked up on that fact and used it against me, rubbing into my face hard that my father didn't care about me anymore.

I knew that wasn't true at all, but with my current mental state I felt so disappointed. It made me very depressed to the point I'd switched off from the thought of my father. Deep down part of me knew that he was probably trying to figure out what was wrong with me, and I told myself not to lose faith in him, but with how distant he was it was hard. I couldn't do anything anyway. I just had to sit here and let time run it's course.

"What is WRONG with you lately, Stitch?" Nani asked me one day upon seeing the fridge nearly empty once more. "I've never seen you act like this about food. I only did a shop two days ago, how are we nearly out again so soon?"

Demon 626 shrugged. "Dunno. Meega really hungry lately. Soka."

To keep up his ruse he'd help Nani around the house, like I did. The only reason she hadn't suspected something was different about me despite my new attitude was because he did a good job at keeping my character on track. He did have a few bumps along the way, but he was quick to adapt in general. I hated that he was smart enough to figure out almost instantly in some cases what he was doing wrong, or what actions made him look suspicious.

His acting was just enough to convince them, even if he slipped up, but I still couldn't tell if Jumba actually knew it wasn't me by this point or not. It was unbearable for me to put up with. I just wanted him to mess up to a point I'd be back in control. That way my father would know for sure.

I wanted him dead. Ground into dust. He didn't deserve to exist.

Due to Demon 626's ravenous appetite and my alien biology, I rapidly gained more weight. My body wasn't used to such a huge intake of food because I wasn't designed to need to eat as much as he was consuming now and everyday it was the same with him stuffing his guts. It really truly hit me after about two weeks had passed just how much I'd changed because of it. I was noticeably bigger and I was utterly mortified at the sight of myself when he walked past our bedroom mirror. Since I didn't respond to him, he knew taking advantage of my body would make me furious.

It did. Only I didn't show it.

"Lilo thinks you look like Jumba, ey 626? How about if I make you identical to him? Then you can both break scales together!"

I had to restrain myself so hard from lashing back at him. I'd been keeping my blank state up for long enough as it was and I was doing well so I didn't want to lose that. I didn't want him to see me crack. How much he'd already broken me. My will to keep going for Lilo was all I had.

She had walked up one time he was taunting me in the mirror. She didn't say anything, just stared silently. She hadn't talked to me in ages and had basically gone back to being mute, only speaking when needed. Soley because of how Demon 626 had been acting towards her. I hated seeing it. It had destroyed me to the point I couldn't bear to be around her anymore. At least when she wasn't in the room, my heart held itself together a little better.

I couldn't even bring myself to look at her. I was so embarrassed by Demon 626 and what he was doing to me, but I eventually realised why he was doing this. The real underlying reason—it was to turn Lilo off from me. To make her see me as nothing but fat, gross and unattractive. He hated her and hated me loving her and he knew just how to destroy that and get at me. To ruin my relationship with her before I'd even had a chance to start it. He was forcing her away from me by making me into something she wasn't easily able to adapt to. Forcing a new change.

Lilo didn't like change.

I hated that he knew me back to front. I also hated that he was constantly one step ahead. His plan was working too because the family noticed the change shortly after I did. Lilo's uncomfortable look at me when she began to realise I was much bigger shattered my heart completely. Nani was the one to point out my new weight during an awkward family dinner a few days after Demon 626 had mocked me in front of the mirror. They stared at me as Demon 626 actually struggled to get up onto the chair and after a long silence, Nani finally spoke up.

"Um. Stitch?"

"Ih." Demon 626 muttered, starting to stuff his face as per usual and sounding as bored as ever.

"Sweetie? Don't take this the wrong way but"—Demon 626 looked at her at that as her calling me 'sweetie' had evidently sickened him—"look at you! You used to be so energetic. What's happened to you lately?"

"Gaba eiek?"

"You've gained noticeable weight," David said gently. "It's been worrying us."

Demon 626 looked at them before laughing slightly. "What can Stitch say? Good food, Naanee best cook!"

They went quiet. He turned to Lilo next.

"Oh well!" He tapped his fork against the plate. "Naanee, you did put me through a lot before, ih? Make meega... sad. Unhappy. But maybe should tone down on comfort eating, ih?"

She looked away from him at that. He continued.

"Stitch know Lilo love me for me. So naga matter if Stitch a little fat?" he asked, picking at his teeth and grinning at her.

Jumba was there too. He was still being distant and had remained quiet throughout this, but he was giving me a strange look I'd never seen him pull before. I felt sick. Even more so when I saw Lilo's face and response to what had happened to me. She was staring at me, but she looked uncomfortable and even a little grossed out as she looked down my form. She couldn't look me in the face when he said that and rubbed at her arm.

My angel was actually starting to be off-put by me thanks to this scumbag. My nightmare was coming true.

They went quiet again, silently eating and watching as Demon 626 continued stuffing his face, shortly after asking for more yet again. After dinner had finished and the others had left the room, Lilo lingered slightly. I could hear the demon laughing at me as he walked up to her. He knew what was coming. I knew what was coming too. He was utterly destroying me, just as he said he would.

I was suffering and now he was going to rub it in even harder.

"Lilo? You quiet lately. Naga talk to me. You know I l-lo..."—he struggled to say it—"LOVE you, ih?"

Lilo just stared at him. She'd been about to leave the room.

Oh how I can't wait to kill you...

"Do Lilo still find meega handsome?" he asked sadly, lowering my ears and crossing my paws together. He was trying to look as cute and pathetic as possible. "After all, didn't Lilo say she accept Stitch for who he is?"

This wasn't fair. I felt bile in my throat. I had to try to swallow it down without triggering the rope around my neck into tightening, but with how depressed I felt at that moment I wondered if it was worth even worrying about anymore.

"I... uh," she responded awkwardly but as I suspected, she dodged the question. "Um... sorry Stitch, I need to go do something."

"Naga? Pleechi-ba tell me!" he called after her, starting up the waterworks. "Leelo!"

"I... do!" she responded, gripping her fists tight. "Just... you're different now!" And with that, she ran away from me.

Demon 626 started laughing at me, loudly and obnoxiously.

I blacked myself out on purpose by forcing the rope to choke me.

"Wakey wakey!"

I groaned as I was brought back to reality against my will. That piece of blitzkorp.

GO to hell you piece of—

"SO THEN!" Demon 626 screamed into my face, putting his paw against my cheek and jolting me awake. "I'm sure you've figured out what I'm doing considering I can actually see it now in your features quite clearly how much you want to kill me EY?"

I went to snap at him but he put both his fists into my mouth and forced my jaw open wide. My eyes widened in complete horror.

"Say. I wonder what would happen if I kept going, 626?"

I struggled. The rope constricted my throat again and my eyes watered. He kept pushing my jaw apart until I was nearly past my limit. I felt a small rip in my skin starting up and white hot pain flared throughout my head. I struggled. I was helpless to stop him from doing what he was about to do. And then he did it.

He ripped my jaw apart, pulling it away from my face. He showed it to me before snapping it in half in front of me.

I could feel it all. The pain was unbearable and my blood literally flooded out all over me. I was on the verge of dying and as my vision blackened, a sickening noise echoed all around me and then—

And then I actually jolted awake, panting. It took a moment for my vision to clear. I was shaking terribly. I had no idea if I still had a jaw as I couldn't move let alone feel my face.

Demon 626 was watching me, perched on the side of my chair.

"Hello again! Have a nice dream?"

Dream? Oh no. That meant it was ANOTHER hallucination! Damn it! I squeezed my eyes shut tight and wanted to scream.

"Ready to talk yet?"

I looked at him. That was what he was after?

No. I wasn't going to break. He could torture me all he wanted. As gory and scary and realistic as that hallucination had been, I didn't care. Because if it happened again I'd know it wasn't real now he'd made me aware of what he was doing. He was stupid as hell.

Or so I thought. He looked at me boredly.

"I know you felt that, 626. I KNOW you thought it was real. It felt awful, right? You really believed you were dying."

I remained still at that. He was smart and I had to warn myself not to get ahead of myself when I saw the look on his face; I knew he couldn't read my mind, but he knew what I was thinking.

"Thing is, I can make that really happen to you. You're awake currently sooo... would you like to find out how it actually feels this time?"

He was in my bed as it was night by that point. I watched through my eyes as he walked over to the mirror and made me put my hands onto my jaw. Once I saw that happening something inside of me snapped hard. My brain went into an entirely new state.

STITCH! YOU'RE AWAKE THIS TIME! THIS IS REAL!

I'd never had a panic attack before. But at that exact moment, seeing him do that to me and how helpless I was to stop it, I did.

I began hyperventilating. The rope constricted against me to the point I started blacking out again. He had no idea what was happening and it distracted him enough that he stopped what he was doing and even fell off the chair in shock. Once he stood back up, I saw him groan in agitation and he belted me across the cheek hard, bringing me back around though I felt massively distorted.

"SNAP OUT OF IT!"

I went still.

"Ugh! You're such a killjoy! Way to ruin the moment you utter fool!"—he shook his head—"Anyway, that's enough fun for today. Tomorrow will be better, you just wait!"

I just went blank again. He shook his head at me before punching me once more and leaving my mindscape. Through my eyes I saw him get back into my bed, but he was quiet, seemingly confused. For a brief moment I wondered why he'd not gone through with it. He was me so seeing that happen to me when I was pushed to my limit—had that made him realise that he was liable to such a thing too?

I was too confused to think on it anymore. As he closed my eyes I thought I saw a set of eyes looking through the dome window towards me.

The next day had me actually wanting to die more than ever. And still, it continued to get even worse.

Lilo was avoiding me. Demon 626 kept trying to trick me into thinking I was dying but he kept failing. Jumba was once again nowhere to be found.

I was starting to get mad. I'd gone from feeling utterly depressed, to just bitterly angry. I was angry that none of them understood what was happening to me and that I had to battle this alone. Just like I'd had to battle everything else in my life alone. I felt so furious.

Furious that Lilo had started turning on me for being overweight when it wasn't even my fault. She had always said she accepted me! Furious that Jumba had made no effort to help me so far. For a moment I wanted to cell to activate and just end it all. It wasn't fair. But then suddenly a brilliant green glow distracted me and I was confused however after a few moments I realised what it was and stopped feeling furious instantly, feeling sick again instead. Sudden realisation dawned upon me.

My anger. My anger was the key in starting the Metamorphosis programming activating. This was exactly what Demon 626 was after—the more angry I was, the more powerful he became and if I kept up this feeling, he'd have full control within seconds. The town would be eradicated in minutes and everybody would die. I realised then just how dangerous it was for me to be angry. Everything he was doing to me was on purpose to make me angry, so he could have enough power to...

Oh god.

I felt tears pool in my eyes again. What was wrong with me? I couldn't allow this to happen! I couldn't just let him win like that, so now what? I was just stuck like this forever? I couldn't die. I couldn't be angry. I couldn't be sad because it would MAKE me feel angry. I was just nothing now.

A living entity.

"Just like me."

I looked up as Demon 626 smirked at me at that. He couldn't hear my thoughts in here! How did...?

He tapped at his head. "Your little... moment there was responsible for me being able to FINALLY read your mind. I did warn you that the weaker you are and the more you react the stronger I become, yeah? Or did you forget that?"

Crap. Just like what I'd figured out before with my emotions being tied into powering the cell. My emotions were basically binded to him—they were his fuel. He grinned in glee at me before bouncing away happily and I knew he was eager to use this against me.

I was officially screwed.

...But was I?

No. I thought to myself. I'm not.

He had the one up on me too many times. I WOULD find a way to use this against him. But how?

Now what...?

Hours passed. Finally an idea came to my mind. A stupid one none-the-less, but it was better than nothing.

I thought about a big red brick wall with huge bricks. I envisioned it nice and clear in my head; slightly gritty with weeds growing out of the bottom. It was so perfect that I even made up a chant to go with it.

Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall...

That was all I thought for most of the day since he'd gained access to my mind's mind. I just focused on that stupid wall since I couldn't do anything else at that point. Any other thoughts I had concerning how I felt about Lilo and the situation I was in, he'd hear them. So I kept thinking of my mental brick wall and chanting. I kept it up for hours.

Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall Big Thick Brick Wall—

He finally snapped, spraying a mouth full of popcorn all over David as they'd been watching another movie.

"WOULD YOU KNOCK IT OFF...?!"

…

…

…

BIG TALL BRICK WALL BIG TALL BRICK WALL BIG TALL BRICK WALL BIG TALL BRICK WALL...

He threw the popcorn across the room in a temper as Nani yelled at him angrily. In the end he decided to stop reading my thoughts.

I was feeling much better after that incident. It was short-lived by him once again tricking me into thinking I was dying, but I could handle it knowing the pain was only an illusion. That horrible dinner incident kept playing on my mind, however. It was hard to get the look of my angel's face out of my mind when she'd realised what a slob I'd become.

The days continued to pass and I barely kept focus.

Around eleven thirty on a Wednesday morning, the doorbell rang. It was now the third week into my possession. Demon 626 had been eyeing curiously from behind Nani as she answered the door to see who it was. It was Mr Kuakini and Nani allowed him inside. I guess he'd come to update about the store.

"Oh no, this old codger?"

Shut up idiot.

"What brings you here today?" Nani asked him. "How's your arm?"

"Getting better," he told her. "As you know the store is still shut for renovations to the back but I should be in the clear to reopen next week. I wanted to come and thank Jumba personally for his contribution because without that I might not have been able to reopen for months."

Nani nodded.

As upon my suggestion before everything went to... well... hell for me, Mr Kuakini had talked to my father about money to help rebuild the store. He'd agreed and given the man some funds to get himself back on track, telling Mr Kuakini he didn't need it back despite he'd promised to repay it. Since my takeover I hadn't been able to keep tabs on what had been going on and I was irritated by that. So while I was glad Mr Kuakini had come here, Demon 626 was not.

"I'll go get him. He's in the ship."

Nani left, leaving me alone with Mr Kuakini. Lilo had gone off to her hula lesson and it was becoming normal for her to go without me now due to our distance. I was too numb to care anymore and I was glad about it in a way because I knew what Demon 626 would be like in the class.

Mr Kuakini looked at me. From the look on his face he looked like he was going to say something, but he didn't. Demon 626 analysed him but thankfully kept his mouth shut and wandered over to the fridge in search of, wouldn't you guess it, MORE food.

Jumba eventually came back inside with Nani. I heard him talking to Mr Kuakini as Demon 626 raided the fridge. And then things went even further downhill.

Nani apparently had enough of what Demon 626 was doing because she snapped at me.

"That is ENOUGH Stitch! I warned you before about raiding the fridge!"

"Soka, I'm so hungry!" He moaned at her but he didn't stop.

She came over behind me and the beast was startled as she started to pull him away forcefully. He snarled. My heart almost stopped when I felt him unsheathe my claws but Nani continued pulling as she didn't notice what he was about to do.

"NO!" I screamed, finally breaking my long silence. "STOP NANI! DON'T HE'LL—"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Demon 626 spat venomously and turned around swiftly, slashing her across the arm. Jumba roared and in an instant he had grabbed me and held me high up into the air.

"Nani!" Mr Kuakini cried out, running over to her. "Are you okay?"

She hissed in pain. Three big slash marks were across her forearm and she was bleeding quite badly. Jumba snarled into my face.

"Get out!"

He threw me to the ground. Demon 626 snarled back at him and went to slash at him too, but he kicked me hard into the wall.

"OUT!"

"JUMBA NALA QUEESTA!"

My father lashed out towards me at that and Demon 626 flinched before he quickly ran away.

"Well done," I told him. "Now you're finished."

"Shut up."

I had no idea what happened after that. Demon 626 had run away from the house. I could tell he was getting impatient and tired of having to keep up the act of being me. Now that he had slipped up beyond redemption I had a feeling he'd screwed himself over. He ended up sitting down on a small brick wall just at the edge of Kokaua Town, panting. Running that short distance had tired him out and I was intrigued.

"Had enough yet?"

He just snarled at me. I laughed. "I know. I know the only way you're gonna activate that program is for me to get angry with you, ih? Without my anger you're just a wasted program. Your plan will never work 'cuz no matter how much you hurt me and turn them against me, I'm not mad."

"How?" he spat at me. "How can you not be mad?! Remember, Lilo thinks you're disgusting and fat, your father won't even look at you or lift a finger to help you and now Nani hates you too! I've TURNED them against you so you should be miserable now! Begging me for mercy!"

That stung deep. Yes they were my family. He was right about that. However, as much as this had destroyed me, I still wasn't going to cave and give in to him. I'd broken long ago to the point of feeling nothing anymore so I just shrugged at him and that really made him mad.

"THEY DON'T LOVE YOU ANYMORE!"

"..."

"SO WHY AREN'T YOU ANGRY?!"

"Because then you'd win."

He screamed at me. I turned my head to the side as he punched me over and over. He raised his paw and slapped me as hard as he could across my face before turning and heaving from the exertion.

"..."

I could barely open my eyes. I knew my face was swollen. He went to hit me again but he faltered. He knew it was no good as without my anger he was finished. He was just data.

He stared at me. I stared back at him.

"..."

There was only one thing left he could do after that, and he did it. He went absolutely crazy, throwing a tantrum because he couldn't get his way. I watched through my eyes as he tore off into town, ripping out trees and throwing them. Punching brick walls apart and throwing cars. He scared the residents and they ran away screaming.

I just remained blank. It was extremely hard but I knew what would happen if I let my emotions through. But then he approached the Kaiaulu Halau and I screeched out, unable to hold back. I hadn't wanted him to go there so he picked up on it instantly.

"Oh... let me guess, Lilo's hula class is in there, right?"

"..."

He grinned, walking forward towards it more when I began thrashing in my chair. "No? Shouldn't go there? OKAY I WILL!"

My eyes widened. He bolted for the entrance.

"STOP IT! STOP IT!"

Moses and the girls all screamed when he barged through the door. He laughed manically. When he saw Moses push back the girls protectively he grinned.

"Should I 626?" He asked me as I heard Lilo scream out to me in horror from across the room.

"What are you doing Stitch?!"

"NO!" I roared.

"YES...? YES!"

"NAAAAGAAAAA!" I screamed out as loudly as I could, tears flooding my swollen eyes again as he lunged forward, picking up Moses and easily throwing him aside. The man cried out, landing hard against some chairs.

I wailed. The girls were screaming and crying. Demon 626 started laughing hysterically. He ran amok in the halau, reminiscent of when I'd destroyed the speaker. Ironically enough he destroyed the opposite one, throwing it across the room where it smashed into the wall. After that, he approached the girls and I let out a moan knowing there was nothing I could do. People were going to get hurt...

He raised my paw and unsheathed my claws fully again before picking up Elena, going to slash her across the face. I squeezed my eyes shut as she screamed and tried to pull away from me. I couldn't watch. My emotions slipped for a moment as my anger surged and green light hit my vision, forcing me to open my eyes. CRAP.

...And then suddenly somebody tackled me to the floor and grabbed my wrists tightly from behind—the green vanished instantly.

Demon 626 struggled in a state of disbelief, Elena breaking free and cowering behind the other girls. When he turned around I went into disbelief too.

It was Chopsuey, pinning me to the floor. Demon 626 went completely still. Moses managed to push himself up and crawl over to the girls and they watched the scene unfold in shocked silence. His leg was bleeding. Lilo was crying.

"Let go of me!" The beast finally seethed, struggling against the experiment and I heard startled reactions from the other girls as they heard me speak for the first time. "NALA QUEESTA!"

Chopsuey laughed at that. "I thought something was off about you 626. Screw finally come loose?" Demon 626 snarled at him, struggling to break free and he shook his head. "C'mon. You're upsetting hatchling."

I cracked open my eyes to look despite how much it hurt as they were extremely sore from the beating before. Demon 626 had gone lax on his control thankfully due to his shock so I could feel some of the pain instead of pure paralysis. How the heck did 621 know? Then I remembered briefly—those eyes I'd seen through the dome window! Had he been spying on me?

When Demon 626 had hit me across the face that night, it had reflected in my body's movements. I knew this because I'd seen it reflecting in the mirror. So essentially to anybody else I would have looked like a lunatic, arguing with myself and slapping my own face. He was careful about this around the family but when we were alone it was a different case.

621 knew what I was like. So even those sorts of actions would prompt attention from him being so far out of my norm. He knew that I loved Lilo and would never do anything like this.

At this moment however, I hated him a little less.

Just a little.

Chopsuey dragged me out of the school despite Demon 626's protests. Demon 626's tactic of turning Lilo against me might have worked, but in this case it had backfired big time—he was too fat and out of breath to stop him, completely puzzled as to why he couldn't break free.

Chopsuey just laughed again. "Geeze 626. Loaded on the pounds there haven't you? Trying to impress Jumba?"

Demon 626 snarled.

"Never thought I'd see you this out of shape. What's the matter? Lilo finally say something mean to you?"

I growled at that. Demon 626 took a moment to snort at me before spitting at Chopsuey.

"Lilo's an idiot."

You're dead.

621 was perplexed. "Well now THAT just confirms you've gone whack. I thought you loved the hatchling, the way you were so clingy and attached to her. Did you tire of being controlled by a little girl?"

"None of your business!" Demon 626 yelled. "Let meega go!"

Chopsuey just smirked, continuing to drag me behind him.

He dragged me back through town to our home. Jumba was the first one to see him from inside, rushing out to us.

"621! You found him!"

I cracked open my eyes again at that. "...?"

"Ih..." he muttered, sounding annoyed as Nani, David, Pleakley and Mr Kuakini came forth behind him.

Find me? Had he been actively searching for me? What was going on?

"Get him to the ship."

621 secured me tightly. I just sat back and watched through my eyes as the demon continued thrashing. He tried using my extra arms to get away, but Chopsuey just secured those in his own set. Eventually he realised he wasn't escaping anytime soon and gave up, going limp. Once in the ship, he put Demon 626 into the holding area 621 had been in before when Lilo had tried talking to him. The monster banged against the glass furiously. It wasn't soundproofed like last time, so I could hear them talking.

I saw Nani look in at me. She had a big bandage around her arm. "What is wrong with him, Jumba?"

Mr Kuakini was beside her. And then I noticed something in his hands. A letter.

My letter. He'd found it!

My father looked at her before looking at me. "Can officially confirm today is not 626."

They looked confused. When I heard that my sore and tired eyes widened. DID THAT MEAN—?

I began crying again, tears stinging at my eyes. I pulled against the restraints as hard as I could. "PA!" I screamed. "HELP ME!"

David rushed in at that moment, Lilo in his arms. They joined Nani and Lilo put her arms to the glass.

"Stitch—!"

Lilo! Can you finally see me?

My father looked in at me, clearing his throat. He typed something into his computer before it pinged and displayed a diagram of me on the screen, showing my internals including the cell, which gave off an orange glow.

"Three weeks ago, I noticed something odd about 626. He was looking at picture of Lilo, however he was scratching it with claws. As if trying to erase her face."

He pulled out the picture frame and showed them. They gathered around him to look, before looking at me in astonishment.

I felt giddy. JUMBA HAD NOTICED! He had actually noticed! All this time I thought he hadn't been doing anything... once again I'd underestimated my own father and guilt washed over me. Demon 626 was beside me in my mindscape now. He was looking at me and growling, clenching his fists. He knew where this was going and he wasn't happy about it.

Lilo looked mortified at that, as did the others. "What?!" she shrieked, looking at me in disbelief after holding the frame and running her finger over my claw marks. "Stitch would never do that!"

"I know," my father responded, taking the picture back and putting it aside. "Even more odd behaviour from him when I spoke to him about programming and what we would be doing. His reactions were strange, however only when I went to scratch him behind ear and he jerked away from me, was knowing for sure—something was definitely off about 626. This continued with strange speech patterns."

They sat down. Lilo sat beside me in front of the glass.

Jumba continued. "So, I observed behaviour. I went back to picture and scraped 626's DNA from the frame and analysed it. My theory was correct—626's brainwaves had a new pattern. B.U.G had been warning me of a change too so when I looked further into it I finally located and isolated new second form of consciousness. He'd told me before he'd been hearing odd voice in head just before behaviour changed. I had inkling before, but could finally put two and two together where it had come from."

He pulled up a picture on his computer and showed them, pointing to it and looking at me. It was a picture of my brainwaves and he pointed to a green line above the blue ones. "I kept quiet about it as to not alarm family. But yes, 626. I was aware of what was happening to you. My main priority then was to find a way to deactivate back up, but as you are knowing, is impossible to do or remove entirely considering is tied to your heart and would kill you. I know now that back up has merged with cell somehow. Is what I was figuring out."

My eyes widened again at that. "Jumba was at loss. Could not alarm family with information after everything that had already happened. And then, had an idea when I saw 626 enjoy meal and ask for more."

Nani flipped around to face him. "Back up Jumba...? What are you talking about?!" she exclaimed. "Don't tell me... this is something else you didn't tell us?"

David put a hand up to her at that. "Hold up Nani. That day Mr Kuakini hurt himself, Stitch was going to tell us something. But he was interrupted by the phone call. I remember." He looked at me. "You told us about the Metamorphosis programming coming back, and the cell switching, but... perhaps, was there something else too?"

"IH!" I screamed in my head. I could have kissed David. I started pulling against the chair and felt it move beneath me this time. "IH!"

"SHUT UP!" Demon 626 hissed, lunging at me and putting his paw over my mouth. I quickly bit down hard on it and he screamed out, momentarily loosing control for a moment and my family and Mr Kuakini watched in disbelief as I fought with myself in the holding cell.

Jumba stared at this. "There was... I was going to tell as soon as I had confirmation. I just wanted to be sure could be stopped first before telling because would set off panic. I knew could be dangerous with how things were being already."

Nani relaxed a bit at that. "What do you mean?"

My father crossed his arms, looking at her. "Well. As you are knowing, Metamorphosis cannot be stopped as I said. Only delayed. This however, was new incident on top of that. One that could potentially be stopped if I played cards right."

They looked confused. He continued.

"See... when I created 626, I created a back up. This back up was designed to do exactly as it sounds—activate if Metamorphosis never initiated. Back then I wanted to ensure Gamada and board members perished and I was deadset on that. However as explained, Metamorphosis activated because I forced it to, so was no need for back up. I blacked out before I had chance to erase, even though I started process to do so but for unknown reason process failed. Back up would ensure that 626 would still destroy, however would not be as powerful as he is with actual Metamorphosis."

Nani stared at him at that. "...Huh?"

"Remember form 626 had that scared you?" She nodded. "That is form in back up. But just think as much bigger. Size of buildings, like lizard-monster."

"So that's how he actually looks?!" Nani was astounded, putting her hands against the glass and staring at me. I was still fighting against Demon 626.

Jumba nodded slightly. "Sort of. Much worse when in full form however that is different to back up form. He is actually looking like this in full form."

He pulled up another diagram. It was the one I'd seen before of myself with the guns on my back. I only saw it briefly due to holding off the demon but I did catch my family's reactions to it. They were stunned.

"What are those?" Lilo asked quietly and I knew what she was looking at "On his back?"

"Guns."

"Stitch has guns?!" David asked, and Pleakley, who had been extremely nervous and quiet about the situation also spoke up in alarm.

"GUNS, JUMBA?!"

Jumba nodded. "Think of organic blasters. Is how he was able to demolish Turo."

They went quiet.

"Nani, form you saw him in was supposed to be erased. I don't know how it was missed but what you are seeing there is result of back up taking control of 626." He pointed to me fighting with myself.

"But... what do you mean?"

Jumba closed his eyes. "626 has entity of himself in there with him. Has taken control of his body. I designed him to be a monster so is alter ego essentially—the personality he was SUPPOSED to have had I not chose not to erase back up, however he had human boy's personality instead."

Mr Kuakini looked extremely startled at hearing all of this and being referred to. I knew me being released from Demon 626 would come at a price, and that price would be him finding out the truth about me. As much as wanted to protest it at that stage there was nothing I could do. I had to get out of this first. Explanations could come later and I would just have to accept it if Mr Kuakini turned on me.

"But..." Nani started, but trailed off.

Jumba continued. "As I was mentioning before, idea hit me when was seeing 626 develop appetite."

"What?"

My father sat down. "If could not deactivate back up program being tied to cell, then I was very limited in what I could do because could not harm 626 in process. However, 621 was one to help give me the idea."

"621?" Nani asked and Chopsuey crossed his arms at being addressed. I knew Mr Kuakini had never seen or heard about 621 before so he was staring at my 'cousin' in silent shock. Demon 626 had stopped fighting me to listen too however he'd resumed full control of me so I couldn't move at all.

"Mhm. You noticed 626 took abnormal liking to food, yes? Probably because has been back up, meaning would have been dormant in mind for so many years thus was never able to operate on physical level. 621 informed me love of food could be used against him to weaken him."

I was perplexed at hearing that. Demon 626 had been using food to make me fat to turn Lilo against me, but at the same time had Jumba had been prompting it to make me weak?

"So, I had 621 sneak device into 626 during sleep," he continued. "Couldn't do so myself as would make too much noise and fingers too uh... thick to insert device, however 621 has dexterity and skill. He put into 626's ear."

Demon 626 was also perplexed at hearing that and I smirked at his reaction. "What?!"

"Device would send out signals prompting 626 to never feel full, and continue eating."

I sneered at the demon. "Did you initially plan to turn Lilo against me that way?"

He scowled. I realised then the idea must have only just occurred to him after he'd started eating, otherwise if Jumba hadn't prompted it he might not have done it. In a way me getting fat had been a small price to pay for defeating the demon. A small godsend from my father. No wonder Chopsuey had been taunting me before. He knew of Jumba's plan but still used the opportunity to mock me as anything that involved him being able to make fun of me was right up his alley.

"I'm not sure what alter ego's intentions were for 626 other than taking control of him," my father continued. "However I know that little monster would use it against 626 too, that being, turning everybody against him. I programmed him to be that way. I had to find a way to prevent him from getting stronger without hurting 626, so I knew altering him physically would prevent that. Do not like doing this to him but Jumba had no other choice."

Lilo was looking in at me with tears in her eyes at that point, holding onto the locket tightly.

"Stitch..."

"So what we've been dealing with hasn't been Stitch. Our Stitch—my boy. Is why he's been different. And I also knew this because of Kuakini man here."

Mr Kuakini had been staring intently at me. He looked at Jumba. "Informed me of this odd letter he'd found from 626 when approached me for funds for store. After that I called forth 621 to enlist his help. Thankfully, little runt was willing to help out."

621 growled at him and Jumba glared at him. I knew there was still tension between them considering Chopsuey had tried to kill us in the past.

"Don't get too comfortable Jumbo. I helped you this time for the sake of the hatchling, but don't bet on it again."

"Be quiet."

Chopsuey just scowled at him.

Jumba took the letter from Mr Kuakini and showed the family. Lilo didn't look, instead she just focused on me. She looked confused about something but I couldn't read her expression.

"Anyway, am thankful for 621's help, no doubt about it. Sent him out to monitor 626 knowing that bigger size would make him struggle physically and be easier to take down and capture. However would need to be done at right moment. 626 would no doubt have hurt me as he did to you Nani if attempted sooner, so 621 was best option. Today after he ran out was good chance to capture him. Would have been suspicious of me if I just tried to do so at home and would have attacked me, so I was forced to hold back."

He was right. Now I fully understood why Jumba had seemed so distant. It was never intentional, he was playing safe.

"Or ya coulda just shot him again," 621 piped.

"CHOPS!" Jumba roared at that and he smirked. My father shook his head and looked in at me in the holding cell.

"I don't know what has happened to 626. Nor do I know how how exactly the cell has been held off from activating. Only 626 himself can give us that answer."

Demon 626 just scowled at him. He finally dropped the act and spoke up.

"626 isa dead."

Lilo was startled at hearing that, falling backwards slightly away from the glass. Chopsuey just looked intrigued.

"NO..." Jumba sneered at him. "IS NOT. I know is in there!"

Demon 626 tilted his head. "How?"

"Because 626 has told me. Saw it for myself."

I pondered on that. How did...? That's right! When I twitched on the couch that night after gaining back some control. Jumba leaned right forth to the glass, his eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You were supposed to be erased. And now that I have you, I WILL eradicate you and get my child back."

Demon 626 snorted. "Good luck."

"I know there is underlying reason why cell hasn't activated yet..." Jumba sneered at me. "I might not know exactly what it is, but I can bet life on it that 626 has found way to hold off, otherwise would all be dead right now. Because that's what you want isn't it? Exactly like I programmed you to."

Demon 626 glared at him.

"I created you purely out of my rage and anger. You are not my child. You are a PROGRAM. 626 is my child and I want him BACK."

"I will activate that cell," Demon 626 responded deadpan. "He's gonna die and you're gonna die. Naga child for you."

"Not if I can stop you..." I sneered at him and he looked at me. "Give up demon. The game's over."

I had noticed Chopsuey had a weird expression at hearing that from Demon 626, but I couldn't ponder on it for long at that moment. My father looked furious. The demon just narrowed his eyes at me before looking at Lilo.

"Yuuga naga like Stitch anymore, do you?" He smirked, knowing how it would make me feel. "626 got a bit fat and you can't handle it. Turn on him! You're BAD Lilo! Nasty person!"

Lilo looked mortified at hearing that. "Stitch I—"

Nani put her hand on Lilo's shoulder. "That's not Stitch talking to you. Remember the drawing?"

Lilo's eyes widened at that. She stood up. "N-Nani's right! That's NOT Stitch!" She pointed at me. "Stitch would NEVER hurt me the way you have. He loves ALL my drawings and he'd NEVER push me away!"

Lilo!

"I know I hurt you Stitch! But I didn't know that wasn't you at the time but now... now it all makes sense and I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" she cried. "I KNEW something was wrong!"

My angel!

And then she finally said something I'd longed to hear for weeks. The one reason I told myself to keep going and keep fighting.

"I love you!"

In an instant, that horrible depression that had been weighing my shoulders down lifted and a wave of newfound power and strength surged through me. I pulled against the restraints. Demon 626 backed off slightly this time, instantly losing control. My body struggled in the cell again, making them all stare, and I managed to take back control of my paw enough to reach up to the glass and press it against where her hand was. She choked, putting her both her hands against mine on the opposite side, similar to how she'd done so when I'd died in the fusion chamber.

Now she knew for sure I was here. And she confirmed that.

I smiled.

Jumba kept me in the cell. Despite I couldn't communicate with my father, he would sit there on his chair and just stare at me with his arms propped up against his knees. He was looking at Demon 626 but he also knew he was looking at me too.

"Hang in there, son. Promised would never give up on you. Don't give up on me."

Demon 626 laughed at hearing that. "Fat fool. You deserve this for never acknowledging meega. You deserve no child."

I noticed Chopsuey had that weird look again upon hearing that. He was sitting down beside Jumba with his legs crossed.

Mr Kuakini had remained for a little while before as well. Nani had sat down and spoken to him about my situation and what had been happening to me, alongside Jumba. The entire truth had been revealed. I couldn't tell how he felt about me anymore considering he didn't really look at me but he must've realised what I'd been dreading him finding out—that his own son was a mass murderer.

How does one process that? I could barely process what I'd done even though I had no memory of it. When he left I thought that would be the last I'd see of him, however I was proven wrong.

Later that night, Jumba was doing more analysis. Lilo was sitting beside him clutching onto the little blue plush dog and staring at me. She was in her pyjamas and refused to sleep inside with me out here in the cell. Earlier, Moses had spoken to Nani about the incident in town as well. He'd been hurt but he was okay, thankfully. Jumba had to leave momentarily to clear things up in town considering the mess Demon 626 had made, leaving Chopsuey to watch over me.

The ship door opened and Mr Kuakini came in. Demon 626 was brooding about at that point but he looked across. Mr Kuakini bent down in front of me, putting a hand to the glass.

"Mitch?"

Jumba looked at him at that. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed by it nor not, but he knew better than to speak up at that point. Lilo stood up and joined him, looking at me in the cell with her hand pressed against the glass again.

Demon 626 glared at him. "Stitch, moron. Not Mitch."

He looked startled but Lilo quickly put her hand on his shoulder. "Remember, it's not Stitch. Stitch knows he's Mitch and he's told me too. He would never say that to you."

Mr Kuakini looked at her before looking at me again. "I know. He made that clear in the letter."

Lilo smiled at him. "Stitch is in there. Like Jumba said... he's listening to us. He can hear us."

"Leelo!" I cried happily. Demon 626 belted me across the face, hissing at me. He hated that I was no longer depressed. He'd given up on trying to make me angry because I was too happy to be otherwise now that my family had come through for me. I knew I had hope and strength again—a will to live—and he knew it too. All he could do was just make the most of what control over me he still had left.

And he did just that.

"He can hear you. But he can't control what I make him do!" Demon 626 smirked. Their expressions fell and Jumba was instantly at my side hearing that as well, scowling. "What do you mean you little troglodyte?"

Demon 626 smirked. He put his paws to my jaw again and started to pull in opposite directions.

"NO STOP!" I screamed, instantly starting to hyperventilate again. I could handle pretty much everything he threw at me but this I couldn't after what that hallucination had done to me.

He kept going. Tears began to flood my eyes. Jumba had caught on pretty quickly to what was happening however Lilo and Mr Kuakini didn't know what was going on and flinched back in horror. My father had leapt up in an attempt to grab a gun but even so he wouldn't be quick enough. Demon 626 screamed out vocally to emphasise my pain when I felt my skin stretching to it's limit. It was about to—

And then before I could register what had happened, 621 broke through the glass of the cell, tackling me down hard before grabbing my arms and restraining them tightly. Demon 626 was so startled that he lost control for a moment or so again and I pushed as hard as I could until I managed to claim my vocal cords back. My jaw hurt like crazy. My skin had been seconds from tearing like in the hallucination.

"H-H—P! P—!"

I fought even harder at seeing Lilo's horrified look.

"HELP M—!"

"626!" My father cried.

Demon 626 REALLY didn't like that I broke though. His eyes turned red and he clamped down on me to the point I felt like I was suffocating. He wrapped his demon tail around my neck tightly.

"If you so much as speak one more word out of that blasted mouth I WILL claw your voice-box out!"

I shook. Then a soothing lullaby reached my ears. As Chopsuey restrained me tightly, I could hear Lilo singing to me. My fear dissipated and I felt at ease. Thankfully it was enough to make the demon back off and he scowled at me and stood back although he couldn't hide a tear from escaping. My tear. Not his.

They saw it.

"Stitch!" Lilo tried to go forth towards me but Demon 626 managed to pull a paw away and extend my claws out long enough to scratch her. Chopsuey hissed at me and grabbed my paw back forcefully, almost dislocating my arm. My father grabbed Lilo, also pulling her back swiftly. "NO! Don't get close to him, will only hurt you!"

She cried. Jumba eventually managed to restrain me with Chopsuey's help and they forced me into a capture container. He replaced the glass of the cell.

Demon 626 thrashed about and clawed at the glass, but it was no use. This container was specifically designed to hold me. Finally he tired out and just moped, leaving my mindscape and I was left in peace for the first time in what felt like ages. There was a tense silence amongst the four of them after that point and they just observed me from afar. My father continued to work tirelessly to figure out how to help me. Seeing what Demon 626 had done to my jaw had put him on alert and he had started making what looked like a device to keep my mouth shut.

Mr Kuakini still looked shaken but eventually approached me. He left something just outside of the glass so that I could see it. It took me a moment to register what it was.

It was the journal.

"I know you're in there Mitch," he said to me and I stared at him. "Be strong and remember who you are."

Jumba eyed him and he left after that. Lilo came forth to look at the journal but she didn't read it. She set it back to where it was and left the small plush toy beside it, gazing into my eyes. I could tell she was tired. My angel sat down before me and put her hand to the glass again, eventually falling asleep. Jumba picked her up and put her in a blanket in the sitting area, setting a pillow under her head. After doing so, he walked over to me again.

"You'll be okay, 626. Just hang on a little longer."

Pa... Love you...

I knew he couldn't hear me, but I was elated when he gave a nod before going back over to his work area. I looked at Chopsuey who was sitting beside him, monitoring me. I wondered how he'd been able to break the glass of the holding cell, considering he was in it before and hadn't escaped.

Or had he been holding back the entire time?

There was so many unanswered questions I had about 621. He'd helped me out quite a bit today when he'd initially hated me. I wondered then if he wasn't actually as bad as he seemed. Perhaps he did have it in him to redeem himself after all despite he was the one that caused this to happen to begin with, and I once again wondered what those looks he'd given before had meant.

If I would ever learn the answer to that however... only time would tell.