Fabi shook her head in disbelief. Or, she would have shook her head if
she hadn't been unconscious and her head hadn't been on fire. Not literally on fire, but it felt like it.
"See,
you already look dead," Eff explained. "Of course, that's because you
essentially are dead if you don't get medical attention soon, but still,
Silver hasn't eaten your soul. She's still trying to help Liberty, she
doesn't completely understand the paralysis potion, it had just about
worn off you when she dealt with it before, at least I think so, but
anyway, that really won't take much longer, then she'll make sure you're
dead.
The Princess either doesn't know about the substitute or doesn't care.
So all you have to do is let me borrow your body for a minute or two,
and I can explain everything, and it'll all be cool."
"Can't you go back in your own body?"
"Uh...no.
See, I bribed one of the Princess' lackeys with an awful lot of
illusioned gold coins...he agreed that a soul goes in, a soul goes out.
Also, he thinks your name is Bert, just so you know."
"Can't you still use your own--"
"My
body is currently in Mevolent's castle. Some recently appointed
official-type person there seemed to think I had this object... Which
even if I did have, I obviously wouldn't carry it around places, but
anyway. I can't do that, sorry."
Fabi was about to agree, but then it
occurred to her. Eff hadn't mentioned reversing the process, and she
had no real reason to help, anyway.
"No." Fabi said. "Sorry."
Effie
switched the illusion on her face, but not before Fabi saw her eyes and
mouth tighten, an almost pained expression on her face. Fabi mentally
blinked. Pink hair, seriously?
"Fabigail, you don't trust me, do you?" Effie's voice was strangely soft.
"Eff,
you've been constantly insisting ever since I met you that you're not
someone who can be trusted," Fabi pointed out. "Also, I killed you. Why
are you trying to help me?"
"Well, all those other times it wasn't a
good idea to trust me, but like, you can now, okay? And I don't want
Mevolent to destroy the world, that enough for you?"
Fabi winced, or her subconscious winced, anyway. "Sorry..."
"Fabigail,
why are you apologizing??? Stop the bad guy, okay? Give Mevo what he
doesn't expect! And don't give up and die, that's just stupid! Sure,
you've got life-threatening injures, but--" Effie gasped.
"What is it?" Fabi asked, concerned.
"He
still has some control, Fab. He's trying to use my 022230300450 ghost, and
then use me lock you out of your own body! I take that entire speech earlier
back, do not trust anything I say or said. Not a word, you hear?" She turned and
ran away from the loophole in reality and Fabi's mind shifted into a
nightmare.
****
To be continued.
DUN DUN DUN
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