As tempting as the idea may be, switching into Isadora will just delay things. If you make your move, you can still rejoin your family before dinner.
All you need is a little distraction to set up the bigger one. “We’ll see about that, dear. In the meanwhile, would you mind getting me something to drink? Your mother was so overjoyed to tell me you were approved that she forgot about attending her guests!”
“Don’t worry,” she tells you. “Same thing?”
“Sure,” you tell her.
“I’ll be back in a jiffy!” You see her go, and you feel sad for deceiving her. You take your burner and dial Dora’s phone, ready to make the call as soon as you hear the first steps.
“Aunt Dory,” Anthenora tells you as she approaches, flanked by Isadora. “Mom told me your sickness may be related to liquor, so she asked me to give you--”
You silence her as you hear Dora’s phone ring. “Hold on a second.” You stand up and answer, feigning a call from her company. “Yes? I told you I was going to spend a day or two at my sister’s home.”
You darken your face, feigning disappointment. “I see. Yes, I’ll be on my way.” You hang, closing the suitcase and pulling the handle. “Sorry. I got a call from my secretary. A very important business endeavor just presented; I’m afraid I must return.”
“But, Aunt Dora!”
“Sorry, sweetie.” You kiss Anthenora’s forehead, squeezing her shoulder. “Will have to visit you another time.”
“Dory, what about your health situation?”
“I’ll attend it once I’m back at Tyneside. I’ll consult a professional this time.” You hug and kiss Isadora, stepping back. “We’ll talk about family on another time.”
“Aunt Dora,” her niece pleaded. “Don’t overexert yourself. It’s not healthy for you.”
“Unfortunately, my livelihood depends on it. But don’t worry – I will certainly return whenever you’re available.” You start calling an Uber while leaving. “Until we meet again.”
“Bye!” It pains to see Anthenora missing you more than Isadora, but this isn’t your family. That reunion cannot come too soon.”
--
As you waited for the Uber, you made a quick and dirty plan. One that involves visiting an old friend.
You ask the Uber to leave you in Ashley’s house. Though she won’t know you, you can at least fulfill the promise you made to her in some way. You drag Pandora’s suitcase and knock on her door, surprised to see her in casual clothes. “Yes?”
“I’m dreadfully sorry,” you greet her. “I know you don’t know me, but I need your help. I seem to have made a mistake and arrived here, but unfortunately my phone lacks charge. Could I use your house’s sockets to recharge it?”
“Sure,” she tells you, ever the trusting one. “Do you want something to drink?”
“Do you have raspberry juice?” You study her reaction as you tell her your decision.
“Sure! Let me get it for you.”
As she turns your back, you take a deep breath. You draw the black pen, knowing that she’ll immediately realize what has happened as soon as she wakes up. You point and click, and she tries to turn in horror as she deflates.
“Sorry,” you tell her as you grab her from the floor. “I didn’t mean to do this. I know what this must mean to you. But I’ll need your help one last time.”
You sit on her couch, dragging her shirt down to rip a slit at her nape. Once you can make a large enough hole, you slide your head into hers, adjusting it. You practice a little with her voice before using her phone. (She should change her phone accessibility options – for her own sake.)
“Yes,” you hear your old voice answering, devoid of any interest.
“David? It’s me, Ashley.”
“I know. What do you need me for?”
“Something very important. Come in as soon as possible. Use any excuse – I need you here now.”
After a pause, you hear his answer. “Sure. I’ll ask Mom first, though.”
“Sure! As long as you’re still here in the next hour.”
“I’ll see you there.” After hanging, you pull off Ashley’s face, gulping a mouthful of air. You drag her into her room, peeling off Pandora and Ross while at it. You wrap one of Ashley’s towels around your body, then draw her gun.
As you hear the door, you move discreetly behind it. You open, making no sound. As he enters – none the wiser – you point the gun at his temple, dragging him in. “Don’t make a sound.”
He looks at you, and you can see he’s genuinely – genuinely – spooked. “What are you doing?”
“This is for our own safety.” You point the black pen and click it, seeing as how he deflates. You check him all around – very close to an out-of-body experience – and inside, in case one of the other guy’s agents got into him first. (Though, knowing what Marvin did with Tessa, one of the agents may have been sealed inside your replacement anyways.)
After noticing no oddities, you wake him up. He shivers, but as he sees you, he gives you the same dead response. “It’s you. Why did you do that?”
“Like I said, for our own safety.” You bring him to Ashley’s room after locking everything, and he’s surprised (or faking it very well) at seeing her deflated.
“Why did you do that?”
“It was the only way to get you here.” You take a deep breath, then lean close. “Listen. I’m gonna need to borrow you for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember how you borrowed Cassie Wright? Same thing. But I’ll need your cooperation.”
“Is it official business?”
“Yes, and a really important one. Top secret. You lack the clearance for it.” You grab his shoulders, looking deep into his lifeless eyes. “I need you to tell me everything that happened during the last week. From the moment you returned from Tyneside to now. Everything.”
“I’m not supposed to--”
“I told you not to, but it’s me. It’s important that you do.”
--
You adjust your face and look at yourself in the mirror. David Anderson is – no, you are – looking at the mirror, but it feels so alien.
You’re wearing your replacement as the latest layer of your matrioshka-esque collection of skins. Though it is you, it feels as alien as Pandora, or Ross.
You finish up dressing, hiding Pandora’s suitcase somewhere Ashley wouldn’t look. (Maybe she will, but that will distract her.) Then, you drag Ashley into her couch, and after leaving, you reflate her from the window and dash away as fast as possible. You adjust your haversack, where you’ve hidden your gun – unloaded, of course – and Silva’s clothes.
Then, keeping your eyes open, you step back into your childhood home – nostalgic yet alien at the same time. You instinctively grab your keys and open the door, and without a thought, you voice loudly. “Mom, I’m home!”
“That wasn’t long, Davey.” You almost cry as you see your mother approaching you. You want to hug her, tell her that everything’s alright, but the mission comes first.
“Ashley asked me to keep this for her for a while,” you say as you show her the haversack.
“Oh.” You know she doesn’t feel comfortable with the idea. “Dear, I know she's your friend, but isn't she taking too many liberties with you?”
“It's a favor for a day or two.” You move to the kitchen, wondering what your mother’s cooking. “What’s for dinner?”
“Oh, just...” You know that caught her unaware. “Coleslaw and butter-fried bass.”
Mom rarely cooks this. Must be a special occasion. “Cool.” You look around, into the stairs and the backyard door. “Is Nick here?”
“He’s still wandering around,” she laments. “Why?”
“I haven’t seen him in a while.” (That was one of the questions you made your replacement, after all.) “I miss him. Can’t you tell him to come for dinner?”
“Sure!”
“And tell him I got a call from his boss while at it. Seems he’s been skipping work.”
That should do the trick. If your mother knows he’s been skimping on his job - his dream – she'll demand to talk to him, in person. He’ll be forced to come – the perfect opportunity.
“I’ll tell him as soon as possible. Want to help me finish dinner?”
“I’ll be upstairs, doing my homework. Call me when he’s here.”
As you step up the stairs, you notice Claire’s door is half-open. You feel a deep desire to hug her – partly to pester her, partly because you miss her – but you decline. You still take a glance at Tina’s room, where she’s distracted listening to music through her headphones.
Once inside your own room, you immediately drop into your bed. Sure as hell, you miss its mushiness, though you’re sadly aware of the rank odor surrounding it. Yeesh – is this why Mom always complains about my room?
You’re interrupted by a call from Jimmy, which you promptly answer. “Yo, Dave! What’s up?”
“Nothing,” you tell him. “Jerking off.”
“To whom?”
You slide your hand over your back, tearing it until it’s touching your next layer. You rub her labia as you brag. “Pandora Phelps.”
“Why would you jerk off to some old lady, dude?”
“Dude, she may be old, but she’s got a banging body.” (You should know. You’re wearing her.) “Plus, don’t tell me you don’t got the hots for her.”
“Before! Not now!”
“And if she appeared in front of you and said ‘fuck me silly, you big stud’?” (You try to mimic her voice, but not by taking off your face.)
“Yeah - like that’d happen.”
I could make it a reality. But not now. You let him talk as you figure out the next step.
If the guy inside Nick is still there, he’ll suspect about the call. Being yourself is unadvisable. You could switch to your mom, making sure he arrives. Or switch into Tina, to put even more pressure on him. Or even Claire – the only one who has nothing against him.
Though – isn't it weird that you’re thinking about replacing someone else in your family? Shouldn’t that worry you?
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