“Katie?” You hear Mrs. Hunt calling her daughter. “Wake up! It’s time to go to church!”
You effortlessly mimic the same grunt Katie does every Sunday. She’d rather stay sleeping until noon, but Mrs. Hunt keeps some respect for the sacred, and therefore never misses Sunday service.
I’ve heard God would accept even a sinner like me, you tell yourself. But will He accept me sleeping with the Devil?
You wake up, tracking all spots touched by your crotch. It’s the other reason you grunt; you stayed until late at night, as you had to quell that ardent desire to please yourself. Feeling Jessica’s excitement at being touched by you felt magical, but your hunger couldn’t be sated that easily.
Being the last layer, you went down hard with Katie’s vagina. Not merely once or twice – thrice, under her bedsheets, as you fantasized her thoughts about being touched by her impossible crush. (Turns out, Katie’s more perverted than you thought!)
Her mind helps you weather the dullness of a service foreign to you. Sure, your mind recalls the rites – the need to cite the Scripture, the message of the preacher – and some of the people there – pastor Kenner in the pulpit, and the saint of Mrs. Schultz, with her veiled head and Bible under her arm. (Or Mrs. Altman, a judgmental hard-liner yet an unrepentant gossip.)
But to Rachel O’Leary, it feels strange. She was – you were – raised Catholic by your parents in a very Irish parish, with a priest that enjoyed liquor stronger than the ceremonial wine. Those aren’t your memories anymore. They’re David’s.
He’s standing there, with his family, being the most reverent he has been before. He follows the movements, the bows, sings the hymns, with no one the wiser. Neither with you, as you follow the rites driven by Katie’s loathing.
There is, though, one key difference. Jessica. She’s been just as dull and reverent as David, following the moves with robotic precision. And when the service ends, as Mrs. Hunt meets with Mrs. Anderson, she leans to you and whispers to your ear. “Now what?”
“I’ll wake her up once we get back home. You should be with your boyfriend, though.”
“But you are.”
“No.” You point at David, who’s not even moved to see her with you. “He is. You love David, don’t you?”
“I love you. You said it, no? No matter which face?”
Guess I’ll have to work this kink out once we return. “Think of him as me. He’s what remains of me. He’d be very sad if you rejected him – I would feel sad if you rejected him.”
She gives a pained look at you. “But what about me? He... He’s not the same.”
“Neither is you. Remember, Jessica – you're replacing the real one, just as David is replacing me. Make him happy. Drill that in your mind.”
She nods, and you follow her, clashing with Katie’s thoughts. Your eyes wish to bask in his radiance, your nose to delve into his scent, your skin to feel his. But that won’t happen, because you’ve dictated their fates. David and Jessica will be together, and Katie will find happiness with someone else.
You greet them, instinctively hugging Claire before dealing with everyone else. “Hi, Claire! Hi, Mr. Anderson. Hi, Missus Anderson.”
“Hello, Kate.” (It’s impressive that, of everyone, Mrs. Anderson sees her as an adult. Everyone else is either “Katie” or, in Jessica’s case, “Muffin Top”.) “I bet you wanna talk to Claire, don’t you?”
“Pretty much,” you tell her, scratching your eyelids. “I couldn’t sleep well yesterday, so it’ll have to be here.”
“Alright,” she responds with a smile. “Go ahead. I’ll keep everyone entertained here.”
With her mother’s blessing, Claire follows you aside, where she entertains you with her doubts. “Hey. Is it me, or is Jessica also acting like a zombie?”
“It’s probably you.” Of course it’s not, Claire-bear. But you’ll have to believe it.
“Anyways, if you manage to figure out the bug they caught, tell me so I don’t get it.” She gives you a confused stare. “What was that about not sleeping well?”
“I fell asleep late. I barely remember what I did yesterday. That place was dirty and smelly...”
Her confusion gives way to shock. “Wait. Maybe it’s the gases! But then, why Jessica got infected while you didn’t? Unless...” She grabs you, looking in fear. “Katie! You better go to the hospital! What if this is infectious!?”
“Then I must be immune. Remind me if I start acting weird, though.” You seek Jessica’s replacement and Mrs. Hunt to slip away. “Gotta go. Keep an eye on Jess and David when they’re at your house.”
“I’ll keep you informed, then.” As you leave, you enact the second part of your plan. You grab your head, rubbing it, then touch the older woman’s arm. “Mom? My head hurts. Can we go home?”
--
“...you’ll always love David, with passion. And don’t tell anything about this to Katie, or to anyone.”
The sounds of heartbeats end, and you notice Jessica wake from her stupor. She shakes her head, staring at you. “You’re going to leave us alone, right?”
“As I promised. Once I wake your sister, I’ll be out of your lives. I’d recommend you keep mum about the date; if she asks, take her to the hospital.”
“Because of the excuse you told Claire, right?”
“Yes. I don’t want you worrying your sister, after all.”
“I appreciate that.” She rubs her arm – stiff, slow and mechanically – and remains behind. “I guess this is goodbye, right?”
“Pretty much.” You heave the duffel bag on your shoulder, clearing your long red hair from it. You point the black pen at Katie’s skin, ready to sprint in a moment’s notice. “And remember. I don’t want her following me.”
“I know.” It seems your order is working perfectly. This Jessica will live the rest of her life with David, her love, while you’ll live with yours. Some questions come to your mind – will they remain together? Will they have kids? Will their kids be as robotic as them? - but they’re better left unanswered.
You click the pen, and before the first stir, you run away. You’re lucky your attire – a simple T-shirt, sports bra, leggings and sneakers – helps you with it, as you need to make as much distance from them as possible. You’ll need to walk carefully as you order your Uber back home.
You settle to wait for it at Edgefield Plaza, seeing it one last time. You’re close to the orchard, its trees empty as the Festival happened a couple of weeks ago, prompting you to question her. Brings memories, isn’t it?
Lots of them, she replies.
Will it be painful if we never return here?
You sense her doubt. I guess. It’s our home.
Then I’ll bring you here. Every time the festival happens. You cross your leg, watching a former acquaintance – Trish – jogging alongside her mother, and bask in the old town’s air one last time. Will you mind if it’s under another person’s face...?
--
Finally, you’re home. You can’t wait to release all that heat pent up inside you.
The mere thought that Jessica, your beloved, wraps every inch of your skin has you hot and bothered. Your mind ran with the thoughts of your future together. You two, sleeping together on the same bed, cuddling and touching and fucking maniacally. Her, wearing Leah’s skin, whetting your appetite. Her, wearing your cloned skin, fulfilling your twisted fantasies.
Oh, and when she learns about the other skins? You just hope Tessa gives you the keys to the Five.
Which is what surprises you. Tessa’s car is there, meaning she’s paying a visit. Your delight will have to wait, as you attend to your divine patron.
As you step in, fresh from opening the door, you feel two wiry arms crushing you, and a face motorboating your breasts. “Bestie!”
“Hey, Cass.” You peck her lips, reflexively, and just as reflexively you shiver. You know Jessica didn’t see this, but you can suspect her reaction – she's telling it to you.
Rachel! What’s the meaning of all this!?
You’ll know once you wake up, babe. You walk inside, only to see Tessa in regal attire – all white and gold, like her hair, studded with pearls and fine gems all around.
You also notice something else. An envelope.
“Hello, my love.” Once again, you feel Jessica’s emotions overwhelming you. “Did you have a nice trip back home?”
“You could say so,” you respond, your hug and kiss chilled by Jessica’s emotions contrasting yours. “Dealt with some shadows of my past. This is my home now.”
“Good to know.” She grasps your arm, tilting her head. “Is something wrong?”
You’re left speechless. What will you tell her? That your girlfriend’s going crazy jealous because of her affection? That your time with her showed you that you still have feelings for her – feelings so deep that they may dwarf those for her, your divine patron? That you’re now sure she’s the second choice?
You feel a little white lie will suffice. “I’ll need to deal with my feelings, Tess.”
“Fair enough.” You see her grabbing the envelope, smiling. “I thought I’d leave this in case you didn’t return today, but you surprised me. I think you’ll love the news.”
“News?” You rip open the envelope, seeing the letter inside. As you see the contents, your world starts to spin so wildly that you feel you’ll faint.
What you see is a pregnancy test. Not just a store-bought one, but a lab test. And the words contained within have confirmed the doubts you had lingering in your mind.
The test is positive.
“Congratulations, my beloved. Will you want to be the father, though? Or the mother?”
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