Conquer

~15~

Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash 

Barns looks back at me. "Do you truly not know how sassy, strong, remarkable you are?" I stare at him blankly, emotion boiling just under the surface. I fight it to stay there. He nods, slowly. "Okay, on a scale from one to ten, how freaked out would you be if I told you there are other dimensions?"

"Barns!" the person snaps.

He doesn't blink, only watching me intently. I whisper, "Ten."

"At least she's honest."

Barns sighs. "We need you in two days to fight someone named Cruz. She fought - uh - you in another dimension, and somehow was able to escape through the blast. Her body in our world is like a shell, she doesn't respond to much."

"But she's carried her spirit into two dimensions," the voice in the dark says grimly.

My breathing quickens. "You're insane."

He says repeatedly, "No, no, we're not, we're not, I promise." Barns watches me. "I promise."

"What do you expect me to do? Fight someone I don't know? What if I'm in battle two days from now?!"

"Then you need to make that decision," Barns says.

"Screw you, I didn't just go through military bootcamp to not bring honour to my family!" I shout, the sound echoing off the cave's walls.

The person from the darkness steps closer, saying, "You have already brought them honour. You blame yourself for their prejudices. Are you not proud of yourself? For doing what no girl has been allowed to do? For carving that path for them? Or are you still too scared to step out of the mold they made for you?"

"I do not listen to you," I say, head held high. "You know nothing of me."

The figure steps out of the darkness. "You are wrong, and yet you cannot admit you are lying to yourself."

I can't breathe. My eyes lock on her - me. I stare back at myself, the same body, the same eyes, the same hair, everything. But there is something different in her stare, a confidence in herself that I have not yet found.

She - I - speaks again, "In my world, a girl spy was not accepted very well. Unlike you, I was not the only one. But like you, I had support."

"I don't have support."

The mirror image of me scoffs. "Don't pretend like you are completely alone, don't dig a hole into yourself. You have us, you have yourself, you have your father, and don't tell me those boys out there won't support you either. They'll come around."

I back-step, "And - so - uh, you're me in another..."

"...dimension, yes."

"How?"

Other-Annabeth shrugs. "I'm not sure, but I think my fight with Cruz opened a tear in the time-space continuum." She looks me over. "I am not saying you need to enter into this whole situation, because we have support in all three dimensions. We have you, the other you, and me. I just need you to stop lying to yourself."

"Why?" my question is a croaked-out reply.

"Because you're going to die if you fight her like this."

"Men fight pretty well."

"So do girls."

"I've never seen it."

"Seeing is not always believing, and it takes time for change. But it all starts with you."

"I will be executed for showing who I am," I argue.

"Then you'll die as a lie."

Barns steps in. "Okay, Annie, chill. I think we've done our part." He meets my hard gaze. "I've seen you overcome a powerful King's opinions, and fight to protect those with even a broken heart. And in this world, I've seen you do the exact same thing. You have defied the expectations they set on you, for love and for what is right. Whether you fight Cruz or not, the lie that is Andrew Perch will destroy you."

"What happens if I don't fight Cruz?"

"We'll handle her then. But we just wanted to give you a chance."

I glance one last time at the other-world-me. One question comes up. "Are you happy? Living your truth?"

Other-Annabeth smiles. "Very. With Dalia, missions, marriage, friends, and another baby on the way? Who could ask anything more than being accepted by those you love and most importantly, yourself."

"We need to get back, Per - uh, Seaweed Brain is stuck on poop duty, Le - uh, repair boy has never let him live it down." Barns laughs a little, a finger on his ear as if someone is talking. Other-Annabeth's eyes crinkle. I don't know why but my heart warms. "Good luck," he says, guiding Other-Annabeth back into the darkness - something I am more certain holds another version of my life in.

I watch them fade away, and am greeted by the hollow winds in the cave. Their words toss through my mind, and I am faced with fear of what either choice I make will bring. 

Can I truly conquer these expectations that not only others have put on me but of ones I've put on myself? And can I face those consequences? 

OOF 

Have a great day/night wherever you are! - The Fangirl