The Impostor in the Room, Part 4

"Okay, center stage's yours, you're up," another reassuring hand on my shoulder, a gentle squeeze I felt, and Irene's dark hazel eyes were inches from mine. "Go do what you do best."

"Nearly die?" I quipped.

"Proving me wrong," She said, then with a light nudge, sent me on my first step forward.

Focus, determination, intent. I knew what to do, knew it better than before. Emotions. Strong emotions. Hate. Just hate.

Just like with Ash. If I could do to her, then with this Jay… piece of cake.

"You will kill me if you fail, won't you?" Jay-Harry asked, persisting as always with his casual how's-the-weather-tone. "That doesn't sound good for me. It's a shame there's nothing I can do about it."

"You don't look too worried," I remarked, stretching a hand forward.

"Maybe if I knew what that is, I would be. I've been told to be afraid of dying, but I don't even know what being afraid is. I haven't lived long enough to know that."