Chapter 5 -Nightmares

[Voice]

The weeks pass as Cori continues her lessons and life with Bella. Their relationship still remained neutral, it was only a matter of time until something was to happen.

Cori: When will Altair come back… Uuuugh!

Bella: Focus on the damn lesson! You have been complaining all day! I said he will be back in a day, the hero selection ceremony concludes today! He will be back tomorrow morning.

Cori's tail suddenly straightens out like a cat, a smile forms across her mouth.

Cori: It's about time, what were we learning again?

Bella: We were learning math concepts. Now get back to work, this stuff is from elementary level, I am two years old and know more than you.

Cori: Math is hard! I have no idea what this sideways plus sign even means!

Bella: That is multiplication, are you trying to stall?

Cori: I actually have no clue.

Bella: How come you can memorize certain things while sucking at others? You recited the whole novel of "Lindell the black knight" perfectly, few people even know of that book.

Cori: I know you are a fan when I told you about it, he's so cool, am I right? Remember that time when he fought the head hunting rabbit? That thing was terrifying! 

Bella: Quit babbling. No, I am not a fan. Who even put all these stories into your head? You even talked about becoming an adventurer when you got out of this place. The last known sign of an "adventurer's guild" was at the beginning of the latest void surge. Adventurers are extinct! I had to read a dozen books per day to figure out what you were talking about. 

Cori: I have more stories in the back of my head if you want to hear more.

Bella: Please, we are getting distracted. Tell me what five times seven is.

Cori: Dammit… This one is hard.

Cori rapidly puts up her fingers and counts on them.

Cori: I will prove that I am smart… The answer is 42! That's right Bella! I am smart, you see?

Cori points both her fingers at Bella with a smug look. Bella on the other hand had the soul drained out of her from this interaction.

Bella: You make me question my sanity.

Cori: That's right! I am so smart, I make people go into shock! Maybe this is my magic power!

Bella: This is probably why you have no magic power. Your soul is probably so embarrassing to look at, some outer god covered it up in some veil.

It was a while before the lesson finished, Cori likely learned nothing. It was almost the conclusion of the lessons, after Altair came back, it was to be decided whether Cori could be properly integrated into society. The day passed by as usual with Bella taking care of Cori like a mother to a child, eventually, it was bedtime.

Cori: I want you to tuck me in.

Bella: What the hell? Aren't you a grown adult?

Cori: You're a maid, and I'm lazy, get to work.

Bella: You're just trying to spite me… Whatever.

Eventually, Bella leaves the room, Cori was left alone with the lights out, but for some reason, she couldn't sleep. The only thing to do was to watch the clock on the wall.. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock… Hours passed. The sensation made Cori's head hurt, even looking at clocks could give Cori a migraine, it was as if the clock was ripping apart her brain. But she couldn't help but feel connected to the clocks around the manor, something was always off about them. The manor life so far felt extremely nostalgic to Cori, this has to have something to do with Cori's past.

Cori: Dammit… I should stop looking at clocks, is this unique to this manor? Why do I feel like I have lived here before?

The clock struck eleven, it was getting extremely late, Altair would be back in the morning, Bella told her to wake up early to give a good impression to Altair so that she wouldn't be executed. But her head was ringing, it hurt so badly, she couldn't sleep.

Cori: What the… My head…

The pain was immense, but not unusual. She would usually hold in the pain in front of Bella. The clock's ticking grew louder, was this usual? The sensation overloaded Cori's mind, causing her to pass out on the spot. Hopefully she won't have nightmares.

[Cori]

Last night was hell, I don't know why the clock caught my attention, it was as if it were warning me of something bad, maybe a bad omen? I fortunately passed out before I could experience more of that damn clock. I woke up the next morning, the pain was still ringing in my head, but this time, my stomach was also hurting, had the pain spread? I opened my eyes, the world around me was blurred. I decided to get out of bed and get dressed, I had to go meet Altair.

Bella: Finally awake? I was concerned you'd be sleep-walking again or snooping around the manor. Typical of a sinner of your type to do. How dumb are you to disregard your injuries, I had to carry your filthy body all the way back to this room and stitch you up, you're lucky my master told me not to kill you.

Cori: Bella? Why are you here? I woke up by myself…

I heard Bella's voice, something sounded off, she usually wasn't as confrontational. Wait a minute…

Bella: You better stay in bed, sinner. Don't move, I will kill you if you do. Or your wounds will kill you.

Cori: Wounds? When did I get wounds?

Bella: Typical sinner… How brainless are you? You literally came crawling out your room bleeding hours ago.

Cori: Wait what?

Bella: By the way, how do you know my name? Are you a mind reader? Admit your powers, I wouldn't be surprised, you're a sinner after all.

Cori: I thought you knew I had no powers.

Bella: You're a sinner, clearly you do have powers, we must put you to the test to prove you don't have powers. I hear you were weak from the elf, but you cannot be THAT weak.

My eyes finally adjusted, Bella was sitting at my bedside, an angry expression was brewing on her face, she struggled to make eye contact. It was as if this was the first day I met her. My head was spinning, what happened? I rushed out of bed and fell on the floor, cold sweat dripped down my face, something was clearly wrong…something was clearly wrong…something was clearly wrong…

Bella: What are you attempting to do sinner? How many times do I need to threaten you? This is your last warning.

Cori: W-Wait a second, I have to… Collect my thoughts.

This cannot be right. These are the events that happened at the beginning of the month! My torso injury, Bella's mood… Something clearly went wrong, what did I do wrong? I remember the witch's orders I almost forgot: "save the world". Everything was fine, what do I need to do to save the world? What even happened?

Cori: Can you help me back onto my bed? Sorry for that.

Bella: An apology coming from you is the last thing I would expect. Or was it a survival instinct?

Cori: It was a survival instinct… Yeah…

I have to think of what to do. Save the world? From who? From what? I know I loop back in time each time I fail an objective, but what was I supposed to do? There must be something I missed? Something around the manor?

[Voice]

A classic move from a demon, caring more about themselves than other people, you would think she would care more about the fact that Bella hates her again, or the fact that all her relationships reset, but the only thing on her mind was how to clear the objective. But this first impression from Bella would cause much more trouble and change for this loop. Altair and his crew eventually enter, but something different happened this time.

Bella: Master, the demon you keep has special powers, we must dispose of it immediately, it may be weak, but it can still be destructive.

Cori: What?

Altair: I said that she doesn't seem to possess any power for now, until we figure something out, we will keep it like this.

Bella: She can read minds or something, she knew my name the moment she woke up, this is basically the first time we met.

Edda: Maybe you can get her to recite our names, we can figure out if Bella is complaining again or not.

Altair: Alright, sinner, say our names. I can tell whether or not you are lying, and if you do, I will have to behead you.

Cori instantly tenses up, sweat drips down her face.

Brigg: Don't be shy, as long as you don't lie, we won't harm you.

Cori: A-Alright. 

Cori proceeds to recite everybody's name in the room perfectly.

Bella: I told you all, she has some telepathic ability.

Cori: I actually don't.

Altair: Nothing she said so far is a lie.

Bella: What? How? Has she met every single one of us?

Altair: I wouldn't be surprised if she met me and Edda, but there should be no way she knows who you and Brigg are.

Cori: Can you guys not kill me for now? Please?

Altair: We won't kill you, we're just curious for now.

Edda: Altair, I told you something was off about this demon.

Altair: You were giving it compliments, why are you going back?

Edda: I find it kind of creepy, she already knows every single one of our names,

Altair: True, but she seems to be weak enough to keep. After all, she couldn't defend herself against anything in the monster situation back then.

Edda: I'm just saying it is weird, not that we should straight up kill it. It helped me defeat the demon beast after all.

Altair: I understand it helped you but we have to keep our guard up.

Cori: What do I have to do to have a chance of living?

Bella: Can we just execute this sinner? She's getting on my nerves.

Altair: Don't be so hot headed.

Cori: Yeah, what is your problem with me? I have done nothing but help people out around here.

Edda: Don't get too cocky, our forces back then observed that you helped out the demon beast, and you are partly responsible for the death of a knight named Samson.

Cori: I did more good than bad! Knights volunteer to die! I did not volunteer to work for the demon beast!

Edda: Whatever, I have to agree that you still helped.

Altair: Unfortunately, I may have to agree with Bella, we might have to kill you here and now. But I can give you a chance.

Cori: But I thought you said you wouldn't kill me!

Altair: Unfortunate… The way you talk… Your voice is too high pitched.

Cori: What is wrong with that? It's not like I can change my voice!

Edda: I don't think she is doing it on purpose.

Altair: Succubuses are disgusting leeches of this world! It is hard to keep your temper when you're around them!

Cori: It isn't a thing I can change!

Edda: There is a chance you aren't doing this on purpose, but you seem to be trying to charm people in this room.

Cori: Charm? Are you guys into half dead demons? Half my body is covered in bandages! I'm not doing this on purpose!

Altair: My senses are failing me, why does she never tell a lie?

Cori: (I can soft ball answers in front of Altair, as long as it isn't a lie I guess. But I'm not doing this on purpose. I have only told the truth to stay alive, Altair is really getting on my nerves.)

Edda: So she isn't doing this on purpose?

Altair: Sorry, lost my composure there, I really shouldn't kill you… Something about you just pisses me off for some reason.

Cori: Hey! What?

A frown formed on Bella's face.

Bella: I need to get going, I am busy, I know you can handle the sinner, Altair.

Bella exits the room, Cori could swear Bella's head turned 360 degrees to look at her spitefully as she exited.

Altair: I have noticed some strange abnormalities with your body that I will have to look into, for now, I will make you fall asleep. I have plans for you after this, understood?

Cori: Uhhh, alright?

Altair touches Cori's forehead and like before, she instantly falls asleep.

Altair: Something is wrong with this demon, I'm questioning whether Bella can keep watch over it herself. I'm wondering where all her body parts went, she has no tail, horns, or claws.

The weeks proceeded as normal, but many things were different. She wasn't invited to a dinner with Aquilla this time, nor was she taught magic. Most mysteriously, her tail had disappeared, it was as if the demon anatomy book allowed her to have a tail. Cori would still beg Altair to let her go to the hero selection Cori was once again taking the lessons from Bella, but this time it was different.

Bella: It has only been a week, you seem pretty smart Cori, it's as if you have been taught this before, you told me you had no memory, right?

Cori: Yeah, I guess I'm just that smart.

Cori puts up a smug grin.

Bella: TIme for math, let's see if you can handle this.

Cori: Y-Yeah… This will be easy.

Bella: You seem nervous, what's wrong?

Cori: Nothing!

Bella: Alright, I don't know your level, let's start with elementary level, are you fine with that?

Cori wasn't able to meet the library spirit this time, she kept a conservative personality, hyper focused on something. Her plans will be revealed soon.

(That night)

Cori: If the other maids have nothing suspicious, then what would be going on? Cmon Cori… You're better than this…

Cori seemed to be investigating something. Unknown to Bella, she had found a way to lockpick the door to her room and had been sneaking around into areas where the maids would be. But how could a maid have this "World ending" power?

Cori: Something isn't right. Things are a bit too peaceful, I failed my objective somehow, I at least need a lead to what is going to destroy the world.

She had a cross charm tucked into her nightgown, she had heard that this symbol warded off great evils. She stole it from a drawer in her free time while no one noticed, she would now use it to purge whatever world ending threat was in this place. Like the previous nights, she found absolutely nothing from her investigations. She decided to head back to her room for the night, she would get nothing out of this investigation. Maybe something would happen later in the month.

Cori: Damn it all… That witch can at least tell me what the hell this world ending threat is.

Cori went back into the hallway, cussing along the way. But to her surprise, something was moving in the shadows. It seemed like a figure walking around, it was dark around the manor, there was no telling what it was. Cori decided to follow it closer.

Cori: Finally! Something I can follow.

Cori had no fear in following it, after all, she would just loop back if she died, right? She trailed behind the thing slowly, she held her breath at each step so as to not alert whatever it was, soon enough, it entered a side room.

Cori: Time to find out what has been going on.

Cori creeped up to the doorway, her legs were shaking out of excitement from this. It all went downhill when the figure burst out of the doorway, it was posed as if it were ready to attack.

Cori: TAKE THIS!

Cori takes out her cross pendant and raises it up, instantly, it unexpectedly takes effect. A bright light radiated from it, it was very bright… Maybe a bit too bright? It was a lot long before Cori realised she was in pain, she felt like her body was disintegrating, pain filled her body. She hisses and scrambles backwards away from the cross charm.

Voice: Cori? What the?

Cori: Oww! What type of trick is this?

The figure steps forward to reveal herself as none other than Bella.

Bella: What the hell Cori, how did you get out of your room?

Cori: What the hell, aren't all maids supposed to go home at this time? Why are you awake?

Bella: Not me, for special reasons, and no, I don't need sleep.

Cori observed her, she had eyes resembling a lizard.

Cori: Y-You're not Bella! You monster!

Cori tries to get up and attack Bella but she stumbles and falls forwards into Bella's arms.

Bella: Also, where did you get that cross, I thought it would scare you off from certain places. They are supposed to ward off evil, like you. I guess somebody put it away in a drawer or kept it hidden. You seem seriously burned by that.

Cori: You fake! I know you're a monster! Reveal yourself!

Bella: Cori, I am Bella. Why do you think I'm a monster, I patrol around the manor every night.

Cori: Your eyes are different! I can just-

Bella: That is my night vision Cori, everything is safe in this manor. If you want to talk about something, let me know.

Cori tries to talk about her objective, but no words exited her mouth. Cold hands seemed to wrap around her, choking the breath out of her body. Do as she might, she couldn't tell Bella anything, she panicked and stopped as soon as she felt something sharp against her neck, she gasped and rolled on the floor.

Bella: Are you ok? I guess the cross's effect has come into play. Even though you are hurt, what you did was extremely stupid. I will still need to punish you, fortunately, the punishment isn't execution since you have been doing well.

Bella drags the half conscious Cori back to bed. Cori, in the end, was never able to find out what was going on. Maybe she had to do something on the "day of reckoning".

Cori: And there! That's the plan!

Cori stood in front of a crudely drawn plan, it looked like a primary school student drew it.

Cori: First, I will snoop around again on the night that I loop back. Next, I will find whatever has been causing the trouble and destroy it. Then, I can be crowned a hero and I will get all the money I desire. Finally, I will live a happy life in a mansion that doesn't have corridors like a maze.

The plan sounded easy enough, it was up to the shriveled and weak demon to execute it. 

Cori: I must keep it a secret that I have figured out the combination to the second lock for the final day. I must not be caught.

Cori had figured out the combination to the new lock that Bella had installed through sheer luck. Maybe that was her superpower? Maybe she was actually a genius detective. It is always hard for someone to find out who they truly are after all. 

Cori: I will become so rich, nobody will be able to touch me. Not even those demon hunter hero bastards. (I think that is what you call them)

Cori's excitement stayed throughout the weeks to come. The month here lasted 4 weeks. Despite the surplus of time, Cori didn't bother preparing. She was so excited, Bella started getting concerned.

Bella: Cori, you keep kicking your feet under the table, you seem excited. You repeatedly say my lessons are boring, can you tell me what it is?

Cori: Me? I'm not excited, does kicking my feet mean I'm excited? I won't do that again.

Cori doesn't know that kicking your feet while smiling means excitement, she did it subconsciously for some reason. Demons say and do things similar to humans, yet don't know the meaning behind it. A demon could insult your family, to you, it is an insult that may or may not emotionally hurt. To them, it is a specific way of moving your mouth that makes humans have angry emotions, and according to the books, it makes them less focused during battles. 

Bella: (maybe that is just another subconscious thing that demons do to mimic humans)

Cori: What are you thinking about?

Bella: Oh, uh… I was thinking what we were going to do next, you are really impressive, it's like you already know the thing I was going to teach you, I'm sure that Altair will be impressed. (This is bad, she is likely good at leeching off humans using her wits… I don't know why Altair did this.)

Cori: I want to learn magic. I'm sure I have potential.

Bella: (Crap! Wait, she doesn't know magic? The hell? She said before she had absolutely no power, but her asking for lessons on magic kind of confirms this. I thought she was lying.)

Bella: Sure, we can see. But we can only do this after Altair comes back in a week. 

Cori: What? Why not now?

Bella: Magic in your hands is dangerous, and also, I don't have permission to teach you that.

Cori makes an upset face, she learned how to do that from Bella. "Do it whenever you feel angry" as she would say.

Bella: (She really learns things quickly when she has motivation. She was talking about how she wanted to be more human so that Altair wouldn't kill her after the "big bad event" happens on the last day of the month. I have no idea if it was exaggerated or not.)

Yet another week passes, Cori didn't bother investigating further to avoid punishment from Bella. She seemed very lazy over the past days. Despite this free time, she spent time planning what she would do after she "saved the world". By now, it was the last day before Altair came back from the ceremony.

Cori: Then, I'll build my castle on this hill, I can show these human flesh bags who I truly am. I will rule over them like the scum they are… I deserve it after all after how they treated me so far. It has been nothing but pain and pain again with these rules and societal standards Bella keeps talking about. Why can't I just kill anyone who wrongs me? Don't they deserve it?

Bella walks in, she had been listening to Cori's ramblings.

Bella: Demons never learn do they.

Cori: Hey! Am I not heroic to question authority? It says that in those philosophy books! Also, I know I shouldn't do that now, don't kill me!

Bella: Relax, we will decide whether to kill you tomorrow or not. 

Cori: That doesn't make it better!

Bella: (Demons are always so scared when they know that they have a risk of dying, this is hilarious)

Bella: Come with me, I have some food for you.

Bella leads Cori to the dining room.

Cori: It's the same thing every time. I don't get why I can only eat meat.

Bella: Not really, I use a different meat each time but I suppose raw meat is the only thing you can eat.

Cori: How do demons even live life? This sucks!

Bella: You are such a picky eater. At least I'm giving you something.

Cori: I wish I had something different… Curse this stomach.

Raw meat… That was the only thing Cori could consume, it was as if adding things to it would poison her. She was only being fed animal meat for now which was tasteless, she had endured the taste up until now. She needed the flesh of humans, her mouth drooled at the idea of tasting the flesh she had at Aquilla's banquet. She had to keep those thoughts out of her head while around Bella and the other though. She was yet to find the stash of demon bait they kept around the place, she didn't care if it contained traces of poison and drugs. Cori slowly ate the food, it was so tasteless, you could still feel hunger after eating it, the only substance to it was the cold squishy texture.

Cori: Is there any way I can eat something else?

Bella: No, unless you eat humanoid meat.

Cori tries to strike up a conversation with Bella to learn more about her. She was still a prime suspect for the "end of the world scenario".

Cori: Sooo, uhhh, what have you been doing recently?

Bella: Sweep sweep sweep, clean clean clean, wash wash wash. What do you expect me to do? I'm a maid.

Cori: That sounds boring, ever thought of doing something else?

Bella: It's a way I can be in society. Maybe if you had a job, it would be easier for you, but you're a demon.

Cori: Why can't you have fun by going on adventures, just like-

Bella: No, I am a maid.

Cori: Damn, you really are sad.

Bella: You're talking like you know something about adventure. We've both been stuck in this manor by ourselves, only one other maid is left here. Altair took the rest to the hero selection ceremony.

Cori: (Little does she know, I am the one and only chosen one! By tomorrow, I will rule the land because of my heroic deeds!)

Cori: Damn, no wonder this place is so empty. Who is the other maid?

Bella: None of your business.

Cori: You're never fun, you must be a miserable person.

Bella: Am I hiding the fact that I am?

Cori: How do I reply to a comment like that? I'm experienced enough in this conversation thingy. You win.

Bella: Say what you think is right.

Cori: Kyehehehehe! Miserable people suck! Shame on you!

Bella: Wow. Just wow. I think my self esteem got lowered slightly. Impressive.

Cori: Was it really that impressive? Why don't people say that all the time then?

Bella: I'd rather have you remain ignorant.

Cori: Alright, I'm finished.

Bella: It's time to go back to your room then.

(Later)

Cori: (I'm feeling kind of sleepy. I can't fall asleep now! Demons are supposed to be nocturnal, prowling in the night! That damn "sleep schedule" Bella gave me has hindered my abilities! She truely might be the mastermind behind this. Tonight's the night of reckoning! I mustn't let my guard down!)

Tonight was the final night before Altair would arrive. This was it. Cori got up and unlocked the doors. She closed the door behind her and locked it, the manor had an eerie vibe unlike the other nights, Cori slowly crept around the hallways. She suddenly heard a crash. 

Cori: This is it! Something happened!

Cori heads toward the sound, only to find herself in front of her room again, the door wide open.

Cori: The hell?

She looked inside, the room was vacant. Nobody was inside. She checked the time. It was 11 o'clock at night. Her head was pounding again.

Cori: Dammit… I look at the time. What is wrong with the clocks?

It was a chilling sight to see the door to her room wide open, clearly, someone had entered when she left. She continued back down the hallway, the investigation turned up nothing. The only strange thing that happened was the door to her room opening. The silence and awkwardness of the night permeated the manor, something had to be wrong, something just had to be…

Cori: How am I supposed to do this? This is some bullshit. It's the same hallways and doors and rooms. Nothing strange, there has to be some monster of some world ending event if my task was to save the world.

She decided to go back to her room to check out the scene, but on her way something was waiting for her, a fleshy mass of pulsating organs and skin was at the front of her room, it was larger than Cori, the sight of this thing made Cori vomit. It looked like someone tried to cobble together a human but messed up terribly, out of the mass spanned three tentacles, at the end of each one, a serrated spike protruded from the pinkish and red flesh.

Cori: *Gasp* What the hell…

Thing: ALL YOUR FAULT. ALL YOUR FAULT. ALL YOUR FAULT. ALL YOUR FAULT. ALL YOUR FAULT!!!

The many mouths that protruded from the mass spoke out all at once in a guttural cry. You can see flesh covering the messed up teeth, it was a mystery how this thing can speak.

Cori: Wa… What did I do?

Cori was frozen in fear, she could feel death approaching, whatever this thing was, an intense killing intent radiated from it.

Thing: You… You… You…

The fleshy mass starts to shrink, it compresses into a humanoid form all too familiar. The flesh formed a maid uniform and a briefcase. It was Bella, or was it? The thing taking Bella's form was still partly flesh, the right side of the body was made out of pulsating flesh, organs, and eyes, all held together with slimy webs of skin.

Bella: I knew from the beginning, I had a hunch, really. Altair wouldn't listen to me, and here we are.

Cori: Damn monster… You dare impersonate Bella?

Bella: Damn you… You ruined my life!

Cori: What did I do?

Bella: YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID! DIE! YOU MONSTER! YOU DEMON!

Bella raises her arm, it was still a mass of flesh, at the end of her arm at the palm of her hand formed a mouth, rows of sharp teeth lined the inside of the mouth.

Mouth: HELLO!!!

A sharp wind suddenly passed through Cori, she looked down to see a chunk of her body missing. Whatever hit her, it left a semicircle hole on the right side of her body, her arm was missing. She stood there frozen in shock, bodily fluids and organs spilled out the wound, and Cori fell to the floor. She was face first in a pile of her organs. Blood was everywhere. 

Bella: How does it feel having your organs laid in front of you, demon.I won't give you a quick death.

Bella had somehow pulled all of Cori's organs outside her body, the exception being her brain. Being face first in a pile of your insides isn't the most exciting thing, Cori could smell everything she ate in a less flattering form.

Cori: Monster… Why am I not dying? Why am I not dying? Why? This isn't Bella is it? What did I even do? It must be a monster, I got killed by a monster. Is Bella a monster? Why me? Why am I not dying…

Cori's words were muffled underneath the pile of her flesh, the situation made Cori go insane, each attempt to scream was silenced by a bloody gurgling, she eventually gave up struggling. It took a total of 43 minutes for her to bleed out.

Everything fades to black…

Voice: My my, I would never let myself die to the same person twice, what type of weakling are you? Are you sure you would take that to the face? Kill that bitch!

Voice 2: KYEH HEHEHEHE! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL MESS! I LOOOVE ENTRAILS! I WANT TO SEE MORE! IT'S ALWAYS SOOOOOOO SATISFYING WHEN YOU DIE!

Cori opened her eyes, she was in a white space, an infinite void stretched as far as the eye could see. She had been here before, hadn't she? This time was slightly different, two people were standing in front of her, staring at her from a round table. They were both female, but they didn't seem very inviting. A vacant throne made of a material that was pure white was the only seat at the table. One of the girls had a straightjacket on, it was tightly wrapped around her body. The other had a red cloak that seemed to be torn, a metal plate was strapped to her chest, forming some sort of armor.

Straight jacket girl: COME OVER CORI!!! I PRROOOOMISE I DON'T BITE! WE NEED TO DISCUSS!

Cloaked girl: Shut the hell up. Cori, don't listen to this fucking disappointment, get over here before I make you.

Cori: A-Alright. 

Both of the girls seemed to be young, they were both short, about the height of a 10 year old kid. Cori got up and drew closer to them.

Cori: Who are you people? You sure are hot headed for someone who looks like they are in primary school.

Suddenly, a chilling chatter echoed behind her, Cori turned around only to see herself. But something was wrong. She looked like roadkill that had been hit by three different boulders. Whatever it was, it was missing both its arms and its face seemed to be slightly twisted and its eyes were missing. It was still recognisable that it was Cori. Was it something mimicking her appearance?

Cori: GAH! What the hell?

The cloaked girl suddenly rushed over and grabbed the zombie Cori by the throat and slammed it to the ground, it didn't seem to take any damage despite the power of the strike.

Cloaked girl: I am literally the same age as you, dipshit. If you trash talk me one more time, I'll do the same to you as I did to this husk.

Another girl suddenly walks over, she had a laurel reef made of solid gold on, a white outfit that exposed her shoulders and collarbone with short pants completed her outfit. One of her eyes was red, pulsating with home sort of energy. Both of the girls in front of Cori had light grey skin, just like she had. She had a royal/ regal presence.

Regal girl: Cori, can we not resort to such violence? You are talking trash to the queen right now. (But it's not like she's above me)

Cori: Me? How am I being violent?

Regal girl: I am referring to that insolent hot head, if I could, I would behead her.

She points toward the cloaked girl.

Cori: Wait what? Is she also named Cori?

Cloaked Cori: Are you a dumbass? Have you not figured it out? We are all Cori!

Regal Cori: Quit yapping, you are hurting my sensitive ears. Do you not have any classes? No respect in the presence of higher beings? Tch.

Cloaked Cori: I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR YOU YOU GREEDY BITCH!

Regal Cori leans into Cori and whispers in her ear.

Regal Cori: Don't listen to those insane freaks, only listen to me. After all, only the powerful and wealthy make the most informed decisions in society.

Cori: Would you all calm down? What is happening?

Cloaked Cori: Hell is what is happening! These two freaks won't stop their chatter. (I want to tear out both of their hearts)

Regal Cori: Come with me and take a seat on that throne. We shall discuss the details.

Cori: Of what?

Both of the Cori grab her by the arms and drag her to the throne.

Cori: HEY! LET ME GO!

They sit Cori on the throne and stand at her side.

Straight jacket Cori: My my~ What a brutal death, right my prriiinnnceessss?

Cori: Speak normally. Also, who are you guys?

Straight jacket Cori: I-I I I I I I I I I'm…

Regal Cori: QUEEN ORDERS TO SPEAK NORMALLY!

Straight jacket Cori: I am Insane Cori! You can call me Insane Cori! A-at your service!

Cloaked Cori: I am wrath, just call me that.

Regal Cori: I am Caesar, you can call me pride.

Insane Cori: Consider us copies of you, order us around as you please!

Cori: What was that back there? That zombie…

Wrath: Oh those? THEY ARE UNWORTHY SCOUNDREL. 

Caesar: No matter how much I order them to stay away, they keep coming back. Consider them disloyal subjects of your kingdom. I can't even execute them.

Insane Cori: They are what we called husks, they are basically versions of us which don't develop personality worthy of mention. THey are no help to you so they are kept outside this throne room. There is a veil around this place that keeps them invisible and keeps them out. Don't go outside the veil, you are not allowed to. If you are wondering what is outside, yes. It is more white space.

Insane Cori seemed surprisingly informative and rational.

Cori: Thank you, but what are we discussing?

Caesar: Your apparent death at the hands of that insolent maid Bella.

Wrath: I recommend you kill her, an eye for an eye. Make it look like an accident and move on. You saw that she is a monster after all. I know we can find a way to defeat that damn creature.

Caesar: You have died twice so far, it may be logical to take it slow. 

Insane Cori: Find out why she attacked you, maybe enjoy a little organ harvesting while you're at it.

Caesar: Clearly, the manor is unsafe, we must get out of that place somehow. I say that you run away, get out of there if possible. You'll need some coin of course in order to lead a normal life. Just get the hell away from there.

Wrath: I would never let myself get killed and let the murderer get away, just saying.

Cori: Whatever, I will decide on my own, all of you are stressing me out. Now how do I get out of here?

Cori looked around, nobody was around. All of the Cori had disappeared. Was it induced by the insanity of the infinite void around her? Or was she just schizophrenic? The silence of the place plagued her. She was all alone, sitting on the throne. She laid her head on the table, there was nothing else to do other than to fall asleep…