Double Image

[Thexare]

Zack and Mia were out walking near Eighth Arcanum Occult & Oddities, enjoying the weather on Zack's lunch break. A clear sky and a gentle breeze made for a very relaxing day.

"No, see, it wasn't the bombs that took the base down. I didn't use enough powder," Mia said, shaking her head.

"What did, then?"

"Someone driving a truck was surprised by the explosion and ran into a support beam. The wntire base imploded on it."

"You're kidding."

"Nope. The Ibanez compound was brought down by a donut truck." They both laughed and walked around a family going the other way down the sidewalk. Unremarkable, just a man and a woman, and a brown-haired girl. But when she passed them, Mia stopped in her tracks, shaking.

"... Mia? Mia, are you alright?"

"I... Y- well... no. Can we talk? Back at the store?"

"Please."

---

About twenty years ago...

The Santini family - Emilio, Serena, and a young Mia - are gathered around a bed, with a doctor nearby. On the bed lay a teenager with light skin and light brown hair; she looked a lot like a paler Serena.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Santini, but I've done all I can for her," the doctor said, shaking his head.

"Then.... I guess I'm going to-"

"Anabel, please," Emilio pleaded, looking down at Mia.

"Please, dad. We... all know," the young girl said wearily. "Mia, come here please."

"Bella, I-" Mia started.

"Can't do anything about it. I'm sorry, Mia, but... I... I need you to do me a favor. Please."

"Anything, sis."

Anabel smiled. "Take... take care of Tiana. Be strong. She needs you."

"But I need you, Bella!" she pleaded, hugging her bedridden sister. Anabel returned her embrace as strongly as she could, but there was almost nothing there.

"No, Mia. You're a strong girl. And you have mom and dad."

"Bella, please... don't die..."

"It'll... be alright. The pain's... almost gone. Smile for me, one last time Mia. Please." Mia tearfully forced a smile just as Tiana, only a toddler at the time, clumsily walked into the room.

"Mia!" she called, completely oblivious to what was going on. "Mia, come on!"

"Mia, go play with Tiana. I... want to talk to mom."

---

"So I forced a smile, I joked, I laughed... all for Tiana."

"Then, all this time, it's been an act?" Zack asked, with Mia leaning over on his shoulder.

"No... not anymore. After the first few years, it was just who I was. But for a while, every night I cried until I fell asleep. I just... couldn't put Tiana through that. I had to look happy, for her. It's just... that girl, she looked a lot like Anabel." Mia sniffed, and leaned back on the break room couch. "Sorry, Z. Didn't mean to ruin your break."

He shook his head and smiled. "It's fine. It sounds like you needed to get that off your chest."

"Yeah... thanks. Can I... stay here for a bit?"

"Collecting your thoughts? I understand, it's fine. Shout if you need me."