MPC 30/ Insolence

That night should have been like any other night. Sure, it was one stuck in unusual circumstance, having to rough it in the Digital World instead of Luke's comfortable apartment in the real world, but there was nothing too out of the ordinary. A couple of foolish, yet good kids stayed in the hotel room next to them, and just a short distance away, Luke was already off in dreamland. Sleeping soundly, like he did every night... something I admired about my partner.

Me? I couldn't complain, just lying down on that uncomfortable hotel couch. There was something to be said about it being made for much bigger creatures, the rounded cushion awkwardly pushing at my side, but it wasn't too bad to get used to. My eyes were narrow, my limbs limp, slipping between that vein of awareness and blissful sleep, only the muffled, chaotic sounds of the outside riot pressing through the walls and invading my ears. Eventually, it became like an owl's hoot, dying off as I became used to the sound. And slowly, I slipped away-

"My, my... you think yourself pretty important this week, don't you?"

A pause. That voice... it was my own, but not my own. Immediately, I felt stirred awake, eyes first training on Luke. He didn't seem disturbed, but that voice was too real. An echo, surrounding inside my head. It didn't make sense. Slowly, the room faded away again, this time into solid sleep. But as that last thought entered my head, to convince myself that I had heard nothing, it propped up again:

"Oh-ho-ho... no, no, don't think of me as something like that. I'm not just going to go away if you wish it."

Its voice was clearer than the last time. But as my eyes opened this time, there was no dimly lit hotel room. No, this was a cave: I felt the hard, cold stone against my side, the irritating smell of peat moss filling my nostrils. I had felt this scent a thousand times before, the tainted scent of the Dark Area's soil quickly filling my lungs, like suddenly walking into a thick swamp. It felt real, gripping at my chest as I almost lurched in disgust. To be back here, in this hell again, only brought me to bare my fangs in frustration.

"Ah... but how can't you like it?" As if reading my mind, the voice echoed in my head once more. "This is where you are from, after all. A second home... how can you deny-"

"Shut up." Pulling at the ground, feeling a thick dust on the floor of the cavern, I crouched onto my feet. Before me, at the mouth of the cave, was the moonlight reflecting off the red gleam of the Sea of Blood, the faintest gray color filling the cavern. Staying low, I observed my surroundings. As far as I could tell, I was alone here, which made this separated voice all the more unsettling. Just where was it coming from? Why was it here, now? Maybe- ugh, no!

"Your words are so sharp, Iko!" With those next words, a black flame spun in front of me. I... I couldn't explain it. In that instant, as the flames took shape, I was staring at myself. Perhaps... no, not quite. It was in my shape, but entirely black, the edges flecking with flame. All was that sheer, jet black flame, except a white, glowing, jack-o-lantern grin that was way too big for its face. Seeing it, I struck out: a right hook landing right at the chest.

Only to strike nothing. The flames vanished, a dark, piercing laugh invading my ears. "And still so quick to anger! Oh, Iko, admit it... this place never left you! You should have never-"

"Shut up, shut up!" Hearing the voice behind me, I turned, a glowing blade pulsing off my right arm. I had expected to see him, but there was no-one there. Here I was, alone, far separated from my tamer with this... abomination. My ultimate form so far away... all I could do was-

"... Try and overpower me yourself, is that right?" I shuddered. A cold elbow rested on my shoulder, that shadow-beast right behind me. Leaning against me, like I was some casual standing piece of furniture! Roaring out, I turned and struck, only to have that formless beast split apart again.

"Deny, deny, deny! Deny it all you want, but it will only grow stronger in your heart!"

"Quit talking in riddles!" Tch... had I lost it? Screaming at an empty cave, paranoid, I turned, checking every corner. But for now, it seemed to be content sitting out in the back. Pecking away at the corners of my mind, with his incessant talking.

"What riddles? Iko, I only speak the truth!"

Maybe there was a way out! Ignoring the absolute craziness of the situation for a bare moment, my eyes focused on the entrance of the cave. And I ran: springing to my feet, I moved at a full sprint, determined to get out of here as soon as possible- "Oh shit-"

"Ah... that was a close one, wasn't it?"

No kidding! Arm fully stretched out, having grabbed onto the edge of the cave, I found myself staring down a sheer cliff. The edge of this cave, perked right out over the Sea of Blood, on a precipice. No way to climb down, no way out, except a plunge into that maddening water. A heavy swallow filled my throat, as I stepped further away, landing right on my rear as I pushed myself away from that edge.

"Ah... but see how close that was?" The voice echoed again, right in my ear. And this time, it appeared right behind me, wrapping its arms tenderly, almost gently around my arms... a 'hug' from behind. "See how easy it is? To lose yourself, to fall off the tightrope into true darkness..."

"Ah..." Still in shock from almost plunging to my certain death, it took me a moment to recover. Staying in those arms a moment longer than what would be comfortable - which was, mind you, one moment - I soon tore away, now realizing that this beast was something that needed dealt with directly. Maybe there was-

"Such violent thoughts... don't you get it, already?" Finally, it appeared again, like the first time, in plain sight. But it had no fear, a cackle in its throat as I tensed my muscles, blade sharpening off my wrist. "Silly wolf... you can't touch me. I'm you... your innermost self."

"Don't screw with me." Raising my arm, I slowly stepped forward, keeping that defensive stance. The shadow beast looked confused for a moment, before breaking out into laughter:

"O-oh! Now I remember! Yes, that's hysterical... you were just talking about me with Isaac!" I paused... and then realized. My heart skipped a beat, now realizing just what this thing was. That inner darkness, that Isaac sought to defeat in his own heart, stood before me. Somehow, in this almost-physical, ethereal form, it sought to torment me. And once more, it vanished, only to appear, whispering in my ear.

"So. How you going to deal with me then?"

I swung; it propped up on the other side.

"Shape me?"

A punch, it sat on my shoulders.

"Accept me?"

A throw, it appeared with its arm around my shoulder, like a good buddy.

"Deny me?"

An elbow. It vanished, longer this time, its laughter filling the cave. "Oh, oh, this is good! You think its all that simple, you silly wolf? Oh... every time you strike me, my heart flutters with excitement!"

"Shut up!" Gritting my fangs, a grin finally peaked the edge of my lip. "Heh... but its the same for you, isn't it? You can't touch me, just like I can't touch you. In the end-"

"Assumptions are dangerous, friend."

I blinked. Right in front of me, the spirit stood, its palm right against my chest. Instinctively, I shoved it away, the shadowflame breaking apart again. But this time? I felt pain. Right in the center of my chest, a black mark, like a shapeless scratch, had etched its way into my chest. I shuddered, my confidence immediately shattered. It... it had this much pull? This mere emotion, had the ability to damage me?

"What the..."

"Surprised?" Some distance away, it appeared again, a deep laugh echoing the room. "I am you. Wolf of darkness... I am that true darkness. Your 'true' shadow. And I'm always watching..."

It vanished, arms holding me from behind again. "Waiting for my way in. For you to crack... for you to need me. And there will be a day, Iko, that you need that true darkness in your heart."

I raised my arm... but what was the point? Gritting my teeth, caught firmly in this trap, I just stood there.

"You think you can tame shadows?"

"Leave..."

"You think your ability can be used righteously?"

"Quiet..."

"Oho... Iko, Iko..." The spirit whispered, right in my ear.

"You have no idea what you're dealing with."

A sharp pain filled my back. It felt sharp, like something pierced me straight through my chest, through my very digital core. In the next instant, I shot up. My body covered in goose-bumps, my heart racing, I felt down... that cushion.

The hotel room. In dead silence. Luke safely sleeping a few meters away.

With a huff, I collapsed down. Was that it, then? All a dream? Staring over at the digital clock revealed it was only 1:15 in the morning, the sky outside a sheer black. Covering my eyes with my arm, I let out a sharp groan.

I didn't know what that was. Not yet. But I did know one thing:

Falling asleep was going to be next to impossible tonight.