Abomination

Ficlet in the Sands of Time Series
by scribblemoose

Selphie watched in horror as the twisting blackness that was Bane contorted the air between them, slithering out of Chet like a birthing snake from its shell. It grew, thick and dense, and Selphie's eyes flickered briefly to others, realising with a shock that they didn't see it. It was showing itself only to her. Only she could see it.

She felt suddenly, terrifyingly alone. Helpless. Doomed.

Rinoa was still attacking Chet, not even knowing he was already good as dead, his Guardian gone, suddenly human and frail and bound to die from the injuries she'd already inflicted. Rinoa kept blasting magic, and Gemini hacked, even as Bane flowed past them, greasy inky black and rippling with power from the fight.

They hadn't touched it. Hadn't hurt it at all. If anything...

Somewhere on the edge of her understanding she heard Irvine scream, and saw him pouring elixir into Frila's limp body. He was covered with her blood, and Selphie could taste his despair, bright and painful and delicious.

No.

"Irvine," she whispered. "Help me."

He was too lost in grief and pain. Wonderful grief and pain.

Squall was calling Shiva back to him, watching Rinoa as she took Chet's life with a howl of triumph, Gemini's glistening rainbows playing under her skin.

It was too late.

She felt the slap of Bane's power in her mind, and fell to her knees.

No. Not again. No. Please, no.

Evil flowed through her mind like thick, hot treacle, and whatever she did, she couldn't stop it.

~Junction, Spirit.~

~Never. You can kill me. I don't care. I'll never junction you. You can't make me. All you can do is kill me.~

Mocking laughter echoed round her mind. ~Sweet Spirit, who told you such a lie?~

~A lie? But...~

She tried to hide, to think of Xu, of the orphanage, or Irvine. Of Xu back at Garden, just a few hours ago. Memories he would never have. If she could hide, not let him in her head...

~Idiot child. They are already mine. You are mine. You have been mine from the moment I entered your mind. Junction.~

~No.~

It took her body first, it's greasy touch stroking tired muscles and filling them with its filthy energy.

~You want this power, Spirit. Let me be with you.~

~No. Never.~

~No matter. You are mine.~

Magic filled her veins, taking her to a height of power she'd never known before. She felt her body respond, innocent and pathetic as a deceived child, innocently lapping up the new strength and returning it to the Guardian tenfold.

She felt dirty, from the inside, like she'd drunk some thick black poison she could never be rid of.

~Mine.~

Last of all, it sped through her mind, contorting desire and spinning wicked lies and deceit around her memories. The soft kisses and gentle touch of Xu's love were wound around Bane's black spirit and turned to twist of knife and shot of bullet; she felt hate well up in her like she'd never known before, and she was hungry for more.

She managed to open her eyes, and saw Irvine staring at her in horror. He knew. She was here, before him, all her evil self laid bare, and he knew.

"Please," she begged, with every last ounce of Selphie that was left in her. "Please kill me."

Irvine looked at her; pain blossoming in his heart, and she felt herself feed on it.

Please, Gods, let me die.