“Amy.” Bennet stretched his arms out as if expecting a hug.

She remembered once wanting one. Now the Milo in her wanted to break his face. The thought made her want to gag and spit.

She backed away, the cold air scraping her lungs. She regretted straying so far from the cave.

Bennet’s smile twisted. “What’s wrong, Amy? It’s me—”

“Aurora!” she screamed, voice cracking, turning back the way she came.

He lunged, boots thudding against the cracked ground, and seized her wrists. “Shh.”

“Let go of me!” She thrashed, tears stinging hot against the heat.

Not again, not again, not again! She remembered Samantha’s hands. Then Karl’s cold grip. Now Bennet’s fingers gripped her, leaving bruises. Her cheeks flushed red and her skin crawled.

Then, a faint whisper slipped into her mind, so soft she almost thought it was her own thought. You’re letting them touch you… again. Milo said.

Her throat burned as she screamed.

“Shut up, Amy!” Bennet squeezed her arm, tendons cracking under his grip as he dragged her closer. To her horror, his laugh was low and mean.

Milo’s whisper sharpened, carrying the weight of command. This ends one way, Amy. Every moment you hesitate, you choose to be prey. Kill him.

Her nails tore across his cheek, his blood smearing her fingers.

“You b*tch!” Bennet roared, his spittle caught light.

His flames obeyed him as they burst along her arm. She struck again, but he caught her other wrist, the smell of scorched fabric rising in the cold air. She kicked him, but he kicked harder, flinging her to the ground. Her spine cracked on the hard dirt of the former Fire Kingdom, hot air escaping her lungs.

He had once been a good person. He had been friendly.

See? There’s no redeeming him. Milo’s voice was clearer now, closer, as if her father stood just behind her. She thought about how different Milo was from Kristo. They always laugh before screaming, Amy. Make him scream.

No. Even thinking it made her stomach knot. Kristo wouldn’t want this. She forced the thought down, clamping over the dark impulse like it was something alive. The last time Bennet attacked her, it had been like someone else’s order guiding his hands. Libbet's. And even then, he’d paused. She remembered the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

But now, as she stared into his eyes again, that flicker was gone. Only the twisted smile remained.

I guess his encounter with Aurora had changed things.

“Mom…” Amy rasped, tasting iron. “Aurora, ple—”

His boot slammed into her stomach, forcing bile into her mouth. She curled inward.

“If you yell for your evil mother again, I’ll kick your ugly face in.”

Something in her snapped, as she uncoiled. “What did I do to you?!”

She looked him in the eyes, enraged. Her expression made him hesitate, but just for a bit.

Amy tried to stand, dirt clinging to her palms. But it was futile — his foot knocked her back down. The hesitation was gone.

He’s going to kill me.

“You know,” Bennet said, calm and amused, “I can hear Libbet and Princessa coming closer. Can’t you?”

To her horror, she could. Their faint voices sounded like distant bells.

Ice crawled up his hand, the air snapping sharp around them. He gripped her hair, yanking her neck back. The chill traveled down his hand onto her head. Then a blade formed in his fingers with a soft, awful crackle. He pointed it toward her face.

The whisper in her head became a breath on her ear. Are you going to let him kill you? End it now!

And for once, she listened to Milo. He’s not a man, Milo continued. He’s a coward with the illusion of power. End it, Amy!

“Die,” she spat, focusing every ounce of hate on him.

Dark clouds swirled around Amy and Bennet. To her surprise, Milo’s silhouette formed in the fog. He was fully formed, watching them. Smiling.

But his smile was too wide.

That...isn't him.

Bennet released her as the shadow laughed. But the laugh was wrong. She could now hear double. Milo’s voice had changed, braiding with something more sinister, older, hungrier. Then his shadow turned into a monster, tentacles flailing everywhere. It’s laugh cracked as it closed the distance in seconds. Amy screamed as the monster entered her, smoke poured into her eyes. Milo and the monster's voice was no longer in her ears — it was inside her chest, beating with her heart.

A scream caught in her throat as her mind was dragged into Bennet’s.

For a heartbeat, Bennet’s eyes were blank. She saw flashes of his life. A boy born with everything, terrified of losing anything. So he obeyed Libbet to keep his status and his things.

I can enter into people's minds.

Milo’s voice distorted, growing older and deeper. Even the air tasted metallic. Now you understand. Break him. I will help you.

The distorted voice made her jump out of her skin. Her eyes widened. Who did Milo turn into?

The swooshing noises ceased as she slammed back to the present. I won’t listen.

She opened her eyes — and froze as she saw Bennet.

'Die,' she had said. And possessed, he would obey.

His eyes were open, but there was no life inside. He smiled lazily as he swayed.

“Bennet…” She stepped forward, her boots hitting the cracked earth. “What…?”

She froze.

Ice trailed down his arm, hardening into a blade. He turned it toward himself.

She heard the low, distorted crackle of laughter.

“No!” She lunged, yanking at his arm.

This is all my fault! What is happening?!

“I have to!” As she gripped his arm and pulled, it was futile. He was too strong. He was going to succeed.

Amy panicked as time ran out. An idea hit like an instinct.

Letting, go, she stared him down. “Stop.” Her voice echoed, low. Strong and commanding. For a moment, the darkness bled from his eyes, ice melting from his hand.

It... worked!

“What…” His sight cleared before the darkness snapped back.

I can command him. Her breath hitched. Does that mean... I can command anyone? A new wave of horror swept through her bones.

Bennet turned the blade toward himself again. The command wasn't strong enough!

“Stop!” she shouted again, rage flaring. But she was still too weak! If she didn’t do something, it would be too late.

Her hand snapped forward toward him. Black ice burst from her fingertips, lashing up his arm. Frost crawled fast, locking his shoulder in place.

“What—” Her boots scraped against the dirt as she froze mid-step. Instinct curled her fingers into a fist. The ice obeyed.

Bone and flesh gave way with a wet, splintering crack. Shards exploded outward, slicing her cheek.

She stared at him, heart hammering. I threw dark ice… and when I closed my hand… it crushed.

“Bennet!” His scream ripped through the trees, raw and jagged, a sickening crack following.

Her brain melted as her face crinkled. Bennet screamed, the darkness fleeing his eyes.

“Amy!” he screamed. “What did you do to me?”

Her first instinct was to flee. But she couldn’t. She had to help. She had to take responsibility.

But as she stepped back, she eyed his crushed, useless arm. She didn’t know what to do. It was destroyed! I…how…how do I help? Black ice trailed down her own arm inadvertently, her hands burning as if frostbitten.

“No!” she yelled. But her arms started encasing in shards of ice even faster. She looked back at Bennet. I…did that to him.

She screamed, trying to shake them off. Whatever had crawled in her veins wasn't leaving! I have powers. Dark powers.

She closed her eyes, his cries haunting her into the dark along with the sound of deliberate footsteps drawing closer. The footsteps slowed, stopping in front of her as dawn approached.

"Amy." It was Aurora's voice. She paused. "I'm sorry I let this happen. I'm sorry any of this happened. Cerceras was never supposed to reach you."