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Beyond the Broken Frame - The Opposite and The Mirror Spin-Off

Okay, so I've literally been up all night writing this. I have no idea if this is any good or not and I won't be posting it anywhere else any time soon, but I'm posting it here. Here is the Spin-Off story/very long one shot for The Opposite and The Mirror that takes place in the first Resident Evil movie. It can be read below the cut. Hope y'all like it!

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Victoria squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before entering the Los Angeles Institute. This was the day she was to meet Theresa Silverbrook – her great-niece give or take a few greats that everyone called Tessa. Every fiber in Victoria's being buzzed with nervous anticipation. Should she rehearse what she was going to say to her? Was being Nathaniel’s Parabatai a family secret that had been passed down, or had history conveniently forgotten about Victoria? All she knew for sure was this was a gamble, and she hoped it wouldn't be a colossal one.

A voice, young and brimming with a casual coolness, shattered her internal monologue. "Victoria Baywing?"

Victoria spun around, her breath hitching as she met Tessa's gaze. The girl was practically her younger sister's twin, a living echo of the past. "Tessa?" Victoria managed, the name catching in her throat.

Tessa's eyes scanned Victoria with a hint of amusement, a sharp contrast to Victoria's bubbling anxiety. "The one and only," she drawled, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Honestly, I thought you were just a family legend."

Victoria blinked. "Legend? You knew about me?" This possibility had crossed her mind, but hearing it confirmed sent a jolt through her.

Tessa shrugged, her nonchalance a thin veil over a spark of hidden excitement. "Victoria Baywing – Parabatai to the mythical Gemini. That's the gist that got passed down. I always figured it was just a heroic ancestor story that got twisted to make our lineage sound more impressive." Tessa paused, unsure of how to proceed. "So, uh, now what?"

Victoria, relieved by Tessa's openness, smiled warmly. "I'd love to get to know you, Tessa. If you're open to it, of course."

Tessa, unable to fully mask her eagerness, mirrored the smile with a playful edge. "Sure, why not? It's not every day you meet a living legend."

And with that, a bond began to bridge the gap between generations, built on curiosity, shared lineage, and a hint of family history waiting to be unraveled in a story all of their own.

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Tessa held her hands behind her back, practically skipping her way through the LA Institute. As she flitted down the hallways, she pointed out various features, explaining everything with the enthusiasm of a tour guide on their first day. Victoria followed her, trying to keep up with Tessa's boundless energy. "And this is Ops," Tessa announced as she gestured towards a bustling control room filled with Shadowhunters.

A ways away from Ops, Tessa looked back at Victoria with a giddy grin when they reached a pair of thick, metal doors. "And now for my favorite place in the whole Institute." Tessa threw open the doors with a flourish.

As soon as the doors flung open, an explosion erupted from within the room. A thick plume of smoke billowed out, causing Tessa and Victoria to jump back in shock. Tessa quickly ran into the room, waving the smoke out of her face. "Wyatt?!" she called out urgently.

"All good!" a voice coughed from within the haze. Wyatt, a young man with goggles perched on his head, emerged from the smoke and hit the switch for the exhaust fan. As the smoke began to clear, he removed his goggles and approached Tessa. "I put a little too much oomph and not enough pizazz into that one," he explained with a sheepish grin. His eyes then flicked to the unimpressed woman standing behind Tessa. Leaning closer, he pointed at Victoria and whispered, "Is that her?"

Tessa playfully pushed Wyatt. "You were supposed to wait for me!" She then turned to Victoria, introducing her with a warm smile. "Yes, that's Victoria. Victoria Baywing, this is Wyatt Fyre. He's our resident Warlock and combustions specialist... most of the time."

Wyatt took offense, his brows knitting together. "Hey! The reason for the exhaust system and sprinklers in here is because of you and not me."

Tessa had to give him that. “Touche.”

Victoria barely had time to process the whirlwind of events. One moment there was an explosion, and the next, she was being introduced to a Warlock who looked like a skinny teenager. Instead of responding immediately, she walked around the table, examining the experimental setup. It appeared they were trying to add explosives to Runed arrows. "I have many questions," she finally said.

"About Wyatt or our experiments?" Tessa asked, joining Victoria at the table.

Victoria looked up, her expression a mix of curiosity and exasperation. "Yes."

Wyatt quickly scrambled over to them, puffing out his chest with pride. "I'll take it from here, Tessa." He adjusted his overalls and continued, "You are in the presence of one of the few Pyromancer Warlocks left in existence. My powers are all fire and combustion based, and I've lived here pretty much all my life. I was taken in by Dimitri Riverblade when I was a kid after he wiped out the Vamps who kidnapped me."

Tessa picked up the story. "Since Dimitri is his dad, that makes Wyatt here pretty much my cousin because Dimitri was my father's Parabatai and is my guardian." Just then, a tall Shadowhunter with a quiver of arrows on his back walked in. His face was stoic yet firm. "Speak of the devil," Tessa grinned and rushed over to give Dimitri a hug. "Good mission?"

Dimitri hugged Tessa back, a genuine smile lighting up his face. "Yes," he replied simply, then turned his attention to Wyatt. "I just got back and you're already blowing things up? What was it this time? Too snazzy?"

"Too much oomph, not enough pizazz," Wyatt explained, looking a bit sheepish again.

Dimitri shook his head with a light smile and hugged his son. He then turned to Victoria, his expression serious. "And you must be Victoria Baywing – the Gemini's Parabatai."

“I was,” Victoria answered, crossing her arms as she sized him up. She then said the first thing that came to her mind upon noticing the quiver of arrows on his back. “Your name is Riverblade and you use a bow?” Her tone was teasing to say the least.

Dimitri's face remained stoic. "I'm a rebel," he replied dryly. He turned back to Wyatt and Tessa. "How is your other project coming along?"

"Now that's coming way better!" Wyatt said excitedly, pulling out a metallic doorframe covered in wires, buttons, and lights.

“What is that for?” Victoria wanted to know this for many reasons, one of which being she wanted to know what Tessa was getting herself into.

"If it works, it'll be a portal doorway. Warlock Portals can get hacked, for lack of a better term, based on where the person is thinking of. But with these, once the coordinates are entered and Runed to lock them in, the Portal will only go to that one specific place," Tessa explained. “What makes it better is that it doesn’t have to be somewhere they’ve been before.”

Victoria walked around the doorway, trying to understand how it was powered. "What's the power supply?"

"Fire!" Wyatt cackled, then cleared his throat and added more seriously, "Angelic energy. Basically, you just charge it up, and it will hold the charge for at least a year before needing another."

Dimitri looked pleased. "The Clave will be pleased to hear this is coming along well. Any idea when it will be completed?"

"We were actually going to test it out today," Tessa explained.

"Test it out how exactly?" Victoria asked, concerned about the potential risks.

"Well, Wyatt was going to set a location, power it up, and I was going to give it a whirl," Tessa said excitedly.

"Oh hell no, you're not," Victoria stated firmly. "You are not entering an experimental portal alone."

Dimitri got defensive. "I wouldn't let her go alone."

"And why should I trust you? I met you two seconds ago," Victoria shot back.

Wyatt stepped in, leading Tessa away. "Let's go take a break. Mommy and Daddy are in a fight."

Tessa giggled and called over her shoulder, "We'll bring you back something to eat," before leaving the lab with Wyatt.

Dimitri's face hardened as he locked eyes with Victoria. "If you think that you are going to swoop in here and try to dictate Tessa's life and her decisions, you've got another thing coming."

Victoria stood her ground. "Tessa is my family – the only family I have left in the world. I am not going to let anything happen to her."

"She is my family, too," Dimitri replied. "I have been raising her ever since her parents died in the Uprising. I don't care what kind of distant bloodline connection you have with her, Tessa isn't yours to control."

"I don't want to control her," Victoria fiercely answered, "I want to protect her."

Dimitri scoffed a bit before saying, “From where I’m standing – same thing.” With that said, he walked out of the lab leaving Victoria alone for her to mull over his words, if she’d even bother to.

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When Tessa and Wyatt returned to the lab, they found Victoria diligently inscribing intricate Runes onto one of their explosive arrows. Wyatt quickly set the tray of food down on a nearby counter and rounded the table to get a better look. His eyes widened with curiosity. "I have never seen Runes like that. What Rune is that?"

Tessa promptly joined them, leaning in to inspect the unfamiliar Runes. She furrowed her brow and admitted, "I have no idea what those are." Turning her head to look up at Victoria, who was still meticulously drawing the Runes, Tessa pointed and asked, "What are those?"

"They will help contain the combustion," Victoria replied without looking up. "Make it more concentrated and more powerful." She paused in her work and finally met Tessa's gaze. "You're not the only one in the Baywing bloodline who likes to make things go boom. Nathaniel, my Parabatai, had the ability to create new Runes. This is one of his creations."

Wyatt practically vibrated with anticipation, barely able to contain his excitement. "Oh boy, I cannot wait to see my dad try those out. I'm gonna go get him!" Without another word, he darted out of the lab.

Tessa moved around to the other side of the table, leaning on it as she looked at Victoria thoughtfully. "So, what's the story with you and the Gemini? How did you become his Parabatai?"

Victoria sighed, leaning on the table to meet Tessa's eyes. "That's a long story, but the gist of it is, when I saw him... saw how alone he was... I knew I couldn't let him be alone forever."

Tessa smiled warmly. "So it was Parabatai at first sight?"

Victoria laughed softly, a sound that seemed to fill the room with warmth. "Sure, something like that. I'll tell you the whole story another time."

"I look forward to that," Tessa said sincerely. Having Victoria here felt right. It felt like her family was complete again, something she hadn't felt in a long time. "So, tell me more about you making things go boom." She wiggled her eyebrows with a grin.

They were interrupted when Dimitri returned to the lab with Wyatt in tow. "Lakeleaf wants the Portal to be tested now. He's going to Idris tomorrow and wants to present the progress report to the Clave."

"Who the hell is Lakeleaf?" Victoria asked, not recognizing the name.

"The head of the LA Institute," Tessa groaned. "He's an a..."

Dimitri cut her off with a warning, "Watch it."

Tessa held up her hands in mock innocence, her tone matching her expression. "All I was going to say was he's an abrasive personality."

Victoria pursed her lips, catching Tessa's drift. "So he's an ass?"

Wyatt jumped in eagerly. "Oh, definitely." He received a warning look from Dimitri for his comment, so he quickly changed the subject. "So... who's ready to test the Portal?"

Tessa instantly shot up her hand, clapping excitedly. "Let me gear up, and then I'll be ready. Just in case things get hinky, I want to be prepared." She hurried off to do just that.

"I'll do the same," Dimitri said, then turned to Wyatt. "We'll go once you're ready to power it up."

"I'm going too," Victoria announced, her tone making it clear she wasn't going to budge.

Dimitri let out a deep exhale. "That's not necessary."

"Didn't you just give me a whole lecture about not controlling others' actions?" Victoria smirked as she walked by. "You may want to start taking your own medicine." She patted his shoulder and left the lab to head to the armory with Tessa.

Dimitri watched Victoria leave, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

Wyatt caught this and couldn't resist teasing. "Oooo, Daddy's falling for Mommy," he voiced in a playful, sing-song manner, adding a shoulder wiggle for emphasis.

Dimitri narrowed his eyes at Wyatt, pointing a warning finger before picking up a biscuit from the food tray and tossing it at him. "Get that Portal ready."

Wyatt caught the biscuit with ease, toasted it in his palm, and took a bite, saluting Dimitri with a mouthful of food. "Yes, sir."

Dimitri scoffed a chuckle and left the room to prepare himself as well.

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As Wyatt powered up the portal doorway, a soft hum filled the lab. Sparks of energy began to dance around the frame, casting an eerie purple glow. Victoria stood a few feet away, her arms crossed, watching the process with a skeptical expression. "I want to go on record and say this is a very bad idea."

"Noted," Wyatt replied, not missing a beat as he opened the panel for the coordinates. With a mischievous grin, he asked, "So, where do y'all want to go? Paris? Hawaii?"

"How about down the block," Dimitri interjected, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Baby steps."

"You’re no fun," Tessa quipped, a playful lilt in her voice. She adjusted her gear, looking slightly disappointed. "Why did we all gear up if we're just going down the block?"

"As you said," Dimitri replied seriously, "Just in case."

Tessa shook her head with a mock 'tsk', a wry smile playing on her lips. "Used my own words against me. Good one, old man."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow at the 'old man' comment but chose to let it slide, instead focusing on the task at hand.

The portal doorway powered up fully, a swirling purple vortex materializing within the frame. Wyatt stepped back, satisfied with the result. He went over to Dimitri and pulled him into a quick hug. "This is for just in case, too."

Dimitri returned the hug, his voice warm yet firm. "I’ll see you soon, Kiddo."

Wyatt hoped Dimitri's confidence wasn't misplaced. Despite all the calculations indicating everything should be fine, a nagging worry gnawed at him. He then turned to Tessa, pulling her into a hug as well. "Alright! Let’s do this!"

Wyatt stepped aside, giving the trio space. "But hold hands, just in case. I’ll keep the doorway open so you’ll be able to pop right back."

The three complied, forming a chain with Dimitri at the front, Tessa in the middle, and Victoria bringing up the rear. They cautiously approached the portal, the swirling energy pulling at their senses. Dimitri took a deep breath and stepped through first, disappearing into the vortex.

Tessa followed, her grip on Victoria's hand tightening briefly as she stepped through. Victoria hesitated for a heartbeat, her mind racing with a million what-ifs. But she steeled herself and stepped through as well, the portal swallowing her whole.

As soon as Victoria vanished, the portal doorway emitted a sharp beep and flickered ominously. Wyatt rushed over, his eyes scanning the control panel. Something was wrong—the coordinates had shifted. The normal blue light of the numbers had turned an unfamiliar purple, indicating a completely different location. Panic surged through him as he whispered, "Oh no... where the hell did they go?"

He frantically began adjusting the controls, trying to trace the new coordinates. The hum of the machinery grew louder, and his mind raced with calculations and worst-case scenarios. "Come on, come on," Wyatt muttered under his breath, his fingers flying over the buttons.

Seconds felt like hours as he worked, the lab filled with the tension of uncertainty. He tried to stabilize the portal, but it fizzled out and the coordinates disappeared. Wyatt took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest. "I hope you guys are okay," he whispered, staring through the now inactive doorway.

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When Dimitri, Tessa, and Victoria exited the portal, they found themselves in an opulent residential bathroom. The room was vast, with gleaming marble floors and walls, and every fixture seemed to be made of the finest materials. Gold-trimmed mirrors and an oversized bathtub added to the extravagance.

Tessa couldn't help but laugh. "By the Angel, did Wyatt send us to someone’s house?"

"There are no houses down the block from the Institute," Dimitri replied, notching an arrow into his bow. His eyes scanned the room warily. "Something’s not right."

"I’ll say," Victoria added, gesturing behind her. "There’s no portal to take us back."

Dimitri and Tessa both turned to see she was right. For good measure, Tessa went to the spot where they had exited and waved her hand around. "Okay, no big deal. Let’s just get outside, figure out where we are, and call Wyatt to let him know what’s going on." She was trying hard to remain optimistic.

Dimitri pulled out his Stele, ready to activate his invisibility Rune, but nothing happened. "What the hell?" he muttered, shaking the Stele.

"Try mine," Tessa offered, handing him her Stele, but it too remained inactive.

Victoria quickly tried her own Stele, with the same result. "I knew this was a bad idea," she said, catching Dimitri’s look and waving a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I know. That’s not helping."

Dimitri took the lead, signaling them to follow. "Let’s go and stay close." He cautiously led them out of the bathroom, intent on figuring out their location as quickly as possible.

They entered an elaborate bedroom. Dimitri headed straight for the window and moved aside the heavy curtains. All he could see was a dense forest and a mountain in the distance. He didn’t recognize the area at all. "Does this place look familiar to you?" he asked, glancing back at Victoria.

Victoria went to another window, parting the curtains. "No. I have no idea where we are."

Tessa, curious, went over to a bureau. She opened the drawers, hoping to find something that might indicate their location. The first two drawers were filled with clothes haphazardly thrown in, but the bottom one was locked. She managed to open it, revealing a weapons cache containing a pair of Blades and an array of throwing stars. "Okay, I think we’re in a Shadowhunter’s house." She stepped aside to show them the cache.

Dimitri was the first to examine the cache. When he touched the lid, it beeped, and a message in glowing letters appeared: 'Identity Confirmed'. The lid unlocked and slid backward, providing access to the weapons.

“Was that cache specifically coded to you or could any Shadowhunter open it?” Victoria wanted to know because this was getting all the more suspicious as time went on and they hadn’t even been there for five minutes yet.

"I have no idea." Dimitri pulled out one of the Blades to inspect it. Unlike the Blades at the Institute, this one had Runes that glowed purple when he touched it. "That’s not normal."

Victoria took out the other Blade and found it reacted similarly. "Definitely not normal," she muttered.

Tessa grabbed the throwing stars, just in case. "Should we keep snooping or get out of here?"

"Let’s get out of here," Dimitri decided.

Victoria nodded. "I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m with him. Let’s go."

Moving swiftly yet cautiously, they exited the bedroom. As they entered a long hallway, Tessa noticed a statue at the end of the hall holding what appeared to be the Mortal Instruments. However, these were slightly different from any other depiction she had seen. "Guys… I think we’re in an Institute."

"If you’re right, then where is everyone?" Victoria adjusted her grip on the Blade, looking around warily. "This place feels abandoned but..." she trailed off.

"Active," Dimitri finished for her. "Let’s keep going."

As they moved down the hall, Victoria stopped at a table covered with pictures of Shadowhunters. One picture stood out to her. She picked up the frame and turned to Dimitri and Tessa. "Are you two sure you’ve never been here before?"

"Yeah," Tessa answered, "Why?"

Victoria turned the picture around to show them. Dimitri and Tessa were in the picture although Tessa’s hair was much shorter than present and Dimitri’s scruff was a full beard. “Then explain this.”

Dimitri and Tessa looked at the picture, then at each other, then back at the picture. "Anyone else thinking that we accidentally got sent to an alternate universe or something?" Tessa asked.

Dimitri set the picture down. "If this is an Institute, then we need to get to Ops and find a portal to get out of here now."

No one argued. They quickly took off down the hall, still cautious but now more expedient.

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After determining they were in the residential part of what seemed to be an Institute, Dimitri, Victoria, and Tessa found an exit to a courtyard that connected to another section of the building. Drawing on her memory of a similar Institute, Victoria figured that Ops would likely be located in that other part. They started to cross the courtyard, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night.

By now, it was completely dark, and they still hadn’t seen another soul—Shadowhunter or otherwise. Halfway across the courtyard, an unnatural, fierce wind began to blow, forcing them to pick up the pace. They barely made it inside the other building before the wind could sweep them away.

As soon as they closed the doors, they turned around to see someone Victoria vaguely recognized, though not in this form. "Simon?!" she exclaimed. He was covered in Shadowhunter Runes and definitely wasn’t the Vampire she had once met.

Simon reacted by pointing his Blade at Tessa. "What are you doing with her, Riv?" he demanded. "Have you switched sides?!"

Victoria and Dimitri immediately moved to shield Tessa, but they didn’t have time to respond before numerous people burst through the windows, sending shattered glass flying everywhere.

When the newcomers landed on their feet, Simon shouted, "They have Silverbrook!" This declaration activated their weapons and sent them charging forward.

Dimitri and Victoria were the first to engage, fending off attacks from the Shadowhunters. When one of them lunged at Tessa, Victoria swiftly threw one of her axes at him. It might not have been charged with Angelic energy, but it was still an axe and it would leave a mark.

Just as it seemed the newcomers would gain the upper hand, a familiar voice shouted, "Stop!" All the newcomers froze in their tracks, and even Simon halted his advance towards Tessa.

Simon, wide-eyed, looked over to see another Dimitri Riverblade entering through the broken window. "Riv?" Simon stammered. "Who are you?" he demanded, glaring at the new arrivals. "And where did you find her?" He pointed firmly at Tessa Silverbrook.

"Look, okay, I know this sounds crazy, but I think we’re from an alternate universe," Victoria began to explain. "I am Victoria Baywing, this is Dimitri Riverblade, and that’s Tessa Silverbrook. The three of us went into an experimental portal and came out in a bathroom upstairs."

Before the other Dimitri could react, a female voice said, "She’s telling the truth. I see no lie." A woman pulled back her hood, revealing reptilian scales around her purple eyes—her Warlock mark.

The other Dimitri, now identified as Riv, looked back at her. "Are you sure, Trick?"

Trick nodded. "I am certain. They are telling the truth—this Theresa isn’t the one we are looking for."

Riv scanned the room and ordered, "Lower your weapons." Once his comrades had done so, he introduced himself. "It seems you already know who I am, but to keep things separate, you can call me Riv. This is my daughter Patricia, but you can call her Trick, and it seems you already know Simon."

Victoria nodded. "He’s a Vampire where I’m from. Definitely not a Shadowhunter."

Tessa cautiously moved closer to Victoria and Dimitri. "Why do I get the feeling that you want to kill me?"

"Not you, apparently," Simon replied, crossing his arms. "Terri."

Riv elaborated. "Terri is our version of Theresa Silverbrook. Long story short—she did some bad things and we need to find her before they get worse."

"Define bad things," Dimitri asked, wanting to be prepared.

Simon scoffed. "Released Hell on Earth. Literally."

Tessa winced. "Yeah, that’s bad."

Riv helped the Shadowhunter who had been struck by Victoria’s axe after his healing Rune had been activated. "It’s clear your weapons don’t work here. You’re going to need more than a couple of stray Blades if you want to survive." He looked over to another Shadowhunter. "Heartgrove, see if there’s anything left in the armory," he said, then glanced at Dimitri’s quiver. "Especially a bow and quiver. Take your boyfriend with you."

Savannah Heartgrove nodded and took hold of Simon’s arm before heading off to the armory.

"Look, I’m sorry, but whatever is going on in this world is your business. We just want to find a portal and get sent back to ours," Victoria stated, feeling for them but not willing to risk their lives without a clear way back to their own world.

"If an experimental portal brought you here, then it’s likely an experimental one will be needed to send you back," Riv pointed out. "And to find one of those, you’ll need to come with us."

Tessa interjected, "Excuse us," and linked arms with Victoria and Dimitri, pulling them aside. Once out of earshot, she spoke in hushed yet frantic tones. "Are we trusting them? Are we not trusting them? What’s the plan here, because it feels like other people are gonna want to kill me on sight thinking I’m the other me."

"The rules are different here," Victoria replied, weighing the options. "I think we’re gonna need to stick with them to get what we need and get out."

Dimitri had been processing everything, too. After Victoria gave her opinion, he echoed her previous words. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m with her.”

Tessa exhaled deeply. "I was afraid you two were gonna agree on that."

Victoria turned to Riv. "Are you able to guarantee that no one will attack Tessa thinking she’s your Terri?"

"The Shadowhunters you’ve seen here are the only ones here. Anything and anyone else you encounter where we’re going will attack regardless of who you are," Riv explained, just as Savannah and Simon returned. "Any luck?" he asked.

"There was an axe, a staff, and a bow with a full quiver," Savannah presented. "And Simon found a few Steles."

Simon handed out the Steles. "Who wants what?"

Victoria, Tessa, and Dimitri each took the weapons they thought would be most useful. Tessa took the Blade Victoria had held, while Victoria took the axe, and Dimitri grabbed the bow and quiver. He kept the arrows from their world as well, just in case.

Now that they were all armed as well as they could be, Dimitri asked, "Where are we going?"

Riv’s answer was simple and precise. "Down."

As soon as Riv said the word, Savannah opened a wall that concealed two large metal doors. They hissed open, revealing a dimly lit passage beyond. "We’re ready," she announced, stepping aside.

"Let’s move out," Riv commanded, taking the lead with Savannah and Simon. Three other Shadowhunters positioned themselves behind Tessa, Victoria, and Dimitri. Trick brought up the rear, ensuring everyone was through before the doors hissed shut behind her.

"Where are we going exactly?" Tessa asked as they followed Riv down the corridor.

"This Institute has subterranean levels," Riv explained, descending a long set of wide stairs. Each of them was armed and ready for anything that might lurk below. "We need to get to central ops. That’s the only system that will have the locations of what you’re looking for."

"You mentioned experimental portals earlier," Victoria said, trying to grasp the full picture. "So the Clave had you guys working on them here too?"

Riv stopped mid-step and looked back at them, his expression grim. "The Clave had nothing to do with it. Terri acted alone." His voice softened momentarily, showing a hint of hurt before he resumed his firm tone. "Trick, anything?"

Trick moved to the front of the group, scanning their surroundings. "So far, nothing, but stay alert," she advised.

As they continued descending, Tessa leaned towards Dimitri and whispered, "So in this world, the other you adopted a different Warlock... trippy."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow. "Out of everything that’s happened so far, that’s the part you find trippy?"

"If I focused on everything that I found trippy about this entire situation, I’d probably go catatonic," Tessa admitted. The group quickened their pace down the stairs that eventually led to an underground platform… a train platform.

"What the hell is that?" Victoria exclaimed as the train came into view. She glared at Riv. "If you say that’s a train, I swear I will throw you under it."

Riv chuckled briefly. "I see what you see in her," he commented to Dimitri before turning to a Shadowhunter on the train. "Status report?"

"Power’s down," the Shadowhunter replied.

"Then fix it!" Riv ordered.

"I’m on it," Savannah responded, hopping onto the train, activating a Witchlight and her agility Rune. She jumped down to inspect the power lines beneath the train. Reconnecting the cables, she thought she heard something and crouched lower to get a better look. She activated her sight-enhancing Rune but saw nothing. Just as she stood up, Simon’s upside-down head appeared beside hers, causing her to jump.

"Done yet, jumpy?" he teased before kissing her.

Savannah returned the kiss, then finished reconnecting the final piece on the track. With the power restored, Simon pulled himself back into the train, and Savannah followed.

Now that they were all aboard, the doors were closed and the train was put into gear to start moving down the track.

Now that they were all aboard, the doors closed and the train rumbled to life, moving slowly down the track. Dimitri, Tessa, and Victoria sat on a crate within the train car, facing Riv. "Are you ever going to tell us exactly what the mission is here?" Dimitri asked.

Riv saw Simon subtly shaking his head 'no' but chose to explain anyway. "We are here to find Terri and make her fix what she has done. She’s the only one capable of it."

"Is there anything I can do?" Tessa offered. "I mean, Terri is this world’s me, after all."

Riv gave her a wistful smile. "She used to be a lot like you," he reminisced. "But no, there’s nothing you can do. Terri was envious of Warlocks and their ability to use magic. She coveted the ability, and it corrupted her. Terri managed to find a way to give herself magic, but the cost was allowing Demons to enter our realm freely."

"So there’s an apocalypse outside?" Tessa asked, trying to wrap her head around it.

It was clear Riv wasn’t going to hold back, so Simon added, "That’s what we’re trying to stop."

Trick continued, "The Demons that Terri granted access to are within the lower levels of the Institute."

Riv concluded their briefing, "We get in, get Terri, find your portal, and get the hell out."

"So… you don’t want to kill her?" Victoria queried. "Because the reaction of your people upstairs when they saw Tessa indicated otherwise."

"Contain by any means necessary, yes. Kill… not if I can help it," Riv said, looking directly at Dimitri. "If your relationship with Tessa is anything like mine was with Terri, then you must understand how deeply I care for her." When Dimitri slowly nodded in reply, Riv turned to Tessa. "I give you my word that I will do my best to keep you safe."

"We’re almost there," Savannah announced, glancing at the map on her tablet.

Trick looked at Victoria and asked, "What were you enchanted with?"

Victoria blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"You were once enchanted, but it’s not there anymore." Trick leaned closer, examining her. "I can see it."

Victoria hesitated before answering, "Long story short, I was immortal once. My Parabatai was immortal and I shared it with him. When he died, I became mortal again."

Trick looked intrigued. "Who could possibly have been your Parabatai if they were immortal?"

"Yeah, I’m not going to answer that," Victoria replied, concerned that revealing too much could be dangerous.

"Fair enough." Trick leaned back just as the train came to a stop. "Duty calls," she murmured, leaving the train with Savannah and Simon to help open the Warded doors leading to the Institute’s lower levels.

As they disembarked, Tessa asked, "Is anyone else worried that we might not make it back to our world?"

Victoria stopped and faced Tessa, holding her hands tightly. "I will not let that happen, do you hear me? I will do anything and everything in my power to make sure you make it back home. You will not be stuck here, and you sure as hell won’t be dying here."

Dimitri placed a reassuring hand on Tessa’s arm. "Same goes for me, Tessa. One way or another, you will make it home."

Riv observed their moment, thinking about his relationship with Terri before everything went wrong. He was pulled from his memories when Trick appeared at the top of a nearby staircase. "The Wards are down. We can access the lower levels now," she called out.

Victoria walked up the stairs beside Riv. "So, just to make sure I understand completely, the mission here is to clear out the Demons down here before they make it above ground, capture Terri, and find the experimental portal?"

"Simply put, yes," Riv replied, not meeting her eyes.

"Why do I have the feeling that there’s something you’re not saying here?" Victoria pressed, sensing he was holding back.

"Because you’re right," Riv admitted but didn’t elaborate further, picking up the pace as they passed through the doors leading to the lower levels.

"This is an odd feeling," Victoria remarked to Dimitri as he caught up with her.

“What is?” There was so much going on so he wanted to be sure he knew what she was talking about.

"I shockingly find myself trusting you, but him," Victoria pointed at Riv, "that’s a whole other story."

After entering the well-lit entryway, they found the rooms beyond were pitch black. This prompted Simon to activate his night vision Rune. As the Rune flared to life, he cautiously stepped into the darkness, his eyes scanning for the light switch. It took a couple of minutes, but he was finally able to locate it. “Found it!” he called out triumphantly, then flipped the switch to illuminate the room so everyone could enter.

The room was clearly a lobby, given the numerous elevator doors and large windows that created the illusion of being outside. If it weren’t for the flickering lights, Tessa would have thought they were in LA itself. “I get the sentiment, but I doubt that helps with claustrophobia,” she remarked, glancing around.

“You’d be surprised,” Savannah commented, standing at the ready just like the others. Each one had their weapon poised, ready to react at a moment’s notice.

Trick noticed Victoria struggling to find a good grip and balance with the large axe she had chosen. Recalling how Victoria had used throwing axes upstairs, Trick realized the larger weapon would likely be quite different for her. “I can transfer the power to your throwing axes if you would like,” Trick offered.

Victoria was taken aback. “Seriously?” She had never heard of a Warlock possessing such an ability.

“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t serious,” Trick replied, approaching Victoria to perform the transfer.

“We don’t have time for this, Trick,” Riv said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

Trick wasn’t deterred. “I would like everyone to have an advantage if possible. Besides, if you hadn’t spoken to me, I would have already been done.” She took the pair of throwing axes from Victoria in one hand and the large axe in the other, transferring the power. Now the throwing axes that Victoria had brought from her world had the Angelic power of the large one, and their Runes glowed purple in her grasp.

“Now you,” Trick turned to Dimitri. “I can take the power from the staff Savannah has and put it into the arrows you brought with you if you trust me with them.”

Dimitri saw no reason to refuse the offer of enhanced ammunition. He handed over his quiver and watched as Trick transferred the power from the staff into his arrows—some of which were the explosive ones Wyatt and Tessa had designed, though he didn’t draw attention to that detail.

With the transfer complete, Trick returned the quiver to Dimitri and looked around at the others. “Anything else? You?” she asked, gesturing towards Tessa.

“Unless you’ve got a pair of knuckles, I’m good with the Blade,” Tessa replied, only to be met by Savannah reaching into her pocket and pulling out a set of Runed knuckles. Tessa accepted them without question. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it,” Savannah replied.

Meanwhile, Simon and the others pried open the elevator doors, only to discover that all the elevators had snapped cables and had fallen to the bottom of the shaft. “Hope everyone is in shape,” he quipped as he turned back to the group. “Looks like we’re taking the stairs.”

---------------------------------------------------------

The group descended the expansive, winding metallic staircase, their footsteps echoing through the vast, open space. Upon reaching the desired level, they walked down a well-lit hallway, only to find the labs ahead filled with brown, murky water. The glass walls of the labs kept the water from spilling into the hallway, but the sight was unsettling.

"That’s going to slow us down," Savannah commented, consulting her tablet. "The direct path to central Ops takes us straight through these labs."

Riv nodded, processing the information. "Simon, Savannah, go take a closer look and see how bad the flooding is. Trick, see if you can find us an alternate route."

Simon and Savannah set off to scout the flooded labs while Trick sat cross-legged on the metallic floor, closing her eyes and tapping rhythmically with her fingers.

“What is she doing?” Victoria asked Riv because it was clear by now that this Warlock was unlike any she had ever met before.

"Think of it like echolocation," Riv explained. "Trick can create a mental map based on the vibrations she senses across the floor."

"Wow," Victoria said, genuinely impressed. "I certainly could have used her help a time or two back home."

Riv's expression softened. "If my world can’t be saved but you can make it back to yours... will you take Trick with you?" He glanced over at Trick, who was deeply focused. "She deserves better than this."

Victoria looked back at Dimitri, silently seeking his opinion. When he nodded in agreement, she turned to Riv. "If it comes to that and she agrees, then yes. We’ll take her back with us."

"Thank you," Riv replied, his relief evident. His gratitude was genuine.

Before Victoria could respond, she jumped, startled by the sight of a woman’s body floating up from the murky water and pressing against the glass. "Bloody hell!" she exclaimed, readying her throwing axe. The woman remained motionless, floating eerily, her body covered in Runes—clearly a Shadowhunter.

Victoria turned to Riv, pointing at the floating corpse with her axe. "Is this what you weren’t saying? I thought only Demons and Terri were down here, not corpses."

"Every Shadowhunter stationed in the lower levels was killed. Did you really think a portal from hell opened up down here and no one got hurt?" Riv replied, his tone tinged with bitterness. He hadn’t specified the number of deaths because there were simply too many, but he had assumed some casualties were implied.

Victoria scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. Dimitri seized the moment to ask, "How do you know Terri is still alive?"

"They won’t hurt her," Riv said quietly, turning away. "She’s one of them now."

Just then, Trick opened her eyes and stood up. "I found another way, but it will take some time.” She took Riv’s tablet and pulled up the map to show him just in case something happened to her so he’d know where to go without her. “If we double back and cut through the, oh that’s what that room is, the dining hall, we’ll be back on track."

As she spoke, Savannah and Simon returned. "It’s a no-go down there," Savannah reported. "The whole level is flooded."

Riv nodded, accepting the information. "Alright, let’s get moving." He led the group to double back and follow Trick’s newly discovered path.

As they walked, Savannah lingered at the back of the group. She took a moment to address the floating corpse of the female Shadowhunter. "Hail and farewell," she whispered, offering a brief, solemn salute before catching up with the others. She didn't notice the corpse's eyes snapping open, revealing pure black orbs, or the hand with clawed fingernails pressing against the glass.

The group continued their trek, the weight of the unknown pressing on them. They moved with purpose, each step bringing them closer to their goal, yet also deeper into danger.

------------------------------------------

The group doubled back and made their way to the dining hall. This door, like the others, was sealed with Wards. However, between their Runes and Trick’s magic, they managed to disarm the Wards and gain entry. Upon entering, they were immediately taken aback. This room looked nothing like a dining hall. It was filled with numerous containers connected to hoses and wiring, emitting mist or some kind of exhaust that made the floor appear covered in fog.

“I thought the map said this was a dining hall?” Trick said, glancing at Riv in confusion as they looked around.

Savannah pulled up the map on her tablet and confirmed, “It’s clearly labeled as a dining hall on the map.”

“You didn’t pick any of this up when you did your thing?” Dimitri asked Trick, his tone slightly suspicious. If she could find the path and identify rooms, why hadn’t she detected this?

“It doesn’t work like that,” Trick replied defensively. “I can sense the outlines of rooms and hallways, but I have no idea what’s inside them.”

“Looks like more experiments were going on down here than just the portal,” Victoria commented, scanning the room and making sure Tessa and Dimitri were close in case something bad happened.

Riv didn’t like the implication but couldn’t argue against it. “Alright, enough. This doesn’t change the mission. Stay close and keep moving.” He led the way once again, armed and ready for anything.

Tessa knew she should stay close to the group, but curiosity got the better of her. She moved towards one of the containment units and peered inside. She gasped upon seeing some sort of creature connected to hoses, tubes, and injector needles. “What the hell went on down here?”

“Above your paygrade,” Simon said from behind her, causing her to jump in surprise. “And mine, apparently. Now let’s go.”

Tessa hoped desperately that Terri hadn’t been involved in whatever horrors had taken place here. If Terri wasn’t responsible, did that mean this world’s Clave was? Were these Shadowhunters really to be trusted? Worry and doubt began to gnaw at her, but one thing was certain—she wasn’t going to stray from Victoria and Dimitri again.

----------------------------------------

Tessa sat down next to Simon as he worked on the computers with Savannah in the room outside the hall leading to central Ops. They explained that the defenses set up at this point were all technological and had nothing to do with magic. Their task was to access the systems and bypass the protections that had been put in place when the Demons were released.

When Tessa rejoined Victoria and Dimitri in the far corner of the room, Victoria whispered, “Is it just me, or is it weird that we were told this place is crawling with Demons but we haven’t seen one yet? Not counting whatever the hell was in those containment units.”

Dimitri crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “It’s definitely not just you—this doesn’t make sense. There’s something else going on here besides the Demons.”

Victoria nodded in agreement and walked over to Riv, who was waiting with a couple of Shadowhunters and Trick by the door leading to the hallway to central Ops. “Riv,” she addressed him, tilting her head. “Can we talk for a second?”

“Sure,” he said, joining her on the other side of the room. “What is it?”

“That’s what I want to ask you,” Victoria replied, crossing her arms and clearly expecting answers. “Where are all the so-called Demons? And what are we really doing here besides looking up where the experimental portal is?”

Riv’s silence irritated her. Victoria’s face hardened, and she asked more firmly, “What is going on here, Riv?”

In hushed tones, Riv responded, “I don’t know where the Demons are. I am as surprised and concerned as you are that we haven’t come across any yet. As for what we’re doing here, we’re not just looking for the portal pane to send you home, but also trying to get a lock on Terri’s exact location. She has blocked herself from tracking, but the systems in central Ops can locate her another way.”

Their conversation was cut short when Simon and Savannah both exclaimed, “Yes!” and clasped their hands together. Simon announced, “We’re in.” At that moment, the door opened, revealing the brightly lit hallway leading to central Ops.

The two Shadowhunters by the door prepared to go in first. They made their way down the hallway and reached the door, only to find it locked as well. “Toss down the transmitter,” one of them called out. Savannah retrieved it from her pocket and threw it down the hall. The Shadowhunter caught it and placed it on the door. “Get back to hacking, it’s not a Ward here either.”

Savannah rejoined Simon at the computer to hack in and transmit the unlock code. Just as they succeeded and the door to central Ops opened, the lights in the hallway switched from bright white to red. An alarm blared, and both the door to central Ops and the door leading out of the hallway slammed shut.

“What the hell?” Savannah muttered, then saw the screen flashing ‘Weapons System Activated’. “No, no, no,” she and Simon frantically started typing to try and deactivate what had been triggered.

“What’s going on?” Riv demanded as he stood behind them.

“It was a dormant system,” Simon explained. “It must have been triggered when the door was remotely opened.”

Trick looked through the window and gasped as she saw lasers generating and moving down the hall. “Get them out of there!” she shrieked, attempting to conjure up some magic to help, but to no avail.

Riv quickly went over to Trick and turned her away just before the lasers sliced through the Shadowhunters in the hallway.

“Done!” Savannah exclaimed, but it was too late.

Tessa was starting to panic. “I don’t like it here. I really don’t like it here. Please tell me there’s not an Institute like this in our world.”

“If there is, I’m burning it to the ground,” Victoria said seriously as she hugged Tessa, prompting Dimitri to add, “I’ll bring the matches.”

Now that the weapon was deactivated, the doors opened again. Trick immediately pulled Riv away from the hall. “You are not risking going down there! They can find their portal pane a different way and we can find Terri a different way. No one is going down there! The worst thing we were supposed to come upon was Demons, not laser beams from hell!”

Before Riv could even try to comfort Trick, Simon stood up and declared, “I’ll go. I missed the system during the sweep; I’ll go to make sure it’s safe.” He gave Savannah a kiss goodbye, just in case he didn’t make it back. “I love you,” he whispered to her before heading down the hall, not giving anyone a chance to stop him.

Simon moved cautiously, stepping carefully to avoid his fallen comrades. The guilt gnawed at him, but he had to make up for his mistake—he had to stay on mission.

Victoria turned to Tessa and Dimitri. “I’m going with him.”

Tessa immediately protested. “No, you’re not!”

Dimitri grabbed Victoria’s arm to stop her. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“I need to see firsthand what’s going on here.” Victoria squeezed his hand on her arm before removing it. “I’ll be alright. I’ve survived worse than this.” That wasn’t entirely true, but she was determined to get answers.

Victoria caught up with a visibly shaking Simon in the middle of the hall. He looked surprised but relieved that he wasn’t going down there alone, especially that it wasn’t Savannah who had followed him. He didn’t say a word to her and continued down the hall to central Ops.

As soon as they entered the room, the door closed and sealed shut behind them. The room was almost empty, containing only a glowing trap door in the center of the floor and a large computer system at the back wall.

Victoria looked around the sparse room and commented, “I expected central Ops to be bigger than this.”

“Only the highest personnel are allowed in here. Under normal circumstances anyway.” Simon quickly went to the computer at the back and started searching for the portal pane and Terri’s location. As he typed away, he said, “I’m going to have to do a hard reboot on every system when I’m done, so get ready to book it out of here.”

Victoria didn’t understand the logic behind that. “Why?” When Simon didn’t answer, she went around the desk and grabbed his wrist to keep him from typing. “Why?” she asked more firmly.

Simon looked up at her and finally answered, “Because if I don’t, then nothing will be reset—the defenses Savannah and I hacked into to gain access to this room could affect the defenses elsewhere, giving the Demons down here easier access to the surface. When I hit the reset button, we have about 45 seconds to get out of this room and down that hall before those laser beams from hell fire up again.”

“Why would the Clave put that kind of system in here?” Victoria still hadn’t let go of him.

“I don’t know what kind of Clave you have where you’re from, but let’s just say ours isn’t so kind. They will do anything to protect what they deem to be the greater good.” Simon pulled his wrist free and resumed typing. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to help you here, so let me do it.”

Victoria let out a huff and stepped away, going over to what looked like a glowing trap door in the center of the room. “Is that the Angelic power core down there?”

Simon didn’t need to look up to answer. “If I had to guess, yes.”

Well, that added more context to the insanely dangerous security system, but it didn’t change how much Victoria hated this place and wanted to get out.

“I’ve almost got it,” Simon said, then stopped as a purple hologram in the shape of Terri appeared in the center of the room. “What the hell…”

Victoria whipped around, eyes wide. “Terri?” she guessed, unsure of what was happening.

“Help her,” the hologram replied. “She needs you. You need to help her. I searched for so long and found you. You must help her.”

Victoria opened her mouth to say one thing but ended up saying something completely different. “Wait…hold on…did you somehow mess with the portal that sent us here?”

“Of course I did. I sent out my data across the dimensions looking for the one who could send someone here. You must help her. You must.” The hologram insisted. “This world will fall into oblivion if you do not.”

“I got it!” Simon declared. “System reboot commencing.”

“Do not reboot my systems. You will regret it. I will lose control,” the hologram warned.

“Piss off,” Simon replied, then hit the button, causing everything to shut down and turn pitch black. With his night vision Rune activated, he said, “We need to get out of here, now!”

They quickly opened the door and sprinted down the hall, making it through the other door just before the systems turned back on.

Victoria ran her hands through her hair, pointing back to central Ops. “There was a hologram of Terri in there. She…she’s the one who hacked into our portal or whatever to bring us here.”

Dimitri and Tessa rushed over to her. “What are you talking about?” Dimitri asked.

“She said she sent her data out to many dimensions looking for the one that could send someone here.” Victoria took a couple of breaths before continuing. “She was begging us to help Terri.”

“What else happened?” Dimitri asked, needing to know more.

“Nothing,” Victoria snapped, glaring at Simon. “This one over here told her to piss off before rebooting the systems. Her last words were that we’ll regret rebooting her systems because she will lose control.”

All eyes turned to Riv, who said honestly and regretfully, “I have no idea what’s going on.”

Simon sent the coordinates to all the tablets and pulled his armband tablet off to give it to Victoria. “The coordinates to the portal pane that matches the data signature that alerted us to your arrival are there. The second set is where Terri currently is.”

Riv opened up the coordinates and commented, “How is the portal pane not far from the Institute?” He scrolled to see the second set of coordinates. “Wait, this can’t be right. Terri is supposed to be here. Why do these coordinates show the DC Institute? How did she get out of here?”

“We can figure that out later,” Trick interjected. “Right now, let’s get out of here. We have everything we need, so let’s go.”

“Wait, that’s it? What about all the Demons that are supposedly down here? Aren’t we supposed to deal with them?” Tessa asked, looking around at everyone who seemed to be thinking the same thing. “What am I missing here?”

Riv voiced what everyone seemed to be thinking. “If Terri made it out, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Demons did too.”

Tessa quickly grasped what he was saying. “So that means the Demons are already wreaking havoc up top.”

Riv nodded. “And if there is more than one of her portal panes up there, we can expect a lot more than the ones that were brought here with the original one.” He looked around at the group. “Now if there are no more questions, we are leaving here. Now.”

--------------------------------------------

The group quickly returned to the so-called dining hall, which was filled with containment units, because it was their only way out. Midway through, Trick abruptly stopped them all. "Stop! Everyone get ready, they're coming!" she warned, her voice urgent. Trick could sense the evil auras approaching, and there were many.

The group halted and prepared themselves. They could hear footsteps echoing towards them—dozens of deceased Shadowhunters with claws and pitch-black eyes were making their way around the units, closing in on them.

"They're possessed!" Trick informed them, conjuring up magic, ready to fight.

"Oh shit," Tessa muttered as she readied herself. "Is this what that hologram meant by losing control? The system could no longer control where they could go?"

There wasn't time for an answer. The possessed Shadowhunters were closing in fast. Savannah was the first to be attacked, suffering a claw swipe that left stinging pain. She gritted her teeth and continued fighting them off with the others.

"There are too many of them!" Simon shouted as he impaled another Possessed, causing it to disintegrate.

Dimitri spotted flammable tanks off to the side and yelled, "Take cover!" He quickly pulled out one of the explosive arrows and fired it at the tanks. The resulting explosion of Angelic energy was powerful enough to take out several of the Possessed, creating an opening for the group to try to escape this area. However, the blast also split them up.

Riv found himself with Simon and Savannah but couldn't see Trick. "Trick!" he called out, firing arrows from atop a crate. "Dammit, Trick, where are you?!"

"I'm up here!" Trick shouted from atop one of the units behind him. She was using her magic to fend off the Possessed, but it only seemed to knock them back rather than destroy them. "It's like they're immune to my magic!" she called out. "It's only knocking them back!"

Meanwhile, Simon reached the doorway and began inputting the code for the door on his tablet, since they no longer had to worry about the Wards after the reboot. After what felt like an eternity, he finally entered the code and called out, "Let's get out of here!" But as the doors opened, a horde of Possessed grabbed him and pulled him in with them.

"I love you, Savannah," Simon managed to say before he was overwhelmed. Those were his last words as the Possessed took his life.

The others pulled Savannah away, forcing the doors shut and getting as far from the horde as possible. Her screams echoed in their minds as they fled the horrific scene, the weight of their loss heavy on their hearts but they couldn’t stop to process it – they had to get out of there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Elsewhere, Dimitri, Victoria, and Tessa navigated the rooms that were offshoots of the dining hall, their footsteps echoing as they stayed close to one another. They stumbled upon another exit that led into one of the many labs in the facility. The lab appeared empty, prompting Victoria to voice her thoughts, “In all my years, I have never seen possession like that. If the possessed are like this, then what the hell are the Demons going to be like?”

Dimitri, his face set with determination, replied, “I hope we don’t find out. We just need to get to the surface, find the portal doorway, and get the hell out of this world. And when we get back, we are destroying the one in our world,” leaving no room for doubt.

Tessa, fully onboard with Dimitri's plan, nodded and added, “You are getting no argument from me. And once we tell Wyatt what happened, he will definitely be on board, too.”

As they ventured further into the lab, Victoria pulled out the armband tablet that Simon had given her and began navigating through the maps of the sublevels. After a few moments, she managed to pull up a layout, studying it intently. “I’m guessing all the doors have been unlocked, which means the flooding should have receded enough for us to walk through. I’ll try to find the quickest way out of here,” she said, her eyes fixed on the screen.

Tessa’s voice broke through Victoria's concentration, her concern evident. “What about the others? Are we just going to leave them behind?”

“We’ll all meet back up top. They have the same map we do,” Victoria reassured her, though she couldn’t shake off the pang of guilt. Her priority was making sure Tessa got home safe.

As they ventured deeper into the lab, they came across kennel-like cages that had been broken open. The creatures that had once been confined were now roaming free. Tessa stopped in her tracks, a chill running down her spine. “Please tell me we’re not going to cross paths with Demon dogs.”

“Why would there be dogs in the Institute?” Victoria asked, puzzled.

Dimitri, considering everything they had encountered so far, responded, “Why would anything we’ve found be in the Institute?” He glanced over at Victoria, who was still studying the tablet. “Any luck with the way out?”

Victoria, still focused on the glitching map, replied, “According to this, if we keep going through this lab, it’ll lead to another hall that should be a straight shot back to where we came in.” She was about to take the lead but stopped abruptly when she heard a tapping sound approaching them—tapping that sounded like the claws of an animal.

The noise made all three of them turn, weapons at the ready. A pack of possessed dogs emerged from the shadows, their eyes pitch black, teeth and fangs sharper than any normal canine, fur gone, and flesh looking torn and decayed. The sight made Tessa whimper, “Remind me to listen to you the next time you say something is a bad idea.”

“I intend to,” Victoria replied just before the pack started running their way.

Dimitri fired off a few shots before switching over to his Blade to conserve ammo. Victoria and Tessa fought fiercely alongside him, slicing and stabbing away with their axes and Blades. The possessed dogs were vicious and relentless, putting up a fight throughout the entire lab area. Finally, Tessa impaled what seemed to be the last one.

With the threat neutralized, Victoria looked down at the map only to find it had completely glitched out. However, the screen holding the coordinates to the portal doorway was still intact. “Let’s find that freaking hallway,” she said. Turning around, she gasped when she saw a possessed Shadowhunter behind her. Before she could react, Tessa tackled it to the floor and began punching away with her Runed Adamas knuckles that Savannah had given her. Finally, with a harder blow, the Possessed disintegrated.

Tessa, breathing heavily, got to her feet. She let out a sharp breath and wiped the sweat from her brow, saying, “I needed that.”

Victoria stood there, mouth agape, as the scene reminded her of something familiar.

Dimitri, understanding Tessa's need for release—partly why she enjoyed making explosives—noticed Victoria’s expression and asked, “Are you alright?”

Brought back to the present by his words, Victoria replied, “Yeah, I’m good. It’s just…” She looked from Tessa to Dimitri and finished her thought, “she’s so much like me at that age it’s scary.”

Hearing that, both Tessa and Dimitri laughed. Should they be laughing at a time like that? No, probably not, but damn, they needed it.

------------------------------------------------

Unfortunately, the hallway they discovered was crawling with far too many Possessed to handle, forcing them to backtrack all the way to central Ops. To their surprise, they weren't the only ones who had retreated; Savannah, Riv, and Trick were already there, clearly having faced the same predicament. Victoria and the others quickly noticed Simon was absent from this group but refrained from asking questions, sensing the gravity of the situation.

Victoria scanned the group, frustration evident in her voice as she spoke, “My map fried. Any idea how to get out of here safely?”

Trick, regretfully shaking her head, replied, “I can’t guarantee any safe passage. I can’t tell where the hordes of the Possessed are.”

Tessa glanced up at the corners of the room and spotted speakers and security cameras, a glimmer of hope sparking in her eyes. “If you pull up that Terri-gram, would she be able to guide us out of here?”

Savannah, wiping her tears and reactivating her healing Rune, which was struggling against the wounds inflicted by the possessed, expressed her skepticism. “Should we trust it? I mean, Terri was probably the one that created that system – why else would it look like her?”

Riv, crossing his arms and looking down before speaking, admitted, “My son created the system. He used Terri as a model for the hologram.”

Trick, hearing this revelation for the first time, looked incredulous. “Wyatt created the system? Wait… did he create everything?”

Dimitri, seizing the opportunity, asked, “Is Wyatt a Warlock here?”

Riv looked at Dimitri in surprise, “You have a Wyatt, too?” When Dimitri nodded, Riv confirmed, “Yes, Wyatt was a Warlock.”

Tessa didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean was?”

Trick, still mourning, answered, “Wyatt died during the outbreak a year ago.”

Riv, redirecting the conversation back to their immediate concern, said, “The point is, since Wyatt created the system, we can trust it.” He turned to Victoria, “You even said that the system told you that it sent out data to bring help here to help.” Riv now turned his attention to Savannah. “Are you able to get that system back online?”

Savannah scoffed, “What do you mean by back online? The system was rebooted, it wasn’t shut down. Which brings me back to questioning whether or not it can be trusted.”

Before anyone could respond, Terri-gram’s holographic form materialized in the center of the group, her presence commanding attention. “I can be trusted. I was watching, observing, trying to determine if you were fit to help save the world. From what I have seen, you all care more about certain companions than the fate of this dimension.”

Riv defended harshly, then took a breath to calm himself, “You can’t fault us for wanting to protect the people we love. Will you help us get out of here safely?”

Terri-gram paused, seemingly contemplating her next words, before speaking, “I will, but you must listen to my every word. Terri had left the Institute before the Demons entered. The Demons are here and have put their essence into your fallen Shadowhunters to revive them. They are trying to make their way out – if they do, it will be hell on Earth.” She gestured towards a hidden panel that opened to reveal a trigger remote of some kind. “Either Dimitri Riverblade, put a drop of your blood on this device. By giving it your blood, only either of you can activate it.”

Riv stepped forward and complied, while Dimitri asked, “Activate what?”

“The Angelic power core. Once you are safely outside the Institute’s walls, activate this to destroy the Institute and any creatures within it,” Terri-gram instructed, leaving no room for error.

Riv, scrutinizing the device, questioned, “Say we do that, then what? What’s to stop Terri from bringing more Demons here?”

Terri-gram’s expression shifted to one of perplexity, the first sign of emotion she had shown. “Terri did not bring the Demons here – Wyatt did. Terri has been trying to stop him this entire time. She took a page out of the Clave’s playbook and did whatever it took to do what she felt was right. Terri changed herself to become powerful enough to take on Wyatt. Everything that has happened here is Wyatt’s doing – he never died.”

Riv, feeling his world unravel, protested, “No. No, you are wrong! This is some twisted mind game.”

Terri-gram remained calm, “You don’t have to believe me. When you make it out of here, you will learn the truth. There is no time to waste; the longer you take, the more ground the Demons cover.” She looked towards the floor, and a panel opened to reveal a ladder. “That ladder will take you down into the utility tunnels. They run underneath the Institute’s lower levels. I will transmit a map to your functioning tablets. Good luck.” With that, she disappeared, having sent the maps.

Riv, dragging his hand down his face and exhaling deeply, addressed the group. When Trick looked like she was going to speak to him about what had just been revealed, he stopped her. “We’ll talk about it later. Once we’re out of here, we’ll talk.” He took Savannah’s tablet and opened the map. “Time to go.”

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The group had been wandering through the utility tunnels for what felt like hours. Their surroundings were disorienting, every corridor looking identical to the last, adding to their sense of frustration and unease. Despite the map indicating they were on the right path, they couldn't shake the feeling they were stuck in an endless loop. Anxiety and doubt crept in, making them question whether the map was wrong or if they had misread it somehow.

Finally, they stopped to catch their breath, the air thick with tension and exhaustion. Suddenly, they were ambushed by a horde of the Possessed, emerging from the shadows like a nightmare come to life. Panic surged through the group as they fought valiantly, but the sheer number of enemies was overwhelming. Desperation set in, and they scrambled to find higher ground, climbing up onto the pipes to get away.

Riv, his heart pounding with fear and determination, helped Tessa onto the pipes where Dimitri and Victoria were already positioned. He couldn't let anything happen to her. As he prepared to climb up himself, a possessed Shadowhunter lunged at him, its claws raking across his face and leaving deep, bloody gashes. Gritting his teeth against the pain, Riv stabbed the Shadowhunter with his Dagger, destroying it before hauling himself up to join the others.

Savannah pushed Trick up onto the pipes and was about to follow when she spotted Simon among the horde. “Simon!” she cried out, her voice a mix of shock and sorrow. Simon lunged at her, slicing through her leather jacket and her arm beneath it. Savannah cried out in pain and heartbreak, and with a heavy heart, she stabbed Simon with her Blade, ending his torment before climbing up to safety.

Once atop the pipes, those who needed it quickly activated their healing Runes, but to their dismay, the familiar warmth and mending sensation was weak, if not entirely absent. The Possessed below snarled and snapped, unable to climb up after them. The group moved cautiously, holding onto the cables as they walked above the horde, the tension palpable as they tried to maintain their balance.

At one point, Riv stopped Dimitri, pressing the trigger remote into his hands. “My Rune isn’t working. Just in case something goes wrong with me, take this and blow this place to bits. And one more thing – if something happens to me – protect Trick.”

Dimitri wanted to argue, but the look on Riv’s face left no room for negotiation. It was an expression Dimitri knew all too well – the same steely resolve he himself possessed. Without a word, Dimitri nodded his head giving a silent vow, accepted the remote, and secured it safely before continuing on.

When they reached the end of the pipes, Trick used her magic to blast out a grate, creating an opening to the tunnel beyond. Trick, Savannah, Tessa, and Victoria made it safely off the pipes and into the other tunnel, away from the horde, but Dimitri and Riv were still catching up. The sound of snapping cables echoed through the tunnel, causing Dimitri to shout, “Pick up the pace, Riv!”

Dimitri hurried, but the cables gave way, sending the pipes crashing down and Riv tumbling into the horde below. “Riv!” Dimitri yelled, grasping desperately at the remaining secure cables. “Come on!”

Riv looked up at him, his expression one of grim determination. “Keep your word, Dimitri! Take care of Trick!” With that, he let go of Dimitri’s hand, allowing himself to fall back into the horde.

“Riv!” Dimitri’s voice was choked with helplessness and rage as he watched Riv disappear into the mass of possessed Shadowhunters. Climbing up to the tunnel with the others, he heard Riv fighting valiantly, taking down as many of the Possessed as he could before they finally overwhelmed him.

Trick, from her spot at the tunnel’s entrance, saw it all. Her scream of anguish echoed through the tunnel. “Father!” she cried, trying to lunge forward, but Dimitri held her back. “He needs me!” she screamed, struggling against his embrace.

Dimitri wrapped his arms around Trick, holding her tightly. “He needs you safe, Trick. I swore I would protect you, and I am going to keep my promise.”

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The group eventually came upon a vent that led back up to what appeared to be the lab area of the Institute’s lower levels. The air was thick with tension as they assessed Savannah's condition. Despite repeatedly activating her healing Rune, Savannah was deteriorating. She was sweating profusely, her skin clammy, and her movements sluggish and weak. Trick and Victoria had to support her, practically carrying her along. Trick's voice was laced with desperation as she reassured her friend, “We’ll get you to a Warlock healer, and you will be as good as new. I can’t lose another person.”

Savannah groaned weakly in response, her voice barely above a whisper, “Sure, Trick, whatever you say.”

Dimitri took the lead, bow at the ready, eyes scanning for threats as they moved cautiously down the hallways. “I should warn you, I only have a few normal arrows left – the rest are explosive. So be ready to take cover if it comes to that,” he said, his tone serious. He needed to ensure they were all prepared for the worst.

They hadn’t gone far before Savannah, her voice strained and shaky, said, “Something’s wrong – I – I can’t keep going. They infected me with Demon venom or something.”

Trick refused to accept this. She propped Savannah against the wall, holding her firmly by the shoulders and locking eyes with her. She could see Savannah’s aura changing but she couldn’t accept it – they had to fix it. Trick's voice was filled with fierce determination and a hint of panic, “Once we get you to a healer, you will be fine, Savannah. Now woman up and fight what is happening to you! You are stronger than this!”

Tears welled up in Savannah’s eyes as she replied, her voice breaking, “My strength died the second Simon did. Just leave me here and go. I am slowing you down.”

Victoria's heart ached hearing Savannah’s words. She too had felt the crushing weight of despair, the urge to give up. But now, they had to keep pushing forward. She had to try something, anything. With determined hands, Victoria pushed up Savannah’s sleeve and drew a Rune with the Stele of this world, not knowing if it would work but hoping that it would.

“What is that?” Trick asked, not recognizing the Rune.

“Revitalization,” Victoria answered with a sniffle, remembering Nathaniel and how he had created it for her. “That is what my Parabatai called it – but what it really does is increase the will to live.” She put the final touch on the Rune, and it glowed before imprinting itself on Savannah’s skin.

As soon as the Rune took hold, Savannah looked up, locking eyes with Trick. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Trick gave Victoria a grateful look, her eyes filled with tears, as they went back to helping Savannah walk and move forward.

Rounding a corner, they were confronted by the sight of a grotesque creature in one of the labs. It walked on all fours, with huge claws, and resembled a hairless saber-toothed tiger. Dimitri quickly shut the door to the lab, but he knew the glass and door wouldn’t hold for long. “I think we just saw a Demon from this dimension,” Dimitri commented, his voice tense. He then turned to Victoria, “You and Trick take the lead; I’ve got Savannah.”

Dimitri scooped Savannah up into his arms, cradling her protectively as they moved swiftly towards the platform that now seemed tantalizingly close. The weight of their situation pressed heavily on them all, but they clung to the hope that they could escape and survive this nightmare together.

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The group quickly descended the stairs that led to the train platform, their breaths heavy with exhaustion and fear. Every step felt like an eternity, but they knew they had no time to waste. All they had to do now was get on the train, power it up, and get the hell out of dodge. Dimitri, with Savannah cradled in his arms, carefully boarded the train first, then turned back to help the others clamber aboard.

Trick wasted no time getting the train started, her hands flying over the controls with practiced ease. She called back through the open door to the rest of the group in the train car behind her, “You might want to hold onto something! We’re going full power!” With that, she pushed the final button, and the train lurched forward, speeding off so quickly it jolted everyone aboard, nearly knocking them off their feet.

Savannah leaned back against the wall of the train car, her face pale and drawn. She closed her eyes, then opened them to look at Victoria, her voice a faint whisper, “I want to live, but if living means becoming possessed or something else demonic then...” She trailed off, her eyes pleading for understanding.

Victoria reached out and squeezed Savannah’s shoulder firmly. “I know,” she said softly, her voice filled with empathy. “You have my word that I will do what needs to be done. But don’t think about that now. Once we’re up top, Trick will take you to a healer. It sounds like they’ll know what they’re doing.”

Savannah managed a weak nod before asking, “What about you? Are you leaving or staying? We could really use your help here.” She glanced at Dimitri, adding, “I don’t know how this world will make it without a Dimitri Riverblade.”

Before anyone could respond to Savannah’s words, the train car shuddered violently as large claws slashed through the side from the outside, the metal screeching with each strike.

“Get us out of here, Trick!” Tessa yelled, struggling to stay upright as the train rocked and swayed. Even with a Rune assist, it was nearly impossible to keep her balance.

“If we go any faster, we’ll go off the rails!” Trick shouted back, her voice tense with frustration. She periodically threw out bursts of magic, trying to ward the train car, but the four-legged Demon outside was clawing through the wards as if they were nothing. “Dammit!”

“Why isn’t your magic working?!” Tessa called out, panic evident in her voice.

“Warlock magic doesn’t work on Demons,” Trick finally realized. “We share the same blood. You’re on your own!”

At that moment, the four-legged Demon burst through the door, its snarls filling the train car. Dimitri immediately fired his remaining normal arrows, while Tessa hurled all of her throwing stars at the creature.

Victoria could see Dimitri's hesitation to use the explosive arrows, knowing the close quarters and the speed of the train could make things even more dangerous. “Do it!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Dimitri nodded, quickly drawing and firing one explosive arrow, then another. The arrows struck the Demon in the head, and seconds later, its head exploded in a burst of Angelic energy, the force of the blast sending everyone on the train reeling.

Trick nearly lost her balance, the train wobbling dangerously as it seemed like it might derail. “You guys alright back there?!” she called out, unable to look back as she focused on keeping the train on track.

Tessa, Victoria, and Dimitri slowly got their bearings, their hearts pounding in their chests. Tessa called back, “Yeah, we’re good.” But her relief was short-lived as Savannah began to snarl, her eyes pitch black, and claws emerging from her fingers. “Oh shit,” Tessa scrambled to react, but before she could, a throwing axe embedded itself in Savannah’s chest, causing her to disintegrate. Tessa looked back to see Victoria, breathing heavily. “Nice shot,” she said, a mix of shock and gratitude in her voice.

“I keep my promises,” Victoria replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil. She retrieved her throwing axe and returned it to the loop on her belt. Helping Tessa to her feet, she then went over to Dimitri. “You good? Did you get scratched or anything?”

Dimitri shook his head. “I’m fine. You?”

Victoria nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Tessa, trying to lighten the mood, clasped her hands together and teased, “Aww! Mommy is falling for Daddy!” This earned her a simultaneous “Stop talking,” from both Dimitri and Victoria, though it only fueled her playful suspicion. “Hey, just saying, I totally ship it.”

-------------------------------------------------

Once the train reached the upper platform, Trick, Victoria, Tessa, and Dimitri disembarked, their hearts pounding with anticipation. The air was thick with the weight of their mission. They sprinted up the stairs, pushing their bodies to the limit, and finally emerged outside. The sky above seemed vast and foreboding, but they felt a momentary relief as they put distance between themselves and the Institute.

Dimitri, clutching the trigger remote, looked back at the group. “We’re a safe distance now,” he said. With a heavy heart, he hit the switch. The group watched in a mix of awe and horror as the Angelic core activated, the explosion erupting from the depths below, and the Institute was consumed in a blazing inferno. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and the sky lit up with a brilliant, otherworldly glow. Any chance of more Demons emerging from there was obliterated in an instant.

“Come on,” Dimitri urged, his voice cutting through the aftermath, “Let’s get to the portal.”

They wasted no time navigating through the dense forest. The coordinates led them to an open field, where the portal doorway stood ominously. As they neared it, their breath caught in their throats. Demons were soaring through the sky above them, casting long, menacing shadows on the ground.

“We’re too late,” Trick’s voice cracked with frustration and despair. “After everything that happened, and it’s too late?!”

“It’s not too late for you,” Victoria interjected, trying to offer a glimmer of hope. “You can come back to our world with us. Once we turn this portal on, you can come with us.”

Trick’s eyes burned with determination. “No. I am staying here. I am going to finish what my father started. I am going to find Terri. And if she is innocent in all of this, then I am going to save her.”

Dimitri’s mind wrestled with a heavy decision. After a moment, he finally spoke, “I’m staying, too.”

Tessa’s eyes welled up with tears. “What? No! You can’t do that. You can’t abandon me and Wyatt and Victoria! You can’t stay here – this isn’t your world!”

Dimitri pulled Tessa into a tight embrace, his voice soft yet resolute. “I know, Tessa. I know it’s not, but I made a vow to protect the world against Demons. It doesn’t matter what world I’m in, I intend to keep that vow. How can I leave here knowing that it will be left to oblivion?” He gently pulled back, looking into her tear-filled eyes. “You go back with Victoria. I give you my word that when the time is right, I will make it back to you.”

Tessa shook her head, her voice choked with emotion. “No… No!”

Dimitri hugged her again, his own tears threatening to spill. “Keep Wyatt in line for me until I make it back to you. I love you.” He kissed her forehead, then pulled back. “Don’t argue with me, Tessa. Now go!”

“Goodbye… I love you,” Tessa whispered, her voice trembling. She turned and hurried to the portal doorway, her steps unsteady. She couldn’t look back; if she did, she knew she wouldn’t be able to leave.

Victoria stood in stunned disbelief, her mind refusing to accept what was happening. She pointed a firm finger at Dimitri, her voice shaking. “If you seriously think I’m going to let you stay here then…” She was abruptly cut off as Dimitri wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply.

The kiss sent a shock through Victoria’s entire being. She never thought she would feel this way towards anyone again after losing Barnabas, especially not so soon after meeting Dimitri. When Dimitri finally pulled away, she was left breathless and confused, yet strangely resolute.

Dimitri gently brushed a strand of hair from Victoria’s face. “Take care of our girl.”

“We’ve got incoming, Dimitri!” Trick shouted from further down the field, her voice urgent. A flying Demon landed and started advancing towards them.

Without hesitation, Dimitri readied his Blade and sprinted over to join Trick in the fight against the Demon.

“Dimitri!” Victoria screamed after him, her voice breaking. She knew he wouldn’t look back, but she had to try. Her heart ached with the weight of their parting. It was tearing her apart, but she forced herself to run to Tessa, who had activated the portal. Together, they stepped through, hand in hand, leaving behind the world that had changed them forever.

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Tessa and Victoria stumbled out of the portal into the lab of the Institute in their dimension, the weight of their ordeal still heavy on their shoulders. As soon as they were clear, the portal snapped shut behind them with a resounding finality before the doorway combusted in a burst of energy, the remnants of their journey sealed off for good…or so it seemed.

Wyatt came running into the room, his face a mix of relief and shock. He gasped when he saw them standing there. “You’re back! And you look like hell!” he cried out, rushing over to envelop Tessa in a tight, almost desperate hug. “We couldn’t track you. I was freaking out so badly. Do you have any idea how long you’ve been gone?”

Tessa, still reeling from the transition, hazarded a guess. “Twelve hours, give or take?” She truly didn’t know for sure but was certain it hadn’t been more than a day.

Wyatt pulled back from their embrace abruptly, his eyes wide with incredulity. “Are you kidding me? You’ve been gone for months!”

“Months?!” Tessa and Victoria exclaimed in unison, their voices echoing their shared shock and disbelief.

“Yeah!” Wyatt confirmed, then turned to Victoria with a sense of urgency. “You better get back to New York ASAP – an urgent message was left for you here.” As he spoke, he looked behind Victoria and Tessa, his expression turning to one of confusion when he didn’t see Dimitri. “Where’s my dad?”

The question hit Victoria and Tessa like a punch to the gut, their eyes welling up with tears they had been holding back. Wyatt’s concern grew, and he repeated, “Where is my dad?”

Victoria reached out, her hand trembling as she took Wyatt’s. “Let’s find a place to sit down and talk, Wyatt. We’ll tell you everything…” Her voice was soft, filled with the gravity of the news she had to deliver.

As they moved to a quieter area to talk, Victoria’s thoughts raced. She knew she had to head back to New York – the urgency in Wyatt’s message made that clear. But first, they needed to break the news to Wyatt gently, and give Tessa the choice of whether she wanted to accompany her or stay behind.

The lab was a chaotic blur as they walked through it, and Victoria’s mind was equally tumultuous. She couldn’t fathom how so much time had passed in this dimension while they were away. She glanced at Tessa, who was trying to stay composed despite the tears streaming down her face, and knew this was going to be one of the hardest conversations of their lives…

The weight of their conversation with Wyatt hung heavily in the air, the reality of their situation settling in. Victoria knew she had to be strong for both Wyatt and Tessa, even as her own heart ached with the loss and uncertainty that lay ahead. With a determined resolve, she knew she had to prepare to face whatever challenges awaited her back in New York, knowing that they had to hold onto hope and the promise of Dimitri’s return…

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End of The Opposite and The Mirror’s Spin-Off

#The Opposite and The Mirror Spin-Off #Beyond the Broken Frame #Dimitri Riverblade #Wyatt Fyre #Victoria Baywing #Tessa Silverbrook #Shadowhunters meets Resident Evil

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erraticrandomficwriter · 1 day ago

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"You will forever be the other half of my heart, and he will forever be the one who healed the half that broke." - Victoria Baywing, The Opposite and The Mirror

#Shadowhunters Fanfic #The Opposite and The Mirror #Shadowhunters OC #Victoria Baywing #Dimitri Riverblade #Barnabas Morgenstern

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erraticrandomficwriter · 1 day ago

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My cousin asked me today if I didn't like my reflection because I have a lot of OCs that have multiple appearances - Blair, Nyah, and my Shadow and Bone plot bunny just to name a few. I feel like I've been having an existential crisis ever since.

#I know she didn't mean anything by it but jeeze that threw me

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erraticrandomficwriter · 2 days ago

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And I just realized there's sentences missing and other errors but oh well, I'll fix them later