Diana's pov

"Russel really did it. He stole my body." I breath

Josephine smirked like the devil wearing silk.
"And clearly made a mess of it. It's been hundreds of years since a mind wipe failed. But i gotta say, this isn't bad, not as organized as my mind space of course but mildly impressive." She says

"Mind space?" My voice caught

"The brain creates these constructs when two minds share a body. Like lucid dreaming only not as fun. It's a self preservation thing, trying to keep the minds separate so the body doesn't die. You kind of messed that up when you opened the door so you know thanks for the accelerated brain deterioration." She explained, that smug look never dropping.

"You've been through this before?" I ask

"Never anything as advanced as this but yeah back in the day before Gabriel perfected the mind wipe, there were a few mishaps. I got jacked into some people's minds while the lights were still on.  They were so average" she rolled her eyes like she replayed a memory.

My chest tightened.
"What happened?" I ask

"The first was a six month old. Her mind was unformed, full of chaos, shapes and sounds. Then there was Savannah. I swear I was not that obnoxious at fifteen" She starts

"And then they died." I said, guessing the next thing she was going to say.

"Brain damaging leads to strokes, and we all fall down. It's messy, and hurts like a mother, would not recommend. Two minds, one brain, never ends well. Sooo this, it's a problem. How did you even survive?" She asks me

"You just wanna know so you can figure out how to get rid of me." I spat

"Okay, weren't you listening? If we don't do something this body dies. That what you want?" She asks

"Of course not. How about you just find a new body and give me back mine?" I snap

She snorted.
"I could i suppose, but it's risky. The last primes who went on ice died forever. I'm not really into that. Besides, possession is 9/10 of the law and just between us girls, I kind of like your body." She said, stepping closer to me.

"You're a sociopath." I say

"Judgy. Besides like you're one to talk, Heda. The way I see it you have two options, tell me how you survived so I can fix it, and I'll make sure your people live happily ever after, or don't. And eventually we'll both die anyway. The difference is, I'll be reborn in someone else, tell my father what happened and he'll kick your people out to die in the woods" she says

"Oh, God, go float yourself" I roll my eyes

Her brows furrowed.
"I have no idea what that means." She said

"It means that I'm not telling you anything. And I don't go down easy." I tell her

"Wow, you're selfish. Not to mention dumb. Your mind-space contains all your memories, so try not to think of where you keep them." She leaned in, close, voice low.

Then a door creaked open behind me.

"You control your mindspace, Diana. Too bad you can't control your thoughts." She laughed

She slipped through the doorway. Against my better judgment, I follow.

Chaos.

That's the only word for it. My drawings scattered in every direction, doors leading everywhere and nowhere.

Josephine clicked her tongue.
"I rescind my compliments. This is a disaster. Didn't anyone ever teach you about organization structure?" She asked

"Get out of my head." I snap

"Now, now, Diana, sharing is caring." She traced her fingers over a wall of sketches. Her smile froze when she saw an empty space.

"Are you hiding a memory from me, Diana? Rude" she said

"Youll never find it. And I'll never give it to you" I say

She chuckled darkly.
"You know I study all life, but insects always fascinated me most. They're merciless, ruthless. I respect that. People are so messy, so emotional. Because of that they give themselves away. I could always figure people out, even as a kid. I could tell when they were nervous. Their pulses would beat faster. Eyes would dart. Breath would quicken. It's physiological. You know what my spidey senses are telling me about you right now?" She asks

"That I'll never help you wipe me out?" I asked

"You think you're a badass but your bravado covers self doubt. You had to physicalize your secret so you could keep it close where you have control. I bet you have it on you right now. Now, let me have it!" She lunged, attacking me.

We collided. I dodged, slammed her down, and she hit the floor with a snarl.

Adrenaline roared through me. I shoved her body toward the door, slamming her down over and over until blood painted the floor. She crumpled, still, her smirk gone.

Panting, I leaned back against the wall, eyes fluttering shut for just a second-

"Warning collision alert"

My eyes flew open. Her body was gone.

"What?..." I mumble, standing.

The red door creaked. Josephine strolled out, hands raised and a smirk across her face.
"We're back, bitches." She says

"How?" I ask

"Come on. You're smarter than that. How do you think we're resurrected? My mind drive backs up my consciousness. I can't die in the mind space. But you can unless whatever fluke kept you here can bring you back. You my friend are playing for keeps. I took a sedative about an hour ago. So that gives me all night to kill you in here or find the memory of how I can kill you out there. Got a preference?" She asks

I ran.

Her laughter chased me.
"Easy or hard way Diana, either way, you die." She yelled

The world blurred. A new door, a rush of cold air.

I stumbled into the bunkers fighting pit. Bloodstained sand beneath my boots.

A familiar figure stepped out of the shadows.

"O?" My voice cracked

Octavia crossed her arms.
"What are you doing here?" She asked

"I just...I just have to stay ahead of her. If I can hide-" I start

"You're good at that, aren't you? Hiding while other people fight." She said, her eyes were knives.

"What?" I mutter

"You hid before the war. Set a conclave instead- made me fight so you didn't have to. Then ran from Diyozas war too. You knew deep down it was inevitable, but you blamed me" She said, her voice dripping with poison.

"That's not true. Bellamy was on my side" I said.

"Then why isn't he here in this memory? Because you're too afraid to face him. Because you're too afraid to face him. Because you know he thinks you're a monster who will only ever do what's best for herself" She says

"That is not who I am" I whispered, but the words sounded thin.

Octavia tilted her head, pity in her eyes.
"Why you're arguing with me? After all I'm just a subconscious projection of you" she says

"Warning collision alert"

The alarm again. My stomach twisted.

Josephine stepped through the door away, smiling like a shark.

I spun toward O
"Help me- please" I beg

She sneered.
"Ha. That'll happen." She said

I bolted up the stairs, Josephine's voice echoing after me.

"Even your projections hate you, Diana!" She yelled

The world warped again, the pit dissolving into something else entirely. Another room, another test.

And I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep running.