Page 59 of Ruthless Kings of Obsession

***~GEMINI~***

Consciousness becomes a game of shadows and whispers. I let my body remain limp in Ares's arms, breathing steady and deep as we make our way to the vehicles. Years of training have taught me how to feign sleep perfectly – a skill that's saved my life more times than I can count.

"Take the back route," Hannah directs from somewhere ahead. "I've got the cameras on a loop but we don't need any curious eyes following us."

The night air hits my skin, still warm from the earlier rain. Ares's arms tighten protectively as he navigates what must be stairs or uneven ground. The voices in my head have settled to a dull roar, making it easier to focus on the conversations around me.

"He's really going to be okay?" Domino's voice sounds rough, exhausted. "Zander, I mean."

"Why do you care?" Ares snaps, the movement of his chest betraying how tense he still is. "Planning to finish the job?"

"Ares," Marcus warns quietly. "Not now."

"The doctors say he'll recover," Ren interjects, obviously trying to defuse the tension. "Though he's got a long road ahead. Two bullets did a lot of damage."

The sound of car doors opening, then the subtle shift as Ares slides into what must be an SUV, still cradling me against his chest. The leather seats smell new, expensive.

"You'll both need immediate treatment," Marcus continues, his voice taking on that clinical tone he uses when focusing on medical issues. "The chemical compounds in your systems are highly unstable."

"What compounds?" Domino asks, confusion evident in his voice.

"The ones causing your dissociative episodes," Marcus replies. "Similar to what Eva experiences, though the manifestations appear different."

Similar to what I experience?The thought makes me want to open my eyes, demand answers, but I force myself to remain still.

"You mean the blackouts?" Domino's voice catches slightly. "The times when I... when it feels like someone else is in control?"

"Precisely." The sound of more car doors, the engine starting. "It's a condition my mother studied extensively before..." He trails off, and I catch the slight hitch in his breathing that always comes when he thinks about her.

"Before what?" Ren prompts gently.

"Before the fire," Marcus finishes quietly. "She was close to a breakthrough in treatment. Called it Project Mirror – studying how trauma can fragment consciousness, creating distinct personalities as protection mechanisms."

The car moves forward smoothly, but tension fills the space like smoke. Even through closed eyes, I can feel the weight of unspoken questions.

"Eva has it too?" Domino asks finally. "These... fragments?"

"You've met them, haven't you?" Marcus's voice holds a hint of dark amusement. "Gemini, the survivor. Iva, the innocent. Eva, trying to hold all the pieces together."

"And me?" The vulnerability in Domino's voice makes my heart twist despite everything. "What are my... fragments?"

A long pause fills the car. Finally, Marcus speaks: "That's what we need to find out. But first, we need to stabilize you both before the chemical interactions cause permanent damage."

"What chemical interactions?" Ares demands, his arms tightening around me protectively. "What aren't you telling us?"

"The drugs in Eva's system from the warehouse, combined with Hannah's stabilizer..." Marcus sighs heavily. "Let's just say we need to get to the recovery center quickly. And Domino needs immediate treatment for similar reasons."

"I haven't taken any drugs," Domino protests weakly.

"No," Marcus agrees. "But whatever triggered your episode with Zander – it released similar compounds naturally. Your body is basically poisoning itself trying to maintain control."

The car accelerates slightly, as if responding to the urgency in Marcus's voice. I focus on keeping my breathing steady, though my mind races with implications.

We're the same, I realize with startling clarity.Both broken in similar ways, both fighting battles in our own minds.

"How long have you known about this?" Ares asks quietly, dangerous undertones in his voice.

"I suspected since we were children," Marcus admits. "But I couldn't be certain until I saw them together tonight. The way they mirror each other's responses, the simultaneous shifts in personality..."

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