Chapter Eleven: Fracture Fight
Killian
Now.
This was his chance.
Killian lunged forward and grabbed Gibson by the collar.
The moment he touched him—
his skin felt wrong.
Not cold.
Not warm.
Just… incomplete.
"You're not him!" Killian snapped.
The thing didn't resist immediately.
It just looked at him.
Studying.
"You're learning fast," it said quietly.
Killian didn't hesitate.
He swung.
The impact landed—
but not like hitting a person.
It was like hitting something that hadn't decided what it was yet.
The "Gibson" staggered slightly.
Then smiled.
"Pain is… inefficient."
Killian hit him again.
Harder.
Again.
Again.
Each hit made the form flicker more.
Distort.
Break.
"Then why do you react?" Killian growled.
Silence.
Then—
"You are interfering with the structure."
Killian paused.
Just for a second.
That was all it needed.
The thing grabbed his wrist.
Fast.
Too fast.
And suddenly—
Killian couldn't move.
Gibson
He felt that.
Killian.
Fighting.
"No… you're making it stronger…" Gibson whispered.
The collapsing world around him slowed.
Not stopping—
but stabilizing.
The presence shifted again.