Chapter Text
Charlie – or whoever was pretending to be her – was strange. She wanted to talk to everyone, despite John actively trying to ignore her, and yet seemed to avoid Michael at all costs.
He’d already and an idea of what was happening, but that solidified it for him. As someone carrying an illusion disk on him at all times, he could sense the effects of it on her. It did work on people – he could use himself as an example – but that didn’t seem right.
She hadn’t known how the devices worked properly. She knew what they did, but she wouldn’t have been able to code one to work the way she wanted it too. It takes work to process the image necessary.
Plus, Charlie had always been a bit awkward. This imitation stood with all the confidence she never had.
Michael did the only thing he could do. He followed her. She went to the cinema – well, it used to be. It seemed the building was being remodelled and wasn’t ready just yet to open. She slipped in through the front door, and Michael followed as quietly as he could.
It was a weird maze of hallways he had to follow her down, but he was used to it. He’d lived in the shadows for a long time. He was a silent predator in the dark.
He noticed, though, as they continued walking, her form began to change to something he almost recognised. Taller, orange pigtails, blue eyes- “Circus Baby?” He breathed the name to himself quietly.
Her form fizzed and warped like liquid. She looked like a more human-ish version of Circus Baby. Like she actually had skin instead of plastic casing.
But if she was Circus Baby, then that was, to the very least, Elizabeth’s soul as well. What would Elizabeth be doing posing as Charlie? Better yet, how did she even know Charlie existed?
Michael hadn’t known until after Elizabeth had left him. And her wires had meshed with the others into Ennard. How was she singled out amongst them? Did she go back to the Sister Location? Michael had too many questions and was going to find answers.
The room she finally entered had a man in a wheelchair that Michael recognised on sight. Even if he was missing an eye and his hair. Even if his skin was a different colour. Even if he was scared beyond living. Michael knew who that man was.
Elizabeth had found him, or maybe he found her, either way; they were working together.
Michael debated what to do in his head. Then he came to a conclusion. He sucked in his breath and stepped out of the shadows.
They were sceptical, it made sense, but they let him start working with them. They were trying to transplant William’s body bit by bit into a robotic prosthetic made of the remains of the originals. Of the children.
Michael spoke to Elizabeth, properly now. He asked questions. Calculated ones, to make sure that he got the answers he wanted without anyone getting suspicious. He helped her keep her front in front of the others.
This plan could turn out bad in too many ways- His subconscious liked to remind him. He could ruin so much of what he’s worked for. His semi-friendship with John. Whatever possible relationship that could happen with Carlton. What trust Jessica and Marla had in him. He could lose everything.
He ignored it though, as he did most of his life, and kept going. Life means sacrifice – and right now, his goal was to save his sister from the man who’d ruined their lives. No matter what he’d have to lose.