I was already gargling from the tightening grip on my neck, but still managed to croak out:
Squeeze harder,
And I kicked him in the gut with my boot. The strigoi, clearly not expecting that, staggered back and let go.
We started circling each other like wolves, eyes locked in mutual hatred. He flashed a sneer and said:
I'll drain your mind and find out who you are, what you are—and plenty of other useful things. Science only cares about results, not the methods used to get there. Your monologuing's getting Don't do the villain thing where you lay out your whole evil plan before you fight the heroine and lose. You sure I'm going to lose? – He narrowed his eyes, and suddenly all ten of his fingernails—now grown into brutal claws—launched themselves straight at me.
I froze. Something inside me snapped.
For the first time in my life, I felt like death wasn't just flirting with me—it was ready to grab a drink and settle in.
I panicked, of course. Deep down, I'm a total coward, terrified of The End. Life hadn't exactly been generous to me, but it was mine, damn it. And I wasn't ready to hand it over.
And then… I got mad. Mad at my own limits. I'd almost conquered Time itself—it barely left a mark on my body anymore—and now I was supposed to lose to Death?
Time must've heard me—and panicked. It slowed down.
I could feel every second, stretch it, mold it like warm wax. I realized this was it—the kind of moment where people break through barriers they never thought they could pass.
Jump! - Said a voice that was very much two voices, and very much my mother's. Just a little – Came Julia's soft tone, immediately drowned out by my dear nephew: Try, Ali! You have It's easy! – Kim, Phoenix, and so many others I'd known through this long, weird life joined the choir.
Maybe I was in a battle trance. Maybe all their hopes and memories just broke into my brain and crashed the party. Or maybe—good ol' insanity had finally come home to roost. Who knows.
What I do know is this: ectoplasm started consuming my earthly self, burning it away with ghostly acid, stripping me of what little humanity I had left. But behind it wasn't death. It was something new.
Rebirth.
My bones gave up and disintegrated. I felt free. Nothing held me back anymore—not Time, not Death. Why? Only the Almighty might know… though, let's be honest, this world had its own version of god—and he was actively trying to kill me.