Over the Edge
"You know I'm right!"
The words stung Pia. While the other was prowling back and forth in front of her, she had fixed her gaze on her clenched hands. Her jaw began to ache with tension.
"I made mistakes. They were right to criticize me."
She could hear an angry snort. A bang made her flinch. She only looked up briefly to see the chair, which had apparently just crashed into the wall, tip over. She quickly returned her gaze to her hands.
"So what? And if so. Still, it is not their right to ask you if you are too stupid! Whether you have to be instructed! That you are not suitable for this job, which they do oh so perfectly. Shit on those misappropriating and insidious word twisters. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone deserves the chance to learn from them. "
"Correct!"
Pia jumped up and stared angrily at her counterpart. The sight of the black eyes, fangs, and claws froze her for a moment. But she gathered her courage.
"That's why we can't do what you suggested. I'll work on myself and show myself worthy of a second chance. Show them that I can do better .."
Her eyes flicked to the window, behind which she could see an office.
People were standing there talking. Their company party was still going on.
"You stupid child", the other threw her head back with a laugh, "Hell, even if you lie on the floor in front of them whimpering and they trample you down, you still believe that you have to protect their rights. They give a shit about what you feel and think. And they don't give a shit whether you do everything perfectly or not. They are not worth of even thinking of them as humans. Ask yourself, do you really think they are give shit if you really go nuts and throw yourself out the window? "
Pia could feel her arms starting to tremble. She was tired. The criticism had exhausted her. She couldn't do anything right. Somebody always found something to improve on. She couldn't hear it anymore.
"Don't you dare to give up," hissed her counterpart.
"What should I do then?"
Have you heard? The one from the department cost the company money again. What an idiot.
Pia clenched her fists. That wasn't even her fault! Why did nobody say anything.
"Come on!"
A hand was put on her arm and slowly ran it up to her neck. She could feel the claws against her skin.
"I'm so hungry. Let me go. Let's end this theater. I know your thoughts, you want to use my powers. You want your revenge. Let's tear them apart until their intestines adorn the ceiling and floor."
She heard an excited gasp in her ear. Pia shuddered. The memories of fresh blood in her mouth came back. It was tempting. Beguiling. She caught her tongue running hungrily over her lips. The other laughed happily. She knew that she had already won. With one leap she burst through the window.
Pia felt her hands changing to a claw in the moment she released the other. Her eyes went black and with a satisfied grin, she reached for the door next to her and locked it. Nobody would ever leave this room alive again.