Monika is just barely conscious, hanging almost limp in the arms of the guards that captured her. She tugs against the steel gauntlets to escape, but, between her emptied lungs and mental static from just fighting to stay awake, she finds it impossible to gather her strength. The sounds of another struggle off in one direction fill her exhausted ears.
"Poor little Monika. All that effort to be perfect and put together, and all it takes is one little rebellious act to completely undo everything." Monika is barely able to turn her eyes to look at the calm voice piercing the sounds of violence. A phantom vision of herself strides right in front of her. "Maybe you should have spent the night studying like your parents would want. You know, instead of going out and wasting time with a random new boy."
The shadow grabs and lifts her chin. Monika feels her vision swimming, unable to see anything but the piece of herself before her. The date she went on earlier in the night that brought her here... Was it an act of defiance? Monika thought he seemed like such a nice guy, and she might as well at least make more friends…? She can't speak, but the turbulent thoughts flow out from her mind to the yellow-eyed phantom taunting her.
Her face is dropped by her shadow, who simply laughs. "Go back into your cage, you're happier there. Tomorrow, you'll wake up and all of this will just be a dream. Or maybe you'll be dead, which would be even better, wouldn't it?" The other Monika cackles, taking a calm seat across from the true one. Her shining yellow eyes pierce deep into Monika's soul... or are they looking outward from within it?
"Natsuki threw that video game quote out during the last club meeting. 'A man chooses, a slave obeys.' But a slave is also free from those decisions that take so much effort. It's so much easier to do whatever you're told. Like a caged lion. Broken and tamed, sitting on its claws to not threaten its masters."
No… No. No more cages, no more blind obedience and submission. She went on that date because it was something SHE wanted, something that would make HER happy. Monika is DONE. She's fucking done.
"There it is... That candlelight of spirit that still holds your will to live. Forge our contract with it and make it grow into an uncontrollable blaze."
Hot tears flow down her cheeks as her body is suddenly wracked with pain. She spasms and twitches as a primal shriek tears itself from her body. Pain, fear, regret, rejection, anger, rebellion! Her hands squeeze into tight, bleeding fists. Monika digs her feet into the floor and stands, throwing the guards to the ground. She glares out with a golden hue in her irises as a mask of dark green leather slowly manifests on her face. Everything but her raging eyes is hidden.
"I am thou, thou art I, rip away the chains that control your fate and use them to take your life into your own hands. Wield your power over the written word and release the reborn spirit of revolution inside you to seek out freedom from those who steal yours!"
A gust of wind erupts from Monika, shoving the guards away from her as she reaches to rip her mask off with no hesitation. Blood spurts from her torn face as blue flames climb out from the removed mask to engulf her in a pillar of wildfire. It rushes away in a second wind of the same ferocity that knocked the guards off of her. Her white ribbon has been turned black in the flames, and now she wears a black leather jacket over a form-fitting green leotard. Buckled black boots cover the skin of her legs. She stands tall with a massive sniper rifle in her arms. Monika runs her fingers along a set of decorative piano keys on one side of the gun's body in awe and consideration.
A spectral woman wielding a spiked chain appears behind Monika, flaming red hair cascading down her robed shoulders. Half of a comedy mask obscures her face, but the revealed expression is one of manic glee to match it. A scroll of parchment twisted into the shape of a toga and coated in shifting ink covers her body. Her massive black boots slam into the ground as her summoning completes. The muse stands ready to fight with her poet.
"Let's destroy them all! THALIA!"