Kate has to sacrifice something or someone in order to save the world. What is she forced to sacrifice? (Other than her greatest memory when she needs to restrict the outbreak. What is a sacrifice that would destroy her?)
“Give me a second!”
“Come on now, Katie,” the thing in the elvhen mirror coaxed mockingly. “Is this really the legacy you want to leave? You were offered the chance to save everyone, your patients, your friends, your lover, and you have to take a minute to decide whether it’s worth it?”
Kate breathed hard, a sharp pain of anxiety coagulating in her chest, her fingers shaking so hard it felt like throbbing. “You seem awfully eager to convince me that it’s a good trade,” she spat breathlessly. “No offense, but that gives me some pause.”
“It’s really very simple. You give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you want.”
“Ah yes, for three easy payments of my whole fucking physical independence, the world could be saved, come to Assholes in Magic Mirrors for all your discount needs.”
“There’s no need to be rude now. If that’s how you feel, I’ll happily rescind–”
“No.” She choked on a sob, but it sounded like a hiccup. A fucking pathetic hiccup. “God fucking damn you, no.”
If shadows in mirrors had faces, which they ought to but apparently don’t, this asshole would be leering at her with a triumphant grin. “I’ll give you a final few moments with yourself. Don’t worry. I’m sure your pretty Commander will be happy to look after you for however long you live.”
A scream burst from her throat. Wet, thick tears ran down her cheeks, snot poured from her nostrils, spittle flew from between her lips. She maintained enough control to keep the “no” off of her tongue, but every fiber of her being begged for another end, another choice.
Her last thoughts while in control of herself should have been of how much she loved her family, but all her mind was a wordless swirl of panic.
