Split Personality

The woman strode along the city street, her body clothed in garments that flatteringly concealed it. She was called Milli, short for 'Millicent', and worked as a researcher for a small publishing company. Staggering as a trio of lorries thundered past, clutching at her dress to stay modest, Milli blinked as the image of a man being pushed from a moving train flashed through her mind.

Milli had been having such flashes for a while, considered seeking help for them. Other things had always come up though, usually an author needed help, and she shook her head to clear it. After self-consciously glancing around she resumed walking back to her apartment building and soon spotted its neglected brickwork nestling among taller constructs.

Another resident was leaving as she entered the building, jostling her. With a clatter her handbag fell to the floor, contents spilling out, and Milli dropped to her knees, reaching for everything that had escaped. She froze as her hand closed around a pistol's grip, it felt right in her palm, but she had never seen it before, had no idea what it was doing in her handbag. Hastily she shoved it out of sight, straightening and hurrying for the nearest elevator.

She slammed the door of her apartment shut after entering, the sound triggering another flash. This time it was of a woman's neck as it snapped, eyes wide with surprise. A wave of nausea overcame Milli and she dashed for the bathroom, hunching over the toilet.

***

When Milli straightened again, dabbing her lips with a tissue, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. For a split second she didn't recognize herself. She couldn't see herself in the hard features, in the cold eyes. But then the image was gone and Milli was herself again, thoughtful frown smoothing away.

Heading back into the main chamber Milli pulled the pistol from her handbag, examining it. Her fingers curled knowingly around the grip, she still couldn't shake how correct it felt, but a skittish part of her mind shied away from holding the weapon. The chirping of her phone bought her back to reality, she dropped the pistol back into her handbag as she grabbed for the phone.

The voice on the other side of the call murmured a single word, a code that reached deep into Milli's mind. The mousy researcher was gone, a stern assassin in her place. She listened impassively as the voice continued speaking, face showing no expression, but swayed unsteadily after the call ended.

She made her way to her wardrobe, reaching in to activate a switch on its back panel. Wood slid out of place to reveal a hidden compartment occupied by a gun rack and a tight-fitting jumpsuit. She could smell the gunpowder, doubling over as a spasm ripped through her. Milli stared in horror at the weapons, the barriers between her personalities crumbling, and she dropped to her knees, reaching for a gun before inserting it between her lips…