The Fake's Root of Sickness [Infinite]

#The previous version fell apart, so I'm restarting with a major change to the characters and tone. If you don't want to read it, please click away in the top left. Thank you, everyone (bows).

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[The Beginning]

Wu Xuanting fell from a building on March 21, 20XX, aged fifteen.

Everyone said kids these days couldn't handle pressure. But after attending her own funeral, she looked at the other [her] standing before the tombstone, her feelings complicated.

"...Did I do something to you?"

"This world is sick. Saving it requires necessary sacrifices." Beneath a black umbrella, the other girl spoke with self-righteous solemnity, and then...

Her fifteen-year-old self slapped her.

"What the hell are you babbling about? I don't get it. I feel like hitting someone."

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[The Future]

The world's sickness came from fear and nightmares. Countless evil thoughts gave birth to an even greater nightmare. People would fall asleep forever in their dreams, and her future self would lead them through the long night, breaking their dreams and reaching the light.

But this girl didn't want to save the world anymore. She just wanted to die.

"If you won't live, I'll live. If you won't save them, I will."

And so the fake savior charged in, brandishing a knife and shouting about revival tickets and bonds.

Wu Ting: ...

Youth is great. All brawn, no brains.

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[Nightmare]

The nightmares would never disappear, and she would never die. Wu Ting's nightmare was a raging sea of blood and ash, while Wu Xuanting was the boatwoman who appeared as the waves subsided. She rode the waves, pulled her from the sea of blood, and led her out of the darkness.

"I found the root of the sickness."

"Let's go. We'll head toward tomorrow."

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#A tearfully remorseful, fragile little crybaby warrior x an world-weary, self-destructive, emotionless, completely insane girl

[Highlight: They're doppelgangers! They look exactly alike!]

Warnings: Not exactly a power couple; only Ting can fight (?). The story is pretty stream-of-consciousness, so if you don't understand it, that's on me (sad). Includes elements of cosmic horror and Chinese horror, with a mishmash of mythology from various sources. Not for readers who want rigorous research.

Theme: Cherish life