Surviving in this Really Messed Up World

Vinny was how should i say literally clinging in to me after giving her a name, it was hella uncomfortable, it still is?!!, Also why the hell am i walking in a creepy monster infested town in a dark and starless night. "How are you even touching me, aren't you like a reflection? or a spectral scythe?"

"I am a part of you, so naturally i can touch you" She said gleefully, like seriously it feels like your long pampered dog never leaving you alone after leaving for an entire year or something.

As i was grumbling, a vague humanoid figure was straight ahead of me, I who does not want to be caught off guard immediately transformed my hands into scythes, well blades i guess. "Come at me Skinwalker or Doppleganger?!"

I shouted wuile i feigned bravery, i was scared shitless. I heard a laugh and the figure then started running towards me. "Ok, Vinny ehat the hell is that…thing?"

Yeah so as i guessed it wasn't human, it was a pure humanoid figure with no face, it was just running,..strangely.

She put a finger on her chin. "It's a Copy cat, it does at it says, it copies your identity flawlessly your.,abilities,strengths,weaknesses,memories and everything,well they gain your identity when they kill you, but they are only limited to copying your abilities and weaknesses otherwise they're just fast, empty shells," Vinny explained, her voice unusually serious for once.

The Copycat sprinted toward me, its featureless face locked onto mine like it could somehow see me despite having no eyes. Its movements were jittery and unnatural, arms swinging wildly as if it was still figuring out how to use them.

"Okay, great!" I said through gritted teeth. "So it's basically a creepy photocopy of me that can shank me to death. Cool, cool, love that for me!"

"Less sarcasm, more stabbing!" Vinny chirped, still clinging to my back like a koala with boundary issues.

I tightened my grip—or whatever the equivalent was when your hands were literally scythes. The itch in my chest flared, sharp and hungry, like something gnawing at my ribs.

The Copycat lunged.

I slashed horizontally, and it barely ducked in time, its head snapping backward with an audible crack. It skidded across the pavement, its faceless head twitching as if it was rebooting.

"Vince, stop holding back!" Vinny hissed near my ear. "You need to let loose! Use me properly, or it's going to pick you apart piece by piece!"

The Copycat cocked its head, then started mimicking my movements—its hands shifting, elongating into jagged, scythe-like blades. My stomach dropped.

"Oh, come on! It can copy that too?"

Vinny sighed. "Yup. I did mention it copies abilities, didn't I? Now go, make me proud—or at least make it entertaining!"

The Copycat sprinted at me again, and this time I pushed off the pavement with everything I had. My legs felt lighter, faster—almost weightless—as I surged forward, scythe-arms slicing through the cold night air.

We clashed.

The sound of metal-on-metal screeched through the alley as our blades collided. Sparks flew, and for a split second, we were face to… well, lack-of-face. Its smooth, blank surface was inches from mine, and I could almost feel its intent—cold, predatory hunger.

"Don't let it match you, Vince!" Vinny barked. "You need to outpace it!"

I gritted my teeth and twisted, dragging one blade down to slice at its midsection. It staggered back, black ichor dripping from a fresh wound.

I didn't let it recover. I pushed forward, slashing, slicing—each swing faster than the last. The Copycat struggled to keep up, its movements growing more erratic as it faltered under the pressure.

Finally, I saw an opening.

With a yell, I swung both scythe-arms downward, cleaving through its torso in a cross-slash. The Copycat froze mid-motion, its form trembling before it collapsed into two uneven halves. Black smoke hissed out from the wounds, evaporating into the cold night air.

I stumbled back, gasping for breath as my scythe-arms slowly morphed back into regular hands. My chest felt hollow, the hunger fading slightly, but not disappearing entirely.

Vinny clapped her hands from behind me, her grin wide and gleaming. "Not bad, partner! Messy, but effective. You might actually survive this night after all."

I collapsed onto the curb, holding my side as a dull ache throbbed where the Copycat had grazed me earlier. "So, are these things just… everywhere? Monsters that can shapeshift, mimic me, eat me, whatever?"

Vinny who was now touching my side then replied. "Yes but there are a few human life forces in this town that are healthy, also use life force to heal your wounds, your a reaper for Deaths Sake?!"

"Are you forgetting something, i just became a quote on quote reaper and i have no survival guide for that" I wanted to pull the ears of this insufferable scythe.

She changed positions and now held my face. "Vince, trust me and yourself, just think of your body as a funnel, you have liquid but where will it go?, feel the life force of the beings you consume and use it"

Now that i have time to admire, this scythe does look cute even if she has sharp teeth l, but then again, she is me so it's natural.

"Hey stop staring at me, it's not good to commit incest"

"….." I turned on my heel and started walking away, trying to pretend like I didn't hear that particular comment.

"Vinny," I said slowly, rubbing my temples, "we are literally the same person. You're part of me. That doesn't even make sense."

She floated alongside me, hands behind her head, that insufferable grin stretched across her sharp-toothed face. "Exactly, Vince! It's all in your head! I'm just you, but cuter and way more useful."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I muttered, kicking a stray rock down the cracked pavement. The dark streets stretched endlessly ahead, the faint smell of rust and decay hanging heavy in the air. "Let's just… find those 'healthy life forces' you mentioned before I lose my mind."

Her black eyes squinted slightly. "Sure"

The town seemed endless. I walked, my feet dragging against the cracked concrete, my mind wandering. The eerie silence pressed down on me, broken only by the soft echoes of Vinny's voice beside me, ever-present and annoyingly chipper.

"Seriously though, Vince," Vinny said, her voice light, "You've got this. You just need to embrace the power that comes with being a reaper. You're Death's hand now."

I snorted, rubbing my arms against the chill that clung to the air. "I'm not sure being a reaper is as glamorous as it sounds. All I seem to be doing is getting jumped by faceless monsters and walking around in a creepy ghost town."

Vinny floated in front of me, her form twirling lazily in the air, a faint trail of dark mist lingering behind her. "That's only because you're not using me to my full potential. You're holding back."

"I'm not holding back," I snapped, my voice sharp, though my words felt hollow. "It's just that, every time I try to think about what the hell is going on, my brain short circuits."

Vinny smirked, a mischievous glint flickering in her eyes. "You think too much. Just let your instincts do the talking."

I groaned, not wanting to think about instincts. I'd rather be fighting a creature I could actually understand than having some ethereal voice inside my head constantly trying to "help" me.

Then, ahead of me, something caught my eye. Movement. Fast. A shadow darting between the broken buildings, barely visible against the pitch-black night.

I froze, my heart pounding, the familiar itch in my chest flaring again. A monster? No, it didn't feel like one. It felt… different.

"Vinny, what the hell is that?" I whispered, taking a step back, my hands automatically shifting into scythe blades again.

She squinted into the distance. "Not sure… but it's definitely not a Copycat. Be careful."

The shadow shifted again, this time closer—too close. I barely had time to react before it lunged at me, faster than I could process, its elongated limbs reaching out, and in a split second, the thing was on me.

It had no face. Just like the Copycat, but it wasn't the same. This one was faster. Stronger. A ripple of darkness formed around its body, and as it reached for me, its hands morphed into jagged claws.

I blocked the strike with one scythe-arm, the force of it almost knocking me off my feet. The thing hissed, its mouth opening wide like a grotesque cavern, and I felt a chill as its breath hit my neck.

"Ok, why don't all of you fucking monsters stop jumping me?!" I said as i felt something burn inside of me.

"…That thing in your soul is reacting, be careful Vince it's almost daytime, just a few more hours of survival" Vinny pumped her hands up in encouraging worry.

I don't like being jumped…is my life this now.