Rick stared at the girl wearing his wife's clothes. What was she talking about? She was his wife? Was she insane? She didn't look anything like his wife.
"Ah, another chance to use it," another girl said upon seeing Rick, as she walked into the room. In her arms, she was carrying a black tattered dress and something red. "I found something more suitable for you to wear."
"Good. I hate these clothes," said the girl who claimed to be Susanne.
"Another chance to use what?" Rick asked. "What's going on here? Where's my wife? I know she's here. I saw her car out front."
The first girl smiled towards the second one. "He still doesn't believe."
"Believe what? That you're my wife? That's ridiculous. Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Of course not," the second girl said, stepping closer.
Rick stared at her, realizing for the first time that she looked exactly like the girl who yanked him inside the house. And they both looked like that girl Sydney, the one who died three years ago. How many twin sisters did that girl have?
"But you will soon believe," the first girl said.
Behind him, Rick heard the pounding on the door stop. His daughter must have given up. But he was sure that she was currently trying to find a way to get him out. All he had to do was stall. Just humor these two weirdos to give Lisa enough time to save him.
The first girl turned and grabbed the dress and accessories from the second girl and headed off to apparently change clothes. What was the point in wearing Susanne's clothes if she was just going to change again right away? Not for one second, even with evidence at hand, did Rick think that the girl was telling the truth, that she really was his wife. He just figured that she was messed up in the head.
"Now that we're alone, or more alone than before, let me introduce myself. My name is Brenda Sydney Williams. And that lovely young woman in there ..." she said, pointing towards the room that the first girl entered. "... is Susanne Sydney Williams. Yes, she used to be your wife. And in a way, she still is. She has all of Susanne's memories, thoughts and desires. But it's all mixed in with Sydney's. More than anything, she wants to be Sydney. She wants to act like Sydney, talk like Sydney, dress like Sydney. Her original persona is still there, but Sydney's is for the most part dominate."
"You mean my wife has some sort of split personality?"
"Not split," Brenda/Sydney explained. "It's a merging."
"Whatever it is, reverse it," he demanded.
"Reverse it? Why would I do such a thing like that?" She turned and grabbed a black case. "In fact, I'm planning on continuing it. With you." She opened the case and took out an ugly old bronze medallion. Rick's eyes went wide. It was the medallion that Lisa told him about! For the first time, he started to believe everything that Lisa told him. But now it was too late.
"Keep that thing away from me!" he yelled. "I know what it is. It's the Medallion of Zulo. It's what you used to turn my wife into Sydney."
"So, you finally believe, huh?" he heard the voice of someone else. He turned and saw Susanne/Sydney. She was dressed in a black tattered gothic dress, a blood red under-bust corset, and black heeled boots. Around her neck was a black gothic necklace. As his wife, she would have never worn anything like that. She'd consider it too freaky.
"Susanne, honey. You have to put an end to this," Rick pleaded. "You're still Susanne, right? You can still think for yourself."
"Yes, I can still think for myself. But I think that being Sydney is the best thing for me. And the best thing for you too." She nodded towards Brenda/Sydney.
Rick turned and watched Brenda/Sydney approach him, holding the Medallion of Zulo in her hand.
