They're persistent. Wheedling. Again, they'll pretend to be submissive now, follow her commands, but they don't mean it and won't follow it; it's just a ploy to try to get her into their hands -- where they'll break her gem and force her back into the mirror. Both voices tumbling in her head are in agreement on this; they're loud, badgering, reminding her that every moment she's wasting time, putting herself in danger . . .

Her shoulders tense, fists balling, a shudder rippling through her until her head whips fiercely from side to side in refusal.

"Leave me alone!"

Silver strands spike forward from the waves, racing towards Connie and 3. As they surge forward, they grow, re-shape . . . until they're versions of both girl and squid themselves, glaring back at their fleshy equivalents, lashing out with their fists.