"You heard me"
It's grin mocked me, it was annoying but hearing what it said I could not help but think..
'is it really true?'
"It is truly true! But it's up to you if you want to believe me." it replied, clearly this thing can read my mind.
All confusion was set aside; what was left was my desperate attention towards what it said
"Can you… tell me more..?"
I don't care if this is a cruel prank or some sicko just want to see me suffer, if this is a way for repentance then I'll take it
Even if it meant shaking the hands of the devil in front of me
"All you have to do is to go back where it all started, that's all!"
"Is that it? Just go to the cliff? Nothing like going on a random adventure or traveling through dimensions getting what you want?"
My reflection gave a confused look before laughing hysterically afterwards
I turned my head away, my face soured after realizing what I said.
"Oh dear Sentrik, you're quite the comedian as always"
"It is nothing like that at all..."
Then suddenly the atmosphere quickly shifted as the air thickens like fog in a marshland. I felt cold as ice, if I wasn't forcibly calm right now… I would be on the floor shaking.
The reflection stretched its hand out and an arm came out—my reflection's arm, making the mirror look like water, it didn't take long until its torso got out but my body could not move; I was paralyzed from the neck down
"Well… Of course, you have to jump off the same way as what your sister did"
My identical twin gave a taunting smirk while laying its elbows on my shoulder; taking advantage of my paralysis. Putting its hands underneath its chin while snickering to itself.
"Isn't that poetic? Dying the same way as your older sister did…"
It hums.
"I do love it when stories come full circle…"
It swiped my cheek then I felt a sharp pain. It was slicing my skin
"a beginning, a middle… and now, your end!"
It was very giddy, moving away beguilingly giving me one last smile
"Goodluck! you'll need it."
My vision blurs and everything faded to black
By the time I woke up, I was on the tiled floor wheezing; cold sweat ran over my forehead
"A dream?" I rubbed the back of my nape then my head
'No Injuries, that's a relief'
Then I grazed my cheek
"Ow"
Seems like it wasn't a dream after all
Normally any sane person would shake this off as a paranormal event they had experienced or share it with friends on social media to get attention
But I for one who has neither the willingness to brush it off nor having any friends, I became determined to go to the edge of the cliff and fall to my death
Thiis honestly makes me look insane, maybe it's my brain's way of telling me to die as I cannot repent for the sin of killing my sister
"Haaa… I should go prepare"
I stood up and once again stared at the mirror, it was just my reflection. There were no smiling demon whatsoever
Yet I couldn't help but smile as I laughed at what had happened.
'God may have abandoned this sinful me, but I got to dance with the devil in my bathroom mirror'
For the first time I was excited.
Being in this house, being the center of the continuous physical abuse from father and constant mental torture from my mother, I'd go insane if I stay here any longer
I hadn't left since I had no one to help me escape, and even If I did how could I leave my sister behind?
However this time I'll leave this hellhole and find my sister
I walk out of the bathroom, went to my room; grabbed my satchel; shoved in a few belongings, my sketchpad, pencil and eraser, a few chocolate bars, lastly an extra set of flashlight
'It's better to have an extra one just in case I'll lose the other… '
With everything prepped up I grabbed a second flashlight in my hand
Just as I was about to make off out of the front door, a glimpse of a small photo frame caught my eye. It was a portrait of my sister 11 years ago. In the picture she was smiling as she held a white butterfly on her finger.
At that time she was so excited that the butterfly landed on her finger while eating a watermelon, she grabbed my arm and demanded to get her picture taken.
"Now, your portrait's just gathering dust and cobwebs.."
I carefully took out the picture from the frame and slipped it inside my sketchbook to prevent it from being crumpled
Then I set off
"Time to get going."
I hurriedly ventured into the forest, trying to find the clearing where me and my sister would always hang out.
Back around when I was 11, a year after my sister's death I would go out and stand by the cliff where she fell.
I used to get scared going there but little by little I mustered enough courage to visit her. Every now and then I'd visit her again and again without fail to the point I practically knew where the cliff was, like the back of my hand.
Now that I think about it…
I feel like there are some gaps in my memories. There were some instances where I remember going to the cliff then picking up flowers, as far as I know there aren't any flowers that would make up bouquets
But that's not what matters right now. I needed to go to the cliff and I'm sure its 3am now, around this time, rangers might be patrolling the place to ensure no one was lost in the woods.
TWIIIIII!!
I heard the sound of a whistle.
"Shit. They saw me."
I immediately ran towards the cliff's direction, some of the officers caught a sight of me and chased me
"Hey! stop right there!" one of them shouts
Not like I'll twirl at them and stop if I listen. I picked up the pace and ran faster, avoiding a few branches and roots perfectly
"Hey! This is a no entry area! you'll get hurt!" One of the officers were ahead; in front of me, I took a sharp turn
'Dammit, I have to take the other route'
It became a cat and mouse chase, I did my best to avoid their grasps. I already turned off my flashlight a while ago but they kept flashing their lights in my eyes.
They were all around the place from left to right. It was already hard not to get caught but if they see my face I won't be able to come back here.
Why are there so many Rangers here anyways?
After taking the long detour, I was finally here at the cliff. I paused for a moment at the edge.
I could hear them getting louder and louder.
Inevitably I fell backwards while I took a look at them
"NO! DON'T!" they shouted
As I fell I gave them a subtle smile, looking at their reactions; I couldn't help but laugh.
Midway in my fall, a shadow quickly ascended into my view from the cliff giving the same smiling face I saw in my bathroom mirror.
Its tall and slim figure aroused fear, it gave me a mocking grin.
'What's with the look? I know that it's gonna hurt falling on stones bu—'
Before I could finish my sentence something wet hit my head then my entire body was being pulled in a force similar to a whirlpool
And so my view got dark and all fell black.
*
Laughter resounded in the forest as the what were supposedly be rangers suddenly melts into the figure's shadow, the figure was left alone as he looked down from the cliff.
"Oh how exciting…!" An excited voice said as it still cackled
"That was quite reckless of you, but nonetheless... thanks to that, Sentrik have managed to get to the gateway in time."
The tall shadowy figure eventually came into light revealing his features.
Silver white hair glimmered under the moonlight, his seacrest eyes looked down at the cliff while the other eye glowed red. He wore an ecru colored turtleneck with a V neckline tux buttoned up only two times. A gentle yet unnerving smile was shown on his face.
His voice, though sweet and smooth, was to mask the danger beneath.
"Welcome to Secrund, Sentrik"