00:49:00
Beyond the Red Door lay a room of pure glass. Every wall, every surface mirrored her endlessly.
And in each reflection, Mason stood beside her, some smiling, some bleeding, some whispering words she couldn't hear.
The real Mason or what remained stepped forward from one of the reflections, pipe still in hand. His skin flickered like film burning in slow motion.
"Isla," he rasped. "You know what happens next."
She shook her head. "No. I can stop it."
He laughed weakly. "You said that every time."
The mirrors began to ripple, each reflection reaching out in unison. Their voices merged into one:
"Switch."
Mason's reflection stepped through the glass and the real Mason fell, lifeless, the timer on his wrist blinking out.
Isla stumbled backward as her own reflection extended a trembling hand.
It didn't smile this time.
It looked afraid.
"Please," it mouthed. "Let me go."
The room began to collapse, glass bending inward like water circling a drain.
Isla reached for her reflection, and for the first time, their hands met.
The world inverted.