Spectrophobia

14: Inside-Out

Ray sat exhausted on the couch - watching the investigator run around the house, throwing every bit of safety protocols he had for this situation. He knew he should've probably assisted him in his work, but he was stuck in the strings of his fatigue.

"Don't you worry, you rest there for now; I'm fine."

The investigator assured him before moving back into the kitchen.

Ray had no clue how the investigator somehow knew all of these things. They had only just met and somehow he could easily read him like a fucking book. He couldn't really be that predictable? The investigator returned to his spot, kneeling on the floor and returning his items back in the briefcase. Including the bag of white powder.

"What is that? Flour? Crack?"

The investigator looked at Ray and chuckled lightly. His smile was quite handsome on his young face.

"No, this I call a 'Ground Blessing'. It's made of different mineral components and an incantation which I put in it myself."

Ray looked at him with bewilderment, but decided not to press him for more.

"Okay, I can see you have taken the precaution to block every reflection you can see. That's good. One less thing for me to do."

The investigator looked around at all the boarded up windows and mirrors. Evan small shiny objects were hidden away. He seemed quite satisfied with Ray's work.

"Now," - he spun around so quickly, Ray almost missed it - "take me to the mirror."

...

There they stood.

The darkened hallway lit with candles along the ground. Raymond had done the job of bringing every candle back to life to finally purge that taunting blackness. The mirror was visible in the light. The towel on the ground once again. It was now normal for Ray to see it there.

The investigator swiftly walked up to the object and stared directly into it. No fear shown whatsoever. Ray admired his courage. Or foolishness. Or maybe since he had done the job for so long, he had seen his fair share of the shit that happens. He wondered how long the investigator had done this job; he was indeed quite young.

"Longer than you know," - the investigator replied, tracing his fingertips on the patterned frame.

"Could you stop doing that?"

The investigator looked at him.

"Doing..?"

"That! The.. the 'reading me and somehow knowing what I'm thinking and everything about me' shit."

The investigator gave a small smile.

"Old habits never die - my apologies."

The investigator now remained deep in thought as he pressed his face closer to the mirror, peering at it from every angle - feeling its surface and smooth edges. He pushed the rim of his glasses closer to the bridge of his nose.

"Hm, I'm gonna have to look into this much deeper. Ray, do me a favour."

Ray perked up - "uh, yes?"

"Don't freak out."

Before Ray could question him any further, the investigator places his finger tips on the glass at arms length. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes. To Ray, it looked as if he had fallen asleep; he looked so calm.

He opened his eyes.

His once sharp eyes now drained of them. Milky and white, no pupils. As if he had suddenly turned blind. The air seemed to vibrate around his lean physique. After a couple moments of this strange act of staring - the investigator blinked. His eyes returned to normal and he removed his fingers.

Ray was baffled - even frightened of that random supernatural event.

"What.. what did you do?"

"I went Inside-Out."

He didn't further explain. Ray didn't really want to know anyway.

"Yeah, the mirror has Split. That means that something on the other side has found its way here."

"I'm sorry.. I-I don't follow."

"What I mean is, something on the place called the 'Other Side' has found its way to this side. It's a rare thing to happen, but it happens. Seems like it's been trying to Split for a while now."

The investigator rubbed his fingertips together. As if he could still feel the smoothness of the mirror at his touch.

"I'll need to see what's in there. For this I recommend you leave the room. Your mind is fragile and an easy target to anything inside of here. Go wait on the couch."

Ray nodded - more than happy to leave this crazy situation.

"Oh, and Ray?"

He turned.

"If you, by any chance, happen to hear any kind of sound coming from here - block your ears. Immediately."

He slowly nodded, growing more confused by the second.

He walked down the stairs.

...

Five minutes passed by.

So far, Ray had not heard anything from the mirror, which was a great relief. He held his crossed arms across his chest - his anxious thoughts rolling in his mind like an oncoming tsunami.

It was evident that this young investigator knew exactly what he was doing. But he wondered how long he could trust him - if at all. Though he had helped Kyle and his family with their shitty predicament.

Ray was more worried about the reflection. So far this was the longest amount of time he had not seen it. Not even a glimpse. Perhaps - thanks to the investigator and Ray's work - he had been temporarily hidden from them. Ray hoped this was the case. Not the fact that this malevolent entity was waiting for them right now.

Waiting for their backs to turn so it can strike.

Ray shuddered.

He didn't want anyone else's life on his hands. He had already caused so many deaths. Those policemen, that poor doctor. His brother. It had been such a shit week for him.

He pulled his knees up to his chest - like a small child. Hugging them for that small amount of comfort he needed. He hated feeling young, hated feeling like a child. But now he couldn't help it.

Ray suddenly felt a small hand touch his shoulder and he jumped.

Turning around - he found the hand to belong to the investigator. Who now held his hands up in a sort of surrender. Maybe an apology. The investigator moved around from behind the couch and sat beside him. Ray: who still hugged his knees staring at the ground with a dismal expression.

"I know the shit you've gone through. I know how you feel. But now I'm here to help you - and I need to know that you are willing to listen. That way we can help each other out."

Ray moved his glance onto the investigator. His once sharp eyes had turned softer, more sincere and sympathetic. It seemed this paranormal investigator had many sides to him. Many sides Ray would never see.

He nodded at him.

The young man held his hand - squeezing it gently. Ray hadn't felt this in a long time. It made him feel much more comforted. Even expelled those dark thoughts momentarily.

"Okay. We've done a good job securing the house - though for this bastard, I'm not sure how long it can stand..."

The investigator seemed to fade off into the blue. Slowly reeling himself back into reality.

"...but I do know there is nothing else in that mirror. Which is a goddamn relief. And I now know what it is that is terrorising you."

Ray let his knees drop, his hand starting to grip tighter onto the investigators'.

"It is what I call a Doppelgänger."