Spectrophobia

16: The Only Way

(Gore content)

The reflection. The start and end to all of Ray's problems.

Ray and the investigator now sat on the living room floor, facing opposite each other. The spoon was polished by the young man and tightened to the body of a candle. Its face towards Rays'.

"Okay. What I want you to do, is call the reflection. To do this, you must think and acknowledge its existence. However, as soon as you see it there, I want you to close your mind as best as you can."

Ray peered up at the investigator.

"What if I can't do that?"

The investigator shrugged.

"Then I would have to go Inside-Out and draw the reflection to my mind. It'll hurt like a bitch, but better me than you."

Ray swallowed the lump growing in his throat. Why would the investigator risk himself for someone like him?

After he found the investigator was no longer reading his thoughts, he began to focus on the spoon. Following his instructions, he stared at his warped reflection in the spoon and thought of that goddamned reflection in there.

Nothing happened. The investigator was patient. His eyes only on the candle stick.

"What happens when he comes out?"

"Then I will do the rest from there - focus."

Ray turned his gaze back to the spoon.

Then, there it was. That beaming demonic face that had frightened him all week. Had tormented the life out of him. This Ray smiled back at him - hungrily, ready to eat him up.

'Hello, Ray'

It's voice. Deeper than Ray's; but his. It echoed like there were more than one Ray talking at once. The investigator sat up straighter, catching Ray's frightened eye and nodded reassuringly at him. Telling him to stick with the plan. Ray did his best to shut his mind. Ignoring this being and thinking of something else entirely.

'That won't help you, Ray. There is no stopping me'

He continued to ignore him. This only seemed to further frustrate the reflection.

'I know what is inside of your mind. I know what your father was. I know everything'

Ray froze.

The investigator noticed - "Ray, close your mind, now!"

He was stuck in a daze. A daze he could not control. He slowly turned his head to the grinning reflection - who's smile seemed to grow as he did so.

"You know nothing.."

The words didn't sound like they were coming from him.

"Ray.. Ray, stick to the plan. Ignore him - shut your mind!"

The investigator's words were thrown over his head.

'Oh, but I do. I know what he did to you. Every night in your bedroom. I know how he hurt you. I know how he killed your mother'

Ray only now seemed to realise how this reflection was trying to gain his attention. Gain control of him. He closed his eyes and tried to shut his mind once again. But the memories. They were persistent - running through his mind like molten lava.

He whimpered. He could hear the shushing coming from the investigator, reassuring him that everything was fine. But it wasn't.

It began to laugh. That fucking laugh.