Lauris stared at her identical self in both fascination and confusion. They both opened their mouths at the same time before closing it.
"Well, this is awkward."
The two stared at Marie in disbelief.
Marie snorted. "What? You guys may be long lost identical twins or whatnot, but I think an introduction might help."
Lauris nodded. She stared at her mirror self. "Uh, nice to meet you. I'm Lauris Maltikata, an IT consultant."
Her other self frowned. "We have the same name."
Lauris bit her lip. "Do you think the twins have anything to do with this?"
Other Lauris froze. "So, you know of them."
Lauris tilted her head.
Other Lauris sighed. "The twins gave each of us different pieces of information. You are one of the last to arrive."
Marie wrinkled her brow.
"How do you know this?"
Other Lauris turned around and began to walk towards the store. "Come in. There are others. Apparently, there should be one-hundred and fifty of us in total."
Lauris and Marie looked at each other. Other Lauris stopped.
"You don't need to come if you don't want to. However, there is apparently an expert in our group. She doesn't want to reveal what she knows until all of us get together. I think we all deserve an explanation, don't you think?"
Lauris pursed her lips. She glanced at the door. If all goes wrong, she could at least try to escape. The woman nodded. "Alright."
Other Lauris exhaled. "Wonderful. Now let's see why we're in this shitty situation in the first place."
Marie snorted. She looked at Lauris. "Well, I guess the same name does not equal the same personality."
Lauris sighed.
The three walked towards the store. Other Lauris stopped as they stood at the door.
"Before we go in, I suggest we don't go to the Wrecked Side. There's a Boundary"
Lauris glanced at her left, once more noting the strange contrast between broken and brand new.
"A what??"
Other Lauris sighed. She picked up a fallen leaf and cautiously approached the side, hopping away as the leaf trembled in mid-air before bursting into flames.
Marie and Lauris stared.
Other Lauris shook her head. "I don't even know how you guys survived."
Lauris pursed her lips.
Other Lauris slid open the door, revealing a large variety of people crammed into half of the store.
Lauris noticed how more than a few people had copies of themselves, milling around and confused. Marie just gaped.
The crowd parted as a woman in a plain grey blazer walked up. She scrutinised the group with her cold blue eyes. "Feel free to introduce yourself to the group. Once that's done, we shall begin the explanations."
Lauris and Marie looked at each other. Marie shrugged and walked forward. "I go by the name of Marie. Marie Lemocks."
Lauris watched as the crowd buzzed.
"No way."
"Didn't she die?"
Lauris frowned as Marie sauntered towards the crowd. Glancing at the woman, Lauris stepped forwards. "Lauris. Lauris Maltikata."
YOU ARE READING
Perception (ONC 2021)
Mistério / SuspenseForewarning. This was my first time doing a paranormal kind of story so it is VERY rough around the edges. If you can tolerate a confusing plot that goes somewhere but nowhere at the same time....Well feel free to read. The Face Carver; that was the...
