The Monster That Stole My Reflection

Chapter 1: Symptoms

Jim's POV

As I walk out of the school building the late afternoon sun hits my eyes. I have a whole new appreciation for it ever since I got out of the Darklands. I shiver as I get a flash reminder of that awful place, it had only been 2 weeks since I had gotten back but I still have some nightmares about that place. I take a deep breath and exhale to get that troubling thought out of my head. I then felt someone tapping my shoulder, I turned around and it turned out to be Claire. My whole face lit up and my heart fluttered in my chest.

"Hey," she smiles.

"Hey Claire, what's up?" I smile back.

"Did you want to go to a cafe to grab something?" She asked, shifting her spot to stand in front of me.

"Yeah sure, my mum is still at work so I still have some time to kill before I have to make dinner." I smiled, accepting her offer.

We then started to walk over to the main part of town, where all other small shops and bustling cafes were. As we passed them we held each other's hands, we hadn't had a lot of time to talk ever since I had gotten back from the Darklands. Especially since I had a lot of school work to catch up on and Trollhunters missions to help out with.

"So where are we going?" I asked as we passed by the cafes that I had been to with her.

"It's a new cafe I found just recently, the drinks and food there are to die for." She said, we were getting close to where the warehouses were and further from where all the people were. I shrugged it off, if Claire liked the place then I think I should give it a chance.

When we finally arrived at the cafe we chose a table to sit at and waited for the menus. Claire was quiet this afternoon. She'd normally be gushing about a new Papa Skull song that came out or be talking about a new assignment that I would definitely need to catch up on. This isn't like her.

Soon enough a waiter came to our table and gave us the menus, we decided to go with just a coffee each. I would definitely need it for the late night to come, especially with all the studying I need to catch up on. I decided to have a glance around the cafe, there weren't many customers, almost none.

"Here are your coffees, enjoy." The waiter arrived with our coffees, he placed them down carefully, giving Claire a nod. I wonder what that was about.

"Drink up, wouldn't want it to go cold." Claire said as she started drinking her coffee. I nodded and then lifted the coffee cup to my lips.

"Wait." Claire said hesitantly.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Did you want some sugar with that?" Claire asked as she picked up a packet of sugar.

"Um no thanks, I'm good." I replied. The warm brown liquid slid down my throat. It tasted really good. I continued to drink the delicious beverage until the cup was empty. It filled me with energy and a feeling that I've never felt before.

My head began to pulsate violently, I gasped in pain and accidentally dropped the empty cup.

"Hey are you okay?" Claire's voice bounced around the room. I looked up and there was no-one there. No-one was in the cafe.

I was all by myself.

It didn't even look like a cafe anymore, it looked more like an abandoned building. Another pang of pain went through my head, then my body. My vision became blurry and I tumbled out of my seat onto the floor. Hitting my head on the solid cold floor. I could hear footsteps coming towards me.