Not a Hero

(10) I'm My Own Paralysis Demon

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"Hello, little birdy." a honeyed voice says with seemingly no source.

I turn my head, looking for the speaker, only for my eyes to land on an old-fashioned-looking mirror, which had gold-detailed snakes winding through the frame as well as birds with golden wings taking place at the highest arch. The mirror itself was burned and broken in places, with heat leaking through the cracks.

But what I saw looking back at the mirror was far more intriguing. I knew what I saw in the mirror was me, there were far too many similarities for it not to be, but there were noticeable differences. This reflection seemed older if only by a few years, she seems somber and hurt as if she was looking back and seeing something she'd rather not.

"You have a lacuna." She said stoically.

"A what?" I asked, taking a few steps closer to the mirror.

"A lacuna," She repeated, hesitating for a moment before continuing. "And you won't realize what it is until it's gone."

At her last word the mirror shattered into pieces, falling onto the ground with shrieking rain. I jump back in surprise, eyes darting around the mirror. Movement catches my eye as the once still ornate snakes began to slither through and around the frame, twisted and snapping at the gold-feathered birds.

My eyes went wide, watching them mutilate their prey, swallowing them while before directing their attention to me. The snakes began hissing and moving closer to me as if they intended to swallow me next.

I stumbled backward, kicking snakes as they came too close for my liking. Before I could process it, I felt a smooth but cold body wrap around my neck. Gasping for air I pulled on its body, ignoring the painful and sharp bites it gave in return. I fell back, gagging from the lack of air, still kicking away the closer snakes.

My back hit the ground, knocking all the remaining air from my lungs. I gasp sharply, noticing the snake's disappearance and the changing scenery. I was back at the lab, during the fire. Warmth spread across my skin, burning every inch with its uncomfortable grasp.

 "You're just a scared, weak little kid." The voice echoed through my ears. My head whirled around, looking for the person I saw before. 

I stood up, spinning in a circle, looking for the voice. "I should know! I'm you!"

I felt a force hit my chest, sending me stumbling back. "I know every fear!"

Another force hit me, striking me across my face. "Every dream!"

"And every nightmare." The force hit me again but harder, sending me backward into the floor.

I fell to the ground, once again landing on my back. I sat up quickly, heaving my chest as I wasted no time scanning the darkroom. Finding my voice I decided to call out. "You don't know anything about me!"

"I know you're afraid of being alone." The voice echoed, wrapping around me taunting.

Before I could reply, the room expanded, replicating a street. Almost instantly a person walking by caught my eye.

"Peter!" I yelled, running up to him. I reached forward to grab his hand, desperate for help. As my fingers went to touch his skin, I was stunned to watch my hand fall through his, as if he didn't exist.

"I also know, you're afraid of being forgotten." The street flew by, blurring until it changed into a cemetery. In front of me stood a lone grave, covered in moss and dirt.

The only words written on it were 'Unknown'. I closed my eyes, unable to look at it. "You're scared that one day, you'll die and nobody will care!"