Seek: Reflection

Chapter 1

Kye opened her eyes to a slit and looked around her. The world around her seemed to be spinning, perhaps due to the headache she was having. Was she sick, she thought. She could not think of any explanation for her to feel so foreign to her own body. Kye's eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light. She looked around her and found herself in a bedroom. It immediately popped into her mind that it was her bedroom. However, to her surprise, she felt distant from the room, awkwardly unfamiliar with it. Even with her brain telling her it was her room, she still felt something was wrong. That was when Kye realised the primary light source was the sun rays that shone into her room from her opened window. The curtains were at the side of the window, swaying along with the wind that blew in. Kye started to adjust to her body as she struggled up and examined her room carefully. Everything in her room felt so familiar yet so foreign. Then, a purring sound startled  Kye. She looked around her cautiously and found a black cat staring at her intently at the end of her bed. Its green eyes seemed to see through her, sending a chill down her spine. 

"Hey, Noir?" Kye said uncertainly. Noir blinked before jumping off Kye's bed elegantly. Meanwhile, a woman pushed open Kye's room door and walked in. A big smile plastered on her face. "Oh dearie, you are awake!" she chirped enthusiastically. Kye narrowed her eyes at the woman. The woman's smile went stiff, and she watched Kye nervously. That was when Kye's brain brought up a word. Mother. Kye furrowed her eyebrows and tried the word.

"Mother?"

The woman's smile returned as she nodded in acknowledgement. Kye stared at her mother for a long while before she put up a fake smile. "Do you want to have your breakfast?" Kye's mother asked. Kye shook her head and replied," No, thanks. I have a headache. Maybe later." Kye's mother cocked her eyebrow, nodding before turning and leaving the room without another word. 

Kye felt a bit surprised when her mother left so coldly. When Kye turned and tried to lay back on her bed, she found Noir sitting on her again, its emotionless eyes staring at Kye. Goosebumps were forming on Kye's hand, as she had no idea when Noir had gotten back on her bed. Fear of Noir crept into Kye. Noir had been her pet cat for a few years, but Kye felt they had just met. The hostility from Noir did not make it any better. Kye reconsidered her thought of staying in her room. Maybe she might as well go to the living room and take her breakfast since her headache had slowly eased and she felt more accustomed to her body (strangely though, shouldn't she be so familiar with her own body, she had used it for the past 18 years). When Kye got up and walked towards the toilet, Noir let out a growl. Kye stopped in her path and turned, finding Noir no longer on her bed. Kye shrugged and shook her head. She sighed at her wild imagination. Stretching her arms, Kye continued her way to the toilet.

"Meow!"

Kye stopped, frozen in her path. She could not believe her eyes. Noir was standing in her path, blocking her way. How could...Kye's thought was interrupted by a furious knocking on her bedroom door. Kye glanced at Noir suspiciously before walking away and opening the door.

When Kye saw the person by the door, she could not help but move a step back. The person was wearing a mask with an enormous smile. The mask covered her whole face except her grey eyes. Those grey eyes were calm though there was something unsettling about those eyes were their depth, so deep and untouchable. Her shoulder-length hair dangled carelessly beside her ears, and her bangs just above her eyes. It took Kye a while before she finally spoke," Anetté?"

Anetté stared at Kye for a while (well, maybe she did not, but Kye could not tell from her drawn eyes on the mask) before replying," Father let me ask you to hurry up." Kye thanked Anetté as her hand reached for the door. However, to Kye's surprise, Anetté put one foot against the door, stopping Kye from closing it. 

Fear crept into Kye. She tried hard to recall if she had any conflict with Anetté, but her brain could not work properly, as her whole brain was filled with Anetté's spooky grin. "Don't be scared. I am not here to harm you." Anetté suddenly spoke as if she could read Kye's mind. A hiss came behind Kye. It was Noir. 

Was it strange for Kye to feel grateful towards Noir? Maybe not. Kye could certainly see that Anetté was scared of Noir as her body went stiff. Kye could hear teeth clattering coming from Anetté. Was it due to anger or fear? Kye was not sure. Anetté's chest rose up and down as she slowly stepped back. 

"I warn you, stay away from the toilet." Anetté's voice came again, more serious this time. Kye could feel her body trembling uncontrollably. Noir seemed to sense it, too, as it crouched into a ready-to-attack pose in front of Kye, bearing its teeth threateningly at Anetté. 

"Trust me. I am not the one you should beware of." Anetté's voice trailed off as Kye slammed her door shut.