The Face in the Mirror

Chapter Three

All the doctors thought it was a disease.

Of course, that would've made sense. It sure seemed like a disease, if you didn't know what was really happening; my face was pale, my heartbeat slow, my hands trembling. It was an awful parasite, eating me from the inside out.

Well, they were right about one part-- it was a parasite. It just wasn't the parasite they were thinking of-- I'm sure the doctors weren't even considering demons were involved.

It's not like demons make it obvious, leaving traces that what they did was supernatural. They're not idiots. They know they have to make it seem earthly, like it's just a horrible tragedy.

I never told Jasmine what really happened. I never had the heart to; she was always so mournful of the death of such an 'innocent young girl,' saying it 'was random, erratic, and why did it have to happen to her?'

Well, I know why it happened. Demons aren't random. They don't kill for sport. They pick their victims carefully and follow them, studying their every move, and when the time is right-- they invade the body and tear their flesh apart.

I couldn't tell Jasmine how serious this is. She thinks I just died for no reason, but she'd be torn apart if she knew that I died for one purpose--

evil.

If a demon kills you, you're done. There's nothing left for you except loneliness, solitude, and hell on earth. I still don't know why she killed me-- I mean, it's been twelve years, you'd think she'd get what she wanted by now. But she hasn't made her move, hasn't even shown herself to me yet. She has to be somewhere-- if she had been somehow defeated, I wouldn't be here anymore.

I kick a stone absently, still thinking about the hag who killed me. If she'd just show herself, I could end this.

But then where would I be? I've been trapped for so long, I don't know what it's like to be free. Besides, I don't know what comes after being a ghost. Maybe it's nothing. Maybe when I defeat the demon, then I'll be gone forever.

Is nonexistence better than torture?

The next day, when Jasmine comes home from school, I try to get her attention despite our recent fight. Hey, who else am I supposed to talk to?

"Jaassmine!" I call, floating by her on the steps. Nothing.

"Helloooo?" Nada.

"I know you see me."

Jasmine looks at me and swats at me. "Go away! Good Lord, I told you to leave me alone!"

"Well, what do you want me to do all day?"

"Admit you aren't real and stop freaking existing." With that, she storms into her room and slams the door.

Wow. That was rude.

I fly down the stairs slowly, bored and unsure. If there's no more Jasmine...

Then maybe my life will be even worse than it already is.

I hear loud music from Jasmine'a room, and her shouting profanities, probably into her phone. "Just-- God, Lia, I swear I'm gonna freaking do it."

Interesting. I float back up the stairs, making myself invisible. One upside of being a ghost-- if you don't want people to see you, they can't.

I slip through the door and sit by her on the bed, listening to her conversation.

"--that serious. I mean, you're not like some poor kid in an abusive crack house or anything."

Jasmine snorts. "Yeah, my life's worse. Dad is gone, 'surfing the world', looking for ladies to sleep with, and Mom..." She laughs grimly. "Don't get me started on her."