𝔉𝔏𝔄𝔐𝔈𝔖.

EPISODE EIGHT 8:CAMPING

MICHAEL'S POV.
I stood amidst the vibrant dandelions, their delicate petals swaying gently in the breeze, when I saw her - a vision of beauty, skipping towards me with an ethereal grace. Her braids cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night, and her floral dress seemed to bloom with every step. But what struck me most was the uncanny resemblance - she was my twin, my mirror image.

Yet, as she approached, a dark cloud shrouded the sun, and the air grew heavy with foreboding. Her eyes, once bright and warm, turned icy and accusatory. 'Why did you leave me, Michael?' she spat, her voice like a venomous whisper. 'Why did you force me to go out that night?'

I trembled, my heart racing with guilt and fear. 'I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I thought we could have fun together...' My words trailed off, futile against the storm brewing within her.

Her face twisted in a snarl, and she raised her hand, the locket I had given her now transformed into a dagger. 'You should have listened,' she hissed, striking me with a force that sent me tumbling into darkness.

'Mitchell!' I screamed, jolting awake from the nightmare that had haunted me for years. I gasped for breath, my pillow drenched with sweat. I reached for the pill bottle on my nightstand, my hand shaking as I popped the lid and swallowed the familiar comfort. I sat at the edge of my bed, trying to calm the storm within, but the memories lingered, refusing to be silenced."

I'm the type to always get up as early as 4:30 a.m. because I find sleeping eight hours a waste of time. "Get up and get something done," is my motto and also because of my nightmares.

Today, I intend on getting to school late since we're going camping, which I hate. By 7:00 in the morning I'll be ready.

"I sat on my bed, lost in thought, my gaze drifting to the purple bracelet on my dresser. 'It's been a long time since I've worn you,' I whispered, a mix of nostalgia and melancholy washing over me. I hadn't put it on since...since everything changed.

Memories flooded my mind as I picked up the bracelet, its soft purple hue evoking a sense of comfort. I got this when I was just five years old, from a girl in America - a girl with a scar on her neck, a constant reminder of her pain. She would cry whenever she looked at it, and I wanted to help her forget, to feel safe.

I remembered exchanging bracelets with her, a symbol of our newfound friendship and a promise to remember each other. I had hoped it would bring her solace, a reminder of my twin sister and me. But now, the memories it held felt like a burden, a weight I couldn't shake.

I hesitated, my fingers hovering over the clasp. I hadn't worn it in years, afraid of unlocking the floodgates of my past. But something about tonight felt different. Maybe it was the nightmare, or maybe it was the silence of the night, but I felt an overwhelming urge to confront my memories, to face the ghosts I had been running from."

I wore the bracelet and headed downstairs for breakfast. As I descended the stairs, I spotted my dad at the dining table reading a newspaper. "Man, this is not good," I thought to myself. My dad would definitely not let me off easy. I was going to get a quiz from my dad this morning.

"Good morning, papa," I said, settling in for breakfast.

"How are you?" he asked.

"I'm good, thanks," I replied.

He took a sip from his teacup. "How has school been?" he asked, getting started with the questions.

I spotted my mum coming downstairs with the twins in her hands-Marco and Marcus, just above three years old but not yet four. "Good morning, mama," I greeted.

"Good morning, honey," she answered back with a kiss on my cheek. Trust my mom to always do that.

Ten minutes later, my annoying older brother and my extra-annoying younger sister, Marion and Maria, came downstairs for breakfast. They're one of the reasons I go to school early-it really sucks having four siblings. They both settled down for breakfast.