Reality

Chapter 2: Summer

I found myself at the beach with my family, savoring a moment of tranquility. Seven months had passed since those unsettling incidents, yet an eerie sensation lingered. A creeping feeling hinted that this newfound peace might soon be shattered. As my mom called me for lunch, the aroma of my favorite foods wafted through the air, prompting me to question the occasion. She simply stated it was a spontaneous family outing, tears welled in my eyes, remorse flooding my thoughts for the way I had treated her.

After a delightful meal, my older sister and I ventured into the sea, immersing ourselves as if it were our last day on Earth. As I collected corals, an unexpected force pulled me down. Panic set in until I realized it was just my sister playing a prank. Annoyed, I emerged from the water to notice an unsettling change - the once vibrant stones now bore a deep shade of black, an abnormality that vanished when picked up.

The sky, once bright, morphed into a gloomy expanse. A sudden strong wind drove us back to the rented cabin. Intriguingly, I counted five rooms instead of the four we were told. My curiosity led me to a hidden door beneath the bed in the extra room. Upon opening it, I was pulled into an unknown space, awakening in a red room with no apparent exit.

Frantically screaming yielded no response until a mirror materialized. My reflection revealed a tall, dark shadow behind me. In terror, I watched as it attacked, throwing me to the ground. Spotting a small opening, I fought back, escaping the entity's grasp. Catching my breath, I opened the small door beneath the mirror, believing I had finally escaped. But, to my dismay, I encountered Zoren, held captive by the same dark figure.

I tried to move, but it almost felt like my feet were glued to the floor. It suddenly spoke, "This realm," it murmured, "is a reflection of your fears." The revelation struck me, awakening a primal dread. Each room in the cabin represented a facet of my deepest anxieties.

With Zoren's life hanging in the balance, the shadow compelled me to confront these fears head-on. The first room revealed my childhood phobias, manifesting as distorted memories that twisted reality. The second room, a labyrinth of mirrors, reflected my insecurities, distorting self-perception until I questioned my very existence.

In the third room, the air thickened with a stifling weight, embodying my fear of isolation. Shadows danced in macabre patterns, teasing me with a distorted sense of time. The fourth room submerged me in a frigid abyss, mirroring the fear of loss and abandonment. Faces of loved ones flickered in the icy darkness, expressions etched with disappointment.

The fifth room, hidden beneath the bed, held the darkest secret. A replay of what actually happened to me that one time I was alone in our classroom. It was Zoren pulling that prank on me. The room quivered with echoes of Zoren's voice telling some of my classmates about the prank that would be held later on. I was paralyzed.

Suddenly, I found myself transported back to the red room. Zoren was still held captive by the dark shadow as it spoke, "Do you still want to save this guy after what he did to you?" I couldn't answer; the room was filled only with sobs of pain. I questioned him, "Why did you betray me like that?" He replied, "I was being blackmailed by someone." Before I could inquire about the identity of the blackmailer, the dark figure slit his throat, causing him to die. Suddenly, I found myself back in our school. The air was thick with screams, echoing through the corridors as someone discovered Zoren's lifeless body. His throat slit wide open.