Past Island: Regrets and Guilt (Past Series #1) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 10: Mirror of Guilt

Jax found himself standing in a dense forest, the sounds of the others now a distant memory. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "Guys?" he shouted, but no one answered. The silence was unnerving, pressing in on him from all sides.

He began walking, the dense foliage crunching beneath his feet. Every shadow seemed to move, and every rustle made him jump. "Guys? naririnig niyo ba ako?!" he shouted, desperately wanting to find his friends.

Jax had always been the brave one, the one who took risks and laughed in the face of danger. But this place was different. It seemed to reach into his soul and pull out every fear he had ever buried.

As he ventured deeper into the forest, he noticed something shimmering in the distance. Curious, he made his way towards the light. The trees parted to reveal a large, ornate mirror standing alone in a small clearing. As Jax approached, the mirror seemed to ripple, and he saw his own reflection staring back at him.

He hesitated for a moment, then stepped even closer. As he did, the reflection changed. Instead of his own face, he saw a young boy standing in a familiar living room. Jax's heart pounded as he recognized the scene. It was his childhood home.

The boy in the mirror was Jax himself, at about eight years old. He was holding a bucket of water, playing with his brother, completely oblivious to the extension cord lying across the floor.

"Kuya? s-sorry... Kuya!" Jax shouted, and a tear started to form from his eyes.

Jax felt a knot form in his stomach as he watched his younger self accidentally spill a bucket of water onto the cord.

"Kuya wag ka lalapit dyan!, hayaan mo nalang ako! wag kang kukuha ng basahan!" Jax said, sobbing hard as he tried to stop his brother, but it was too late.

Ethan stepped on the water, sparks flew and a blinding flash filled the area, His older brother, Ethan, died in that accident.

Jax's eyes filled with tears as he watched the tragic scene unfold once again. It was the worst moment of his life, the moment that had haunted him for years. He had never forgiven himself for his brother's death.

"Why are you showing me this?" Jax whispered, his voice choked with emotion. The reflection didn't respond, but the scene continued to play out, over and over, each time more agonizing than the last.

He turned away, unable to bear it any longer. But as he did, he realized he was surrounded by mirrors, each one reflecting a different moment of guilt and pain from his past. It was a maze, a twisting, turning labyrinth of his deepest regrets.

"Stopppp!" Jax shouted, covering his eyes, not being able to bear the scene he was seeing.

Jax took a deep breath and stepped forward, determined to find a way out. The mirrors shifted as he moved, creating new paths and dead ends. It was disorienting, and the reflections seemed to mock him, each one a reminder of his failures.

"You're not real," Jax muttered, trying to convince himself as much as the reflections. He reached out and touched one of the mirrors. It felt solid and cold. Gathering his courage, he pulled back his fist and smashed it against the glass, not being able to bear the scene anymore. The mirror shattered, revealing a narrow passage behind it.

Jax stepped through the broken glass, wincing as the shards cut into his skin. He keeps moving on, determined to escape the maze. He broke mirror after mirror, each one shattering to reveal another path. The scenes of guilt and regret continued to haunt him, but he refused to let them stop him.

Finally, he saw a faint light ahead. He pushed through one last mirror and stumbled into another clearing. He was battered and bleeding, but he had made it out.

He sank to his knees, exhausted. "I did it," he whispered to himself. But as he looked up, he saw something that made his heart stop. Remy was standing at the edge of a cliff, holding onto a figure that looked like his mother.

"Remy!" Jax called out, scrambling to his feet. "What are you doing?"

Remy turned to look at him, his eyes filled with tears. "Jax, it's my mom. She's here. She's really here."

Jax's blood ran cold as he realized what was happening. "No, Remy, that's not your mother. It's a Riget. You have to let go of her!"

Remy shook his head, clinging to the figure. "No, she forgives me. She understands why I wasn't there."

The Riget turned its head towards Jax, and he saw the same sinister grin that Remy had seen earlier. "Remy, listen to me. That's not real. It's feeding off your guilt. You have to let go of that Regret!"

Tears streamed down Remy's face as he looked between the Riget and Jax. "But I can't. I can't let go of her again."

Jax stepped closer, his voice firm but gentle. "You have to, Remy. Let go of that regret. It's the only way you'll be free."

With a final, desperate cry, Remy loosened his hands from holding the Riget. The creature's form shifting and distorting. It let out a hideous croak before falling off the cliff, disappearing into the abyss below.

Remy collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Jax rushed over and pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's okay, Remy. It's over."

Remy nodded, his body shaking with grief. "I thought... I thought I could see her again. I wanted to say I'm sorry."

Jax patted his back, offering comfort. "You did what you could. Now we need to find the others and get off this island."

The two friends sat together, their breaths ragged and their hearts heavy. They knew their journey was far from over, but for now, they had each other. And that was enough.

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Past Island: Regrets and Guilt

Written by: @Clintoooon_

DISCLAIMER : This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, place, or events and incidents are either the products of the author's imaginations or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

@All Rights Reserved. Clintoooon_. 2024.