Demon Dimensions

Chapter 06: Through the Mirror of Loss

**Chapter 06: Through the Mirror of Loss**

Confusion crept into Adam's depths as Uncle Eric posed his unexpected question, a shock that rattled the very foundations of his world. The colorful stones, which Uncle Eric referred to as "energy stones," stirred a sense of danger within him, and he never imagined they could be used to unleash a fiery shot against the thief he had faced. After a long period of contemplation, he realized the gravity of his past actions, and now he was ensnared by his uncle's probing questions, which wrapped around him like a cloak of tension. The stones were not the issue; it was how to explain to him that he had killed a man. Adam lacked the courage to tell his uncle, whom he respected and admired since childhood. His thoughts tangled and piled up like crumpled papers, becoming an overwhelming chaos; he could no longer form a single sentence in response. His tongue felt tied, as if something inside him was warning, "Do not utter another word."

All those emotions did not belong solely to Adam; there was something else questioning within him: "What is happening to me? Why can’t I speak?" After a long stretch of heavy silence, Uncle Eric turned to him slowly, his expression one of bewilderment at Adam's delayed response to what seemed a simple question. "Adam, what’s wrong with you?!"

"Speak…!" His eyes widened, swallowing hard as signs of anxiety and tension were now clearly evident on his face. He gathered his mental and emotional strength, attempting to move his lips. "I... I..." Suddenly, a voice began to murmur within Adam, uttering strange words. He looked right and left, searching for the one who spoke to him until his gaze landed on a large mirror beside the front door, adorned with various bird designs. He did not see his own face in the reflection, but rather the skeletal priest with an angry visage, pointing a finger at his mouth in a sign of silence, as if warning him.

Adam stepped back, fear evident on his face as he struggled to breathe, beads of sweat trickling down. "How! How could this happen?" The twelve-year-old boy found himself unable to comprehend the bizarre situation he was facing. He turned behind him to find Uncle Eric, his eyes wide and his mouth agape in horror. "Do you see what I see, Adam?" he questioned, his voice choked. "What the hell is this?"

Uncle Eric stood with great difficulty, defying his pain and exhaustion, then seized a burning piece of wood from the fireplace and hurled it forcefully at the mirror. The glass shattered into tiny fragments, revealing the reflection of the skeletal priest. In a fleeting moment, that reflection vanished amidst a tension-laden atmosphere. Uncle Eric turned to Adam swiftly, gripping his shoulders, his face contorted with fatigue. Adam realized that his once-mighty warrior uncle was no longer the same; he had become a frail old man awaiting death, delivering his last will.

In a weak, trembling voice, Eric said, "Adam, what the hell was that? I know you saw what I saw." Eric's mind drifted from reality, questioning what he had witnessed, imagining it might just be hallucinations caused by his illness. Adam tried to respond but recognized that the moment was not right.

"Uncle Eric, you’re tired now. You need to rest, and we will talk about this later." Uncle Eric objected vehemently, "No, no, tell me now!" He coughed violently and wiped his mouth. "Promise me, Adam."

"I promise, when you feel a bit better, we’ll discuss everything." Uncle Eric patted Adam's shoulder, who held him tightly, assisting him toward his room for some much-needed rest, hoping it would alleviate the grip of illness upon him.

In a state of bewilderment, Adam covered his uncle, questioning the entity that had first appeared in the real world. "How could the skeletal priest, in his complete form, emerge from my nightmares and show up in the mirror’s reflection? Why did he choose me for this?"

Adam trudged to the kitchen, lost in thought as he poured water into a metal cup. As Susan descended the stairs, she stared at him from a distance. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice her presence until the water overflowed from the cup, spilling onto the wooden table adorned with oil paintings. Drip, drip, drip... The sound of the water droplets disturbed Susan, prompting her to approach swiftly and tap him on the back.