The Mirrors reflection

The Mirror's Edge

He was there again, watching her, his face partially obscured by shadow. His eyes locked with hers through the glass, and though he didn't speak, his presence was enough. Elowyn's pulse thundered in her ears as she stood frozen in front of the mirror.

Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers brushing the surface of the glass. For a brief moment, the world shifted, and she was no longer in her apartment. She was standing in that dark, oppressive landscape she had glimpsed before, the air thick and heavy, the ground cold beneath her feet.

Kaelen stood before her now, fully visible, his expression serious.

"You need to stop," he said, his voice low and urgent. "You're getting too close. The mirror... it's not what you think it is. And neither is he."

Elowyn's voice trembled as she spoke. "Who are you?"

His eyes softened for a moment, but his answer was just as cryptic as before. "I'm trying to help you."

Before she could ask more, the world around her began to ripple, the landscape twisting and distorting. The dark clouds overhead churned like a living thing, the oppressive air becoming suffocating.

Suddenly, a loud crack split the silence, and Elowyn jolted back, her hand instinctively pulling away from the mirror. She was back in her apartment, her reflection staring back at her in the dim light, her breath coming in sharp, shallow gasps. The weight of Kaelen's warning lingered in her mind, but she was no closer to understanding who he was or why he kept appearing.

The following morning, the sunlight streaming through her window did little to dispel the feeling of dread that had settled over her. Every glance at the mirror sent a shiver down her spine, as if the glass held more than just her reflection. She decided she couldn't keep ignoring the strange occurrences. She needed answers.

Elowyn sat down at her desk, pulling her laptop toward her. She began searching for anything she could find about mirrors, alternate dimensions, and dream worlds. The internet was flooded with myths and folklore, but the more she read, the more a pattern emerged. Mirrors had long been regarded as portals—gateways between worlds, reflections not just of reality, but of something deeper, darker.

One legend in particular caught her attention. An ancient tale from Eastern Europe spoke of a Reflected Realm, a shadow world that mirrored reality but with twisted, darker versions of people and places. Those who gazed too deeply into a mirror could be pulled into this world, where they would be trapped, their real-world selves replaced by their reflection.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she read. It sounded eerily similar to what she had experienced. The dream-like landscapes, the strange sensations when she touched the mirror—was she being drawn into this Reflected Realm?

She found another reference to something called the Mirror Court, an ancient order of beings that watched over the balance between the real world and the reflected one. Some believed that certain people were chosen, or cursed, to walk between these worlds, serving as intermediaries. The accounts were fragmented and unclear, but they all pointed to one thing: the danger of crossing into the mirrored world.

Elowyn's mind raced. Could Aiden be connected to this somehow? Kaelen's warnings had grown more urgent, but the more she thought about it, the more it seemed like Aiden might be at the center of everything. His sudden appearance in her life, his magnetic charm, and the way he seemed to know more than he let on—it all added up.

As the day wore on, Elowyn couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching her. The gallery was quieter than usual, the soft hum of voices a distant backdrop to her thoughts. Felix had been avoiding her since their argument, and though she missed his presence, a part of her was relieved. She didn't know how to explain what was happening to her without sounding insane.

By mid-afternoon, she had decided. She needed to confront Aiden. She needed to know what he was hiding, what role he played in all of this. But even as she made her decision, a cold voice in the back of her mind whispered that it wouldn't be as simple as asking him outright.

That evening, Elowyn found herself at the edge of a quiet park, waiting. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the ground, the air crisp and still. She had sent a message to Aiden, asking him to meet her. She wasn't sure what she expected, but she had to try.

When he arrived, his presence was as magnetic as ever. He moved toward her with that same easy confidence, his eyes catching the fading light, giving them an almost unnatural glow.

"Elowyn," he said softly, his voice like silk. "What's on your mind?"

She swallowed, her heart pounding in her chest. "I need to know what's going on," she said, her voice stronger than she felt. "The mirror... the dreams... all of it. I know there's more to it than you're letting on."

Aiden's expression didn't change, but there was something in his eyes, a flicker of something darker. "You've been looking too closely," he said, his tone even but laced with warning. "Some things are better left unexplored."

Elowyn's jaw tightened. "I don't believe that. I think you know more than you're telling me."

For a moment, silence hung between them, thick and heavy. Then Aiden took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "You're walking a dangerous path, Elowyn," he murmured. "And I can't protect you if you keep pushing like this."

The words sent a chill through her. "Protect me from what?"

"From what's on the other side of the glass," Aiden said, his voice dropping lower, almost a whisper. "The Mirror World... it's not just a reflection. It's something much worse."

She felt a shiver run down her spine. "Then why are you involved?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What are you hiding?"

Aiden's eyes darkened. He didn't answer immediately, and for a fleeting moment, she saw something in his expression—a flicker of pain, or regret. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.

"Elowyn," he said, his voice softer now, "you need to trust me. Don't go any further with this. It won't end the way you think."

Before she could respond, he stepped back, fading into the deepening shadows of the evening. Elowyn was left standing there, the weight of his words pressing down on her chest, her mind spinning.