Mirror

12 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Mirror, mirror.

Oh, stop it, Ayana. I am not in that kind of mirror and you know it.

Come now, Anaya. Can't we have a little fun?

Fun would be you setting me free. You belong here Ayana, not me.

Pish posh Anaya. I didn't force you here. Your curiosity brought you to this room. I didn't force you there. You wanted to see what was in the mirror. I helped you achieve your dreams.

Dreams? dreams! This is a nightmare, Ayana. This is why you wanted out. You tricked me, Ayana.

I. Tricked. You. No, Anaya. You tricked yourself. You were told to stay out of this room. Yet, here you are. Now, I want a look around. I will see you later, maybe.

Ayana, you cannot go out. This is a small town. No one is awake at this time of night.

Well, Anaya, we shall see or should I say, I shall see?

Ayana. Ayana! She left. She really left. What am I going to do?

Hello Anaya.

Scream. Who are you?

Wait, wait before I answer that. Did you just say the word scream in place of screaming?

I mean, yeah. Look, I am having a difficult time. My natural reactions are a little off. Now answer my question. Who are you and how did you get in here?

I'm Roan. I have always been here.

Why haven't I seen you before, Roan?

You didn't need to meet me.

Why are you here now?

You are in my world. More importantly, Anaya, how are going to convince Ayana to return?

I haven't figured that out yet.

Well, that needs to be your primary focus. You, my dear, are on a time limit.

What are you talking about Roan?

Have you ever come to this room during the daytime? Of course, you did. Yet you never questioned not being able to speak to Ayana? You never questioned why the mirror had your reflection? For someone so smart, you are not.

Listen, Roan, you don't know me.

Listen, Anaya, what I do know is that you are here and Ayana is not.

You have until three a.m. to convince Ayana to return. If you don't, you will be stuck here.

How am I supposed to get Ayana back in here? She's taken off.

Don't worry little one. Ayana will return.

How do you know? She may never come back. I know I wouldn't. There is nothing here to return to. This place is gloomy. It's dark. The only light is from the other side of the mirror. She is probably out there having the time of her life.

And that, my dear, is where you are wrong. My world, this world is as little or as much as your mind's eye can imagine. Currently, you are not seeing anything but sorrow. Perk up, things are not all that bad.

Says you. You're used to this. I don't want to get used to this. I just want to go to my room. There has to be something that you can do. Are you able to summon Ayana? What are you to her anyway?

No, I cannot summon her and what I am to her is not relevant to you at this time. Whatever happens with Ayana is in your hands. Anaya, time is counting down. You need to calm yourself and think. How did she get you here?

She told me this world was incredible. That anything I can dream up could be mine. That's it, right? I have to entice her the way she did me. Ok, ok, oh, boy this is going to be difficult. Roan? Roan? Where did he go? Great. Just great. Ayana. She's back.

Anaya. Where are you? Are you still angry with me? If it helps any, you were right about no one being out. I walked around for quite some time. I did not see a single soul. Anaya. What are you up to in there? Anaya, I know you can hear me. Anaya! Fine, I'm leaving.

You did well Anaya.

Scream!

Anaya, again with saying scream.

Roan, you scared me. You disappeared right before Ayana entered the room. You reappear after she leaves.

As I said, you did well. You have intrigued Ayana. Now you need to expand on that emotion. I will return later to check on your progress.

Progress. What progress? Ayana did ask what I was doing. Does that mean I can do things in here? Only one way to find out. Okay, how about, hocus pocus? No, I need to say more with it. Alakazam! No, not that either. Maybe if I concentrate on one thought. Candle. Candle. Candle? Okay, Anaya, slow down and think. Focus on uhm, okay, lamp light. The same light in the room. Yeah, okay, see the light. Be the light. Feel the light. Come on light. Let there be light.

Anaya, do not scream, and do not move. Open your eyes slowly. Keep concentrating on the light.

I did it. Roan, I did it. How did I do it? This is amazing. What do I do now? This would be extra awesome if I could do it on the other side of the mirror. Roan, how can I use this within the mirror? I mean, I can't lasso Ayana and pull her in right?

Ayana's return must be voluntary. I do believe that you are on the correct path. Now, show me more. Focus on another object. I know, rain. Think about it falling from above. The sounds it makes. The way it feels on your skin.

It's raining. Roan, I'm making it rain. This is just amazing. Why would anyone want to leave
here when this can be created? Roan, can Ayana do this, or you?

No, we cannot do what you are doing. Very few people can. You are very special, Anaya. Keep practicing, I have to return to the work I was doing before I saw your light.