Lucian's Mark

Chapter Six

Just then Robert came trudging towards me, offering to help clean up the mess, kernels of popcorn having spilled everywhere.

“Thanks,” I mumbled distractedly as I turned to face him, breaking eye contact with the group.

He laughed appreciatively, “No problem, yea they really do over-fill these bags, I guess it’s a Black Forest thing huh?”

I nodded, ‘Hey Robert,” I began hesitantly, “Who are those people?” I turned back to the group but was shocked to find that they had vanished. All of them.

Robert followed my gaze as the rest of Beth’s ‘Clique’ came our way.

“What people?” he asked, looking and finding no one also. Before I could explain Rebecca cleared her throat loudly.

“How long does it take to get popcorn?” she began, a sneer in her voice, but after looks from the rest she rethought the tone, “Cause we want to hit up some rides.”

Robert smiled as James agreed, “Hell yea!”

As they started debating on which ride was the best, I couldn’t help but stare at the hall of mirrors entrance. They must be in there, I couldn’t help but think.

 He must be in there.

And so began a battle within me. For as much as it feared me to admit that what I saw last night was real, something inside was telling me that that thing wouldn’t harm me. It must have been the Evie inside of me wanting to act on the curiosity. I could practically hear my best friend from miles away egging me on. ‘Go on Lilly.’

“Ok Ferris wheel it is.” I heard one of them say, bringing me back into the moment.

“Come on Lilly,” said Leslie with an inviting nod, her smile genuine.

“I’ll be right there, I actually wanted to check out the hall of mirrors.”

Beth furrowed her eyebrows, “Really, what’s so cool about a ton of mirrors?”

“Nothing really, you know just brings up childhood memories.”

“Well do you want me to come with you?” Beth asked with a look that let me know that she’d rather not, but she would if I really wanted.

“No that’s ok Beth really, I’ll just be a minute. You guys can go ahead. I’ll come find you all when I’m done.”

After seeming satisfied with my insisting they headed off, with a smug Rebecca leading the way.

I exhaled, relieved to be alone once more. Free to do something I knew any sane person shouldn’t. Figuring they must still be in there, I cautiously made my way towards the hall of mirrors.

My nerves became worse with each step I took, sheer adrenaline and curiosity willing me forward. By the time I had reached the entrance my BPM was well over 120.

“That will be two tickets.”

I looked at the short woman guarding the entrance in surprise, having noticed her for the first time.

“Oh, right,” I dug in my pockets for the 20 tickets I had bought on my way in. I ripped off two and handed them over. She placed them in a pouch on her waist and got out of the way with a nod.

“Ok here it goes,” I said to myself quietly, taking a deep breath in. If I didn’t do this I would always wonder ‘what if’…

I took a few steps in, feeling like I had entered a dream, the dim lighting giving an eerie glow to the many life-size mirrors in every which direction. I began to walk and explore, cautiously anticipating something—anything, out of the ordinary. After a few turns which left me surrounded by many disfigured reflections of myself, I began to suspect I had seriously harmed my sanity. No one was here. Maybe the stress had finally gotten to me, and the delusions were only a symptom of something far worse. I bit my inner check, trying to fight back the emotion; the emotion that seemed to infect me every time I was reminded why I had come to Black Forest in the first place.

I heard a noisy couple come in behind me and I hurried forward to distance myself. The maze of mirrors seemed to conceal any possible exit. I came to a fork and turned right, then stopped dead in my tracks.