The Face in the Mirror

Chapter Six

I spun around, searching frantically for the voice. I didn't know why I needed that voice, but I knew I couldn't live without it. Any thoughts I had flew away, and I felt myself vanish back into invisibility. My tears stopped flowing, and I stopped feeling.

I think in that moment, I was the happiest I had ever been. There was no anger. No fear. No hate. Just nothing.

But, I couldn't enjoy it. Not only was the sadness gone, but the joy as well. There was nothing. No feeling. Maybe that was what I needed- nothing. My whole life I just wanted, and it was nice to just be.

The voice cascaded around me, making inaudible sounds, whispers in what seemed like another language.

"Non morieris. Non vivunt." The voice repeated itself, floating around me, lifting me into the sky, into the beyond.

The... beyond?

I snapped to my senses. I couldn't leave. I couldn't leave Jasmine here alone, no matter how much she hated me. She needed me. I couldn't leave her there like that.

I struggled to push away from the voice, and it evaporated, along with the cloud carrying me up. I started to fall to the ground startlingly quickly.

I screamed in terror as I rushed toward the ground. "Help!" I screamed to no-one. There was nobody to hear me, and even if they did they wouldn't see me.

I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact that never came. The soft cloud caught me again and lifted me back up.

"No. Let me go!" I trashed against it, but it was no use. I was wrapped tightly; I couldn't move.

The voice began chanting again, but changed her words. "Et vivetis, et non moriemini."

What did it mean? As soon as I wondered that, a translation entered my mind. I will not die. I do not live. And you shall live, and not die.

I didn't understand; who was this voice?

"Salvator," she hissed.

Savior.

I lifted higher into the sky, closer to the clouds. "No, don't take me! Please! It's not what I want!" I begged and pleaded, my voice hoarse, tears streaming down my cheeks. The period of no emotion was long gone, and my chest burned with fear and love and despair.

"Mihi opus est vos. Non cogit."

I need you. She does not.

"Please! Please!" I strained my muscles against my restraints, but it did nothing. I was trapped. "Please," I whispered, helpless.

Everything froze for a second. I didn't move, didn't breathe. The cloud turned as hard as a rock, and if I had a heart, it would've stopped beating. Slowly, gracefully, the cloud began drifting toward the ground, bringing me back.

"Yes- yes, thank you." I closed my eyes, breathless. "Thank you."

"Mihi revertar."

I will return.

I landed safely on the ground, and any proof that she had ever existed vanished. I was alone. Completely, utterly alone.

Maybe she was right. Maybe Jasmine didn't need me.

Of course she did. I saw her. She needs someone, and if it's not me then I don't know who it will be.

I remembered what Jasmine said to me: "I didn't need her, and I sure as hell don't need you."

Maybe... I should've let her take me.

"Mihi revertar," I heard a whisper in my hear. I spun around, but no-one was there.