The other side of the Mirror (boyxboy)

Chapter 15.

He was drowning. Aabel was drowning and I had no way of helping him. I was too scared myself; trying to reach out my hand, yet pulling it back every time that thing cried in my direction and tried to grab me. God, I was so scared of it, and I was so scared of losing Aabel, too.

“P-PLEASE, LEAVE HIM ALONE!” I screamed, tears glazing my cheeks, as they got paler from the cold outside. I was now not aware of the neighbors waking up; I was only praying that the boy would be able to get out of there somehow …

But he never did. He kept struggling, never looking at me, never saying my name. That desperate plea for help from the first time we met was lacking now. As if he knew that there was nothing to be done, and so he wasn’t even bothering to try and ask for help.

Then I saw something. I saw him, a moment before getting pushed underwater by that creature, looking at a distant object in the yard. He barely took a glimpse before he drowned and left only bubbles of air reach the surface.

“N..No…” I stuttered, seeing the creature drown alongside with him. Aabel had somehow managed to use his own body weight to drag the creature down with him, but that didn’t change the fact that I was once again alone. I … I left him die the same way I left my own reflection. I just stood on the safe side and watched, crying as I was unable to help. Or perhaps, unwilling to, because I was scared of getting hurt for someone else.

I was scared of sacrificing myself for someone I cared for.

A sudden bark made me jump and turn towards the sound, only to see that the neighbor’s dog was somehow free and was now running towards me. I was, needless to say, scared shitless.

“D-DOWN BOY, GOOD BOY-..BAD BOY, BAD!” I immediately changed my words when the animal growled at me and jumped in the air when it got close enough, ignoring my talking. Oh god, I was going to get punished for my fear of putting myself at risk to save a life. It was both unfair and deserved. I mean, I’m not Jesus, I can’t die for someone else’s sins and problems. I can’t risk myself for strangers, even though that specific stranger meant something to me. I can’t be indifferent to a person who kissed me twice.

But I still couldn’t quite throw my life away so easily. I have something to live for, and I don’t think Aabel is more important than my life. I didn’t want him to die, but I didn’t want to die for him, either. Can’t just everyone be happy?

To my surprise, the dog landed in the water and quickly took hold of Aabel, pulling him out of the water. I was just standing there, dumbfounded as I watched the extremely evil Russell Terrier save a stranger who wasn’t even from this world and cuddle in him, rubbing his little nose in the boy’s neck and chest.

I was … astonished. A tiny dog like that could save a stranger and ignore the fact that in that pool, there was a monster which may or may not be still alive and waiting to attack, whilst I, on the other hand, could only stand on my wobbly knees and whimper like a little .. female canine.

“I’m awake, I’m awake .. You can stop now, Jackie.” Aabel coughed some water before he answered the dog’s constant poking and tried to lift himself from the ground. He eventually managed to sit, still slightly coughing as he patted the Russell Terrier on the back and hugged it, trembling from the cold. I never noticed it was snowing. From the whole commotion I couldn’t pay attention to trivial things like weather, but now it seemed so important.

Of course, not as important as Aabel.

“A-are you alright?” I asked, warily walking towards him. I wasn’t that scared from Jackie now, since I had a person with me who seemed to be her friend, and the vile creature wouldn’t attack me this way. Or, at least I’ll have someone who’ll protect me.