The Contract

X - Possidere

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"To assure you that you won't be too stressed next week, I've changed the test date 'til the Thursday after. I was informed that you had two other tests on the same day that I originally planned the schedule the test on, so I—"

The shrill ring of the bell interrupted our Chemistry teacher and he only sighed and ushered everyone out. At last, this boring class was over. I slipped my binders off my desk and caught them in mid fall, then stood by Amanda's desk and waited for her to get up. She didn't seem too keen on getting up any time soon, however.

"I'll never be good enough for anyone, will I?" she sniffled, holding out her hand for me to take. I took it and hauled her up. She stumbled slightly, brushed some of her hair out of her face, then picked up her binder. Clutching it to her chest she mumbled out, "Not even Matt."

"That isn't true," I insisted, "but I gotta pee, so I'll catch up with you later, alright?"

Amanda nodded. We parted when we got out in the hall, and I made my way to the girl's washroom. I received a few shoves from some of Matt's cronies who did not know I was his "master" yet, and then slipped into the washroom and sighed loudly. The usual dry smell of the facilities made me wrinkle my nose, but as soon as I realized that I was alone, my mood heightened.

"Lure?" I called to the walls, the mirror, the ceiling. "Lure, where are you?" I did a complete turn, looking everywhere I could. "I know you're here, and I need to talk to you." I frowned when no response was uttered. I sighed and leaned back against the counter, my mind wandering to the previous day. Why had Lure been so intent on ruining dinner? Why had he played around like that?

I started when I heard a chuckle breeze by my shoulder. It sounded breathless; exhilarated almost. Slightly eerie, but I knew who it belonged to. I could tell.

I turned around, facing the mirror, but I did not see Lure's reflection grinning back at me. I stared at my own reflection for a while, unable to shake off the feeling of uncertainty. Something was different about my reflection, but I couldn't pin point what it was. Assuming I was just imagining things, I shrugged and looked away, scanning the rest of the washroom once more.

He was no where in sight.

Frustrated, I felt the childish urge to stomp my foot as hard as I could, but instead, I looked back at my reflection.

Wait.

I leaned over the sink to get a better look. My eyes. They were. . . they were red?

"Lure?" I called, louder than I meant to. I jumped when I heard my own voice echo off the walls.

I widened my eyes to get a better look at the color. Indeed, they were a deep, blood red. I stepped back at once, my breath catching in my throat. The crimson eyes followed my own. Why were my eyes red? Had anyone else noticed? Or had this just happened recently?

"Lure. . ." I breathed out, startled at hearing my own voice tremble. "Lu—" I tried again, but I was suddenly cut off. Not by another voice, but by some force inside of me. I couldn't speak. I tried, but nothing would come out.

"Right here, love."

My jaw dropped open when I saw that my reflection had talked. My mouth had moved in the mirror, but not for real. I tried to step away, but I couldn't. I was literally frozen to the spot. My limbs would not budge. I felt paralyzed. What the heck was happening?

"You look. . . terrified," my reflection drawled, my own voice meeting my ears. It wasn't me talking, it was my reflection. "Let's fix that up, shall we?" My reflection smiled at me, and I felt my own lips turning upwards. Its smile then turned into a grin, a grin that showed off rows of razor sharp teeth. My own lips stretched into a grin, but I wasn't sure if my teeth were razor sharp.