Senseless

Chapter 3

Avery continued at her work, but with less diligence than before. Now she was practically just wasting time in the field, barely working at all.

Her heart was trapped in the past, her body, in the present, and her mind was far off into the future. Oh, how she longed for the future.

As a naive little girl, the future meant freedom and no responsibilities. She had little knowledge of what the future actually was, nor did she care. All she wanted was a little freedom.

Once again, Avery looked to her family, and as usual, they weren't paying her the slightest attention.

Avery crept quietly to the fence's edge and slipped between the fence posts. She walked the distance between the fence and the woods, this time, not glancing back even once. She didn't care if she got caught this time, she would be free.

Avery wandered into the forest, deeper than she'd ever gone before. Although it was only a few feet from home, it was much further than she'd ever gone before.

She walked past the Ronpus lilies, making sure not to inhale the sweet aroma.

She walked past a silver pool that glistened in the sunlight.

She walked by several trees and then froze at the sound of a quiet "Psst."

Avery tried to locate the source of the noise, but it seemed to be coming from everywhere.

"Go to the water" a soft voice whispered.

She slowly stepped toward the silvery pool and knelt down at the water's edge to see her reflection.

She looked down to see a young girl with short, light brown hair and grey eyes. Her face was round with crinkle marks where her dimples should be and her lips were small and rather pale. Avery was looking down at her reflection.

But to her surprise, her reflection was not mimicking her, but instead, it was moving to its own will.

"What are you?" Avery asked, slightly startled at the sight.

"Why, I'm you, of course!" The puddle responded smiling cheerfully.

"But why aren't you copying my movements?" she asked, "You know, like normal reflections do?"

Her reflection sighed.

"Don't you ever get tired of doing what's expected of you?" her reflection whined.

Avery turned her face a little, "I guess," she mumbled.

"It's okay dear we all do." the puddle lead on.

Avery remained silent for a while and her reflection was clearly loosing patience.

"What's your name little one?" the puddle asked her.

"Avery" she responded, looking back at her reflection.

"Well I'll tell you what Avery," her reflection bargained, "If you let me out of here, I'd be happy to help you in any way I can."

At hearing this, Avery's mind went racing a million miles a second.

"You... you can help me?" Avery asked, "How?"

"You let me out dear and I'll show you" her reflection said.

Avery hesitantly reached her hand down toward the water. Her fingers inched closer to it's surface. Avery's hand sank into the liquid, but instead of just touching water, her hand was met with another hand.

Out of the water climbed a little girl that had the exact appearance of Avery.

"Now," her reflection said, "What can I do for you?"

Avery looked puzzled, "You're really gonna help me?"

"Of course darling!" her reflection said, "A deal's a deal."

"Alright," Avery said, "But what should I call you?"

Her reflection smirked, "The name's Siyel"

The moment the words left her lips, Avery remembered hearing that name before.

Many times, her mother had warned her of the pool of Siyel. It always had a way of controlling those who sought to use it for themselves. "None have mastered its deceptive mind," she recalled her mother telling her...

Avery was brought back to reality when she heard, "Hey!" Siyel was waving her hands to try to get Avery's attention.

"You okay?" her reflection asked.

Avery nodded slightly.

"I thought I lost ya for a moment there," Siyel said smiling.

"So what can I do for ya miss?" she asked cheerfully.

Avery stood there, deciding whether or not to go through with her plan.

Would it work? Would Siyel really help her? Or was she simply digging her hole deeper?