Mirror Me

15: Outlines in the Dirt

I opened my eyes. A soft glow of sunlight penetrated the church's highest window and came to rest upon my chest. It warmed my aching muscles. Quickly I put on my glasses and looked around. The place was bigger in the daylight. I glanced at the far side of the church expecting to see Owen asleep. Instead his cot was empty and his belongings gone. For a moment I felt abandoned and alone.

"Had he left in the middle of the night," I thought sadly. "Maybe he changed his mind about helping me? I thought he liked me." I felt myself getting upset. "Stop over thinking, Hope. He is not worth it anyway. You've effectively saved his life twice now."

I stood up and stretched. The joints in my shoulders and back cracked. I had not had a good night's sleep in a long while. It must have been Daarith's music that lulled me to dreamland with it's enchanting melody. I looked about. Sir Daarith and his instrument were also missing. I figured they must be outside preparing for the departure. Soon we would be headed to Vetra, the magical city of the Sages. I wondered what it would be like there. Would there be other magical things? If their city was anything like Martha it must be a wonderful place.

I tugged at my new clothes adjusting them until they felt somewhat comfortable. The outfit consisted of a white undershirt with large puffy sleeves, a tan and gray vest, and a criss-cross of leather straps over my chest and waist. The tight, dark brown pants were the least comfortable piece of my ensemble. Its fiber weaved together with a mix of course burlap and cotton scratched at my skin with every move I made. They were certainly not the baggy jeans I was used to wearing.

Walking down the center aisle, I stopped at the church's large curved entrance doors. I pushed slowly, fearful of what lay beyond. An angry mob, perhaps? To my grateful surprise, I saw the town and the townsfolk more active than they were the day prior. Though tension and heartbreak still drifted across their tired faces, the collective power of teamwork seemed to have given the town better spirits.

As I stepped out into the street, I noticed the same stern looks from before. Some showed curiosity, others remained undeterred and resentful, and a handful even bowed as I passed by. No matter their reaction they all whispered the same words under their breath, 'Mirrorbender...she is a Mirrorbender.' I wished to ask a few of my spectators where I may find Martha, Daarith, or Owen, but when I drew near, they receded back. I guess respect and trust came in their own time.

I wandered to the collapsed stone well I had seen Daarith standing on when we first arrived. Upon further inspection, I noticed the well had instead been filled in by debris from the fallen house next to it. It would take weeks to prepare it for drinking again. Walking further into the town I saw the dreadful black outlines of the people apparently scorched by the Half-Lives. Small bouquets of wildflowers lay on each one, a silent grave for the departed, a shadow of their former life. I felt an incredible sadness waft over me.

"These people were killed because the Half-Lives were searching for me," I said while standing over an outline of a woman. "How can I ever make up for this?"

"By destroying them," came a weak voice of a woman from one of the charred doorways nearby. I recognized the woman to be the one from yesterday who called out to little Benjamin when he ran up to Owen.

"You're Benjamin's mother," I said looking painfully at the soot covered face of the young woman.

"No, Mirrorbender. I am his older sister, Angelena. That was our mother." The girl pointed to the outline near the door. "She died right there protecting us. When the Half-Lives came, she shut us inside and told them there was no one home but her. She cried for mercy, but they did not even blink an eye of remorse. To them, she was an insect to be tossed into the fire solely for their amusement. I could not look, but Benjamin saw everything."

"I am so sorry," I said taking a step towards the woman.

"Get back," she cried. "I don't want your pity, and I don't want you near my family. I remember hearing stories about the Mirrorbenders. How they brought light and love into the world. Where were you when we needed you? You let those creatures take over and destroy our lives. Now things will never be the same. You're no hero." Tears ran down the young woman's face.

"I wish I could help," I said. Tears began to form in my eyes.

"You can," said Angelena. "You have to destroy the Half-Lives. You must destroy each one. That way they can never hurt anyone ever again. We are a poor town who has sacrificed much. Even our king has forgotten about us, but you can change that. Do not forget about the town that burned to the ground or the outlines in the dirt because no matter how long we may live we will never forget about you."

From behind the young woman a child's voice called out. "Sister, who is at the door? Is it mommy?"

I, unable to take any more, fled down the street. I ignored the staring faces and the horrified reminders of the burned buildings. At the edge of town my legs collapsed beneath the branches of a lonely tree. There I wept until my falling tears outlined my feet in the dirt.