Mirrors

Chapter 2: Paul

March 27, 2017

I remember the day things changed like it was only yesterday. I was at home, my parents were out, my little sister was outside playing with our dog, Alaska.

I should've been out there with her.

Maybe then she would be okay.

February 9, 2013

"Paul!" Ashton's voice booms through my headset.

"Ahh dude not so loud Jesus!" I say back.

He laughs, "sorry man I thought you were afk."

"What the hell does afk mean?" I say as I grab the game controller.

"Well i guess it would be afc in this case but Nevermind, what are you doing tonight?" He asks.

Me: "babysitting why?"

Ashton: "aw that sucks cause Sophie's got this friend and we thought that you might--."

Me: "nah uh you are not setting me up on another blind date man, remember what happened last time?"

Ashton: "we all had a good time and the you two made out like crazy?"

Me: "hah! Maybe you and Soph had a good time but that dog you set me up with was sarcastic as fuck and a dyke."

Ashton: "dude that's my cousin you're talking about and don't insult the lesbian community, they make great pornos."

I laugh, "you're such a perv Ash," I hear Emma-- my little sister-- call my name from the backyard, "and I would love to listen to you ramble on about lesbians some more but I am needed elsewhere."

"Kay later man." He says.

"Bye."

I head through the kitchen to the back door and stand in the doorway.

Emma is up against the fence with a look of horror in her eyes and our dog Alaska is growling at her.

I run out there and snap at the dog, "hey! What the hell is wrong with you?! Get!"

She just snarls at me. That's when I see it, the dot in her eye, the dot that I've been hearing about on the news. The mark of the reflections.

"Shit." I say and look for something to fight her with, "Emma go inside, but move very slowly, I'll distract her."

She nods, "what's wrong with her Paul? Is she going to be okay?"

I pick up a pair of garden scissors.

Emma's eyes widen, "you're not gonna hurt her are you Paul? Don't hurt her pl--"

"Get inside now!" I yell.

She follows my instructions and I go after the dog.

I slowly step closer holding the sheers out in front of me.

She charges at me. I try to jump out of the way but she pummels me and I drop the scissors.

She's clawing holes in my shirt as well as my skin. I try to push her off but she digs her teeth into my arm. I frantically search for where the sheers landed but I can't find them anywhere, I grab the hose and hope to god it's turned on.

I rotate the nozzle so it's on jet and try to spray her. Nothing happens.

"Fuck."

Okay well that didn't work, umm what now?

"Got it"

I wrap the hose around her neck right as I can and keep tightening it until I feel her body go limp on top of me.