Laura's chest heaved as the cracked television screen blipped on and off. Shallow laughter exited the speakers growing ever distant until they were replaced by a loud static hum. The curious eyes of others in the room fell upon the television's sorry state. Laura's body weakened by the terrifying encounter struggled to lift itself off the floor. She sobbed uncontrollably and hunched over as if in great pain. Jorge immediately jumped to his cousin's side, pulling her close to his chest. She clutched his shirt; tears and snot pooled on the fabric. Wang hurled himself to the blinking TV, unplugged it from the wall, and starred shockingly at the cracked screen.
"What happened?" he said running his hands aggressively through his hair. "Oh, my dad's gonna kill me."
"It...it was a monster," stuttered Laura's muffled voice. Her lips quivered after every word. "It looked at me from some other place. It wanted me. I just know it." Another round of intense sobs burst from her lips.
Dehlia sauntered over to Laura's side and rubbed her back. She glared at Wang.
"Your family should really invest in plasma TVs," snapped Dehlia. "They aren't that expensive."
"Shut up, Dehlia!" yelled Thaddeus. "Can't you see this is not the time to joke around."
"You two stop," said Brice crossing his arms. "I can't stand y'all bickering all the time."
Jorge tucked his head close to Laura's ear. "You saw something in your reflection didn't you?" he asked. Laura nodded. "Is it that same something that took Hope."
"I don't know," said Laura, sniveling. "It wasn't human."
"This is ridiculous!" cried Mercy stamping her foot. "TVs don't just crack and die for no reason. Brice doesn't just change his presentation for no reason. The Balancers don't just come to a three star chinese restaurant for no reason."
"Hey," interrupted Wang. "Five stars."
"Not after that last review. But you get my point." Mercy stomped her way towards Jorge, Laura, Marcus, and Nancy. Her beady eyes shifted back and forth unsure who to focus on. "You four have some explaining to do."
Suddenly the TV blipped back to life showing scenes of war, plague, famine, and other scenes of human suffering. Gunfire and screaming men, women, and children exited the speakers falling like dreadful embers on the silent spectators. An eerie electrical charge from an unknown source lifted the hairs on their necks and arms. Mercy stepped away, hiding behind Brice.
"What the hell?" said Wang glancing at the cord on the ground by the TV. "It's not even plugged in. How is this possible"
A raspy wicked voice echoed from the speakers.
"Mirror mirror maker. Mirror mirror bender. Mirror mirror breaker. Mirror mirror mender."
"Make it stop," whined Laura covering her ears. "Make it stop."
"It's not real," said Brice standing confidently. "This has to be some trick."
"For one who believes in the unexplained," said Nancy. "You're sure quick to dismiss it."
The wicked voice spoke again.
"You have something of mine," it whispered in a taxing tone. "And if you bring it to me, I will give back, Hope Martinez."
"And what if we don't," asked Marcus stepping towards the TV.
"Then you will get nothing but death."
"Who are you?" Marcus leaned in close. His eyes determined and unafraid. Silence answered him. "I said, 'Who are you?'"
"I am half what I was, and you will make me whole."
YOU ARE READING
Mirror Majesty
Teen Fiction[Mirror Me Series Book 2] Hope Martinez is the first person in Tartarus to kill a Half-Life. Such a feat should be commended if not for the dreadful prophecy that surrounds her. In the meantime, Hope along with her band of misfit renegades have one...
