Other side of The Mirror

Chapter Five: Hidden Secrets

Silent heartache and twisted dreams,

Darkened minds filled with malevolent schemes.

Bruises that bleed hidden from seeing eyes,

Whispered words of poisonous lies.

Blood once thick now watered down,

A blackened heart left in tears to drown.'

Chapter Five: Hidden Secrets

Opening her eyes Leighton lay still a moment under the protection of her bed covers afraid that if she moved the bubble of excitement inside her would burst. Noah had occupied her mind for most of the night as she laid waiting for her reflection to come home. Not wanting a confrontation she had feigned sleep on its return.

With the sound of the car pulling out the drive Leighton clambered out of bed; a quick glance out the window reassuring herself she was alone. Retrieving the spare keys her hand shook slightly as she unlocked the door and set out.

Carefully avoiding the passing reflections she made her way to the park. Though the weather wasn't as bright today the air was warm, Leighton loosened her jacket. A renewed energy pulsed in her blood fuelled by anticipation. Noah had said he was passing through, which to Leighton meant he knew how to get out! At least that's what she hoped, she was going to ask Noah to help her.

Along the back of the park were the row of buildings she recognized from the walk with Noah, heading towards them she looked out for street that resembled the one he had led her down from. Feeling lost but afraid to admit it she wandered on the grinding of her teeth causing a slow swell of pain in her temples. It had not felt that far yesterday but then she had been distracted by the awful dizziness that had accompanied this strange backwards place.

With each step Leighton could feel the bubble of excitement shrinking, rounding the corner her relief was instant as she saw the boarded up house that Noah was using. Breaking into a run she clambered in through the broken door and called out. No reply came.

Going through the hall to the room with the makeshift kitchen Leighton rummaged through the pile of boxes she had hid behind from Noah. Filled with items that he had gathered on his stay in the realm, tins of vegetables and soups, packets of crisps and assortment of biscuits in one box, pens, papers and lengths of string were tossed into another. Picking up shower gel Leighton smiled imagining Noah washing, and then blushed at her thoughts.

It suddenly occurred to her that she had not washed herself since switching places; conscious of her body odours she raised her arm and sniffed at her pits, no offensive smells invaded her senses. Running her hand through her hair it didn't feel greasy at her touch. Maybe there was no need to wash in this place she thought putting the shower gel down ignoring the sudden longing for a hot shower.

Around the room there was a collection of items that struck her as odd, she hadn't really took much notice of the room before; having been too distracted by Noah and the rediscovery of her appetite.

At the far corner where a makeshift bed had been created she saw a crucifix and a bible laid on the covers. There were books everywhere, some of their spines bent so much through usage they had become threadbare and brittle. A hand held mirror rested on one that was face down on the make shift kitchen; a cook book. Turning it round she saw as with all the other books scattered around the text was typed backwards; she guessed that Noah used the mirror to read them comfortably.

Going to the next pile scattered near Noah's bed her blood ran cold as she read 'How to trap a Demon'. Leighton felt the goose bumps break out into ripples along her skin. Opening another book titled 'Supernatural Entities', she was met with images she did not need, ghostly phantoms with grimacing faces that could no doubt stop the heart of the person unfortunate enough to meet them. Leaving the books alone she glanced at the floor seeing rows of salt near the doors entrances and along the windows sills. Noah certainly had some weird traits she decided.