Bridget's Misadventures in Twisted Wonderland

Mirror in the Forest

A/N: This is mainly to introduce the MC of this story, the true story begins in the next chapter.

There's more details added into this chapter to help give more context and understanding of the MC of the story.

    The mirror in the forest captivated me for as long as I remember. I didn’t have to be scrutinized for things I cannot control about myself, get a breath of fresh air, and sometimes someone in the mirror would talk to me. I’d have some of my most fond conversations between myself and them until my brothers went to find me for dinner.

The people in the mirror changed often. They were all silhouettes, but there were a few I could recognize. There were twins that looked like flipped copies, possibly merfolk. Another time was a tall dude around Eden's age, with the ears and tail of a lion. I think there was a trio once, they were around my age but I know one of them was some sort of cat boy. There was also this very tall dude with horns that added to his tallness. My memory's fuzzy, so I can't remember everyone I encountered.

Each time it was a new person to get to know. Sometimes, however, there was nobody in the mirror. Especially nowadays, the mirrors didn’t have those familiar people so I simply sat down with my sketchbook and drew the scenery. Maybe one day one of those faces will come by to say hello?

I’d wait every single afternoon after school, usually doing my homework patiently or drawing until one of my brothers came by to drag me back home. Even then, if I told them the reason why they wouldn’t believe me. However, there were times I was in the hospital and couldn't talk to the people in the mirror.

Eventually, quarantine happened and everyone was staying home, especially my brothers and I. The eldest came back from culinary school due to the pandemic and my other brother started filling out forms for university online. We had to stay home as much as possible, we’re high-risk due to our asthma.

A few weeks ago I got into a sudden drawing frenzy, mainly drawing outfits. Some of them were uniforms, but for what it would be I can’t tell. Some of the drawings were of normal outfits I myself wear on a regular basis, and one of them was a strange robe. Does this mean anything? I don’t know, but could it be in regards to the mirror in the forest?

…

Dear mom, dad, Eden and Desmond,

You’ve heard me talk about the mirror in the forest, right? I feel it calls to me. I can’t let myself go crazy, I need to know what’s beyond the mirror. Eden knows that sometimes a person would be in the mirror, talking to me. I want to know them better, perhaps they’re behind the mirror? I promise I will come back as soon as I can, I promise…

Bridget Y. H.

I left the index card on my dresser, silently getting dressed, getting my bag of art stuff and putting on my medical bracelet. Once I got out the door and made sure it was locked, I put on my high-top sneakers and strapped my medical bag to the shoulder strap of my bag. I was simply moving on my own… towards the forest.

When I reached the mirror, I pushed my hand towards it, but my hand glided through as if it was a portal. I felt something grab onto my wrist, pulling me forward into the mirror. After being yoinked into the mirror, I closed my eyes as my surroundings turned dark.