The Fallen Queen~[✓]

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 10

Everything was a bit more contrasting and sharp to my eyes. We were back on the streets. Ayum waved at me and I waved at him too. He ran towards me and I held my arms out and smiled eagerly, to feel him near me. Only when he was inches away, he burst into a zillion particles of white dust and disappeared. I gave out a soundless howl and wasn't able to move my legs forward. I felt a warm hand from behind on my shoulder. It was Ryan. But he had the same emotion on as he did when he gave me the gift. That's when I properly noticed him; he had a gleam in his eyes; they were shining like diamonds. And then almost in a fraction of my blink, it wasn't Ryan anymore. It was someone I didn't recognize. The warm hand escalated to blazing heat. I gave a soundless scream again. I heard a sharp shriek.

I shot up on my bed.

'Damn it.' I held my head. It hurt so hard that my eyes watered. It had been a long time since I had gotten dreams like these. My mother says its because I think a lot about imaginary stuff and that it happens to creative minds. Grandma believes I watch too many movies and read too many books. I considered both of them.

It was eleven-thirty. It wasn't that late. I snuck into the kitchen and got myself a bottle of coke. My mom and grandma were sleeping. I sat down near my window, the cool breeze from the Arabian Sea has always been soothing to me. As I looked around my room, sipping on the refreshing coke and relishing the cool wind, I spotted Ryan's gift lying on my corner table. I opened it.

The last thing I expected to see inside was a mirror. It had black metal carvings and was oval. The details were exquisite. It inched up to almost two meters wide. It was too heavy for its size. That's when I noticed a note fall onto the ground.

'Pull from all sides. Will measure up to six-foot wide on opening completely.'

Since when did a six-foot length mirror become a gift option for Ryan? And how did he manage to get this for me? I pulled it from all facets and placed it near one of my walls. The mirror glass was shinier than usual. My brows creased naturally; there was something odd about it.

But I fixed a smile on my face; I admired glasses a lot. I'm addicted to my reflection. Somewhere in there, I know I love myself, and I believe in myself. Earthly matters, they just refuse to let you love yourself. People, situations, entertainment, everything, everyone always try to bring you down in every possible way; some are disguised as good and some are just straightforward, plain bad. Mirrors, well they show you who you truly are, beyond your appearance that is, it gives you a chance to redeem yourself. Correct an error, or just simply make something better. You stare at your reflection, your hair is coming out at all ends, you fix it and then tie it with a pearl rubber band, make it better; much better than before.

'Beautiful, isn't it?' The voice made the hair stand on my back. I let out a muffled scream. I slowly turned around to see who was it, and the voice was insanely familiar.

'Ryan? How did you even rea—

'Dude chill. It's just eleven forty-five. I hopped in through the dining room window.'

'What brings you here, this late?'

'I just wanted to tell you that whatever happens, just stay calm. It might not be as you expected, but it isn't worse than here. I am always with you.' And then he embraced me tightly. 'Time to live a life better than this, Karishma.'

Okay. So the thing is: why was this guy acting so mysterious since morning? And Karishma? He usually doesn't call me that! And what better life, expectations what? What was this guy talking about?

My thoughts came to halt when I felt warmth behind me. At first, I thought it was my body temperature rising because it was Ryan hugging me for the second time in a day and it felt a different feel. But no, it was when I turned around I realized; the unusual, beautiful mirror was moving like gentle laps of ocean water. I was tempted to run away screaming, or was it one of my troublesome dreams?

I turned around to ask Ryan for help. He held his hand out for me. And I clasped it. And then he pushed me into the mirror.

The last thing I saw was Ryan smiling at me; he was radiating differently.