"Flames that turn even stars into ashes,

Ice that imprison even time,

Earth that can swallow even the sky,

Don't be afraid of the power of darkness

Come now. Show your powers.

Mine, theirs and yours.

There's only little time left for us.

Do not let go of that hand at all costs."

My eyes open. What the hell was that?

Was I....talking in my sleep? Again?

I shook my head. There's no way I'd speak something as nonsensical as that. Whatever it was....

I push up out of bed; time to start another day.

And my goal: find out what is exactly behind that door!

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I chewed on my oatmeal slowly, letting the taste of apples and brown sugar overtake my tongue.

"I need to think this through." I mutter into the dead air. "How can I find what's behind the door without aunt Sam knowing?"

"Charlotte? Ci sei?" Speak of the devil.

"Sì, Zia!" I go back to chewing.

My aunt's wearing a light yellow shirt, some worn out yoga pants and some rubber sandals. A wide brimmed straw hat sits atop her head.

"Oh, good! I was wondering where you were." She noted, moving towards the sliding back doors. "I'm going to do some gardening. Answer the phone while I'm out." I nod absently at her instructions. Just as I heard the door slide shut, I scooped the last spoonful in my mouth. Taking it to the sink, I run it with water.

Time to go to work.

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With my usual getup on and a quick wash up, I creep towards my aunt's room carefully.

This is wrong. This is wrong. I'm so focused, but it's still wrong!

I've been told various times to stay out of my aunt's room as a child. I never bothered questioning it. I was just that obedient to my elders.

Nothing much. Just a vintage white and silver bedroom.

I walk and scan the room carefully. Nothing so far.

Wait. A glass cabinet. Filled with memoirs and stuff. BINGO!

I lift the handle carefully, making sure the hinges aren't squeaking, and push the door away. Just some glass figurines and old jewelry. A few wedding photos of her and uncle, a beautiful key sitting on a pillow-

Huh?!

I look again. There, on a plush velvet pillow, sat an intricate key, definitely looking like something out of old school Victorian Era.

I thought back to what I saw from the door. Yea, there was definitely a lock.

The hose stopped. Fuck!

Without thinking, I pluck the key carefully, and shut the door close. Tiptoeing my way across the carpet, I got out in time just as the door was opening.

"Mission accomplished." I smile, pocketing the key.

———————————————

"I gave my neighbors a little extra piece of my mind for all that racket. Heh. Just like old times with your grandfather...."

Oh yea. My aunt keeps berating the neighbors and for their kids causing so much noise next door, constantly. It's a wonder she hasn't busted a lung.

"Oh that's a long story. Anyways, you had something you wanted to tell me, Mia cara?" She sat by me on the couch, listening.

"Ah, no. No, I suddenly forgot it." I lied. She nodded. I turned back to the tv, as she got up with an "I'll make some snacks for us" to the kitchen.

—————————————————

I couldn't stay inside. I felt like I was going crazy. The gardens were the o lu place where I felt like getting my thoughts together. The visions, that voice and....and-

I-I can't! It's too much! I gotta get this off my chest somehow. Maybe my aunt will understand....

"Hey, Sorry to interrupt, I just thought you'd like some iced tea." She places the tall, cold drink beside me and a bowl of chips. I nodded with a hushed thanks.

"Uh....may I ask you something?" I turn to face her. She nods and sits in a nearby chair, hands folded over delicately. She nods and I start. "Do you ever get a feeling of....seeing things? That aren't there and you feel like you're the only one that can see them?" I put as best as I could.

"Are we talking about...drugs?" She pondered nervously.

"Oh No! No no, of course not!" I laugh nervously, but continue, a bit hesitant. "I mean, visions....strange images that just appear in your mind at random times?" My aunt stayed silent for a few minutes. I tried busying myself with the potato chips and tea. This is something that gets on my nerves. When people pause for a long time, and you get antsy about what they're about to say. Makes you wonder what's going on in their head.

I must've been a bit too in my head because the next thing I knew, the glass was empty.

"....I don't think so, honey....." aunt Sam answered after a while. I put my focus back on her. She clasps one hand around my own, taking her time with her words, as if cherishing them. "...but there was this one time, when you were younger, I used to watch you do the things you loved that made you seem so strong and courageous. That day, I saw an image of you and you were....all grown up. You were brave, graceful and fearless. And I knew at that point you were going to do great things one day." She smiled at the end.

"Grazi." I smile back relieved that she was at least able to understand. Key word: at least. I'm still confused about must of the visions myself.

"But you do realize that if you do go after drugs, there'll be consequences." She chided and I laughed, nodding. She stood up and left, saying that dinner will be early today since she had an errand to run.

"Perfect", I thought. I pat the key in my pocket close to me for reassurance.

———————————————

Despite my hunger not up and rampant, I forced myself to eat. I was nervous, but I did my best to conceal it. Even as she was picking up her things, and driving off I was nervous. But after she left, I ran for the staircase. Hopping two at a time, I nearly tripped getting to the top.

I made it and slipped the key out. Jamming it into the lock, I turn it and the deadbolt is gone. I smirked victoriously as I push open the door.

Junk. Everywhere.

Pillars of boxes and other things aunt Sam obviously never bothered giving up for sale.

I pick my way through carefully, noting my footing to not try and trip on anything. Until I slam my forehead against something.

I jerk back, cradling my head to rub the pain away. I look up and I see....

A mirror.

"Oh my god" I whisper. "Where in the world....?" I touch the frame delicately like it was a feather. It looks...so enchanting! I really wonder where she could've gotten this....

I pull my fingers away, and find dirt in them.

"Ugh." I wince. "Could use a bit of cleaning....."

The wind blew in my ears. I thought I heard it say something....must've been my imagination....that's when I started moving.

—————————

Fifty minutes and a lump of dirty cleaning rags and utensils later, the mirror was polished. And it looked stunning!

I smile at my handiwork, with a self high-five.

I check my phone for the time. 9:30pm.

"Oh wow! Aunt Sam should be home soon!" I remark. I grab the cleaning supplies and start to head downstairs.

"Charlotte...."

I froze. I recognized that voice all too fucking well.

I turn back toward the mirror. I could feel my legs were shaking. And I kid you not: the mirror warped from what I found it as....

To the one I found in my dream from yesterday. That same exact mirror in that room.

No no no! I thought it was a dream!!! How is it here all of a sudden?!

And then I felt like eyes were on me. But it wasn't from somewhere else in this place.

It came straight from the mirror.

I take a step back. Then another. And another. Two more. Several more, my eyes never leaving the mirror for even a second. And I swear to you, I felt like I could practically see eyes glowing from the mirror itself. That or it could be a trick of the light. But I had belief it was the first thing.

My back hits a wall, and I freak out. I scramble for the door, fumbling with the knob as I run out in a stumble.

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I was shaking the entire time I washed the towels and cleaning utensils. The feeling of eyes on me would not go away ever since I left that storage room. Even when I put them away, walked to my room and changed for bed.

Nearly midnight. I needed to sleep. "Maybe it'll be gone in the morning..." I yawn, turning the light off. The heavy fatigue overcame my mind as I drifted off.

My eyes shoot open. This didn't feel like my bed. I look down and see grass. Yep. Totally not my bed.

I sit up and I find myself in a dark forest. It looks like the ones back home, whenever I went on camping trips with my worship group....

I get on my feet. I'm wearing something that....really something I'd wear for a formal gathering of sorts.

The forest was so quiet, I felt myself get goosebumps just from the dead silence.

A caw sounds from my right. I jolt, turning to see...a raven? I wasn't sure. But I reach a hand out gently and it hops onto my finger. I hold him steady as I bring him closer.

"You wouldn't happen to know where I am, do you, little guy?" I laugh nervously. I'm probably crazy: talking to an animal as if it can understand me. I stroke my fingers through it's feathers and it seems to lean into my touch. The feathers felt so....smooth and airy against my fingertips. And something else that felt cold...

Suddenly, I found the key in my hand. But now there seemed to be something different about it: it had the engraving of an "N" on the bow instead of its usual pattern.

Suddenly, the raven flew off my finger, snatched the key from my hand and started flying off.

"H-hey! Give that back! I need that!" I cried, running after the bird as fast as I could. It was flying just high enough for me to see him as slow enough for me to catch up to him.

It's like...it WANTS me to follow him. But where is he taking me??

My sleeves and skirts billowed in the wind as I jumped over rocks and mud puddles with no shoes on. The cold wind caressed my collarbone, my hair flying about in the wind like waves. I didn't dare stop, for if I did, I'd lose the raven and I'd never get that key back.

Suddenly, the bird seemed to be flying slower and it landed in a clearing in the forest.

That same damn mirror was there, floating gently in the air. But it wasn't alone.

Beside it were seven other mirrors, reflecting different objects of sorts: a heart scepter being held in someone's hand, a lion's paw with claws scratching the rocks, a golden shell sitting atop of tentacles, a golden snake staff with red gems for the eyes, an apple dipped into a cauldron of poison, a skull lit ablaze with blue fire, and a spinning wheel.

The same hand appeared in the mirror as before, and the voice rang out with the same words:

"You, who have been summoned by the Mirror of Darkness; Listen to your heart's desire and take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror."

I step back cautiously. How was this not some sort of trick? This is my dream. So how come I wasn't sure of my choices? I close my eyes, trying to find the answer.

I opened my eyes. I guess there's no other option.

Hesitantly but with a straight posture, I approach the looking glass. My hand is out and open. The hand in front reaches closer, out of the mirror and towards me. Mine lifts. Our hands are a foot away. Ten inches. Seven, then three, now one.

The last thing I see were yellow eyes behind a mask as I grasp the hand.

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Author note: