I watched in fear as the abomination lunged at me. Time seemed to slow down as it came closer. Fear paralyzed me and I couldn’t dodge it. It was as if something had grabbed my legs and held me there. However, instinct kicked in, and I stumbled backward, screaming as I narrowly escaped its grasp. My heart pounded as I saw the monster’s claws leave a giant hole in the wall behind me.
“What the hell...?” I muttered unconsciously in fear. My heart pounded faster by the second as I raced to search for an escape route. Panic took hold as I realized I was trapped with his monster alone and defenseless while the door was mere meters away but seemed to be miles away, the monster between me and the door.
To my horror, upon realizing that, the monster read my mind and gave a small, short cry which I swore sounded like laughter, while it slowly pulled its claws out of the wall. Did it laugh at me? Why does it sound like it's toying with me? And why now as it can eat me now? Why-!!!
Realization dawned on me as I glared at the monster. This monster ate Ayumi. It ate her alive, not fatally killing and giving her a painless death, but bite by bite like it was playing with its food.
Summoning all my courage and the anger that had suddenly built up within me, I gave up on the idea of escaping. I had chosen to fight. I will either kill this thing and avenge Ayumi or die trying. The monster didn’t even try to stop me as my trembling hands searched for a weapon and watched with its empty glass silhouette eyes looking amused. It slowly took little steps closer to me with the occasional hideous laughter.
I tried to ignore its laughter and focused on finding a weapon. My gaze soon fell upon a switchblade that lay on her desk. With a surge of adrenaline, I lunged for the blade while the monster just watched me, amused once more.
The creature slowly advanced until I was at arm's length, its malicious intent emanating from every pore. I could feel its icy cold breath on my skin as it continued to etch closer, its twisted glass-like limbs contorting with unnatural flexibility. I had only one shot. Only one chance.
With a primal scream, I launched myself forward and made an upward slash at the creature with the knife. The sound of metal scraping and a small laugh from the creature made me realize it was futile. The creature took the slash without flinching and the knife didn’t leave a single scratch.
I panicked again. I can’t kill this thing. It's invincible against a knife. I can’t win... but I can’t give up! In that moment of despair, a surge of determination replaced my panic. I refused to accept defeat. I had to find another way, a weakness to exploit, or a strategy that could turn the tide in my favor.
Taking a step back, I assessed the situation with a focused gaze. The creature stood before me, its sinister grin widening as it reveled in its invincibility against my knife. But I wouldn't let that deter me. I needed to think outside the box to find a solution that went beyond conventional weapons.
Suddenly, a glimmer of inspiration sparked in my mind. The creature had proven impervious to the knife's blade, but what about its reflection? Could I use its own twisted image against it? It was worth a try.
With a quick glance around, my gaze fell upon the full-body mirror where the creature came from. Without hesitation, I grabbed hold of it, feeling its cool surface against my palms. Holding the mirror tightly, I positioned it between myself and the creature, forcing it to face its own distorted reflection.
In an instant, the creature's expression changed from smug confidence to confusion. It recoiled as if startled by its own grotesque visage staring back at it. A momentary advantage was all I needed.
Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward once again, this time aiming for the creature's exposed neck. The knife sliced through the air, guided by my unwavering determination. It connected with a gap between the creature's neck, between its reflective glass head and body, and this time, I felt resistance.
The creature let out a guttural shriek of pain. It stumbled backward, clutching at the wound inflicted by the knife. As silvery-white particles oozed from the wound, its malevolent energy wavered, showing signs of vulnerability.
Encouraged by this breakthrough, I pressed my advantage. I slashed and jabbed; each strike targeted at exploiting the creature’s newfound weakness in its neck. It struggled to defend itself, unable to recover from the reality of its wounds.
The battle raged on, a dance of shadows and defiance. With every blow, the creature weakened, its movements growing sluggish and desperate, but so was I. I never trained in fighting, and I’m fatigued from all the adrenaline. My attacks became less accurate and slower with every move.
The creature, seeing my struggle, started to relentlessly fight back. It straightened its posture as if it was just pretending to show fatigue. Its glossed eyes seemed to burn with an unholy fire. With each passing moment of silence, we both knew I wouldn’t last much longer. I need to finish this now. I can’t kill it right now. So how do I get out of this situation? Too late to run... I’m too tired to run. What should I do—! I have an idea.
With another sudden burst of adrenaline coursing through my veins, I chucked the knife just as it reached out with its jagged claws to tear me apart. The knife bounced pitifully against it and bounced beyond my reach and under Ayumi’s bed. The creature turned its head to watch the knife disappear and laughed at my pitiful attempt to kill it. I seized my moment.
In a split second, I held up the full-body mirror and slammed it into the creature. The creature turned back in time to have a look of horror before it came into contact with the mirror. It let out a horrendous, piercing shriek as the mirror suddenly contorted like fabric and started twisting violently, pulling anything nearby into it along with the creature.
The creature continued shrieking as it tried to escape. It started grabbing everything it could to avoid being taken by the mirror, but it was futile. The heavy mirror started twisting and shaking violently enough that I could barely hold on. But I had to hold on. Gritting my teeth, I held on tight with all my might.
As the last moments of the battle approached, a glimmer of hope surged within me. I could sense the creature's impending defeat. The creature, seeing its defeat in sight, turns towards me and tries to grab me once more with its bloody claws. The claws that mutilated Ayumi. With one last act of defiance, I grabbed a pair of scissors from Ayumi’s desk next to me and delivered a devastating blow, striking at the heart of its vulnerability with all the force I could muster.
“If I can’t kill you now, I’ll finish what’s left next time!!!” I screeched as the scissors tore through the gap and tore off a piece of its body.
The creature let out a final, anguished cry, its form convulsing in a frenzied display of agony. It gave me a glare of utmost fury.
I flipped my middle finger and glared back. “Fuck you... ha... whatever you are. I’ll avenge Ayumi... haa...haa... so you better fucking die by my hands next time I see you...!!”
Dark energy dissipated into the air, leaving behind only a dissipating mist as the creature is finally pulled into the mirror’s grasp. I quickly slammed the mirror as hard as I could on the floor and smashed it into pieces.
Exhausted but triumphant, I stood amidst the fading remnants of darkness, the mirror still firmly in my grasp. I dropped the mirror with a loud clunk before I fell to the floor suddenly in agonizing pain. I quickly tried to locate any wounds and noticed below my stomach a long black-red gash on my left side.
As the pain seared through my body, I mustered the strength to focus on the source of my torment. With trembling hands, I gingerly lifted the edge of my blood-soaked skirt, my eyes widening in horror at the sight that greeted me. There, nestled within my left abdomen, was a long, gaping wound, oozing a sinister mixture of crimson and darkness.
Fear engulfed me as I realized the gravity of my situation. The monster's attack had left me wounded, and the life force within me was rapidly escaping with each beat of my weakening heart. Panic surged through my veins, but amidst the chaos of my thoughts, there was one thing that remained crystal clear—I had to apologize. Apologize... to Ayumi.
With tears streaming down my face, mingling with the crimson stain on my cheeks, I summoned every ounce of strength to gather my thoughts. Ayumi, the weight of my regret, weighs heavily upon me. I wished... I wished with every fiber of my being that I could express apologies.
Oh, Ayumi, forgive me... Forgive me for not being able to protect you from the horrors of this world. My heart aches at the thought of leaving you behind, exposed to the dangers that lurk within the shadows. I should have been stronger, more capable of shielding you from the darkness that now consumes me... I’m sorry... I’m sorry.
The tears flowed unabated as I struggled to find the right words, the right way to convey the depths of my apology. It was my fault Ayumi was dragged into this and killed. If I rejected her help, would we both be fine enjoying our lives?
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Ayumi, my dearest best friend, please know that I am sorry. I’m sorry...... sorry for the pain, the anguish I gave you.
In this moment of despair, I prayed that somehow, in some way, my apology would reach you. That it would transcend the confines of our mortal existence and touch your heart with its sincerity. I hoped that even in my absence, my words would offer solace, an assurance that my love for you remains unwavering, even in death's embrace.
As the darkness threatened to consume me entirely, I clung to the image of Ayumi and the times we spent together, etching it into the recesses of my mind. I continued to sorrowfully apologize for all the while everything was dark. But if I’m dying right now, I want to be next to you.
With the last of my energy, I forcefully pushed myself up and dragged myself on top of the blood-stained bed where Ayumi’s body lay. I fell on my back and weakly held hands with her cold body and stared every so regretfully at the ceiling of her room. At least we’re... together...
And then, as my consciousness faded, I embraced the certainty that my time in this world was drawing to a close. In that fleeting moment, I surrendered to the notion that I was about to depart, carrying the weight of my apologies, my love, and my everlasting remorse.
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I slowly opened my eyes and found myself surrounded by darkness, enveloped in an eerie stillness. This was not my room, nor any place I had ever been before. Panic gripped my heart as I tried to make sense of my surroundings. Was this the afterlife? Had I truly perished?
My mind raced with a flurry of thoughts, and my eyes strained to adjust to the obscurity. Amid my confusion, a dim light emerged in the distance, casting a feeble glow. Curiosity mingled with trepidation, compelling me to move closer.
As I approached, the light revealed a figure standing amidst the gloom. It was Ayumi, her presence ethereal and haunting. Her once vibrant eyes now held a somber gaze, and a sense of sorrow radiated from her.
"Yuki," she whispered, her voice carrying a mix of pain and longing. "Why did you let me go? Why did you not save me?"
Her words pierced through my soul, and a surge of guilt washed over me. I had failed her, and now I was trapped in this desolate realm, confronted by the consequences of my inaction.
"I'm sorry, Ayumi," I pleaded, my voice choked with regret. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I never wanted to lose you."
But Ayumi's expression remained unforgiving, her form slowly fading away into the darkness. The weight of my failures pressed upon me, and despair threatened to consume me entirely. I reached out, desperately hoping to grasp onto any semblance of redemption. Ayumi’s image disappeared and was scattered into fragments of glass that floated behind me. I turned and came face to face with a full-body mirror, exactly the same as the one in Ayumi’s room.
In the suffocating darkness, my instincts screamed at me to escape the room, to flee from the haunting presence of the mirror. A shiver ran down my spine as my gaze involuntarily darted toward its polished surface, reflecting nothing but the pitch-black abyss that surrounded me.
Fear gripped my heart like icy talons, paralyzing me in place. The mere sight of the mirror sent waves of dread coursing through my veins, a visceral reaction that defied logic. I had always harbored an instinctive fear of mirrors, their ability to capture and reflect the deepest recesses of one's soul unsettling to me.
But now, in this afterlife, the mirror held an even greater power over me. It became a conduit for my darkest fears and insecurities, a portal to a distorted reality where Ayumi's accusing gaze awaited. The weight of her disappointment bore down upon me, threatening to crush my spirit with its unrelenting force.
As I peered into the mirror, my reflection appeared distorted, a twisted version of myself. The once familiar features now contorted with guilt and anguish, reflecting the torment that plagued my mind. I could almost hear Ayumi's voice, echoing from the depths of my subconscious, chastising me for my failures.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I desperately tried to avert my gaze, to break free from the mirror's hypnotic hold. But it seemed to draw me in, its magnetic pull too strong to resist. The darkness surrounding me seemed to seep into my very soul, merging with my fears and amplifying them.
In the reflection, Ayumi's form materialized, her face contorted with a mixture of anger and sorrow. Her accusing eyes bore into mine, stripping away the façade of my defenses. The weight of her unspoken words crushed my spirit, leaving me gasping for breath.
"Why did you let me die, Yuki?" her spectral voice whispered, carrying the weight of an eternity of grief. "You were supposed to be there for me, to protect me. And now, you will forever be haunted by your failures."
A sob escaped my lips as I crumpled to the ground, my trembling form consumed by a sense of helplessness. The darkness swirled around me, echoing with Ayumi's curse, as if the very fabric of this nightmarish realm absorbed her words, ensuring their eternal resonance.
At that moment, I believed that this was my eternal damnation. I would forever be trapped in this dark space, tormented by the visions of Ayumi's accusing gaze and the relentless weight of my guilt. It felt as if I were drowning, unable to escape the depths of my despair.
The darkness enveloped me like a suffocating shroud, pressing against my skin and infiltrating every crevice of my being. It whispered cruel taunts and twisted illusions, amplifying my fears and insecurities. The mirror before me became a portal into my darkest nightmares, reflecting the distorted images that haunted my mind.
With trembling hands, I reached out to touch the mirror's cold surface, hoping to shatter the illusions that plagued me. But as my fingers made contact, a jolt of searing pain shot through me
as if the mirror itself recoiled from my touch. The fractured shards mirrored my fragmented soul, and I recoiled in horror at the sight.
Ayumi's image emerged from the broken pieces, her eyes blazing with fury and resentment. Her voice, laden with anguish, echoed through the void, accusing me of betraying our friendship and abandoning her in her time of need. Each word pierced my heart like a dagger, intensifying the torment of my guilt.
I tried to plead with Ayumi to explain the circumstances that led to her tragic demise, but the oppressive darkness swallowed my words. It consumed my voice, suffocating any attempt at redemption. The weight of my regret threatened to crush me, and I sank to my knees, filling the void and consuming me whole.
In the depths of despair, I realized my instinctive fear of mirrors. They were the gateways to this twisted realm, the catalysts for my torment. Each reflection held a distorted truth, distorting reality and trapping me in a cycle of self-condemnation. I wanted to look away, to escape the horrors that these mirrors held, but their allure was inescapable.
As Ayumi's accusations echoed through the darkness, I questioned whether I would ever find forgiveness, either from her or from myself. The anguish in her eyes burned into my soul, etching a permanent mark of shame and regret. I longed for her to understand the depths of my remorse, to grant me the absolution I so desperately sought.
As the darkness seemed to envelop me, I felt pressure suffocating me, suffocating my spirit. Was this my punishment for Ayumi’s death? Was this the universe condemning me to eternal suffering for my failures?
In my despair, a glimmer of light pierced through the darkness like a distant beacon of hope. It was a soft, ethereal glow that bathed the surrounding space, illuminating the shadows that had plagued my consciousness. Intrigued yet apprehensive, I followed its radiance, drawn to its otherworldly allure.
As I approached the light, my heart raced with both anticipation and trepidation. I felt a surge of energy coursing through me as if comforting me; as if the answers to my deepest questions and fears lay beyond its radiant gaze. But mingled with that anticipation was the gnawing fear of what was on the other side. Would it be salvation, or will it be further torment?
With trembling hands, I reached out toward the light, my fingers bathed in its warm, comforting glow. As I did, a vision unfolded before my eyes—a white light expanding into a brilliant halo, pulsating with otherworldly energy. And within that light, I saw a symbol—a slender arrow pointing towards an unknown destination through the darkness.
The arrow shimmered and danced within the luminous expanse as if urging me to follow its guidance. I understood that this light, this arrow, held the key to something here. I slowly followed the arrow before I arrived at what felt like a wall ahead of me where the arrow disappeared.
I looked confused around my surroundings and once more; I came face-to-face with another full-body mirror. I flinched and backed up when I realized I didn’t feel fear from the mirror, but rather, familiarity, like it was something that I knew. Someone that I knew.
I reached to touch the mirror and warmth filled my fingers as I contacted it. But before I could duly comprehend this scene, I felt multiple painful stab sensations on my back before my vision started turning white and a jolt coursed through me, tearing me away from the ethereal light. My eyes shot open, and I found myself drenched in a cold sweat, gasping for breath as if emerging from a suffocating nightmare.
Confusion and disorientation gripped me as I took in my surroundings. I was back in Ayumi’s room. I slowly got up and looked immediately at my abdomen. The wound was gone as if it had never happened. I then noticed that the blood on the bed was gone as well. I touched the bed sheets. No moisture or blood. I immediately glanced at Ayumi... rather, where Ayumi’s body should’ve been. It was gone. Startled, I quickly looked around the room. The moonlight cast long shadows across the familiar furniture. Nothing was gone, everything was back to normal. Even the previous scent of blood that hung in the air disappeared. I felt a lingering sense of unease.
My mind whirled with questions. What the hell happened back there? Was I dreaming? Did I die and come back alive? What was that monster then? Is Ayumi alive? But everything is normal. So, was it a dream? If so, then—!!! I quickly pulled out my phone and dialed Ayumi’s number. Please, Ayumi, please respond!!
Moments later, I heard a voice on the phone.