The once bustling hospital room fell into a deafening silence, shattered only by the sound of desperate sobs that filled the air. Lavina’s parents collapsed to their knees, their faces etched with anguish and disbelief. Time stood still as they stared at their daughter’s lifeless body, their hearts shattered into a million pieces.

The medical team, overcome with sorrow, bowed their heads in reverence, their eyes brimming with tears for a life lost too soon. Despite their tireless efforts, they were unable to save Lavina from the clutches of the unknown. A heavy blanket of grief settled over the room, casting a shadow of sorrow that seemed to envelop all who were present.

Words failed to bring solace in the face of such profound loss. The room, once filled with hope and determination, now bore witness to the heart-wrenching reality of a life cut short. The pain was palpable, a deep ache that resonated in every corner of the room.

Lavina’s parents, overcome with a sense of profound emptiness, clung to each other for support. Their tears mingled as they sought solace in their shared sorrow, their hearts forever scarred by the irrevocable loss of their beloved daughter.

Outside the hospital room, a somber atmosphere hung heavy in the air as the news of the tragic fate that befell Lavina and the other seven classmates spread. The community came together, their hearts burdened with sorrow, to grieve the loss of these vibrant souls. Friends, families, and loved ones gathered, seeking solace in one another’s embrace and finding strength in the memories they shared.

Tears flowed freely as stories were exchanged, memories recounted, and laughter mingled with the bittersweet ache of remembrance. The lives that were cut short had touched countless others, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who knew them. Through their collective grief, they found unity, drawing strength from the shared experience of loss and the knowledge that they were not alone in their sorrow.

In the dream realm, Lavina confronted the menacing mirror monster. Sensing a newfound strength within herself, she stood her ground, facing the creature with unwavering determination. As the mirror monster grinned maliciously, Lavina, feeling transformed, defiantly uttered, “You are now under my control for eternity.” A wicked laughter escaped her lips, resonating through the air.

Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet gave way, and she plummeted into the depths below. The descent felt interminable, as if stretched across hours of harrowing freefall. Finally, with a bone-jarring thud, she landed at the bottom. Agonizing pain surged through her body, as if every bone within her had been shattered, leaving her in an unbearable state of suffering.

Gazing upward, Lavina’s eyes met the sight of familiar faces, all bearing the same broken state as her own. Each person had succumbed to the same tragic fate—they had fallen, broken and lifeless. With great effort, Lavina rolled onto her back, only to discover a mirror positioned directly above her.

As Lavina gazed upon the mirror above her, her heart sank at the devastating sight unfolding within its reflection. The hospital room came into focus, a scene of anguish and despair. Her lifeless body lay motionless, surrounded by a pool of crimson, evidence of the shattered vessel that once held her vibrant spirit.

Her parents, inconsolable, wept with an immeasurable grief that pierced Lavina’s soul. The medical staff, their faces etched with a profound sorrow, filed out of the room, their efforts futile in the face of an irreversible fate. The monitors that had once hummed with life-sustaining rhythms were now silent, their screens blank and devoid of hope.

In that moment of haunting clarity, Lavina realized the truth she had desperately tried to deny. She had succumbed to the unforgiving grasp of death. Her journey in the dream realm had come at the cost of her earthly existence.

A mixture of emotions flooded her being—regret, longing, and a profound sense of loss. She yearned to hold her parents, to reassure them that she was still there in some ethereal form. But the gulf between the living and the departed felt immeasurable, an unbridgeable chasm separating her from the world she had once known.

As Nancy and the other families gathered outside the hospital room, their hearts heavy with grief and seeking answers, Nancy’s voice trembled as she posed a question that weighed heavily on her mind. “Do any of you know who Eshreal is?” she asked, her voice filled with a mix of desperation and hope.

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When searched through Lavina’s diary, the pages now filled with both cherished memories and the chilling accounts of the dream realm. Among the passages, there was a single mention of someone named Eshreal—a friend from some school that had some significance in Lavina’s experiences.

Yet, to their dismay, none of the families recognized the name or had any knowledge of Eshreal’s existence. Although one family does remember their daughter mentioning that name. It was as if the presence of this mysterious individual had remained hidden, shrouded in the depths of their children’s experiences.

As the collective of broken bodies lay in the pit, their spirits crushed and hope dwindling, the sound of approaching footsteps reached their ears. Each groan turned into a hushed anticipation, a glimmer of curiosity amidst their despair.

Lavina, weary and resigned, had already accepted her grim fate. She had endured so much pain and anguish, both in the dream realm and in the hospital. The thought of facing another unknown torment seemed almost insignificant in comparison.

With each step drawing closer, the figure emerged from the shadows. It was Eshreal, the elusive presence that had haunted Lavina’s dreams. Eshreal’s gaze held a mix of sympathy and resolve, as if she carried the weight of their shared suffering.

“None of you deserve this,” Eshreal spoke softly, her voice tinged with sorrow. “But what needed to be done, had been done and there is no going back now.”Eshreal’s soft voice resonated through the grim scene, filled with a sorrowful undertone. Stepping delicately over the fallen bodies, she traversed the area, her movements seemingly unaffected by the tragedy that had unfolded.

“None of you deserved this,” Eshreal murmured, her voice laden with regret. “But what had to be done has been done, and there is no turning back now.”

She continued to speak, her tone taking on an eerie and unsettling quality. “You see, we require more... workers, so to speak, to serve in this realm and gather souls for the voracious reflections.”

Eshreal’s words hung in the air, casting a sinister aura over the devastated surroundings. Recalling her previous encounter with the victims, she elaborated on her intentions. “When I arrived in your realm, I sought individuals to aid me in the acquisition of souls. Your kindness compelled me to share the tale of mirror monsters. Regrettably, I had to take your eyes, and yes, the reflection you witnessed was indeed my reflection form. Such is the nature of our twisted reality.” A chilling laughter escaped Eshreal’s lips, punctuating her unsettling revelation.

As Eshreal’s words echoed through the pit, a mixture of anger and fear coursed through the broken bodies of Lavina and the others. They could hardly believe what they were hearing. Eshreal, the very person they had trusted and welcomed, had betrayed them in the most unimaginable way.

Struggling to find their voices, one by one, they mustered the strength to speak out against Eshreal’s actions. “How could you do this to us? We trusted you,” Lavina’s voice quivered with a mix of anguish and disbelief. The others joined in, their words a chorus of accusation and sorrow.

Eshreal’s laughter grew louder, filled with a twisted delight. “Oh, my dear servants,” she sneered, “you were all so easily fooled. The mirror monsters, the stories, they were all part of my plan to lure you into my clutches. You were never meant to be friends; you were merely pawns in my grand design.”

The broken bodies in the pit trembled with a mixture of rage and desperation. They knew they were at the mercy of Eshreal, trapped in this dark realm with no way to escape. “You may have taken our eyes, but you will never take our spirits,” Lavina’s voice rang out, filled with defiance. “We will find a way to stop you, to free ourselves from your grasp.”

Eshreal’s laughter turned into a malicious cackle. “Oh, how adorable,” she mocked. “But I am the master of this realm, and you are nothing but insignificant playthings. There is no escape.”

“You may consider yourselves somewhat fortunate,” Eshreal remarked, a twisted amusement lacing her words. “The souls of Tyson and Conner, they were the truly fortunate ones. They ascended to a higher realm, beyond the grasp of our endeavors. As for you, well, you are destined to toil for me throughout eternity, serving as mere cogs in my grand design. Nevertheless, your fate, bleak as it may be, is far superior to that of the souls you shall harvest.”

Her laughter reverberated, a chilling soundtrack to the realization that their existence had been reduced to an existence of servitude and perpetuation of a grim cycle. Eshreal reveled in the malevolence of her plans, knowing that the souls they would acquire would face an even darker destiny than their own.

Rising to her feet, Eshreal clapped her hands together, a cold and detached expression on her face. “Well, my dear friends,” she spoke with an air of finality, “remain here until you have healed and transformed into reflections. I shall return in due time, and then we can proceed with our work and training.”

Her words echoed through the desolate space, leaving an unsettling heaviness in the air. Eshreal’s departure left the fallen ones to endure their pain and await their eerie metamorphosis, knowing that their fate had been sealed by forces beyond their control. The haunting promise of future encounters with Eshreal and the disturbing tasks that lay ahead loomed ominously in their minds.