The Empty Mirror

Chapter 7: Threads of putrefaction

The gloves she wore showed noticeable wear at the fingertips, revealing their persistent use over the ages. In addition, I could see that he wore a fine silk cloak of a purple almost as deep as black, whose subtle sheen contrasted strikingly with his moon-pale complexion. Despite small rips and tears in certain areas, exposing the all-black, seductive fabric hidden beneath, the cloak retained its unchanging elegance, losing none of its irresistible charm. It seemed to have been expertly crafted in a moment that transcended the limits of time...

What really caught the eye, however, was her leather collar adorned with a silver cross-like luck at its heart, giving her a touch of security in the gloom. His appearance was utterly anomalous, even disturbing. I wondered about his purpose in that castle, how he could remain there unchanged.

And what was even more disturbing? Why was I totally unable to question its presence?

The conception of an undead being crept across my mind like a gloomy shadow, spreading its evil influence. Who was this enigmatic figure who defied the limits of human comprehension? What was the real intention that had led him to this mysterious and hidden place? Never before had he glimpsed someone with such an inscrutable appearance that transcended mere eccentricity. Though perhaps, in some obscure corner of my memory, vague recollections of an old volume, leafed through years before, which contained similar images, were vaguely resurfacing, thus feeding my bewilderment…

This individual, by all accounts, seemed to have emerged from a realm outside of everyday reality, a being whose existence defied the logic and conventions of the earthly world. Was he real or just a manifestation of my deepest fears, a macabre projection of my own psyche? Despite all the shadows of uncertainty that hung over my spirit, I refused to give in to the hooves of mistrust. That enigmatic figure had reached out to help when the world had turned its back on me. I could not be, therefore, like the other human beings that populate my existence, I could not fit into the established moulds...

Besides... Who, in the end, has the right to judge what is real and what is not in this vast universe? That question, like a sinister echo, reverberated inside me, sowing the seeds of a restlessness that seemed to drag me inexorably towards the abyss of madness. And... something peculiar was happening. I could not find in my memories the precise moment when that enigmatic figure rose from the shadows, as if suspended in an altered reality, alien to the laws that govern space and time. Was something still awaiting me... that escaped my apprehension, my parsimonious earthly knowledge?

Each moment shared with this mysterious presence plunged me deeper and deeper into an abyss of unease and disquiet. A lurking darkness, permeated with a sinister aura, seemed to envelop us, suffocating me and planting in my being an unsettling sense of unease and fear that undermined the foundations of my own sanity. Yet, in spite of everything, something prevented me from detaching myself from this enigmatic influence which, in turn, stirred in me an amalgam of conflicting emotions: fascination and repulsion, attraction and rejection. The only option left to me, the only way forward, was to persevere in waiting, even if my spirit trembled and my sanity was called into question.

As my steps wandered without a fixed direction, a storm of questions troubled my mind even more, entangling itself in the intricate threads of uncertainty. However, the lack of direction failed to overwhelm me; I had made up my mind to proceed south once more, convinced that this was the most sensible option in such a sinister place. Who knows if in the shadows that hid the landscape there was a path that would lead me back to civilisation, a path that, due to fatigue and the prevailing darkness, had eluded the perception of my weary footsteps.

Now, a new vitality seemed to flow in my veins, revitalising me completely and healing wounds I was not even aware of having suffered. However, a grim memory of the night before crept into my consciousness, threatening to shatter the fragile peace I had found. Had he been the one who had watched over my wounds? It was the most plausible explanation, but a tangle of doubt surrounded its authenticity. Why would he have withheld his help? No trace of such benevolent assistance found refuge in the recesses of my memory, nor did I discover any tangible evidence of his intervention.

Every attempt to salvage some glimmer of that night only engendered even more disturbing details, twisted in their uniqueness and devoid of convincing explanation. Besides, how was it possible that my wounds had healed so quickly? Shouldn't there have been some trace, some vestige in my flesh to testify to the suffering I had endured? Uncertainty clung to my being like an insidious shadow, haunting my every thought and leaving me with the feeling that the truth lay hidden in the deepest abysses of the unknown.

I paused briefly to assess my condition, and to my bewilderment, I did not perceive a single mark on my dermis, nor any trace of the dried blood that must have been the inseparable companion of my wounds. The situation plunged me into perplexity, but I made an internal promise to myself not to allow it to consume me. It was imperative to remain calm, to clear my mind and to find a solution that would allow me to avoid the abyss that threatened to engulf me in its unfathomable vortex.

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I stopped pondering the threads that had led me to such a hellish torment and concentrated all my attention on the pressing need to find a way out. I cautiously watched the position of the sun, keeping its glare from scourging my eyes. Its trajectory, majestic and merciless, tilted towards the west, announcing the imminent sunset that lurked between 6 and 7 pm. The firmament, tinged with ominous clouds, proclaimed the arrival of an inexorable end, as if the celestial forces were taking pity on my misfortune and tracing the limits of my misfortune with their implacable brush.

Despite the oppression of the pain that assailed me, and the hunger and thirst that sapped my vigour, I could not stop. An indomitable force propelled me forward, an iron will that defied the limits of my endurance. Deep within me, a glimmer of hope clung to the possibility of finding a way out, a path that would rescue me from the clutches of doom. So I stood up with determination, leaving behind me the bitterness of despair and bravely facing the challenges that stretched out on the uncertain horizon, like shadows of an inscrutable destiny.

The magnificence and merciless trajectory of that path seemed to bend towards the west, foreshadowing the imminent sunset that lurked in the late afternoon. The firmament, in its eerie splendour, was tinged with ominous clouds that proclaimed the inexorable arrival of a grim outcome.

In spite of the affliction that afflicted me, and the hunger and thirst that consumed me, I was not permitted to stop. I continued on my way for a long distance, while a disturbing certainty seized me, as if I were entering the unknown abysses of existence itself.

Finally, I reached the narrow path I had glimpsed in the gloom of the previous day. It was my only option to continue, although its intricate and challenging appearance instilled in me a latent intimidation. On either side of the path, majestic trees stood like silent guardians, while tiny creatures crept stealthily in search of shelter.

As I reached the end of the desolate path, the route seemed to fade into darkness, becoming inaccessible and impenetrable. A shiver ran down my spine as I faced the sense of failure, the crushing defeat inflicted once again by the inscrutable impetus that inhabited that inhospitable realm.

However, just as I was about to turn away and abandon myself to despair, something caught my attention in the distance. It was something sinister and out of place, a presence that defied the laws of the already precarious consonance and balance in that desolate setting.

My eyes scanned the surroundings, barely glimpsing through the elusive trees, and there, in the shadows, I could discern the silhouette of a lake. A small lake that radiated a strange, sickly presence. The promise of refuge and respite lay before me, but to reach its shore required a steep descent of at least 20 metres... madness, no doubt, but there was no alternative. Shadows loomed menacingly on the horizon and time was running out.

Bereft of adequate tools to secure my descent, I surrendered to my instinct and precarious skills, ready to defy the laws of gravity and sanity. Each step became a titanic struggle against the treacherous slope. My hands, trembling with effort and uncertainty, searched desperately for a handhold among the jagged rocks.

Every muscle in my body roared in agony as I clung to the hope of surviving the hellish descent. Pain intertwined with determination, forming a symphony of sacrifice in my being. Gravity, cruel and merciless, tried to throw me into the abyss, but my will resisted fervently in the face of imposing adversity.

Time seemed to drag on, stretching out in a maelstrom of anxiety and despair. Yet I persisted, pushing my physical and mental limits in pursuit of reaching that enigmatic lake, where dark vitality awaited with its hidden secrets. Each instant became an eternity of effort and hope, a silent battle between human frailty and the challenge of the hostile environment.

Finally, after a fierce contest that challenged the limits of my endurance, my weary feet found a longed-for point of solidity on the solemn plinth of the steep slope. A liberating sigh escaped from my chest, as my gaze, heavy with exhaustion and hope, caught sight of the outline of the riverbank, which awaited with unchanging mystery. With determination and longing, I rushed towards the descent, embracing the slope with the recklessness of one who rushes into the embrace of the unknown.

The surroundings seemed to imprison the breath and surrender to absolute silence, as if the cosmos itself, overwhelmed by my audacity, had suspended its hissing. My exhausted body rocked in an enigmatic stillness, prostrate in a vortex of inherent chaos, captive of a dense and enigmatic atmosphere, enveloping the senses with its unreal might.

The oppressive gloom enveloped my being, as again unintelligible whispers crept furtively from the shadowy folds, feeding the abysses of my deepest fears. Yet I refused to surrender to the horror that stalked me with insatiable greed. Although my attire was unmistakably unsuitable for such a reckless undertaking, I stepped forward with foolish bravery, defying the sinister forces that seemed to mock my intrepid gesture.

My hands, scarred by wounds and abrasions, clutched desperately at the stony ledges that vanished beneath my sweaty palm. My mind was clouded by vertigo and uncertainty, but the fire of determination burned unperturbed in the depths of my being. And then, the moment came when my fingers met the abyss, with nothing to hold on to. It was a precipice into eternity, an inescapable test of my worth and courage.

With my heart pounding in my throat, I slid cautiously, my muscles tense like ropes on the verge of breaking. Every inch represented a battle, a struggle against relentless transcendence and inexorable fate. Every second stretched into endless agony as I approached the abyss, fully aware that only one last leap separated me from my longed-for goal.

With a choked scream in my throat, I launched myself into the unknown, my mind populated by terrifying images of what awaited me on the other side. However, I was caught in a precipitous fall that caused me to experience a stabbing pain. I struggled to stand, despite the wounds on my hands. Blood trickled sparingly from my left hand, while my legs and hands trembled more intensely.

With tenacity, I slowly pulled myself upright and continued my journey, fully aware that I had to reach the lake to purify my wounds and rest for a short while. I staggered forward, though I tried to keep my breathing calm, inhaling and exhaling calmly. The path became more and more favourable as I advanced, making my progress easier.