I love the weekends. I can write!! I love my reviewers, and your responses are amazing! The last one seemed to creep people out...but that was the point ;D. I'm glad you all like this story, because I do too.

I wrote this late last night in about forty-five minutes. When I reread it, I shocked myself. I didn't even change anything, really! I kinda like this one, but have no idea when it's set. It's all really vague, and odd. Then again, so is a lot of this story XD Ah well, that's okay. I don't hear any complaints, so that's good!

Enjoy.

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Catoptrophobia - Fear of mirrors

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I was a young teenager when it happened. I think it was shortly after my thirteenth birthday, which I had spent alone.

Again.

I believe it was a Saturday, but I was up with the new sun. I was having trouble sleeping, and had no desire to lie there and let my mind wander. No, no, I didn't dare do that. It was too risky.

I had stumbled out of bed, similar to every morning, and clumsily made my way to the bathroom down the hall. My feet seemed to know the way automatically, like my body knew my routine.

Get up. Bathroom. Shower. Eat. School. Home. Eat. Homework. Bed. Repeat.

Everyday passed like that. I scarcely noted the things I did, or ate, or studied. I didn't see or taste or smell or know. I just...was.

It was almost like someone (or thing) was inside of me, taking control. It took weeks (months, years?) to actually notice it, but I knew something wasn't right. Though I denied it - refused to believe it - I knew. I wasn't stupid, or slow, or anything of the sort. I recognized this stranger in myself, and I had even learned to accept it.

Until I actually saw it.

It was on that random morning. I was blearily stepping into the bathroom, feeling the tingles run up my spine when I hit the cold tile. I didn't turn the light on, for I saw no need. I reached for my toothbrush, like I always did, but stopped in mid motion.

I could feel another presence.

My pale, bony hand flipped on the light as my other dropped the metallic blue brush. My head shot up to the mirror, one I hadn't even looked in for a while. What was the point?

Maybe I should have.

The thing staring back at me was not me. Or, at least, I didn't think it was.

It had bloody red eyes that seemed set in a forever glare, one that could see right into your soul. Its hair was my shade, but seemed to have grown a few inches taller. It seemed...alive. Its skin was a pasty white, almost sickly. He seemed to glow with a dark aura, and his presence felt dangerously evil. I should have been scared. I know I should have been.

It was even grinning.

I just looked away calmly, turned out the light, and picked up my toothbrush.

I would just never look at my reflection again.

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The house was in darkness. All of the windows were covered, and the doors were locked.

I was sitting on the couch with my knees under my chin. I had my arms wrapped around them, and my eyes were staring at the covered TV across the room. It had an old, fading cloth draped over it, hiding it from my view.

The whole house was like that.

Every mirror, glass, and reflective surface was covered.

Every. Last. One!

It made me feel better. If I couldn't see the darkness, it couldn't harm me. If I never saw the blood-red eyes, they couldn't see me. If I never gaped at the reflection, it would never notice me.

Then why does it still talk to me?!

Because you're mine.

No. Stop! I got rid of you...rid of you! I can't see you...

But I can see you. And you're afraid. Aren't you, Ryou?

"No," I whispered out loud. I bit my lip, fighting back tears. I could feel it in my mind. I could feel its icy cold touch on my conscience, and its words echoed through my head. It was torture.

Torture!

"Just...sto - No. You're not there. You're not!"

Oh, hush now, little hikari. You know I am. Even if you hide, it chuckled, I can still find you.

I shook my head, feeling tears fill my chocolate eyes. I hurt...hurt so much...

My little kitten, you have no idea what pain is...At least, not yet...

Pain exploded in my temple, and I cried out sharply. I closed my eyes, feeling more hot tears escape from them. I whimpered slightly, fearful and in shock. This seemed to please it.

Good, good...

I whimpered again, and more pain filled my head. It increased and increased until I was about to shatter into pieces.

"AAHH!"

I leaped up from the couch, and his low chuckle filled my head. I sprinted blindly, searching for something to help. I suppose I wound up in the bathroom, though I couldn't see through to pain. I felt around in quick, jerky movements, hoping to find something to help me.

To stop the rapidly growing laughter.

I felt the cloth's edge around the mirror, and yanked on it. It could feel it fall, which sent a small smile to my lips.

The laughter continued.

My hand swooped the counter until I found something heavy. It was a lamp, which I hastily ripped out of the wall.

More laughs.

In one motion, I slammed it into a mirror I couldn't see through my tears and blurry red spots in my vision. The mirror shattered with a huge burst, scattering shards of glass like snow on a winter day. Some scraped my skin, causing a warm liquid to trickle into my palm.

Suddenly, the laughter died down, and the tears and pain subsided. I was panting heavily, and my forehead was sticky with sweat. The voice seemed unusually quiet, like it was pondering something.

Or it was shocked.

The whole world seemed to stop.

I looked up to see broken fragments of the mirror, and missing parts of my reflection.

My reflection. My own. Not some demonic spirit, or voice in my head. It was me.

Suddenly, I giggled at this. It was so funny! No, really, it was.

I just laughed and laughed and laughed.

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Poor Ry. He's going insane...

EDIT: *Thanks to millenniumthief for the typo alert*

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