HI EVERYONE! I'LL BE ATTENDING SCHOOL TO ACCOMPLISH MY DREAM!
Chapter 61: Reflections Lie!
*Aria's POV*
It had been a couple weeks now, the last 2 days of July before August, and I was still depressed. Pops let me have time off work as I mourned. I didn't get up from bed much, in fact, I didn't go out at all. Only to court when needed and the verdict came out yesterday. The guy was going back to his state to be put in jail for 1 year for each animal he abused, neglected and/or killed along with $100,000 per animal, totalling up to 26 animals so far including Allegro meaning 26 years and $2.6 million, along with attempted murder, assault of a minor, and at least 2 charges of child endangerment, which lead him 46 added years and, for killing my dog, he was added another year in jail. That was 73 years in jail unless more charges are put against him or they find evidence of more animals. Also, for every $30 of his fine he cannot pay will add another year to his sentence. From what I know, the judge is having any kin he has be offered to help pay as well as sell his belongings/property. If no kin then the judge will issue someone to sell the items and determine the situation after. I doubt he'd get the money. No community service to pay it off either. He had made me cry during court, as well as his lawyer, and I was already depressed and crying a lot anyhow. I had apologized for my tears, my sadness genuine, as the judge allowed small breaks and had assured me that it was fine. I wasn't fine. I got a slap on the wrist, since it was played off as self defence and defending the children I was watching, but would have to talk to a councillor to make sure I didn't need anger management. I did three times and they determined I didn't have anger problems but I should talk to the councillor more due to my depression I was developing. I refused and assured them it would pass. It hadn't yet. I was still sad and scared as well. Why was I scared? Because I feared I was turning into the Morpholomew. After what happened I knew it was happening little by little. This wasn't good. I figured it was only taking a while because I only had a small dose in me. The Sheriff agreed to keep it secret, because of his werewolfism, but advised I tell Archie or someone. I let him know that someone was helping me with this and he accepted that answer. Thank goodness too. I had used the communicator to contact Supreme Girl one night to let her know what was happening.
"Are you alright Smarty?" I heard her ask softly.
"No… Allegro… My dog died." I say sadly as I tried not to cry anymore. She had apologized and I did let her know what had happened and how I blacked out when I attacked the guy. I told her what he said about my eyes and how I must've broke his cheek when I punched him.
"I'm getting scared Supreme Girl. I had to tell the sheriff because I would've gotten in trouble if I hadn't. I thought you said I wouldn't morph?" I asked as my fears were getting worse.
"You shouldn't. I'm still working on a cure, but I promise, I will be there with a cure as soon as I can." She assured me. I cried.
"I'm scared. I hate being scared. Is there anything I can do to keep this hidden? Prevent this from happening again? Anything! I'll do anything!" I say as my tears were falling down.
"You must relax. I will work fast, but you must be calm and try not to be afraid. I assure you that you will not morph and you will be safe." She assured me as her attempts to calm me had started working.
"I have to go. Will you let me know as soon as you have a cure?" I asked her as I dried my eyes.
"Yes, I promise. Do not worry, show no fear, I will be there as soon as I can." She had told me. We said goodbye and, after putting the device away, I lay back in bed. I was under my covers and refused to move once more.
"Hello?" I heard a soft voice speak. So soft, I thought I was dreaming at first.
"Hello?~" I heard the soft voice drone out. I pulled the covers off of me as I rose up. I looked around but saw nothing.
"Hello?" I called out. I heard nothing and shook my head.
*I'm imagining it.* I thought to myself.
"Hello?" I heard again. I jumped and knew I didn't imagine it.
"I'm here." I heard the voice again. It sounded like a woman's. I rose up and began looking around.
"Hello?" I called out again.
"I'm here." I heard it faintly. I began looking around.
"I can barely hear you. Hello?" I called out as I headed down my steps.
"Hello? I'm here.~" I heard as it grew faint. It was in my room. I bolted up again and looked everywhere.
"Who are you?" I asked as I searched.
"I'm here.~" I heard it louder. It sounded like it was in my closet.
*Strange.* I thought as I looked. Nothing.
"Hello?" I asked again.
"In here.~" I heard loudly. I looked and saw my trunk. I thought I was going crazy but opened it never the less. I saw all my stuff. Nothing was missing but something was added. A mirror. It wasn't mine though.
"I'm here.~" I heard clearly as the mirror gave a faint glow. My eyes widened as I saw this.
"Wh-who are you?" I asked softly.
"A friend." I heard the mirror say.
"I don't have friends in mirrors." I commented as I didn't dare touch it.
"But I am. I am your friend." The mirror told me. I noted that it sounded like a woman's voice.
"Who are you really?" I asked cautiously.
*Please don't let it be a ghost.* I chanted over and over in my head.
"I am Reflecta." She said softly. I was curious but didn't show myself, just in case.
"Why are you here?" I asked her, caution in my tone.
"I'm here to help you." She says softly.
"Help me?" I questioned curiously.
"Yes. I want to help you find what you have lost." She says to me. I was so confused.
"I… I didn't lose anything." I tell her.
"Oh, but you did." I heard her say very softly. I was getting creeped out. I then heard the doorbell ring. I thanked the heavens and rushed out of my room to answer it.
"Hey, I came over to check on you." Archie greeted when I answered the door.
"Archie! Come quick!" I say to him. I didn't give him the chance as I grabbed his hand and yanked him inside, door closing behind us, as I dragged him up the stairs.
"Whoa! Aria! What's gotten into you?" Archie exclaimed in shock. I brought him to my trunk and pointed to the hand mirror.
"There! Don't touch it! It talked to me and I don't like it!" I exclaimed as I felt afraid. I wasn't sure why though.
"Seriously?" Archie questioned me.
"You don't believe me, do you?" I questioned him. Archie, sheepishly, rubbed the back of his head as he looked away.
"Well, I want too, but you're still under stress and depression from Allegro." He says to me. I stopped him.
"Stop. Just stop. I'm not imagining this or anything like that. Have I ever lied to you?" I asked him but then regretted my words. I did lie about my situation many times, and still lying to him about my DNA change, but he knew I meant about odd things like this.
"Well..." Archie lagged sheepishly. I felt sad.
"Archie, it's a weird mystery and it's, actually, scaring me." I say to him. He looked at the mirror again.
"Wasn't this something your mom had?" He asked me.
"I think so." I say to him.
"If she left it, then why? Also, if the mirror talked, why not sooner? Why wait until now?" He asked me. I only shook my head.
"I don't know. I didn't even know I had it until a few minutes ago when it spoke." I say softly.
"What did it say?" Archie asked me as he took out a pencil and a note pad. I knew he would look into it now.
"It said her name was Reflecta and she wants to help me find something I've lost." I told him honestly.
"Anything else?" He asked me. I shook my head no.
"I'm honestly scared. I don't understand why, though." I say to him.
"Hm, well if what you're saying is true, which I will believe it, then it seems we have another weird mystery on our hands." Archie says to me.
"What do I do until then?" I asked him.
"Keep it locked up for now." He says simply to me. I locked my trunk back up and looked at him.
"Done." I say.
"Good, now get dressed and wash up." He tells me.
"Why?" I asked him.
"Because I'm taking you out for the day, cousin day. You need to get outside, to see people, to not be cooped up. You've been in here for 2 weeks now, summer being close to over, neglecting everyone's calls and visits and it's not healthy. I miss having my partner detective in my mystery hunts, even if they are fake and what not. Plus, everyone misses you. Even Jughead and Dilton miss you." Archie tells me. I felt horrible now. I had been ignoring everyone and had been distancing myself because of this. I felt guilty now.
"Ok." I muttered sadly to him. Archie looked at me, ready to speak, but I walked past him and down my stairs to the bathroom to wash my face and slap make up on. I looked awful. I was going pale, loosing weight from not eating much, I actually looked almost like the living dead at this point. After I washed my face I put make up on, did my hair quick, and sighed as I went to my room. I went in my closet and got dressed before coming out.
"Ok. Let's go." I say softly to him. I didn't have the energy to fight. Archie guided me to his car and off we went. I sighed as I leaned out of the car window a small bit. The wind blew on my face as the fresh air filled my lungs. It felt nice, but I just wasn't up for it. I really wasn't. Every spot I saw, I thought of all the walks Allegro and I went on, all the times we played in the park, the times he chased Vinnie away from me and so on. I was fighting back tears now. Archie seemed to notice and rubbed my arm in a comforting way.
"I miss him too." Archie tells me. I knew he knew how I felt. After all, he used to have a dog when he was younger. It had passed away too. He felt my pain.
"The curse of owning a pet. Missing them when they have to leave." I say as a tear fell.
"But you gave him the best year of his life. One that seemed like more to him." He comforted me. I knew his words were true, but it was still hard on me.
"It was 7 for him." I muttered softly.
"Huh?" Archie asked me curiously.
"Dogs have 7 years in every human year. One year for me was 7 for him." I explained as I sighed.
"I didn't know that." He says softly. "Most people don't. It's why dogs age faster." I say to him.
"And you gave him the best time." He replied to me. I didn't say anything as I wanted to go back home.
How 'bout we get something from Pop Tate's?" He asked me. My lower lip quivered as I fought tears.
"Allegro loved the burgers I'd bring him." I whimpered out. Archie sighed as he tried to hide his mild annoyance.
"Pop's sounds good." I say quickly before he could speak.
"Um… Ok." He says as he pulls into the parking lot. Once he parked I took my time getting out. We walked inside and found a seat. Pops immediately came over.
"Hey Archie. Hey Aria, glad to see you out and about." Pops greeted us. I put on a fake smile, one everyone knew was fake, and did my best to speak normally.
"Yeah, Archie's holding me hostage for the day. I'll be ready for work soon, though." I tell him in a fake happy tone.
"Don't worry about it. It's been dead lately, so you take the time to mourn. You deserve a little vacation anyway." Pops tells me with a bright smile. That smile told me no worries, be strong and he hoped for the best. It made me give a small real smile.
"Thanks Pops. I just miss him." I say softly as I felt the tears try to start up, but I refused to let them.
"I do too." Pops said softly.
"The usual you two?" Pops asked us.
"Good for me." Archie said with a smile.
"Just one burger, please." I say softly. I heard Archie give a small gasp at that.
"Are ya sure?" Pops asked me, worry hinted in his tone. I nodded yes.
"Not that hungry really." I muttered sadly. Now Pops knew it was serious.
"Ok, if you're sure." Pops said before walking off. I sighed as I put my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my hand.
"Hey, I've got some change in my pocket. Wanna turn on the juke box?" Archie asked me in a chipper tone, trying to help me feel better.
"You can." I say softly. Archie sighed as he got up. I heard the chime but didn't think anything of it. I wasn't paying attention until I smelled cheap after shave and felt an arm slink around my shoulders.
"Hey babe, why so sad?" Vinnie asked me, knowing full well why.
"I have no patients for you, so please walk away before you regret it." I say to him in a weak attempt of a threatening tone. Vinnie kept his arm on me though.
"Aw, upset your dog died?" He asked in a mocking sympathy tone.
"I mean it. Go! Away!" I say a bit more sternly.
"I get it. I heard what you did to the guy, no surprise really." Vinnie said as he inched a bit closer.
"You wanna end up like him?" I asked as my sadness was turning to anger.
"Seriously? After I worked hard to get you a feel better present?" Vinnie asked me in a fake hurt tone. I had enough and removed his arm from me as well as push him a bit away from me.
"What did you steal?" I asked him.
"Really, babe? I didn't steal it." He tells me.
"You either stole it or stole the money for it. I doubt you'd 'buy' anything with 'earned' money." I say as I crossed my arms. I heard another chime as Vinnie snarled.
"But I didn't-ugh. Whatever." He says as he grumbles. I got ready to say something, until I saw his grandmother appear.
"Vincent, did you give her the gift yet?" She asked him sweetly.
"No, not yet. I, uh, decided to wait for you." He says as he covers up his bad attitude. Archie started coming back quickly as I just looked at his grandmother.
"Oh how sweet." She said to him before turning to me.
"We heard your dog passed, and I heard through town how you loved him and he loved you, so Vincent wanted to get you something. I helped him, since he insisted it be urgent. Seeing how you look so upset, I can see why my little Vincent was right to be worried." She commented as Vinnie crossed his arms and grumbled. So, it was mostly something from his grandmother rather than him but she's letting him have half the credit since it was his idea.
"Really?" Archie asked curiously.
"Oh, why yes. Have I seen you before?" She then asked Archie.
"Oh, Archie Andrews, ma'am." He introduced.
"Ah yes, the one who writes those weird mysteries. Vincent only reads the ones that include Aria and comments how your work is cheesy without her." She said with a bright smile. Archie's ego deflated a bit from her words, while I rolled my eyes.
"Vincent, give her the gift already." She softly scolded him.
"Yeah, yeah." Vinnie said before handing me a poorly wrapped box. It was small, barely able to fit in my hand though, as the paper was crumbled and falling off. I ignored it as I unwrapped it, praying it wasn't a ring since it was in a red velvet box, before opening it. It was a key chain, not a cheap one either, that was silver and had a silver dog on it along with a silver bone, studded in fake amethysts, that had allegro engraved on it in cursive. I was genuinely surprised.
"Wow, thank you." I say as I hold it close. I didn't care that Vinnie had a part in it, I didn't care what his little scheme was, I just couldn't believe his grandmother was this kind after only meeting me once.
"Thank Vincent mostly. He thought you'd like to have something in memory of your dog. He told me how he'd play fetch and run with your dog almost every time he saw you two." She says with a smile. Vinnie gave a muttered whiny 'Grams' as I heard the lie. He told her this instead of saying Allegro chased him away from me for many different reasons.
"Yeah, like a game of tag as I recall." I say as I give a smirk towards Vinnie. He grumbled as he knew I knew.
"I think it's very sweet you'd let him play with your dog. Most dogs don't like him, though I'm not sure why." His grandma said in a genuinely sweet voice as she questioned this. Archie, who was doing his best to hold in his laughs, decided to be bold.
"Yeah. Wonder why." Archie snarked out. Vinnie was ready to say something, but I cut in.
"Thank you very much for the gift, it's wonderful." I say to them. Vinnie blinked in shock before smirking.
"See? I knew you'd like it." He said as his ego started growing. I felt my eye twitch from his words.
"Well, I'm glad you like it. I wish we could stay, but we must be going. We only stopped by because he happened to spot you inside." She says with a smile.
"Come along, Vincent." She said as she turned and began walking.
"Aw, grams. Just a minute longer?" He nearly whined out, making me wince.
"No, we need to go." She tells him.
"Then can I hug her bye?" I heard. I was about to protest before she agreed. He then hugged me.
"You'll fall for me soon, babe." He whispered as he kept his hands on my upper back. That surprised me. I say her look back and forced myself to hug him.
"I'm doing this for your grandmother, not you. You can rot for all I care, but you better take care of that sweet old lady. She's too good to have a delinquent like you for a grandson." I say quietly in his ear, only Archie hearing it, before gently forcing him backwards. He sneered but walked out without a fuss. Once gone, I shuddered.
"I'm going to need a long~ shower after this… And bleach my skin as well." I say as I shuddered again.
"I can't believe she got you something and gave Vinnie the credit." Archie said in shock.
"His grandma bought it, but I think she really meant it when she said it was his idea and what to get." I say as I shudder again. Archie shuddered with me.
"Vinnie? Nice?" Archie asked in disbelief.
"I believe everyone has some good in them, but Vinnie hides his completely. Maybe, if he wasn't such an ass, he'd be a good person that the town would love." I say as I kept hold of the key chain. I didn't know why I was going to keep it, maybe because of his grandma, but I didn't fight it.
"Ok, now you're going crazy." Archie says with a smirk.
"Says the boy who claims that mole men exist." I say with an eye roll but a genuine smile.
"But they are!" Archie defended. I softly laughed as Pops came back with our food.
"Yeah right, show me proof. Then I'll believe you." I say as Pops put the food down.
"There's our Aria. Feeling better?" Pops asked me. I smiled happily.
"Yes, a bit." I reply to him.
"I saw what was happening, but didn't hear. Was he bothering you?" Pops asked. I briefed him on what happened and showed him the key chain. I believed Vinnie had a shred of hope to turn good, but it seemed no one could believe it. Understandable. After a bit of chatting I began eating. Pops' burgers tasted great. I decided on more after all. Jughead came in, joined us, and cuddled me to keep me happy. Soon, the whole gang showed up and we all ate and laughed. Archie was right, I needed this. Heck, Reggie didn't even flirt with me and only called me Doll Face once! Everyone was shocked, but Reggie shrugged and said he figured it's be easier to do this to get me happy rather than risk either tears or a trip to the hospital. Wise choice. We then headed out and walked around just to hang out. It was good to do this. After it started getting dark, Archie brought me home. I decided to put the key chain in my trunk, forgetting about the mirror, and unlocked it. As soon as I did, I saw a glow. I looked and saw my reflection, then it got white eyes and razor sharp teeth while it's hair was matted up and scars formed on it. I screamed before being sucked in the hand mirror, the key chain dropping right in front of my trunk, as it slammed shut with an eerie laugh following it, before blacking out.
*Archie's POV*
I was home, laying on my bed, happy that I helped Aria feel better. Mom and dad came home and I was soon called down to dinner. We talked as we ate, I explained how Aria was felling better, while all seemed well. We heard the phone ring and Dad went to answer it.
"Hello, Andrews residence, Fred speaking." I heard him say.
"No, she's not here." I then heard. I was curious now.
"Let me check." I heard then saw dad poke his head in the kitchen.
"Archie, did you bring Aria home?" He asked me.
"Yeah." I say to him.
"Did she mention going anywhere?" He asked me.
"No. Dad, what's going on?" I asked him.
"Aria's not home. You sure she didn't mention going anywhere?" He asked me one more time.
"I'm sure." I say as I got worried.
*Maybe she went out last minute? But, she usually leaves a note.* I thought as I felt a weird mystery was at work.
"No, he said she didn't have plans." I heard dad say.
"Dave, calm down. I don't think she ran away. Archie was saying she was feeling better." He said to Uncle Dave. I got up.
"I'm going to Betty's to see if she might've had to babysit tonight." I say before darting outside. I went to Betty's and rang the bell. Betty's brother answered and he got Betty for me.
"Hey Archie, is something wrong?" She asked me worriedly.
"Would you know if Aria's babysitting tonight?" I asked her.
"She's not. I've been covering for her. Why, is something wrong?" She asked me worriedly.
"Uncle Dave called. Aria's missing." I say to her. A weird mystery indeed.
*A few days later Archie's POV*
It's been almost a week now and Aria hasn't been found. No one's seen her and I was worried. Police didn't find anything either. No signs of kidnapping, no robbery gone wrong, no evidence of her running away nor being killed. Nothing.
She was just… Gone.
We put up posters, held search parties and even interrogated Vinnie Wells. Nothing! We set out a missing person alert that reached all the way to NYC and heard nothing. We were all worried. Uncle Dave's been crying non-stop and loosing sleep just looking for her. A lot of us were. I had even caught Vinnie wondering off somewhere. I followed him and caught him searching around. Turned out, my theory of him kidnapping her was wrong since, he was secretly searching claiming 'She's too hot to be used by a kidnapper or end up missing.'. I think he does care but in a sick twisted way. I had no choice but to back off. Today, I went to her house and rang the bell. I hadn't been here since the day she disappeared. Uncle Dave answered and he looked horrible.
"Archie? Did you find her?!" He asked in a frantic tone as he seemed out of it.
"No, I came to see if the cops missed anything. I know how she keeps things and, maybe, I can find a clue." I say to him. He sighed as he looked down.
"Sure, go ahead. Make yourself at home." He says as he, sluggishly, moved aside. I went in and saw a bit of a mess. Uncle Dave went back onto the couch and collapsed on it. I got ready to check on him, but heard him snoring.
*Guess he's tired.* I thought before, quietly, heading upstairs. I looked and it was just as the police said. Nothing out of place, everything neat, nothing missing, just the way Aria keeps it.
I started walking around. The bed wasn't made, but that was already like that, all her stuff on her vanity is placed around where she kept it, except her black eyeliner was laying down, her jewelry box was closed, like before, her rug was neat, her car keys were on her night stand with her lamp and alarm as normal, her laptop was on the other nightstand, nothing missing or out of place. I sighed and sat on her bed in defeat.
"Aria, where are you?" I muttered under my breath. I looked up and saw a glint from her closet. I got curious and went over to it. On the side of her trunk was her key chain. The one Vinnie and his grandmother gave her.
*Why is this here?* I thought as I looked at it then the trunk.
*Was she going to put it in here?* I thought curiously. I realized something happened before she could put it away.
A clue!
Problem is, it wasn't much of one. It only showed she was, indeed, taken before she could put this away. I went to open her trunk, but it was locked. I knew where her key was and grabbed it before unlocking it. I opened it and took a look in it. I saw nothing was taken, but I did see that mirror.
*She went missing the day she discovered this. Is it linked to her disappearance?* I thought as I grabbed it.
"Hello?" I heard suddenly. I jumped and dropped the mirror, lucky it didn't break, as I looked around.
"Hello?!" I heard again. It sounded like Aria.
"Aria?" I asked as I looked around.
"Archie? Archie help!" I heard suddenly.
"Where are you?" I asked as I looked around.
"I don't know! It's dark." She said to me. I had been looking around for her.
"What happened?" I asked, thinking there was a portal or she was a ghost.
"I can't remember. I think I'm in the mirror." I then heard.
"The mirror?" I asked as I went to it.
"Archie! Don't look in it!" I heard from next to me. I looked and saw Aria, or rather her reflection. I jumped backwards with a yelp, landing on my butt with a thud, as I stared in disbelief.
"A-Aria?" I asked in question.
"Archie! Don't look at the mirror!" She screamed the warning.
"What? Why?" I asked in shock and worry.
"Because it's evil! Find Doctor Beaumont! Just don't look in the mirror! Avoid the reflection!" She warned me. I went to say something but saw black strips, either hair or tentacles, start to wrap around her.
"Aria!" I cried out in horror just as footsteps charged up the stairs.
"What's go-" Uncle Dave started, but froze at Aria's reflection without her. Aria then screamed before being dragged away. After she was dragged off, the mirror broke. Uncle Dave and I were in shock over what we saw. Then, Uncle Dave fell to his knees and broke down crying.
"My little girl… Why… Where is she..." He sobbed out while I looked at the now broken mirror in shock. What was happening? What was going on? Where was she? I grabbed a sheet and wrapped the hand mirror in it before hurrying out.
"I'm getting her back!" I called out to Uncle Dave before running to my car and drove to my next destination. Doctor Beaumont's shop. I drove as fast as I could, passing stop signs and red lights as well, before parking and ran into the shop.
"Doctor Beaumont!" I cried out as I began searching for him.
"No need to shout, Mister Andrews." He said from behind his desk. I ran in and pulled the mirror out before placing it on the counter.
"Aria's in a mirror realm! She appeared in a different mirror and warned me not to look at my reflection in this! What's going on!" I said in a panic over all that was happening. Doctor Beaumont's eyes widened before he grabbed me.
"Where did you get this?!" He shouted in a demanding tone.
"Aria's trunk. We think her mother slipped it in there before she disappeared. What's going on?" I asked as I felt fearful. He wrapped the mirror up quickly, ran to the door of his shop to lock it and put the closed sign up, then hurriedly grabbed me and dragged me to the back where there were 2 mirrors. One in gold and another covered up.
"I thought I had the only mirror left. I now know I am wrong." He says in a grave tone.
"What's going on!" I demanded suddenly.
"Mister Andrews, remember how you were investigating black mirrors and their origins?" He asked me. I nodded yes.
"This hand mirror is the same as the one covered up. They are black mirrors, cursed ones, that lead to an evil mirror realm." He explained to me. "What?!" I cried out in shock.
"I believe, if her mother had this, then she wasn't really her mother." He then tells me.
"But… How?" I asked him.
"If her mother looked into this, then she might've been sucked in by the spirit that haunts that realm." He tells me.
"A spirit?" I asked him.
"Yes. There are many spirits there, but they will possess the person or switch with them based on their purity and the spell used. However, there is one that is different." He explains to me.
"Who?" I asked him.
"Let's find Miss Andrews first, so that I may confirm my suspicions." He tells me as he goes to the mirror in the gold frame. He starts chanting something but then stops.
"Miss Andrews? Miss Andrews, are you there?" He asks the mirror.
"Hello?" I heard suddenly. It was so faint, I thought I imagined it.
"Miss Andrews?" He called out again.
"Doctor Beaumont?" I heard, but this time it sounded distorted.
"Miss Andrews, follow my voice." He says in a calm tone.
"It's dark. I can't see." She says as her voice was still distorted.
"Aria! What happened? Why were you dragged off!" I called out.
"Archie? Archie!" She cried out as her voice sounded slightly more clear.
"Aria, what were those black things?" I asked loudly. Doctor Beaumont gave me a strange look before looking at the mirror.
"She didn't like me being seen. Did you see her? Did you see her break my mirror?" She asked as she still didn't appear.
"Who?" Doctor Beaumont asked. Aria then appeared, but she looked hurt.
"Please, help me. She wants to hurt me." She said in a begging tone.
"Who?" He asked again.
"Reflecta." She says as she looks around in fear.
"I don't know where she is, only that the mirrors give light and I can't get close enough at times. She won't let me. I'm scared. She keeps telling me things." She says as tears fall from her eyes.
"Listen to me. Don't look at her, don't listen to her, stay away from her and don't let her get you!" He said as his voice was firm.
"Why is she doing this? What did I do?" She asked as she started sobbing.
"You got in her way. You stopped her from having her way, so now she wants you." He tells her.
"Why? How? I don't understand!" She says as she falls to her knees and sobs.
"Miss Andrews, do you know how long you've been gone?" He asks her suddenly. Aria shook her head no.
"A few minutes? An hour?" She asked as she looked up.
"You've been gone almost a week." I tell her. Her eyes widened at my words.
"What?!" She shrieked in horror at my words.
"Time in the mirror realm is different. It is all at a stand still. Miss Andrews could be in there 10 years but not age a day." He explained to us.
"How do I get out?" She asked in fear.
"I have to find the spell and make some calls. I will have you out before the day is over." He tells her.
"What happens if Reflecta gets me?" She asked in worry. Doctor Beaumont's breath hitched in his throat as he contemplated his next words. Aria saw that and her eyes widened as more tears fell.
"Please help me. I don't wanna die. I don't wanna die!" She said softly before screeching her last words.
"I'll do my best to make sure you don't." He says as he started roaming around the room, grabbing bottles, a book, and other stuff.
"What will happen if she kills Aria?" I asked suddenly.
"Then Reflecta will enter this world as her until she is forced back into the mirror realm." He explained.
"Then, did I stop her from claiming someone?" Aria asked softly.
"No, I think she was already free." He says as he starts his work.
"You can't stay. You need to hide or run. I will contact you again, but if she finds you here then I won't be able to help." He tells her.
"I don't want to be alone. Please, don't send me away." She whimpered out.
"There's no choice unless you want her to break this mirror and capture you." He tells her. She went to say something, but her eyes widened as she spun her head in all directions. She then ran and was gone. Doctor Beaumont ended the spell and the mirror was back to normal, no black back round like before, no Aria, nothing. Not even our reflections.
"The mirror disguises itself in that realm so it won't break easily." He tells me, answering my silent question.
"Who's Reflecta?" I then asked.
"A very powerful spirit, one of a cursed witch. Years ago, during the Salem witch trials, Reflecta was accused of being a witch and was to be burned. She swore she'd return and cast a spell to release her soul. But, before it could find a host, a male witch revealed himself and chanted a spell that casted her soul into a mirror, the one covered up, but not all of her soul went into it. Some of it, with bits of her magic, spread out along the world and into other mirrors. The male witch escaped and hid the mirror among his cult as they retrieved the other mirrors over the years. Each one was easy to destroy and cast the bits of her back into this mirror. It was recorded there were only so many mirrors, but I suppose one slipped through the cracks, lying in wait until she was ready to strike." He explained as he began making a chalk circle.
"But why was she burned? What was her crime?" I asked curiously.
"Reflecta was always jealous of other women. She always wanted the best. She would seduce men, kill the wives and cast a spell to be them, and would do this to keep her happy. She had been caught, though, after she would beat the children and, eventually, cause them or cause the fathers to kill them." He tells me as he made strange marks.
All of this seemed familiar.
"Doctor Beaumont, with how Aria's life was, could it be possible that Reflecta imitated her mom for years?" I asked cautiously.
"Precisely. I had not made the connection at first, but with what is happening now, that's exactly what happened. She'd seduce all men to believe her, brainwashed the husband to be her puppet, manipulate everyone around her to believe her word." He tells me.
"Then why didn't Aria fall for it?" I asked him.
"Because she was a young child, so growing up to that made her immune. It also helped us not fall for Reflecta's tricks because she would constantly socialize, be around us and spread her good protective aura around the town. Something Reflecta didn't count on. It had also started reversing it's affects on her father, so when she saw what was happening, she left the mirror in hiding and went back into the realm to regain her strength and plan again. Now that Miss Andrews' is there, she will try to kill her to become her. If that happens, then Reflecta will win and be more powerful because everyone in this town knows and befriends her. A perfect host with a perfect target." He says as he finished his work.
"Does that mean that… Her mother..." I started to ask, but couldn't brave it.
"Indeed. Her mother is dead." He said in a grim tone before walking off to make those calls. My heart sank as everything was still processing in my mind. I silently prayed Aria would be safe.
*Aria's POV*
I was shocked. A week? I've been here a week? I couldn't believe it. What made it worse was I was in danger. Again! This wasn't good. How is it I piss off spirits, robots and other things? Uhg! I had seen Reflecta, or at least her imitating my appearance in a messed up way like the reflection I saw, and bolted. If she was as dangerous as I was warned, then I definitely need to avoid her.
*But what did he mean by I ruined her plans?* I thought as I tried to search for a way out. It felt hopeless, but anything was better than nothing.
"Aria.~ Where are you?~" I heard Reflecta call me.
"Nope." I muttered and bolted. I didn't know where to go or what to do, but anything was better than her catching me. After a long, or short I don't know anymore, while I had started seeing things. Objects. A few rocks, a dead tree, and mannequins. At least, I hoped they were. I shivered as something felt off. I pushed on and saw a small house. It was old and broken apart completely. It was screaming nopesville.
"I'm not going in there." I thought as I went to move around.
"Aria.~ I'm getting closer.~" Reflecta called out creepily. If that wasn't bad enough, the mannequins started moving towards me.
"Then again, maybe I am." I muttered in a fast, hight pitched squeaky scared tone before bolting inside. I started looking for a place to hide at that point. I found a spot in a closet under the floor and hid. I held my breath as I heard footsteps.
*Archie.~ Please hurry.* I thought in fear.
*Archie's POV*
I was helping Doctor Beaumont with grabbing ingredients, Uncle John showed up and decided to help after being told where she was, until Doctor Beaumont came back.
"They won't make it in time, but I found someone to help us." Doctor Beaumont informed us as he set the candles down.
"Who?" I asked curiously.
"Me." I heard a familiar female voice.
"Miss Lucinda?!" I gasped in shock.
"Who else?" She said as she walked over.
"Beaumont told me, through telekineses, what happened. So, as having family who helped find a couple mirrors and a bit of experience, rushed on over." She explained before pulling out a jar from her bag.
"You'll need this. I also gathered a few things that'll, permanently, keep her restrained and unable to escape that corner of the realm." She tells Doctor Beaumont, who nods while taking the jar, and the two work fast.
"Why is this Reflecta after my daughter?" Uncle John asked firmly. He knew what happened but not the revenge. I took him out of the room and sighed before telling him what I was told. Even how Aunt Dona had to be dead in order for Reflecta to be here. Uncle John listened, growing pale and wide eyed at everything I was telling him, until the very end. I saw a few tears escape his tired eyes as he started shaking.
"My wife… My real one… Is dead?" He asked in a shaky tone. I knew this was hard for him, and could possibly break him, but he needed to know.
"Yeah." I replied softly. He gulped before taking a shaky breath.
"Then… Let's save my daughter." He said as he tried to brave through it.
"Good. Use your love to help pull her out and away from Reflecta." We heard Miss Lucinda say. We looked at her and nodded as we re-entered the room.
"Let's find her before Reflecta does." Doctor Beaumont said as we gathered around the circle.
"Whatever you do, don't look directly in the black mirror. She can only take girls, as far as we know, but she'll trick you and try to pull you in or make you kill yourself." Doctor Beaumont warned us. We nodded and agreed. The two chanted something and the circle glowed before the mirror gave off an image of an old house.
*Aria's POV*
I heard her! Reflecta! She was roaming around. I could hear the floor creak from each step she took. It scared me. I was trying very hard to keep calm, but the fear never left.
"Aria?" I heard a feminine voice. I snapped out of my fears as I thought the voice was familiar.
"Aria? Where are you?" It called again.
"Mom?" I whispered softly.
"Aria, please! Come out! I'm here! We can escape together!" She called out to me. I went to move but stopped myself.
*Why would mom be here?* I thought to myself.
"Miss Andrews, don't listen to her!" I heard Doctor Beaumont call out.
"Aria, we need to go! Reflecta's kept me hostage here! I don't want my sweet little girl hurt!" She called out again.
"Don't listen to her lies!" I heard Miss Lucinda call out.
"Aria, listen! She killed your mom and came out here as her! Once she had no power, she retreated to the mirror! She waited for you to be alone! She wants to kill you and be you!" Archie cried out to me. I teared up and shook my head.
*I can't believe it! Why?! Why?!* I thought to myself.
"She didn't kill me! I'm here!" I heard her call out. I bolted out of the closet and saw my mom. I ran to her and hugged her while crying.
"Mom!" I cried out.
"No! She's not your mother!" Doctor Beaumont called out.
"Ignore them. They're Reflecta trying to trick you. I'm here. I'm here." She said soothingly as she rubbed my hair.
"Mom, I missed you. Why did she keep you here? How did you get here?" I sobbed as I kept my eyes closed and held her close.
"I bought a hand mirror and cleaned it. When I looked in it, I was pulled in here." She tells me softly.
"Aria! Aria, listen to me! She's not your mother! She's not! Reflecta killed her! Now you come out and find us now or I'll ground you and never let you out!" I heard my dad threaten. I opened my eyes wide at my dad's words.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm here.~ But will soon be free.~" I suddenly heard my mother's voice change to that eerie one before. I tried to pull away as I was now staring at Reflecta's cold, dead, pupil less eyes. She was so horrible looking as her hair wrapped around me. She started crushing me as I was frozen in fear.
"I want freedom. You're my ticket to it!" She hissed out as I felt my bones crack. Suddenly, a bright light was shined on us. I closed my eyes as Reflecta let out an inhumane shriek. I opened them and saw Reflecta was gone.
"Miss Andrews, you must get out of that house! Now!" I heard Doctor Beaumont call out. I obeyed and started running. Everywhere I turned though, there were no windows and doors. Every door frame I passed would show a room of many horrid things. I turned and shrieked at a horrible sight before me. I saw my mother! My real one! She was pinned to the wall and her skin clung to her bones while her blood and guts were under her. I fell to my knees at the sight and started crying.
"Mama… Why..." I whimpered out as the image was burned into my brain now.
"Run child! You must run!" I heard Miss Lucinda tell me.
"I can't! There's no way out!" I sobbed out. I heard bones cracking, the floor creak, and Reflecta's gasps heading right towards me. I turned and managed to hide before running past her quietly. I had to keep looking. I soon found a door and opened it before shutting it. It was black inside as it showed many cracked mirrors. All except 2. A small one and a big one. The big one showed a hint of light. I went and gently tapped on it.
"Hello?" I called out.
"Aria?" I heard Archie ask me.
"Archie? Archie, I'm here. I don't know where, but I can hear you perfectly!" I say to him. Then the mirror showed everyone as only Doctor Beaumont looked right at me.
"How can we confirm?" Doctor Beaumont asked me.
"It's me, why would I lie? This was the only door I found. Please, do a spell or whatever you need to do to prove it's me, but hurry. Reflecta might find me." I say as tears fell from my eyes. Then Miss Lucinda looked right at me. I looked right at her as tears fell from my eyes.
"It's not Reflecta. If it was, I'd be in there already." She confirmed. Doctor Beaumont then covered his hand in a green glowing potion before reaching in, grabbing me and pulled me out. I was out! I was free!
"No!~" I heard a cry. I went to look but Miss Lucinda covered my eyes.
"Don't look! Not unless you want to return in there to die!" She scolds me quietly. Then, I heard two mirrors shatter. I looked and saw the black mirror had shattered.
"Is it over?" I whispered softly.
"I'm not sure." Doctor Beaumont said cautiously. I was then pulled into a hug by my dad and Archie. I hugged them back.
"I'm so sorry for worrying you!" I say as I saw how awful dad looked. He must've missed me and been loosing sleep just trying to find me. I then heard bone creaking.
"Aria.~" I heard Reflecta whisper. We all turned and saw Reflecta, alive, crawling out of the frame of the mirror. Once out, she stood up and creepily smiled at me.
"Now that I'm free, I'm going to kill you first." She whispered before rushing over. I shrieked and scrunched back before Miss Lucinda threw salt at her. Reflecta shrieked and Doctor Beaumont forced her to look into the gold mirror. Reflecta stopped and saw something in it, something we couldn't see, before backing up in fear. She then shrieked before turning to glass and shattered into billions of pieces.
"What did she see?" Archie asked for me.
"Her death." Doctor Beaumont said suddenly.
"Is… Is she..." I tried to ask, but the words wouldn't form.
"Gone for good." Miss Lucinda said to us. I felt weak as I leaned onto dad for support.
"I saw mom… She… She was… She was dead." I sobbed out as he held me close.
"I know. I was told she was dead. I'm sorry my song bird." Dad said softly to me as he stroked my hair. I shook and sobbed as I was comforted.
"Archie… What happened while I was in there?" I asked him.
*Flash back Archie's POV*
The two had been chanting while Uncle Dave and I stood aside and watched.
"We're going to start searching for her using the gold mirror. Once we find her, we'll figure out where and how to get her out. She might have to use the black mirror in that realm." Doctor Beaumont explained to us.
"But how will we know it's her and not Reflects?" Uncle Dave asked them.
"Through your love. It'll help guide her to us and Reflecta can't go through the gold mirror, no matter the spell. She is evil and the gold framed mirror is surrounded with good." Miss Lucinda explained. I didn't get a chance to ask anything before our eyes laid upon an old house.
"That's not good." Doctor Beaumont said suddenly.
"What?" I asked worriedly.
"If she's in that house, Reflecta's home, then getting her out will be much harder. That house is a trap, a maze with no exit, a place where Reflecta can kill easily. We must call to her." Doctor Beaumont tells us.
"But what if she can't hear us?" I asked.
"She will, but we must be strong and firm. Say what you must to get her out. Threaten her, punish her, ground her, anything! Do whatever you must to get her to listen to us, not Reflecta, so we can locate her." Miss Lucinda started. We all called out to her. It was only when uncle Dave made his threat that we seemed to find her. Reflecta had her. Honestly, she looked terrifying. Black clumped up hair in long strips, paler skin than snow, scars all over her, a long black dress on her, white pupil less eyes, a cracked smile with long teeth and long claw like nails to match. Aria was frozen still before Doctor Beaumont and Miss Lucinda did a spell to cascade light around them. Reflecta screeched an inhumane screech and was gone. Once Aria was ordered to run, she did. We lost track of her and kept telling her to run. We heard her sobbing and finally heard her say she was trapped.
"What can we do?" I asked frantically.
"Please, help her!" Uncle Dave cried out.
"Have faith, we'll figure it out." Miss Lucinda told us. We then heard Aria call to us. We were told to look away as Doctor Beaumont revealed the mirror to us.
"If I look and it's Aria, then we can save her." Miss Lucinda whispered to me. She knew the risk and turned. I was thankful to hear it was her. We turned and saw Doctor Beaumont pull her out. Once she was out, Uncle Dave and I pulled her close to us protectively as she sobbed.
*End flashback Aria's POV*
I was surprised to hear all that. They didn't see what I saw, except Reflecta, which made me happy to hear. Dad had called everyone and explained that I was found and to read the next Article. As he did that, Archie and I were in my room typing up the story from both views. I decided to be graphic this time and explained the gore and stuff I saw. It'll, hopefully, boost the ratings up a bit.
"And so, after all of the worry and fear, Aria was brought back to us. ~Archie. I felt horrible I worried so many people and I'm sorry for that. I should've contacted Doctor Beaumont right away and avoided the mirror. Lesson of the week, if something seems off, find a professional to assist you. Don't take care of it alone or ignore the warnings that your senses give. ~Aria. I should've fully believed her instead of thinking it was all in her head due to the death of Allegro. It turns out Reflecta was afraid of dogs and wouldn't activate as long as he was around. That's why she waited so long. But now she can never hurt us. ~Archie. The past can hold many secrets and fears, while the future is a dark and light ball of mystery, so enjoy everyday as if it's your last. That's what I'm going to do from now on since it almost was my last day here. ~Aria. ...In a little town called Riverdale! ~Archie & Aria!"
We finished typing and Archie was going to publish it tonight. We got called downstairs and went into the back yard where all my friends and my family were, eating food, barbecuing, playing games and enjoying life. I've mourned Allegro long enough. I miss him dearly, but being in depression won't help me. That's why I'm going to enjoy the life I have and the chances I've been given.