Miranda sighed inwardly as the sound of a door opining and a startled gasp jarred her from her thoughts, "Miranda? What are you still doing here? I thought you went home hours ago…is everything alright?" Courtney asked as Miranda tore her attention away from the mirror in front of her, "I'm fine…" was her only response. Courtney gave her a concerned look, "you do realize that it's almost midnight, right?" Courtney asked tentatively. Miranda glanced at the mirror and then smiled weakly at Courtney, "I'd better get home then…" Miranda said in monotone.
As Courtney walked Miranda to the door, she hesitantly asked, "you could stay the night if you like, or I could have Winston drive you home?" Miranda slowly opened the front door and stared into the night. It began to rain and Courtney moved to insist that Miranda stay when she sighed, "no. I like walking alone at night in the dark alone…in the dark, alone" Courtney bite her lower lip and watched as her friend wondered into the street. She took a breath and groaned helplessly as Miranda disappeared out of site, every instinct Courtney had told her to say or do something to stop her friend but she just couldn't think of anything.
Courtney looked sadly out into the dimly lit streets before closing the door, "oh Miranda…" she said quietly to herself. Courtney wasn't well known for her empathy but it was painfully obvious that something was seriously wrong with Miranda. Courtney hadn't said anything but Miranda had been staring at her mirror for nearly five hours, she remembered saying that she would speak to Miranda later after she was called for dinner. It was then that it occurred to her that Miranda hadn't eaten anything at lunch and possibly skipped breakfast as well…these thoughts and more of the same buzzed in her mind, as she lay awake in her bed.
Meanwhile, Miranda had been wondering through the streets unfazed by the fact that she was socked to the skin and hadn't looked up to see where she was since she left Courtney's house. She stopped in front of a house that she knew wasn't her own, "Ginger…" she said in a semi-confused tone as if some one had lead her here. She stared at the house for a moment before continuing to her own house. Miranda quietly moved through the silent house to her room and sat on the edge of her bed, "Ginger…why can't I get you out of my head?" she whispered before falling back on the bed and closing her eyes.
(Courtney's point of view)
Oh why can't I get Miranda out of my head? Because she's my best friend and I let her wonder into the night alone, and I didn't even try to stop her, that's why. Sigh; so hear I am lying awake in my nice warm comfy bed feeling like something is tearing away at my insides. And all because I'm so self-centred I don't know how to reach out to my only real friend when she needs me. I can't even tell her I love her, not that I'm in love with her or anything like that…I just wish I could say the words without worrying that she'll take it the wrong way.
It's funny, I don't really have a problem with Miranda thinking that I'm in love with her it's just that I know that it would ruin our friendship somehow. I can't risk loosing Miranda, she means more to me than anything in the whole world. Maybe I am in love with her and I'm afraid to admit it.
I clutch the velvet covers around me and go back to that magical moment when I first held Miranda in my arms and I smile. Even though the lifeless fabric could never hope to be as warm and inviting as she was, I smile as my mind brings her back to me and whisper, "I love you, Miranda".
(Narrative)
Meanwhile, in an overly extravagant tree house Blake grinned gleefully at the disembodied eye that inexplicably bobbed in the vinegar filled jar. He turned to Winston, who was nervously standing by the entrance, "It's finally mine again, Winston. Tell me, is there any reason why you appear to be cowering in the doorway?" Blake asked, slightly annoyed that Winston was taking some of the fun out of his victory.
Winston glanced at the eye, "well…I realise this may seem silly sir, but I could swear that it is looking at use" Winston explained sheepishly. Blake raised an eyebrow to Winston's explanation, "looking at use? Don't be ridicules Winston! Though, now you mention it…it dose seem a little strange that it moves without being shook. Still, the idea that the eye is doing anything of its own will is preposterous" Blake said, giving the eye one last look before leaving the room.
Back at Miranda's house, she had been lying on her bed for an hour now but she was unable to sleep. She sat up and walked toward the bathroom and stared silently at the mirror, "what's wrong with me?" she asked as she rested her head on the cold glass.
(Miranda's P.O.V)
I'm not sure how long I've been standing here…my forehead is numb so it's been a will. The sun isn't up yet so it's still late or early depending on how you look at it…that's how the world defines it's self really, by how everybody else sees it.
How true, but then again, it's not like the world has a chose in the matter but you do.
All I can do is jerk my head back and stare speechlessly at my reflection as it grins back at me, "who are you?" I ask which only makes its smile widen.
Who am I? I'm Miranda…well actually I'm the dark embodiment of your evil side. No that's not right, that implies that you have a good side…I'm an unfiltered version of you. Uh huh, that sounds about right!
What do you mean I don't have a good side? I'm no saint but I'm not evil!
Oh, aren't you? Let's look at the fact, you lie, cheat, and blackmail everyone you get the chance too! You even stab your best friend, the only person on this miserable planet who genuinely cares about you, in the back on a regular basis! Add to that the fact that the person you're in love with has been on the receiving end of all that stuff with an extra dash of malice doesn't help your credibility here! Ha, not evil she says!
I stare silently at…myself, and try to think of a rebuttal but it's all true. I scowl at myself, the fact that I'm arguing with my reflection no longer bothering me.
Well aren't you going to respond? Come on Miranda I know you, and even if you're wrong you never just give up!
WELL I'VE NEVER KILLED ANYONE!
Yet…
That last statement snapped me back to semi-reality and the fact that I was talking to my self hit me hard. I took a long hard look at the situation and realised I was dangerously close to a terrible revelation…I was losing my mind. "No, that can't be right…I'm just tired that's all!" I rationalised as I made my way back to bed, my reflection remaining stationery and grinning at me as I left.
I sighed deeply as I lay awake thinking about what had just happened. Am I insane? Did I want to kill someone? Or, is something else happening?
(Narrative)
Courtney sat-up quickly on her bed and looked around her room nervously, "h-hello…is someone there?" she asked timidly. A shiver ran down her spin as she peeked out of her room into the dark hallway, "come child…come to usss" a voice said from the darkness. Courtney instinctively pulled her head back and slammed her back against the door, "ok Courtney, get a grip. Someone…or something is in the hall and it wants you to fallow it!" she explained to herself in the hope that the situation would seem less frightening. Before she could calm herself down a faint scratching on the other side of the door, which made her tense every muscle in her body, "go away! Please just go away!" she sobbed as she clamped her eye closed and curled into a ball, trying to stop herself from shaking.
After what seemed like an eternity the scratching stopped and a thin shaft of light struck Courtney's face and she slowly opened her eyes. Cautiously reaching for the door handle Courtney looked out into the empty hallway, "it was just a bad dream. All that worrying about Miranda must have been the problem" Courtney explained to herself as her fear turned to concern for her friend's wellbeing. As she closed the door to get dressed, she was too preoccupied with Miranda to notice the faint scratches on the foot of her door.