Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the movie "Oculus. This is just my opinion on how the story should continue and end. There are horror themes of paranormal activity and murder throughout so please read at your own risk.
Tim knew his sister wouldn't be waiting for him this time when he was released from the mental hospital. He still mourned over the death of his family and he couldn't help but feel responsible. Another 10 years later, he was ready to start over a third time. He didn't know where to begin, but the mental hospital had given him some money to help him back on his feet.
As Tim walked out of the facility, the fresh air hit his face. Tim couldn't help but remember a decade ago when his sister Kaylie had been there to greet him. No one was waiting for him this time; he was truly alone. He guessed getting a job was the first step to rebuilding some semblance of a life.
Tim walked down the block, looking at all the sights around him. The city he knew had changed while he was locked up. As he walked down the strip where all the main buildings were, memories flooded him.
***10 years earlier***
"Wow, things have really changed around here," Tim observed as Kaylie drove him around the city. He had just been released from the mental hospital after coming to grips with how his dad murdered his mom and he, just a child at the time, had murdered his dad to keep himself and his older sister safe.
"You'd be surprised," Kaylie laughed. "Did you know I'm engaged?"
"What?! No way!" Tim exclaimed. "Who's the lucky man?"
"His name's Michael Dumont; he runs the local auction," Kaylie answered. "Have you seen the new restaurant they've built?"
"Nope, I haven't seen anything new around here," Tim answered. "They didn't exactly let us go on field trips – you know."
"Oh, I have to show you then!" Kaylie exclaimed and pulled into the parking lot of the large restaurant. The name on the big sign on the building read "Lucy's Italian Cuisine." The restaurant was painted a pale yellow, will large windows all around the exterior.
***Present time***
Tim sighed as he stood in front of the restaurant Kaylie had taken him to when he got out the first time. The building had been kept in good shape; it looked as good as ever. He wished he could say the same about himself. He gave the restaurant a good look and continued on.
He was looking for "Help Wanted" signs. He passed a large grocery store named Bardy's – that was new. It also had a "Help Wanted" sign in the window. The store looked to be part of a big chain and seemed to have good business. Tim pushed open the door and the scent of fresh produce greeted him. Hospital food wasn't the best, so it had been years since Tim had smelled such a wonderful scent. He stood and drunk the smell in, then he looked around. The produce section was on left, with aisles and checkouts on his right, and straight ahead was a cold and freezer area. There was a man in uniform standing behind a small desk ahead of him. That's where Tim decided to start.
"Hello, sir. Is this where I can apply for a job?" Tim asked the man. The man was skinny, black-haired, and elderly. He had kind eyes, but Tim could tell he was the no-nonsense type.
"Yes, it is. Name?" the man asked.
"Tim, Tim Russel," Tim responded. The man intimidated him a little bit; he didn't want to make the wrong move within the first hour of being released back into society.
"Nice to meet you, Tim, I'm Bob, Senior Manager here at Bardy's," Bob said, shaking Tim's hand. "Do you have in mind what you want to apply for?"
"Anywhere I can help," Tim said, hoping the man wouldn't ask about his work experience… which was basically none since he was first arrested at age 10.
"I like that attitude. We always like a willing worker here at Bardy's!" Bob said. "Come with me, please." Bob led Tim through the store, and into a small, back room. It was by the storage room, but it was clean and tidy. It had a desk set up with a computer, and two chairs.
"Sit," Bob said, motioning to the guest chair while he took the chair behind the desk. "So, do you have any recommendations?"
"No, sir. I was walking down the strip and came across this nice place," Tim responded carefully. If Bob knew that he'd just been released from a mental hospital, he might not let him have the job.
"Have you had any previous jobs?" Bob asked as he jotted things down on a clipboard.
Tim grimaced at the one question he hoped wouldn't get asked. "No previous jobs," Tim said, thinking about how best he should answer the criminal record question that was probably coming next.
"A criminal record?" Bob asked, not taking his eyes off the clipboard. Could Tim nail it or what?
"Yes, sir, I've had a criminal record, but each time I've been innocent." Tim thought it best to tell a white lie. He was cleared of his father's murder, but when he had been charged with his sister's death, he was just put back in the mental hospital.
"What were you accused of?" Bob asked, pen in hand, ready to record whatever Tim said.
"Murder," Tim replied softly. He knew he had probably blown his job interview by now, so why try to cover up what could be found in public record. Bob took a few moments to look Tim up on the computer.
"It says here that the murder you were accused of was ten years ago," Bob observed.
"Yes."
"It says you were never proven innocent," Bob continued. "They treated you as a mental patient because there was not enough evidence to go one way or another… inconclusive."
"Correct, sir," Tim replied. Bob looked at Tim, right in the eyes, for the first time.
"Why do you want to work here? Shouldn't you be trying to clear your name?" Bob asked, folding his hands on the desk.
"I need a job to get back on my feet, sir. I've started a new life, and I don't want to start it wrong," Tim answered carefully.
"Well, since you appear to be in good shape, I'll put you to work under supervision. You'll be working with the storage team," Bob said, jotting things on his clipboard, and then transferring it over to the computer.
"Thank you, sir. I can't thank you enough for the opportunity you've given me," Tim said, excited that he still got the job after it had looked impossible. The two men rose and shook hands.
"When do I start?" Tim asked.
"Tomorrow morning at 9:00 am," Bob said.
"I'll be there!" Tim answered excitedly.
"If I'm not at the stand tomorrow morning, talk to one of the cashiers. Tell them to call for Bob," Bob added.
"Will do, sir," Tim answered.
"You know the way out?"
"Yes, sir," Tim answered as he walked toward the door.
"See you tomorrow," Bob said, following Tim out.
"See you then," Tim answered.
Tim was filled with excitement as he walked out of the store. He had gotten the job, even with his criminal record. As Tim walked back out onto the strip, he wondered what he should do next. Then it hit him, he needed a place to stay. A decade ago, Kaylie had offered him to stay with her. Tim had declined. Now he regretted it. If he had known what was to happen to his sister the next night, he would've spent every minute with her possible. Tim knew he couldn't change the past, as much as he would like to. Maybe the apartment complex where Tim had spent his first night ten years ago would still have vacancies.
Tim eventually made it to where the apartment building stood. It looked like it had recently been revamped, as it had a new coat of jungle green paint, and the windows looked like they'd just been cleaned. Tim took a deep breath, ready to confront the memories that would surely flood over him as he walked through the door. The lobby looked the same as it had a decade ago, the carpet still a blood red, with white chairs and couches lining the walls. The check-in desk was in the same place, and Tim walked up to the clerk.
"Hello! Welcome to Front Line Apartments, how can I help you today?" the woman asked.
"I'd, uh, like to rent a room, please," Tim said.
"Of course, name?" she asked again, getting a set of key down from the bulletin board that hung behind her.
"Tim Russel," Tim responded. The clerk handed him a set of room keys and Tim gave her the first month's rent. "Thanks."
"Of course, enjoy your stay!" the clerk said. Tim smiled at her and looked at the room number on his keys. 208. He ventured up the staircase and found his room. It was a small, green room, with a nightstand, dresser, desk, bathroom, and a green sheeted bed. Tim tossed his keys onto the desk and sat on the bed. He noticed the mirror in his room and stared at his reflection. Something stirred inside him and he tried to push the feeling away, but he couldn't. What if there was a way to get his family back? Tim remembered the night he was taken away from the house, how he saw his family staring out the window, mirror-like eyes flashing. He shook the thought from his head. There was no way to get his family back; they were gone. The mirror had won.
No one believed him about the mirror, but he'd made sure not to let the mental hospital staff brainwash him again. After going through the mirror's supernatural powers not once, but twice, he was sure of what he'd seen. His thoughts shifted to twenty years before, when the mirror had taken his parents and he'd made his sister a promise to destroy the evil object once and for all.
What if I can still keep that promise? Tim thought. He'd failed once at it and the mirror also claimed his sister's life, but what if he could try again – without her help? Tim refused to let the thoughts swim around in his head for too long. He missed his family, but what was done couldn't be undone now. Anyways, Tim thought, the house probably isn't even standing now, and the mirror is long gone. Hopefully someone had destroyed it after what happened ten years ago.
Yet as he was laying in his bed that night, he couldn't help but think about the idea that maybe he could still keep his promise, even after all these years. The promise wouldn't let him go, much like the mirror wouldn't let his family go. What was a man to do?