Ch. 6 - The Hall of Mirrors
Jr. was now walking through a long hall…with mirrors. He was now utterly confused as to why there was a hall full of mirrors. Maybe, just maybe it was another one of his brother's tricks. He walked down the hall nonetheless, but when he got to a certain point it had become a dead end. At the end of the hall way was a mirror two times the size of the other mirrors that lined the hall. Jr. looked at himself and grinned. He made a gesture, grabbing the collar of his coat and made a cool stance. He took joy in seeing himself in this cool manner. He moved to make another pose, but was interrupted by the image of the mirror turning into Albedo. Jr. stopped smiling and instead gave a scowl.
"Now, now Rubedo. Don't take out your rage on this harmless mirror. Save it for me…when you figure out how to get out of this hall. I'll be waiting your arrival Rubedo." Albedo's image disappeared and the image of a stunned Jr. was seen. Seeing his face like this was definitely a different sight. 'Just look for the right mirror Rubedo. Then you will find me…' Albedo's voice echoed. Jr. looked behind him and the hallway extended even longer.
"Damn…that's really unfair. Bastard…" Jr. cursed. He sighed and walked down the hall, looking into every mirror. But to his surprise, it wasn't his reflection that he saw…it was every standard URTV created. 1-669…literally, every unit was shown. He watched as they watched him walk down the hall. He didn't like being watched…he felt like he was an outsider, ready to be executed. Most of them looked alike, besides they eye colors of some. Otherwise, they all were the same…the same blonde hair, the same body stature…the same people.
The further he went, the harder it was. Jr. felt the glares that pierced through him as he walked down the hall that had now seemed to turn into a walk of shame for him. All of the eyes that were locked on him intimidated him. Not only was that enough, but now a few of them started to whisper, making him feel even more ashamed. What he was…why he was that way…it didn't make any sense any more. He finally made it to a segment of the female URTV units. They all glared at him and gave him scowls as though they wanted to kill him. Jr. looked down at the ground, trying to avoid all eye contact that was available. After a few minutes of looking at the carpet placed neatly in the middle of the hall he looked back up and saw the prying eyes of his comrades.
His nerves taking over, Jr. began to walk faster, increasing his pace steadily until he had broken out into a run. His eyes wandered to the vicious glares of the girl and boy URTV's as they turned their heads to watch him run down the hall. Jr. could feel his heart begin to race and the sweat begin to bead. He was now running as fast as he could, hoping to get away from glares that intimidated him and made him feel like he was being stalked by a murderer. His body began to tense up and his eyes began to widen in fear. His breathing had sped up tremendously and fear engulfed his spirit.
The tension too much, Jr. closed his eyes and ran forward, knowing that it was the only way he could go. He felt a little better, but could still feel the evil glances of hatred coming from both walls of the brilliantly decorated hall. Just images or not, they still bothered the red head. After a few minutes of running blindly, he opened his eyes again. Feeling the effects of fatigue through his body, he slowed his running into a fast walk. He was now to the point of panting and gasping for air, but he still continued no matter what. He kept telling himself that he wouldn't give up…hoping it would give him more strength and courage to go on.
Jr. began to look closer and noticed that he was getting to the end of the line. Unit 631 was the one he saw when he looked at the mirrors. 'Are these really mirrors? Maybe they are illusions…or…or maybe…they really are real…no they can't be. They were infected by U-DO 14 years ago…' He thought frantically as he continued to walk as he could. '633…636…640…I can't believe that they are all here…everyone of my comrades…' he continued. He watched as he scanned over the numbers on each unit's hand. His journey was halted when those hands all went up as if they were forming the link once again. He looked behind him down the long hall, watching as a railing was formed. The blue light flew passed Jr. and reached the end of the hallway. The bright blue light, which slightly resembled the water of the ocean shining in the sun, made the red room tinted with blue.
"Wha..? What's happening?"
'Rubedo…' Jr. looked around searching for the familiar voice. 'Rubedo…are you going to break the link again? Just like you did last time and let your comrades suffer?'
"W-what are you talking about?" He demanded to know what this voice was thinking. This voice…it belonged to someone he knew…Jr. continued to slowly walk down the hall, still intimidated, frightened and confused. '656…658…660…662…664…ah!' He stopped suddenly as he saw himself in one of the mirrors…except his eyes were closed and he was just lying there. It almost looked like…he had been broken. Not only that, but that was where the link was in completed. He turned around to see Albedo awake and helping the link…but Gaignun…he wasn't there. He turned to Citrine and she was the same as Albedo…cooperating like she was supposed to. He then decided to look for Nigredo and turned around to see Nigredo with his back to him. He found him quite easily…then it hit him. That was who was talking to him…asking him if he was going to break the link and let him comrades suffer again.
"Rubedo…are you going to answer me?" Nigredo turned to him, his emerald eyes colliding with sea blue eyes. Jr.'s world stayed still…why was Gaignun doing this? 'No…it can't be Gaignun…he's at the Durandal, right? And I'm sure that there aren't two of me…It's got to be another one of Albedo's illusions! Now, I have to get past this and find that mirror that'll lead me to him!' Jr. regained control of his feelings and turned back to the end of the hall. He looked at all of the mirrors trying to think of which one was the portal. 'Maybe it's the one Gaignun should've been in…' He thought. He went up to the empty mirror and put his hand on it…nothing happened. 'All right then…it's not that one. Maybe…it's Albedo's.' He walked over to Albedo and put his hand on that mirror…once again no response. He scowled and then went over to his mirror and put his hand on that one, again not getting a response.
"Dammit! Which one is it!" Jr. ran over to Citrine's and tried hers…to no avail. He continued down the line before Nigredo spoke up again.
"Rubedo…you had the right mirror. First you have to answer my question. Are you going to break the link and let us suffer again?" Jr. turned and looked at him with a determined expression. Even though he had the looks to make one think he had an answer, he didn't have one. He gulped and then thought it all through.
'Okay…if I say no…then does that mean that it might open the portal? Maybe it'll kill me…those are the same reasons if I say yes…but…I…damn…this is really hard to choose.' Jr. scratched his head as he kept debating his answers and they're consequences. 'Screw it! I'm going to say…umm…umm…'
"I can't change the past…so my answer is…" Nigredo stared at him, expecting him to answer at any moment. "My answer is…No. This time I'm going to complete the link…" Jr. put his hands up to the line and connected the link. Suddenly a bright flash blinded him and he let everything go, trying to save his sight. Suddenly, he came to a path of stone that was lined with Kirschwassers. 'I get it! The Kirschwassers were the ones behind the mirrors…so it really was all an illusion…' Jr. thought as he looked at everyone of them. He then looked ahead and saw Albedo sitting in a chair positioned as a throne.
Okay, well, I hope you guess review. If I don't get some new reviews from different reviewers then I'm going to die. EuphoriaA6, G-Anakin 13, and DivineDisaster have been good reviewers. So you should all follow thier example cause then you'll get a chapter dedicated to you like these guys! Yes, this chapter is dedicated to my three newest reviewers. I also wouldn't mind some more reviews from reviewers I've all ready had. Anyway, I am officially keeping my name the same. I'm too lazy to change it... XD