Checkered tiles were apparent in this new room that Claire had never been to before. At the windows, she could see the winds blowing jet-black yet transparent curtains around ferociously. A harp lay on a black tile, much larger compared to any other tile inside the room. A cupboard with that looked as if an antique stood tall on the far opposite side of the door from where Claire entered. She headed towards the cupboard and saw a globe of the world map. It had pin-marks as if to depict where their journey will go to next. Mexico was the marked with a red pin and depicted on it, Claire could see a sketch of a small child dying from the hands of a girl, with a rod that had a magical stick with the symbol of a star. "Wait…" Claire thought. "That stick looks like the Astral Wand… But I didn't kill anyone…" The harp then played an eerie tune all by itself and the shadows of the room grew larger as the light from outside started to fade into a blue light, similar to the one in the nightmares she used to have. She then finally realized a large mirror standing in the middle of the room. "It wasn't there before…" she said to herself. "Where did it come from?" The room became more colder, Claire shivered and young woman's wail could be heard, and then a thud on the floor. The young girl closed her eyes in fear; she was terrified and confused on what was happening. As she opened them, hoping the nightmare would end, she felt something in her arms and as she saw, she screamed in horror. It was Lucy's body that she held, her eyes opened, her face not moving. Her whole body numb like the cold and dark atmosphere of the room. Claire could feel her heart beat, louder and rapid than ever before. She looked at her hands stained with blood and with the arm that held Lucy's body, that hand grasping a small jagged dagger depicting a star on the tip of the handle, similar to the Astral Amulet. Claire's breath started to appear as mist, the room got much colder and darker than before. Lucy dropped the body of Lucy and then looked at the mirror, sobbing. "I couldn't have done this. I couldn't have!" she murmured to herself, faster and faster. The mirror then released a little bit of light, and transported her to a place where the scenarios were like olden day film. It was a flashback, where she witnessed herself murdering Lucy with the jagged knife. She rolled her body up with the black blankets and hid her under the bed. The only thing Claire could only focus on was herself stabbing Lucy numerous of times. The screams, the struggle and then eventually the death echoed and lingered in Claire's mind, she was traumatized. Was she capable of such an act? And why would she murder Lucy?
A knock could be heard on the door, the noise even echoing more than Lucy's screams. She saw herself pushing the body further under the bed, hopefully being undetected. The flashback version of her stood on the black tile where blood could be seen and put her arms behind her, also stained with blood. "Come in" she said, with a jovial tone.
It was Adrian that was behind the door, he smiled at Claire, "This is such a big room, it's almost like a castle because of the stone walls, and you wouldn't be able to hear a thing from the other rooms."
"Well it actually is a castle. I heard this place was haunted though, I wonder why we are staying here?"
Adrian laughed. "Lisa wants to do some zany research. Besides, she thought that the place being haunted, it was going for a cheap rent. We can't be too extravagant in our travels I suppose, not with Socrates being here anymore making money with his magic."
"Yes, it's strange how he just disappeared. I wonder where he is."
"He
was such a great friend… For a cat." Adrian joked. "Well, I
leave you to it, you better get some rest. I heard we are going to
England, apparently Pisces can be found there creating havoc with the
beaches and fishermen. Good night Claire." He said, walking towards
her hugging the small girl. "I'm glad we had this journey
together."
Adrian then walked towards the door and opened it,
until he turned his head back. "Have you seen Lucy by any chance
Claire? It seems like she's disappeared too and you can hardly miss
her anywhere."
Claire looked towards the mirror that was placed
in the middle of the room. "No, I haven't seen her at all
either."
Adrian grew more curious over the disappearances of his friends. "First Socrates, then Lucy. I wonder what's going on…" Adrian then exited outside the door, with his index finger on his chin. The flashback Claire then looked back towards the real Claire and approached her. "Don't you dare ever tell him about this." She warned the present Claire.
"W-what, you can see me?"
"Of course I can see you, you're the future. And don't panic, you should see what happens next." She said with a menacing smile.
The
surroundings of the room and Claire's vision started to fade.
Claire then opened her eyes only to see the bodies of Socrates, Lucy
and Adrian lying on the floor with stab wounds and dead in front of
her. She then faced the mirror and called out to it. "Why is this
happening? What did you do to them?"
The flashback Claire
appeared in the reflection, behind Claire and reaching for her
shoulder. She could feel a cold touch, almost as if the hand were
ice. Claire then slowly, her hands shaking tried to reach for her
shoulder to see if there was a hand there. When she finally reached
her shoulder, there was nothing there, but the chills lingered.
"Don't worry Claire, there's nothing left to hide anymore. You
know that it was going to happen anyway. You were just hiding in
denial over this secrecy for so long."
"No! I wouldn't even imagine killing my friends or Adrian. I would never do such a thing."
The reflection laughed, mocking her. "You'll just have to wait and see don't you? You're a natural at keeping secrets Claire, but confronting the truth really isn't your specialty. Never-mind, the time will come when you'll get to grasp a sense of truth and reality. Besides, it's all happening while you sleep. You just don't appreciate your dreams as much as your guardian tells you to."
Claire gasped. "Go away! All of this is nonsense. Just stay out of my life" she screamed. Her reflection laughed again, this time her laughs echoed inside her mind, tormenting her. Claire then turned the mirror and dropped it on the floor, shattering the mirror. Her reflection was gone, but the voice wasn't. "Oh, you know what they say Claire. Break a mirror and it's bad luck but never mind, the mirror can always be repaired, with a special replacement of someone special to you."
The mirror and its scattered remains disappeared; only to appear in its place was a small girl's body, wounded by multiple stab wounds in the torso. It was Kristen, and what appeared in Claire's hand was the Star tipped knife that killed her friends Socrates, Lucy and her guardian Adrian. And present on the blade itself, still dripping was the blood of her sister. "Stop it! Stop this now! I can't stand this anymore!"
"Don't worry, your sister Kristen is still alive with the Witch of the Shadows. But… lets just say not in the same sense."
Claire fell to the floor, seeing the blood spilt on the checkered floors and the corpses of the people she had came to love in the times of their journey.
"Why? Why…?" Claire said. "Why would I do such a thing?"
"Probably the resentment that these people haven't lost anything, haven't been neglected for so long like you. Haven't lost something special. These are very happy people with not much to cry about in this world. You on the other hand, have been neglected by your parents, haven't come to terms with your sister's appearance and is facing the truth of the only person that truly loves you is dying from a curse. You fear that Socrates' good intentions will eventually deceive you. Being too attached to Adrian will only leave your heart to break, but before that Lucy threatens your state of relationship with Adrian and you think she'll take him away from you" Claire from the flashback appeared once more, smiling and looking over the dead corpses.
"Now
be a good girl and let me handle the rest." The flashback said,
holding the jagged star tipped knife.
"No. No!" Claire
shouted, but it was too late.