Okay hear me out

Mirrors

I've mentioned it before and decided it would make a good horror story

So with some extra pointers I got from YouTube videos...

I give to you the concept of うつつ。

うつつ (utsutsu) roughly translates to "Reflect." Why did I make it Japanese? I have no idea this was entirely impulsive

I wanted to play around with symbolism a bit in this book. I've also made a poem in my latest announcement.

Anyway I'm excited about it so here's what I wrote at 10pm last night, enjoy :3

-

Thunkthunkthunk.

She thought she'd misheard.

A clap of thunder brought her to her senses. White pounded against the window, where her eyes were first drawn. It was pitch black, cold wind howling outside. It made Maeko appreciate the warmth of her bed.

The thundersnow raged violently just outside the walls. It's why the sound has unnerved Maeko - why would anyone be out in this weather? And pounding on her window? Lightning strobed. Just as she'd thought - no figure was shadowed against the light.

Satisfied it'd only been some thunder, Maeko began to slowly drift back to sleep. But barely two minutes into her sleep the sound penetrated the storm again.

Thunkthunkthunk.

Maeko's eyes snapped open, crystal blue irises searching the dark ceiling before darting to the window once again. She was certain the sound was a bit against glass, desperate pounding against the window. But still no one stood there in the dark whirlwind.

Maeko tried again to sleep. The pounding came quicker this time - it was more insistent now.

Thunkthunkthunkthunk.

Finally Maeko sat up. Her bare feet felt the soft carpet as she slipped from her bed, groping in the darkness for the switch to her lamp. Eventually she found it, a sudden light illuminating the room as she flipped the switch.

Silence. Only the pounding blizzard sounded.

The girl huffed, confusion swirling in her mind. Her gaze drifted about the room, finding her desk, covered in loose papers containing unfinished sketches and doodles, bookshelf, and finally her bed and nightstand positioned behind her.

Eventually she found herself looking at the mirror opposite her stance. Nothing in particular stood out, as you'd expect. It's a mirror, after all. Maeko walked up to the mirror, placing her hand upon its cool surface. Her hand met her own, eyes locking together in a flawlessly synchronized fashion. She stared at herself. And stared. Staring, staring, unmoving, unspeaking.

Thunder cracked loudly. The room was suddenly plunged into darkness, a loud beep sounding from the kitchen as if something had finished cooking in the oven. Maeko suddenly found herself staring at darkness, hand pressed against frigid, icy glass. If the power was out, the heat would soon follow, she knew with a sigh. Might as well get back to bed and savor what warmth was left.

But she found it difficult to remove her hand from the mirror. It was frozen there, the ice of thought sticking it to the surface. Maeko stared at herself in the mirror, her eyes just as stuck to the image she saw as her hand was to the glass. She herself was plunged in shadow, and it was all she saw.

Pack your things. Follow me.

The thought penetrated her mind involuntarily. It was her thought, yes? Surely. Without questioning the odd urge, she slipped her hand away from the glass and, grabbing a torch from the darkness of her nightstand and flipping it on, began to grab a few items she thought essential. Four to be exact, each of which she laid on her bed neatly.

She grabbed a small satchel, enough to hold the items she needed. The fourth she stuck in the pocket of the clothes she'd just changed into, a simple pale yellow t-shirt and orange jacket with black pants and black shoes. Maeko put up her hair, and, glancing around the room, walked back to the mirror.

There was an outline of condensation where her hand had laid seconds before. At first she thought nothing of it. Then she saw the shadow through it, the marks of flattened skin against clear glass. Her own hand was down to her side.

Yet she saw her own reflection pressing her hand to the glass.

Maeko stared into her own eyes. Thunder crashed outside. The wind continued to howl in a crazed manner.

Her lips moved. "Do you trust me?"

Maeko spoke back. A hint of fear quivered in her voice. "Who are you?"

"I am you," she said. "I watch from this side of our universe."

"You're a reflection."

"I am more than a reflection."

She pressed her hand harder against the glass. "I can show you if you come."

Maeko looked around the dark room, then back at the reflection. Cold eyes cut the dark in half, striking frigid ice to Maeko's heart.

Curiosity won her over. Maeko took a deep breath and calmly placed her hand over the reflection's.

Reflection smiled, and, with a knowing glint in their eye, pulled Maeko into its mysteries.

-

Toshi stared at Reflection. Reflection stumbled, catching herself before crashing into Toshi's bed. Reflection looked similar to her, as she always had. But Toshi's hair was down and messy, flowing over her shoulders to her chest, while Reflection's was beat up on top of her head.

Reflection looked around, startled by her sudden entrance to reality. Her eyes glided around the room, finding each placement of items that were parallel to what she knew from her side. She was obviously in shock at what had just happened. Toshi smiled sweetly at her, waiting patiently for Reflection to regain her bearings.

Eventually she did, and Reflection looked at Toshi. "Where... am I?"

Toshi smiled. "Welcome to the real world, my reflection!"

Reflection tilted her head. "R-real world?" She looked back at the mirror from whence she came. "No, no... I'm from the real world..."

"The real world is whatever you make it, whatever surrounds you," Toshi shrugged. "All it depends on is how you view it."

"I guess that's true." Reflection fiddled with something around her neck. I hadn't noticed her put it on, though I'd watched her pack and assumed it to be one of the items she brought along. An omamori, its charm jet black. Ironic in a way.

"You seem very calm about this," Toshi pointed out. "I've heard stories of others taking their reflections from the other side. They've always panicked on the first crossing."

Reflection kind of shrugged, her gaze a bit distant. "I've... seen worse than an alternate dimension - or I assume that's what this place is. Why should I care that a parallel universe exists? Not my problem, I have grades to upkeep."

Toshi shrugged. "Understandable."

Reflection looked at Toshi. "So... who are you, exactly?"

Toshi sadly knew her name wouldn't be usable by Reflection, however she introduced herself anyway. "People call me Toshi. I'm your reflection as you are mine. What's your name?"

Reflection's mouth moved silently before words finally emitted. "Pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Reflection's eyes drifted around the room again. "Why have you brought me here?"

"I want to learn about you. Learn about your world, how it's different from mine."

"Can't you just observe?"

"It's difficult," Toshi sighed. "We are bound to each other's movements unless the lights go out through all reflections we see. My observation of your ways are obscured."

"Intriguing..."

The two chatted, casually sharing their likes, their dislikes, hobbies - all of which ranged within close quarters of each other. Both loved to draw, had deep interests in the supernatural and strange, had peculiar minds thought to be that of an outcast by people they knew. They... reflected each other, if you will.

But soon enough Reflection checked the time. "It's nearly five. I should get back, I have to go to school. There is a way out of here, yes?"

Toshi nodded. "Of course. Just step through the mirror."

Toshi motioned to the mirror, a window to the identical room on the other side. Reflection looked between Toshi and the mirror before shrugging. "Alright. I'll see you, uh..."

"Anytime," Toshi interrupted. "Visit anytime you like. Not like I have anything to do. Just step through the mirror, and I'll allow you passage."

"Okay."

With a nod of farewell, Reflection stepped through the mirror and resumed her position as just that: a reflection.

-

Lots of symbolism here, some of it only really noticeable if you know a little bit about Japanese culture. So my fellow Japan nerds out there and actual Japanese people, maybe you could pick up on it 👀

I'll make Maeko and Toshi refs eventually

Anyway that's all I have for now, Imma go now *ascends*

Edit:
This story is under development and this might not even be the prologue anymore, for I have other ideas. Stay tuned for more info ;)