Hide. Hide. Hide

That one word repeated itself on my mind.

I swiftly dodged a bullet or so what I thought and moved inside my house locking it behind me securely. Breathing heavily, I removed my coat trying to lose the heat forming in my body. The coat detached from my hands as I slipped to the ground, my legs barely holding my body weight anymore.

It wouldn't be a lie to say that I ran three blocks from the grocery store to my house when I felt the familiar uneasy feeling of a pair of eyes watching me or rather following me. I am not a good runner but I won't exactly call myself a bad runner either. However good I am, at least it got me home safely without the unwanted intruder coming anywhere near me.

After a few minutes when I thought my breathing was somewhat under control, I moved away from the front door and targeted toward the kitchen to grab a bite of food. Placing all the items in their right places, I grabbed a sandwich and a glass of wine to watch my favorite movie with loose muscles.

My parents have been out for four weeks now. Both their jobs required them to stay out of our home for weeks and just like the obedient daughter I am, I am cool with it. Always have been.

I stepped up on my stairs and reach my room on the first floor. Placing the food on the side table, I filled my demdemeanor a little courage to peek out from the window slipping the curtain just a bit to the side to see if the mysterious black figure was still there or not.

To my horror, the figure was still there looking around. A black thick coat with a hat, mask, and black jeans covered his figure. I quickly stepped back and closed the window with a shaking hand and a more confused mind. What does he want?

All the possible clue was that he was trying to steal something. But what? To my little knowledge, you don't follow a person around for TWO FREAKING WEEKS, you want to steal from especially when there's almost nothing to steal in the house. Yes, my beloved parents don't trust their seventeen-year-old daughter enough to keep something valuable in her possession. So the exact reason why a person is following me around is completely unknown.

Still, with an airy demour, I reached my bed and slumped on it. Eyebrows crinkled and I a hoard lot of extra things to think about in my mind. I don't know why but I am having a very bad ill-brewing about this.

After that, I don't remember much. Just that I fed myself and then stressed myself to sleep with an unknown black figure lurking in my dreams.

When the morning rolled in, I opened my eyes to my regular chores. Completing all my daily routine in the bathroom, I sat on my study desk watching all the projects kept there, finished. God! How I hate holidays!

I am not supposed to go out during this time because my parents are out and the neighbors keep a watch on my house and one mishap leads to a call to my parents. That's why I am to stay indoors the whole holiday and do whatever the hell I want in these closed spaces except the trips to the groceries and any other essential places to visit.

Speaking of visiting, I peeked out from my bedroom window again to the places where I had seen the mysterious person yesterday. To my utter relief, he wasn't there anymore, and likewise, t o my utter horror, I pointedtoto to a mirror looking straight back at me. A huge mirror was placed at the side of the road slated upwards and supported by two people who were lifting it in the truck beside.

I stumbled backward barely controlling my breath and my heart thumping in my breast. Oh god! What the heck is happening with me these days.

A mirror.

A freaking mirror.

I quickly went downstairs absorbing my surrounding making sure that my house is void of any mirrors. Finding none, I slumped back on my sofa feeling mentally exhausted and completely black. Void of any feelings. Just a faint memory of an electric spark of which I dreamt of three weeks ago. Sitting there still for a moment, I felt like I was gaining some energy. And with that, I went to take another long shower.

______________________________________

Almost three hours later, I got out of the house, a paranoia lingering thick in the air. Though I wouldn't say I am afraid of the unknown black figure, I was disturbed because of the mirror incident with me after I threw away all my mirrors and even not allowed my bathroom tub to fill. The black figure was almost been pushed aside deep somewhere in my brain.

I locked my house securely and thought about walking towards the artist shop to buy a few Charcoal pencils and a sketchbook. Staying alone in my house is getting on my nerves and I have to relax a bit. Maybe sketching will make me relax. Who knows?

I made sure to escape from the back exit making no noise and jumped up the wall so that my neighbor doesn't come to know of my departure. The back gate makes a lot of sounds when opened that's why it's better to stay as safe as possible.

Buying my required things, I moved towards the riverside to sketch a scenario.

And I was right. The smell of fresh leaves and moss and the clear wind rushing past me made me relax. Taking out my sketchbook, I started observing the surroundings and printing it on my sketchbook.

Half an hour later, I was so engrossed in my painting that I didn't realize a child coming towards me. Before I could even say a word or observe her features, she snatched the sketchbook from my hand and started running towards the bushy part of the area. I sat there for a while clearing the slightly confused state, then shouted a 'Hey' and ran after her.

As I passed a huge bush, I found my sketchbook on the ground. But before I could reach it, a hand grabbed mine and bound both of mine together. The sudden impact made me dizzy and I stood dumbfounded when a pair of hands rotate me to face my kidnapper. Or is it really?

"What the-",

My eyes widened in horror.

Standing in front of me was the same black figure. Though I wouldn't say SHE is much unfamiliar.

A girl with blond wavy hair reaching her waist, a pair of gold-peaked blue eyes, a blunt nose, and a thin set of lips or in other words... Me.

Though I wouldn't say an exact copy of me because she was... Fading...?

Her whole body blinked. As if she was there for a second and then not, and again there and then... Not.

What the hell is going on?

"Caroll, make this right.", she said as if in agony.

"What?"

"You have to make this right."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I am talking about. Three weeks ago. I summoned you. Remember? Remember?  And I am fading. I don't know what's happening", she went heretical.

"What are you talking about? I don't even know you."

"Caroll, it's me. I am Caroll too."

"What the hell?"

"You are not of this world. This is my world."

"No, it's not. I have a family here. I have a brother studying aboard."

"That's not your brother or your parents. They are mine."

"Okay! Enough of this nonsense. You stay the heck away from me and stop following me like a stalker.", I spat feeling my temper rising.

"Then how do you explain that I look like you?", she urged trying to make a point while stopping me to go away.

"Ever heard about Lookalikes? It's not that essential. Look, stop following me or I am going to the police.", I was beyond irritated. She wasmoving around trying desperately to make a point but failing miserably. I wonder from which orphanage she fled from. I rounded her and tried to escape from there. My mind is already filled to worry about another thing.

"Okay okay wait-", she shouted, "-then tell me what do you see when you stand in front of the mirror?"

I froze.

Does she know?

"I-I don't know-",

"What do you see, Carol? Is that you there?", her expression has turned victorious and menacing. Well, she does have a point. A point I am not liking at all. She is getting to me. I have to escape.

She pulled up a mirror in front of me and I looked at it. But I don't want to. I don't want to see what it shows. Or rather not shows.

"What do you see?", She urged in a low tone making me obliged to take a peek. I know that I shouldn't.

As I looked at the mirror I thought, 'Mirror brings out our true self. The person who we are', I saw the green bushes behind me staring at me. I saw the river in it too. A few very small boats probably very far away somewhere. A few clouds covered the blue sky. But as I looked trying desperately to see the girl I want to, the more it didn't show me. The only thing I didn't see was me.

Yes... Me.

As if I was not even meant to be there.

Then who is? Is it me?