The Mirror of the Frozen Pond

I could feel the harsh winds bruise my face as I ran, the only motivator being what was chasing me. My fear of losing myself being overidden by what I heard from the sorcerer. To find the Mirror lurking in the frozen pond who can freeze my soul, help me see within myself and find the answers I've been seeking for my entire life. I pick up my speed, watching my step on the frosty forest ground to avoid slipping on the icy floor. I could feel my knees buckle, starting to give way from the cold temperatures. I try to ignore it as I see what I hoped was my destination.

I skid to a halt, remembering the last thing she said to me. To listen out for the whispers of the Mirror, calling out your name.

It already knows you are coming

I close my eyes, fixating on the whispers. It was already getting dark, so I could no longer rely on my sight to get me there. As I continue to walk, a rush of energy surges through me as I get close to the river, the sensation of water making me feel warmer, stronger and livelier. Calmer than before, I follow the whispers until they disappear from the rippling sounds of the nearing cavern. The light coming out of it was now my guide, a place hidden so secretly that I was surprised I even found it without getting lost and confused by the dark depths of the mountain-bearing forest so mindlessly, deep into my unknown.

I smile as the trees speak to me, their branches moving in sync with my footsteps and closing any gap behind me once I walk past. Under the trees, I am safe. The light gets brighter as I reach the haven, seeing the source of the overbearing light. The pond, now frozen was glimmering, lighting up the entire cavern to see the writings on the wall. In a language I would never understand, my fingers trace over the etchings, wondering whether they were of happy thoughts or daunting nightmares. The light turns blue, a welcoming glow to remind me I'm supposed to be safe here. My worries vanish for a slight moment as I'm lured to the edge of the pond.

As I get closer, I wonder what will happen in the moment I've pondered about in months. Where I would finally meet the famous Mirror who reflects your soul back to you. I could only imagine how amazing it would feel to finally understand everything about yourself, right to the core. I kneel down and stare at my own reflection, seeing my tired self where the pain was seething through my body as it ached from exhaustion. I pull down my hood, letting my fiery red hair feel the air for the first time in what seemed like centuries. Tilting my head, I continue to gaze at my reflection. It smiles at me, an arm reaching for the surface of the frozen pond. I drop back, seeing the arm go through the ice, almost grabbing me.

I hear laughter and I sigh with disbelief. I balance myself back over to the pond to see my refletion slowly morphing into someone else. A young boy with curly red hair, prominent cheekbones and a sharp jawline. His face was pale, I imagine from the lack of sun he gets, with beautiful freckles that were starting to fade. He was smiling, gliding through the water with excitement of a visitor. A young boy with so much life and energy, a whole life which could have been upon him. The Mirror was trying to teach me something by bringing back an old memory. The Mirror had morphed into my late twin brother who died four years ago and left me lost ever since. The brother I wished I could grow up with and share everything with. His face, although wasn't real, deepened my sadness even further as I watched him trapped under the frozen pond of lost souls.

He glides close to the surface. I could tell by the deepness of the clear ice how far down the Mirror actually was. I wanted to be like myself again - the cheery fiery self I was when I was with him. Someone who didn't have a care in the world as long as he was by my side. To be up for an adventure, wreckless and fearless. I knew that part of me was still in there. I just needed someone to help me see it, to face it. The Mirror was clever, using my brother to help me see that.

'You've come soul searching?' he asked.

The Mirror could even mimic his voice, down to the tone and speed of his speech. My skin quivered at the similarity as I forced myself to remember this was not really him. Not being able to find the right words, I nod reluctantly as he taunted me to come closer to the pond. Feeling the chills down my back, I lean slowly, being careful not to fall into the sacred pond and break through the ice.

As he beckoned me closer, I could feel myself lose sensation in my muscles. I search for what the sorcerer said, trying to forgive myself as I'm put in a trance. I could no longer see the pond, my brother or even the cavern. I was somewhere pitch black, where I could see absolutely nothing. I call for help, feeling sick to my stomach of feeling scared. There was a flash of light and the Mirror was standing right in front of me, lighting up everything. They were the source of the mystical light. I looked around me, trying to make sense of where I was. Looking up, I freeze. The ice that was once below me was now above me, the water that was meant to be underneath was pushed away by the Mirror's presence. It was keeping me from drowning, from suffocating, from dying. Except, it felt far from it. As everything came clear, so did the water and what was in it. The frozen pond was not for lost souls like me trying to find themselves. It was filled with thousands of lost souls that were ripped from their bodies for the Mirror to feed on. I look back at the Mirror, still as my brother, who gave me a large grin. I watch as light shed from my own body, transferring to his as his arms are stretched out. My soul slowly leaving my body and uplifting his. Defeated, I fall to my knees as it continuess to drain every inch of life in my boody. With a final squeaze, the last thing I see are the bodies surrounding me in the water, where mine would be the next to fall into the Mirror's trap.