She was running, trees surrounded her passing by as she beat the ground. Her lungs burned, her legs burned, but the yelling in the background kept her from stopping. The blood… Why had they killed him? What had he done wrong? Was it her? Had she done something? Was she a bad person?
The girl lost her footing, her body falling to the ground. The impact knocked the wind out of her, causing her to convulse in pain. A small noise came in front of her, along with movement. She looked up, vision blurred with tears, seeing a large animal, a horse of ebony black. Its face was distorted and grim, a skull.
"She went this way!" The call made her turn and stand once more, yet her legs broke from underneath. She scrambled on the ground desperately, trying to get up. She heard more movement in front of her, only to see the horse turning, a black carriage being drawn behind it. She looked at the horse, and it stared at her. It was as if it knew exactly what was going on. "Go on, get in." it seemed to whisper.
She hesitated before getting to her feet. "Thank you," she coughed while getting to the door. She pulled herself inside, sealing the door behind her. She could no longer hear the yelling, the dogs, or the calls. She could only hear the subtle movement of the dark space as it lulled her into a deep sleep, forgetting the pain in her heart.
********
I could feel the darkness surrounding me, pulling at me in every direction.
Make it stop!
The words came to me, I was silenced.
I can't give up...
I wanted to cry out, to scream, but there was only the ringing in my head—the only sound in this abyss.
I promised...
Then there was a light, something that cut through all the darkness, that reached me in this hell. I took my chance and used every bit of strength I had to get there, to end this nightmare. I looked for the sound, to find I was in a circular room but couldn't find much as the shadows surrounding it. The only light came from the center, surrounded by a thick black fog. When it finally dissipated, I felt the room shack, and in place of the Mist was a black mirror, its face instantly lighting with green flames.
Ah...my dear beloved, A noble and beautiful flower of evil,
I couldn't care less if the voice was my own or another's. I was just glad to hear something else other than the ringing. I stepped forward, my weight being unnatural here as if I were in a daze.
You are the fairest in the land.
I continued to walk forward, slowly and steadily. The mirror grew even brighter, the flame licking as it twirled in the glace. I searched for who was speaking, wanted to know who they were and how they saved me.
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the most...
I stopped, just in front of the mirror, looking as if the picture came from the green flames. The first thing was the sound of hooves and the call of a raven. When the image cleared I saw a carriage drawn by a horse, no coach master or any other being on them. The moon was high, its light showing a dead forest with no leaves or green. A green lantern hong on the weather side of the carriage, all windows were forged and dull. They entered a large iron gate with a foreboding castle in the background. Then once more the mirror is shrouded by flames.
O thee, guided by the Dark Mirror,
The image in the mirror shifted, revealing what looked like a hand. Shimmering in and out of light and shadow, it extended to me, as if asking me to take it.
Follow thy heart's desire and take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.
The world started to dim once more. Not wanting to get lost in the darkness once more I quickly reach for the hand. My own went straight through the mirror's face, sinking into the soft touch. The grip was gentle, as if scared I was to bolt.
Flames that incinerate even the stars,
Ice that in prison even time,
The great tree that swallows even the sky,
I let it take me, the fire in my heart burned internally. A chilling calmness stretches across my mind, easing it into peace. An itching feeling came from my hands and feet. Not one to destroy but to create.
Fear not the power of darkness.
With that, the darkness consumes me only to be pierced by a bright light. It rang in my ears for a moment before fading, letting me rest in this place of harmony.
Now - demonstrate thy power.
No man chooses evil because he is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.
Mary Shelley