I turned on the TV and switched to the news channel, the familiar voices of reporters filling the room. It wasn't the best escape, but it was something to focus on. The screen flickered, but my thoughts remained scattered, drawn back to the unease I couldn't shake.

  "Well, folks, the Shattered Gateway has been sealed," the voice echoed through the room, static humming beneath the surface. "Thanks to our wonderful Sentinel, our cities are safe again at least, as safe as they can be in these times. The final tally? Fifty-three civilian lives lost, and twenty-five stalkers KIA. A heartbreaking tragedy, but all things considered, still a strategic win for humanity."

  "Another twenty-five? Shit... How many are even left? We already lost most of Asia Japan’s gone, South Korea too. China's next? We're bleeding soldiers and stalkers, and all they do is send more names to the wall."

  His words hit hard, and the weight of the situation pressed down on all of us. The numbers were staggering, the losses too great to fathom. The Shattered Gateway had already taken so much, and now it felt like we were on the brink of losing even more.

  Before the mood could get any worse, my mom chimed in with a playful tone. "Rex, watch your language. Remember, before any Shattered get to us, I might shatter you first if you don't watch that tongue of yours."

  We all chuckled at her words, the tension in the room lightening just a little. With a smirk, she added, "Don't let those problems affect you, okay? That's out of our control and concern, so let's just leave it be. Now, play the movie I want to watch."

  As she settled back with a smile, I couldn't help but think to myself she never seems to fail at making us laugh, even in the most intense moments. It was as if her presence alone was enough to ease the heaviness, if only for a while.

  That evening, after the usual family banter and chores, I found myself back in the bathroom, washing my face. The cool water was a brief relief, cutting through the day’s noise.

  When I looked up, my reflection stared back but something was off. The light above flickered. I blinked, and I could’ve sworn my reflection blinked just a second too late.

  I leaned in, frowning.

  It blinked again. Still delayed.

  A knock on the door made me jump.

  "Y-yeah?" I called out.

  My mom peeked in, her smile soft and familiar. For a second, it eased me until I glanced at the mirror.

  Her reflection hadn't moved.

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  My chest tightened. I couldn’t look away.

  Her voice broke through the fog. "Are you alright, honey? You've been in here a while."

  "Yeah, just tired," I muttered, avoiding both her eyes and the mirror. I looked again my reflection was back to normal. Too normal. Like it was mimicking me, not being me.

  She stepped closer, resting a hand on my shoulder. "You've been spacing out a lot lately. Is everything okay?"

  I nodded, but my eyes drifted back to the mirror. For the briefest moment, I saw her reflection behind me, but it wasn't smiling. Her eyes were dark, her face blank, like a hollow shell of herself.

  My breath hitched.

  "What's wrong?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

  "Nothing," I lied quickly, tearing my gaze away.

  She followed my line of sight to the mirror, her expression turning serious. "Hendrix, listen to me," she said softly but firmly. "Don't spend too much time looking in mirrors. They...they can play tricks on you."

  Her words sent a chill down my spine. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

  She hesitated, as if weighing her words carefully. "There are...things we don't fully understand about the Shattered. Just promise me, okay?"

  I nodded slowly, but the unease lingered.

  As she turned to leave, I glanced back at the mirror. This time, her reflection didn't move at all it just stood there, staring at me with hollow eyes, long after she'd stepped out of the room

  ...….

  As the day ended and the morning came, I found myself in the calmest place I could be the archery range. The world around me seemed distant as I stood, bow in hand, preparing for the shot. I aimed carefully, feeling the air around me still and tranquil. The sound of the wind was like a soft lullaby, calming my nerves as I focused.

  I placed my hand on the string, pulling it back and holding steady, the tension in my arm matching the quiet stillness of the moment. Then, with a deep breath, I let go. 'Pluck.'

  "Another bullseye, Hendrix! Good job, you're still winning," Calix remarked beside me, a proud smile in his voice.

  Rex, clearly frustrated, muttered from behind me, "I shouldn't have taught you how to use a bow."

  I laughed as I readied for my next shot, I felt the weight of the bowstring in my hands. My fingers trembled slightly, and a dull ache spread through my arms.

  "Hendrix, are you okay?" Calix asked, his voice laced with concern.

  "Yeah," I said quickly, letting the arrow fly. "Just...slept weird."

  I glanced at my hand, flexing my fingers. For a fleeting moment, I thought I saw faint, dark lines crawling up my skin. But when I blinked, they were gone. Before I knew it my mother reached my side, she shouted, "The victor is the birthday boyyy, whooohoooo!!!" Her voice was filled with excitement, and I couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. I cheered along with her, then wrapped my arms around her in a warm hug.

  "Happy birthday, my son," she said, her voice softening with love. "Are you ready to go hunting now?"

  I nodded, feeling the rush of adrenaline from the game still in my veins. It was a perfect moment, one that made me feel truly alive, surrounded by the people I loved most.

  As I grabbed my gear, a sudden sharp pain shot through my arm. I winced and glanced down, expecting to see nothing, but instead, those faint, dark lines were back only now, they weren't fading. They slithered beneath my skin like living veins, twisting and curling toward my fingers.

  "Hendrix?" my mother's voice was cheerful, oblivious, but it sounded distant now, like an echo in a dream.

  I quickly clenched my fist, hiding the sight from her, and forced a grin. "I'm ready," I said, though the words felt heavy on my tongue.

  As we walked toward the woods, I felt the lines crawling deeper, whispering something I couldn't quite understand a sound that wasn't coming from outside but from within me.