Chapter 6 The Other Elira

Darkness swallowed her whole.

For a moment, there was nothing-no sound, no light, no feeling. Just cold. Heavy and endless.

Then-a jolt. Elira's eyes flew open. She was lying on the cracked wooden floor of the old auditorium. Her head throbbed, vision swimming. The air was thick with dust and something sharp-like iron.

She pushed herself up slowly, heart hammering in her chest.

The girl-her double-was gone.

But something had changed.

A mirror, tall and freestanding, now stood center stage. It hadn't been there before. Its frame was ancient, carved with strange symbols she couldn't recognize. She stepped toward it cautiously.

And froze.

Her reflection stared back at her-but it wasn't mimicking her movements.

Her reflection smiled.

Elira did not.

"I waited for you," the reflection whispered, voice eerily similar. "I've been stuck here, while *you* ran free in *my* body."

"What are you talking about?" Elira's voice trembled.

"You think this started with the crash? You think someone switched you by accident?" The reflection leaned closer. "You were chosen. I was *replaced*."

Panic clawed up her throat. "This isn't possible..."

The mirror shimmered like water. The other Elira-if that's what she even was-reached a hand out, pressing her palm against the glass. Elira felt heat pulse against her own skin.

"You're unraveling," the reflection said. "Pieces of *you* are slipping. That tattoo? The way you knew Lia's name when no one else did? It's starting. The bleed. If you don't fix it soon..."

She trailed off. Smiled.

"You'll disappear. And I'll be whole again."

Suddenly, the mirror cracked down the middle with a sharp snap. Elira stumbled back. Her breath caught.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

She spun around-and came face-to-face with *Lia*.

"I told you not to trust anyone," Lia said, eyes wide and dark. "You opened the wrong door."

"Wait-everyone said you don't exist anymore. I asked about you-"

"I know," Lia cut in. "They wiped me. Just like they wiped others before me. But I found a way back. Just like you need to."

Elira's voice broke. "Back to what? Who am I even anymore?"

Lia stepped closer, placing something cold into her hand. A pendant. The same one from the dream Elira couldn't fully remember.

"Find the boy," Lia whispered. "The one who knew the real you. He remembers. Even if they made him forget."

"Who is he?"

But Lia was already backing away, eyes flicking to the cracked mirror.

And behind her, the reflection-now bleeding from the eyes-was smiling.

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