Chapter 14: Revised Again and Again
Amy didn't seem discouraged by Maria's response. Instead, she continued enthusiastically, "You know, 'Curious George'—that's what you used to call him. Anyway, he really misses those summer camp days with you. So I thought maybe we could..."
Maria didn't wait for Amy to finish. She cut her off with a single, decisive word: "No."
Amy looked helpless. "Maria, you don't even know what I was going to say."
Maria turned her head, responding coldly, "I don't want to know."
Just then, Maria's father Dan intervened, and the conversation ended awkwardly, leaving only the dim light of the dining room lamp.
Late at night, Maria sat alone at the bathroom sink, surrounded by silence so profound she could only hear her own slightly quickened breathing. Her slender fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the porcelain, making faint sounds exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
Just as her consciousness began to drift and she was about to zone out, the Maria in the mirror suddenly turned her head without warning, staring directly at the real Maria. Her gaze was icy and piercing, as if it could see straight through to her soul.
Maria's heart seized in terror, as if it had skipped a beat. She instantly snapped back to reality. Without thinking, she turned and bolted from the bathroom.
Running to her bedroom, she gasped for air, trying to calm her wildly pounding heart.
After a while, Maria began to wonder if she was losing her mind and hallucinating.
So, with growing dread, she slowly walked back to the bathroom.
She cautiously looked into the mirror. Her reflection stared back, expressionless and motionless. Maria took a deep breath and tried to reassure herself. "You're not real. I'm just imagining things, right?"
At this, the "Maria" in the mirror's lips moved slightly, and a deep, eerie voice emerged. "Then why do you see me? Because I am here."
Maria trembled, startled by the sudden response, but still bravely asked, "Who are you?"
"Don't you recognize me anymore?" The voice in the mirror carried a hint of wounded resentment.
Maria shook her head firmly. "I don't know you."
"I've always been here. Wherever you are, I am. When you think you see yourself, you're actually seeing me."
The voice became increasingly ethereal, as if coming from another dimension.
Maria's voice trembled. "What... what do you want from me?"
"I can take away your pain. I know who you like, who you hate. I can help you."
A strange gleam flashed in the mirror Maria's eyes.
Maria was full of doubt. "Why would you want to help me?"
"Look at me. What do you see?" The voice was seductive, hypnotic.
Maria stared into the mirror, her voice unconsciously softening. "I see my own reflection."
"What do you look like?"
"I... you are very beautiful." Maria's voice carried hesitation.
"No. We are very beautiful." A soft laugh came from the mirror. Then the voice spoke again, "Do you have a name?"
"My name is Alan," the mirror Maria said with dark charm.
It's been so long, it's been so long, since I've seen your face again. I wanna make up right now, na na. I wanna make up right now, na na...
On the club dance floor, heavy bass pounded like a war drum through everyone's chest. Strobe lights flashed wildly, and the air was thick with the scent of perfume, sweat, and alcohol.
In a corner booth, Frank shouted over the music to Edward, "Dude! You're like a legend now! The whole school's talking about how you took down that serial killer yesterday!"
Edward held his drink, a slight smirk on his lips, and muttered casually, "Just doing what anyone would do. No big deal."
Jennifer, beside him, shot him a sultry look, practically draping herself over him, her breath hot on his neck. "You're like a total action hero. I could just eat you up."
She punctuated this by running her tongue slowly across her lips, the suggestion unmistakable.
Edward's smirk widened, eyes glinting mischievously. He turned to Frank and Niti with mock apology. "Sorry guys, but we're gonna have to bail for a bit." With that, he took Jennifer's hand and, weaving through the crowd, disappeared toward the exit.
Frank watched them go, then turned to Niti with a helpless shrug, though a gentle smile played on his lips. "Well, looks like it's just us now."
He struck a gentlemanly pose, elegantly extending his hand. "May I have this dance?"
Niti nodded slightly, a sweet smile gracing her lips. She gracefully placed her hand in his, her voice soft. "I'd love to."
Frank gently took Niti's hand and led her toward the dance floor.
The surrounding crowd remained lost in the music and revelry, completely oblivious to the small group's comings and goings.
In the hotel room, soft amber lighting cast everything in warm, intimate tones.
Jennifer wore only an oversized men's dress shirt, the fabric barely covering her, her long legs swaying hypnotically.
She moved with feline grace toward Edward, her gaze smoldering, a teasing smile on her lips. Then she slowly leaned down and straddled him directly.
She looped her arms around Edward's neck, her warm breath tickling his ear, her voice dripping with temptation. "It's my first time, you know. What are you waiting for?"
Edward felt all the blood rush to his head in an instant. He gripped Jennifer's waist, his voice rough. "You're gonna be the death of me."
He suddenly lifted Jennifer up.
First, the bedside lamp crashed to the floor with a loud clatter, followed by pillows and blankets flying through the air.
This "battle" lasted for what felt like hours, until finally Jennifer lay sprawled across the bed like a ragdoll, too exhausted to move even a finger, only her chest still heaving.
She looked at Edward, who seemed completely refreshed and was even doing push-ups, and cursed him weakly.
"Have... mercy..."
Meanwhile, at the bathroom mirror in Maria's home on the other side of town, Alan revealed a satisfied, sinister smile.
"Soon, we will have him, Maria."
[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+10 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
If you enjoyed this chapter, leave a Review!
P*atreon/DarkFoxx (30+ advanced chapters)