The Devil in the Mirror

Rose's POV:

I woke to a loud banging on the bus, followed by a scream. And let me tell you, that is not a pleasant sound to wake up to.

"What the fu- ROSE! Get off the fucking bus!"

I groggily sat up, groaning and irritably rubbing my tired eyes. Sleeping on top of a tour bus, dressed in only leggings and a tank top is probably not the best idea. But hey, I was tired, and upset. I deserved some well earned sleep, and I should at least be able to pick where I sleep. i don't care if it will kill me, actually that would be a plus... I'm getting off topic and suicidal again, aren't I?

I swiftly slide down the side of the bus, landing on my feet s the guys crowd around me, checking for injuries or whatnot. I roll my eyes, and stalk away, entering the warm bus, leaping into my bunk. I'm never complaining about this bunk after last night's makeshift bed.

I bury myself under the covers, making a nice little cocoon of warmth, hoping it will lull me into a blissful and not at all terrifying dream.


*dream*

The streets are bare, as are my feet, as I walk along them. The street lamps occasionally flickering as I pass, abruptly going out after I walk by. It seems as with each step, the darkness clouds over me even more, choking and eventually suffocating me in its blackness. Drowning me until I am nothing more than a distant memory not even worth reliving.

Thee is no wind, not even a gentle breeze to brush the dead leaves into a dance. Everything is still, eerily frozen. The streets itself hold an emptiness, no traffic or signs of life at all. Beside me, only separated by a thin, chain-link fence, lies a graveyard, the dim moonlight making the rough tombstones shine in the black voice that is reality.

I already know she is here, somewhere. Taunting me by her refusal to make an appearance, but I don't even care anymore. I stopped caring long ago, in fact, her mere presence is simply annoying. So instead of waiting for her to make her dreaded appearance, i continue briskly walking, counting each of the street lamps that go out as I pass. When I reach thirteen, her wicked laughter is heard, echoing around me, chilling me to the bone.

I stop dead in my tracks, standing absolutely still in the beam of a flickering light. I wait. When she doesn't suddenly appear, I close my eyes, taking a deep breath, before reopening my eyes, and there she is. In her horrific, yet beautiful glory.

She's changed this I last saw her, if that's even possible. Instead of red, her knotted hair is stark white, reflecting the moon's light. Her once grey eyes are darker, so dark that I can see myself in them even though she's across the street from me. She's dressed in a torn and ripped white gown. The skirt of the dress cut at a jagged angle, showing of her boney, yet surprisingly shapely legs. The bodice is tight, with one sleeve holding up majority of the dirty fabric. Her skin is startlingly pale, it nearly matches her hair.

She smiles sickly, showing off a pair of almost canine teeth, all pearly white, no flaws whatsoever. She's like a ghost yet perfected version of me. Which scares me the most at the moment.

"well, well, well," she hums, "isn't it my little innocent twin."

I'm taken aback by her words, how easy they slide off her tongue, "we are nothing alike. You are simply a figment of my imagination. Something I wish I could shut off."

She clucks her tongue, her eyes glowing brightly despite their dark colouring, "whatever you say, darling Rose, whatever you say.'

"so, what exactly are you doing here?" I ask, annoyed.

"what happened to the fun Rose? You're so boring now, no wonder Chris cheated on you and Andy left you, you're too predictable, too plain. Now if they were with me, well, they'd never get bored, I'd assure you that much."

Her words are like a slap in the face, just as she intended. She knows exactly where to hit, and hits as hard as she can, hoping to break me so she'll be abel to take control.

I brush off her harsh words, despite the sting they leave in my chest, "tell me, do you want to die?"

She raises an eyebrow at this, and frowns, before examining her nails, "why ever are you asking such a question?"

"because i figured you'd want to know, that by attempting to hurt me, you're pushing me even closer to death's door. Which is what you want, I assume?"

She says nothing, still keeping her focus on her long fingernails.

I go on, "well, then I suppose I should congratulate you, but I need to know, since we are the same, are we not? I can control this dream as I like, correct?"

She pales even more, finally glancing up in alarm, fear taking over her dark eyes, "whatever you're thinking, it will not work. I already told you, you cannot harm me without harming yourself."

i smirk, manifesting for the image in my head to appear, when it does, she sucks in a deep breath, "you wouldn't."

"try me," I reply smugly, " after all, you said I cannot hurt you without hurting myself, well it goes both ways."

I step into the street just as the truck appears.

Notes

quick dream sequence for you all!!! sorry if it was short of confusing.

tomorrows my birthday!!!! lol, I don't know why I just said that...