By C. S. Wachter
Molly checked both ways before she skittered across the street. Jack kept pace on her right, his hand a warm support on her lower back. Within minutes, the two had traversed several smaller avenues and alleyways, burrowing deeper into the unsavory part of town.
Molly stumbled as her vision wavered, split between two worlds, two sets of reality. The solid, physical world surrounding her and a mirror-like, reverse image of it that wavered as if viewed through water. Jack caught her before she face-planted. “You okay?”
She reached out to touch him without success. “I…”
“It’s happening now, isn’t it?”
Her nod threw her off balance again. Jack turned into her, grabbed both elbows, and stabilized her. “I’ve got you, Molly. We’re close now. I won’t let go.”
Molly leaned into Jack, her steps hesitant as he guided her forward. She needed Jack, needed to trust him because, otherwise, she’d end up frozen with fear.
The distortions had begun two weeks ago. Mild at first, like a transparent screen unfurling before her eyes, they impeded her sight once or twice a day. Now, the visions had grown opaque, showing images of people and places that obscured her physical surroundings, disorienting her. She’d visited an eye doctor, but he found nothing. There was no explanation for what was happening.
When Jack suggested she see a specialist he knew, she jumped at the idea.
Molly, eyes squeezed shut, followed Jack into a building and up three flights of stairs. When they stopped, she swallowed and blinked her eyes open. A sigh escaped her; her sight had cleared once again.
Tall, cadaverous, and deep voiced, Jack’s friend sent chills up Molly’s spine as he welcomed them into his apartment. She hesitated in the doorway, scanning the cluttered room and dirt-streaked windows.
“Molly, it’s okay.” Jack prodded her forward. “Artemis can help you. You want help, don’t you? Come on. He’s exceptionally good at what he does. I’ve known him a long time.”
Gathering her resolve, she nodded and stepped into the room. A vague sense of disquiet stirred in her mind. Dust motes danced in the air so thick, it threatened to send her into a coughing fit. She debated turning and fleeing, but the thought of disappointing Jack drove her forward. Though she’d only known Jack for a few months, he’d been nothing but kind since her episodes began.
“Please, have a seat, my dear.” The deep rumble of Artemis’s voice sent a soothing vibration through Molly.
Jack plopped down on a rumpled couch of indeterminate color. Gritting her teeth, Molly sat next to him. He smiled, took her hand in both of his, and kissed it. She returned a cautious half-smile, her fingers warming at his touch.
Within minutes, Artemis set down a tray with a tea service on the coffee table near the sofa. A soft, herbal fragrance calmed Molly as the strange man filled two cups and handed them to Jack and Molly. The tea, sweet and thick like honey, coated Molly’s tongue. She shuddered, clinked the cup back on the saucer, then placed the set on the low table with care.
Her vision swirled. “Oh no. Not now.” The other world barged into her mind with unexpected force. Jack, Artemis, and the room faded behind a solidifying, reversed image of another Jack, Artemis, and the room. Molly tried to shake her head, but her muscles refused to respond. What she saw was impossible. “What’s happening, Jack?”
Summoning all her failing strength, Molly squeezed back into the cushions and whimpered. The vision solidified. Molly’s eyeballs burned and she reached up to touch them. Hot. Tears leaked from the burning orbs.
“Jack?” She felt for his comforting presence next to her, but all her fingers found was cold, gritty couch.
“Jack!” she screamed.
“Don’t worry, my dear. This is a normal part of the transition.” Jack’s voice joined in sync with the image. He was talking to her from within the vision.
“I am sorry to do this to you. I really am. You’ve been sweet. But your eyes were the only match we could find.”
Chills jittered up Molly’s spine and her mind shifted into panic mode when she realized another girl sat like a mirror image of her on the duplicate couch. Like her, but different. The Molly in reverse had long, black hair—not buzzed, blonde hair. Molly’s heart thundered in a rapid rhythm. She struggled to get off the couch, but the weight of her drugged limbs dragged her down. She wanted to disappear, get away from the impossibility staring her in the face.
The other girl—No! It can’t be real! Molly blinked and looked again.
The other girl had no eyes.
Fine, curved eyebrows sat over skin stretched taut above a nose.
“Jack!”
“Jack, it is time.” Artemis’s voice vibrated as his image blurred with his physical presence. “We must complete the transfer now or we will lose our window of opportunity.” He bent over Molly. “Now. Stay calm, little one. This will only hurt for a bit.”
Artemis hovered like a demonic phantom. “Be still.”
Deep, searing pain assailed Molly. Unconsciousness claimed her.
Echoes of pain speared through her face as she woke and struggled to push herself upright on the couch. Too afraid to touch her face, she stared into the fading vision. Her doppelganger now sat blinking tears from large brown eyes.
The image blurred and shifted. Nausea roiled in Molly’s stomach as she looked through the eyes of the other and saw herself. Thin, blonde, pale—and eyeless. It was the last thing Molly ever saw.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This was absolutely TERRIFYING oh my gosh *dies* What a concept!
Thank you. Writing this was unique for me.
Oh wow, this was absolutely Thrilling! Gave me Poe vibes, which is Fantastic. Would love to see more stories set in this fascinating world!
I am honored you said it gave a Poe vibe. This was my first attempt at horror. Thanks!
Stephen King move over – here come C.S. Wachter.
Keeps you glued to the page. What happens next and why Molly?
Thanks for your comment. Good questions. I’ll have to think about them.
Chilling! I’ve been watching a lot of Fringe lately so I’m definitely into this alt world thing you got here.
Thank you. I haven’t watched Fringe. Perhaps I should check it out.
Um yes! It’s free on Amazon Prime 😆
Unnerving… especially since we get no indication of what Jack and Artemis’s true motivations are.
WOAH 😨 creepy!!!