EX Mission: Premonition (Amira)

Amira stood on a wide, flat plane as far as the eye could see. Well, seeing was the issue at present. All around her was a mist, swirling and eddying in hypnotic and undulating patterns. She could sense nothing - neither by sight, nor smell, not sound.

And yet, she could sense that something waited ahead of her in the mist - a presence both alluring and frightening, familiar and yet nothing like she'd sensed before.

Well, there were no answers standing here, wherever this was. The only way... was forward.

Amira

Amira stood with a confused look around her. What is this? Where is she?

Silence...

Amira looked up, but could see no sky, the mist around her provided her no vision. Did she die?

Silence!

There's no sound! There are no whispers! Freedom...

"I see, I must be dead..." Amira looked towards the only thing she could sense, again nothing... the mist continued to block her vision. But if she's dead does it matter? Amira moves towards the presence.

As Amira began to move, shapes began to form in the mist, hazy and incorporeal. She appeared to be in the midst of a village, from what he could tell. And in the midst, she saw a figure, indistinct and shadowy.

"Oh? What's this?"

A voice, female and alluring. The silhouette turned to face her, though it did nothing to make them more distinct.

"To think one such as you could reach me like this... how intriguing. I should like to know you better."

The figure raised their arms, and a flash of light blinding Amira. When she finally managed to prise apart her eyelids, she found herself surrounded by mirrors - countless panels of mirrors above, below, and all around so that she became dizzy turning to look into the infinite reflections.

But as she turned, her reflections suddenly halted and turned to face her, no longer mimicking her movements.

"My, so many facets to you," her reflections said to her. "How fascinating. It's a wonder you haven’t gone mad yet. Ah, the voices... yes, the voices can’t reach you. They can’t blanket the truth with sweet nothings. It’s just you now. And no one can hide from themselves forever."

Amira

Amira's face remained still. The voice, the obscure figure, the blinding light even the mirror did not make her bat an eye. She was use to these abnormalities... but...

Amira's eyes as she saw her reflection act itself. After herself spoke Amira remained silent her eyes intent on the face.

"Who are you? Why would you use such an ugly creature?"

There was a momentary pause, in which a flicker of surprise crossed the many reflected faces before being instantly smoothed away. “Who am I?” Amira’s own voice answered from her reflections. “Don’t you even recognize yourself anymore?”

The Reflection rubbed its chin, smiling as it surveyed her.

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t. You’ve buried the truth so far down you can’t see it anymore... just like all humans. You wouldn’t want to face who you really are.... wouldn’t want anyone else to know.”

One of the Reflections turned. The mirror behind it was no longer a mirror but a window, showing the bedroom of Amira's old home. There she stood, curled up in her bedroom alone, eyes staring vacantly into space as she listened to the many whispers echoing all around her.

“Was that the beginning of our madness? Or despair? Maybe we were born broken.” The Reflection behind her asked, turning to look inside its mirror. “Perhaps we should go deeper and find out...”

[A: Let it continue
B: Smash the mirror]

Amira

Amira stared at the mirror, her blank expression... no that is what she would normally wear to hide her emotions. But she was not physically there, there were no muscles to contract and stiff. Her expression darkened as her eyes sharpened and her mouth turned into a frown.

Of course she could recognize herself! What kind of stupid question is that?! Even if she avoids mirrors, she would never forget that hideous appearance.

And the window... ALL WRONG... FORGET... LOCK IT. Wherever this was, was not inside her mind, otherwise both Haita and the voices would manifest... Well, at least if the voices aren't here she'll be fi-

“Perhaps we should go deeper and find out...”

The window became black as a large bang came from the other side. Amira's expression changed. Now a true expression of terror as she looked at the visage of herself on the other side of the mirror.

"I'm...od...ir..am...Pa..."

The voice was Amira's own but rasped and chocked. Sunken eyes stare through the window. Dirty hand with bruises and blisters. Unkept hair that had lost it's a golden color.

"WORTHLESS, USELESS, I'M A GOOD GIRL, DEFECT, DIE, MAMA, WHERE ARE THEY COMING FROM, MY HEAD, PAIN, PAPA, DISAPPEAR, CONTROL, HELP..."

The voices, they were not here, but through the window they bombarded Amira. Amira's body was shaking.

"Help! Haita!"

She screamed as she backed from the window, but nothing changed the voices continued as her sunken eye version stared through the window.

"STOP! PLEASE!"

She couldn't help it! They were just words, they were not hers, but they were the same! The voices were there! Amira held her head together, she could feel it, the headache, her mind splitting open

"STOOOP!"

Amira yelled as she ran forward smashing the window with her head.

B. Smash the Mirror

Amira's forehead smashed into the glass, and all the mirrors together shattered. Amira, her eyes still shut, could see nothing as she slumped to her knees.

Then... footsteps sounded behind her. Someone crouched behind her, and an arm encircled her waist like the gentle curve of a vine.

"Shhh... be still," a voice whispered in her ear, the same voice she heard when she first arrived in the mist. A hand stroked her head, comforting and motherly.

The headache soothed and lifted from Amira, and an almost drug-like peace began to settle over her.

"There... are you well, child?" the voice asked. The figure still held her, seemingly gentle bit firm enough that turning to look would be impossible.

Amira

It hurts, it hurts. Any form of pain is barable, but this headache was too much. What had she done to deserve this? Haita! Haita! Help me! Please!

With the window broken, the voices stopped but Amira was still in a state of shock. She couldn't open her eyes as the blood from her forehead was slowly dripping down her head.

Suddenly Amira felt something hold on to her. A chill runs down her spine. No no! Please enough of this torment! Just the fear that the voices might come back was enough to run shivers down her spine.

"Shhh... be still,"

But... Something unexpected happened. A hand was stroking her head...

"There... are you well, child?"

Amira was calming down as she felt it. This was not a hold, but an embrace. This feeling... How long has it been? Amira hand grabbed onto the arms, they were not tight but showed a desperate need for comfort.

"W-who?" Amira was hesitant, this was the creature that... showed her that... she wanted to run away from it. But... this sensation... she wanted more of it.

At Amira’s question, the figure behind her let out a soft, lovely laugh.

“You can call me... Mother,” it said. “Now, don’t be afraid. No voice or force can reach you while I’m here.”

She stroked Amira’s hair soothingly, a faint hum echoing from her as she did.

“The Naive Shepherd can’t help you,” she whispered. “His power is naught but empty promises. Only you can stop those voices, the madness. If you become strong enough... there’s nothing you can’t do.”