OK, so this part disappeared somehow I have no idea what happened, but I've decided to rewrite it since it's crucial to the story. It's not verbatim though. It may not be as good as the first time I posted it since I didn't back it up and lost it, but the same events will happen and the same points will come across.

I also announced in the first posting of this part that I'm having a cover contest like I did for From the Heart (Which hit 1k last week whoop). I am crap at making covers. I have no photoshop skills. But if you do, if you could make a cover, please let me know. I'll send you my email via PM so you can email the file to me.

Like for From the Heart, the winner of the cover contest will be included in a small role in the story.

I can't wait to see what y'all come up with! ^_^

___________

I dreamt that 25 was shattered.

She is standing in front of 1, her hands and feet shackled.

She is being tried for treason.

"25!" I call, but my voice doesn't come out.

I try to pick up my feet to run to her, but I cannot move.

My heart sank to my feet. I am mute and immobile. I cannot help her.

"First witness please come to the stand," 1 says, obviously bored and wanting this to be over with.

Kris rose from his seat and stands beside 1.

"The accused has confessed her intentions to you. Is that correct?" 1 asks in his bored tone.

Kris glances at 25, then suddenly became very interested in his feet. "Yes, sir." He says, quiet but loud enough for 1 to hear.

"Traitor!" I hiss futilely.

"Can you repeat her words for me, Kris?"

"Verbatim, sir?"

"If it is possible."

Kris sighs, his gaze fixed on 25. Her gaze is elsewhere, lackluster. She closes her eyes.

"Help me, Mitch..." She whispers.

I want to help you, 25. Believe me. I do.

Kris repeats what she had said that fateful day.

Red hot rage bubbles up inside me, threatening to boil over. I grit my teeth.

Murmurs arose from the other Reflections. 1 calls for order.

"I think that is all the evidence we need. Thank you, Kris."

Kris nods curtly and walks away.

My anger subsides a little. Helplessness becomes its superior.

I could not save Travis. I could not prove his innocence.

I cannot save 25. And I cannot prove her innocence, for she is guilty.

Besides, I cannot speak or move.

"How does the accused find themselves?" 1 asks in his bored tone.

25 looks up. She licks her lips, takes a deep breath, and spoke.

"Guilty."

My heart nearly stopped.

As soon as she spoke, 2 and 3 each take one of her arms, dragging her away.

Like Travis, she does not fight back. She just lets them take her, not speaking another word.

"No! Please! No!" I cried. "Please do not take her, too! I cannot lose another friend!"

Sobs racked my body as my soul fell into despair.

Through the clear veil I see everything around me dissolve into black, murky ink.

The ink melts away and I find myself in the Caves.

25 is kneeling before her Pool.

2 and 3 are destroying her Pool, bits of rock flying towards her.

"25!" I cried.

Then I looked over beside her and see my Pool.

It is dry.

I have been shattered.

My eyes widened.

Cracks began to appear in 25's skin. Her eyes became saucers, her mouth hanging open.

"25!" I sobbed. She is about to die before my eyes. It is like Travis all over again.

Her head snaps. Her eyebrows knit, but she looked relieved. "Mitch I..."

She gasps and light fills my vision.

"TWENTY-FIVE!"

I panted as sweat trickles down my neck and the curve of my back.

This was the first nightmare I have had in months.

I ran my hand through my damp hair and hung my head. I took deep breaths, trying to regain my composure.

Was this just another nightmare? Or perhaps it was a glimpse into the future...

I shut my eyes and clutched my hair in my fists.

What time is it? I thought.

It was early, I knew that. Probably no later than 3 a.m.

I sigh and stare up at my ceiling, jagged, damp obsidian rock shelves chilling the air.

I turn to my side and try to go back to sleep.

But I cannot.

I keep seeing 25's cracking skin burn behind my eyelids. I kept hearing the damning word she spoke.

I toss and turn for what felt like hours before finally falling into a restless sleep.

~

My eyes flew open when I awoke from a forgotten dream.

I am late.

I swore and jumped from my bed, haphazardly slipping on my usual grey tunic.

I ran out my door, not bothering about breakfast.

I need to get to the Caves before 1 can find out that I overslept.

I have never been late before. Why did Kris or 25 not wake me up? Surely they did not forget about me.

I skidded to a stop at the entrance to the Caves. Everyone must have been in their Pools for they were nowhere to be seen.

I looked around for 1, but I did not see him.

I sighed in relief and dove into my Pool.

~

Scott and Alex were kissing when I came in.

I groaned. It would be difficult to parrot Scott's passionate movements. But I have to. And I need to be extremely careful since Alex is here. If his eyes open slightly and he sees Scott's reflection standing perfectly still, it would confirm his suspicions.

Thankfully, they break apart and look lovingly into each other's eyes.

Alex's eyes shift to the mirror. After a month, he has only gotten more suspicious of me. He looks back at Scott.

"You've been looking at my mirror a lot." Scott observes.

Alex waves his hand dismissively. "It's nothing, babe."

Scott sighs. "If you say so."

Alex smiles, chuckling. "I'd better get going."

"All right."

They shared a quick kiss and Alex leaves.

Scott grins and spins with his arms out.

"Oh, to be in love!" He chimes. "Richard, you are one lucky man!"

Richard? I thought his name was Scott...

"You're beautiful, you have a beautiful voice, a beautiful boyfriend, LIFE is beautiful!"

Scott is on Cloud 9 right now. He must really love Alex.

I smiled. And not just because Scott was, but because I was... happy for him.

Then Scott turn his back.

My heart leapt to my throat. This is my chance. I can just kill him and it will be over.

I reach, but a hand grabs the back of my tunic and yanks me.

I opened my mouth, water filling my lungs. Reflections can hold their breath for about 15 minutes at a time, but we are still capable of drowning.

I breach the surface and gasp for air.

I hear a howl from behind me.

1 is standing there, the flesh on his right arm burning.

"Why did you do that?" I inquired. "You know that if a Reflection enters another Reflections's Pool, it will attack the intruder."

"Of course I do! I created you and these Pools!" He sighs. "Now," He says, his voice low. "Why were you late this morning?"

I swallowed hard. "Neither Kris nor Maudire woke me up this morning." I replied, remembering to refer to 25 by her name. "I am sorry." I stood up and bowed, deep and low.

"Well why did you not wake up on time?" 1 questions.

I sigh. "I do not know, sir."

I avert 1's scanning gaze.

"This is your last warning, Mitchell. One more offense and you will be shattered before you can blink."

I shrank, letting out a small gasp. I bow again. "Understood, sir."

"Good."

The weight of 1's presence is lifted off my shoulders as he walks away.

I hear water splash and see Kris emerging from his Pool.

"Mitch," He says, seeing me standing there.

I hear more splashing and 25 emerges from her Pool. She glances at Kris.

"Why did you two just leave without waking me up?" I asked.

25 sighs. "1 woke all of us up. I assumed he woke you up, too, but I did not see you at breakfast."

I swallow hard.

1 knows. He knows I have been pushing Scott Hoying's death further and further back.

My shattering is imminent.

________

Well I finished this chapter in Atlanta traffic and I am very fed-up. But at least I'll be able to go to a Pentatonix concert tonight.

I'll post my stories and pictures and my videos on my Tumblr which is in my bio! =)

And I'm FINALLY in my hotel and have wifi so yeah.

-Spontaneous_Soprano