Hey everyone! I actually don't have much to say before I start this next chapter except for "If you have an opportunity to see Pentatonix live, take it."

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Nightmares. Paranoia. I cannot eat something without it coming back up.

I am terrified.

I know that 1 is on to me and 25. We have been breaking rule after rule.

I just wish he would just get it over with. Scott Hoying will be assigned to someone much more capable after I am gone. Scott Hoying will finally die.

But I do not want him to die. He is so kind and radiant, and his pretty blue eyes sparkling and crinkling as he smiles. I cannot imagine his eyes blank and staring at nothing.

I shut my eyes and take deep breaths.

I open them after a few minutes.

This is torture... I thought. Pure torture...

1 is smart. Then again, he did create a link between our world and earth by creating the Pools. I still do not know how he did it.

If a stalactite is destroyed, then the Pool is destroyed, thus shattering the Reflection it belonged to...

But what if the connection was broken from the other side?

Could Scott shatter his own mirror and shatter me in the process?

No one has tried it before. After all these years Travis is the only one who has been shattered. And I could not shake the feeling that two more would follow.

I am frightened. What if I do get shattered? Kris would have to take care of 25, but after the first nightmare a few days ago, I doubt he would be a good caretaker.

Everyone else would call me crazy for thinking about things like this, but I am legitimately worried. I do not want 25 to be shattered. Her acts may prove she deserves it, but she really does not.

She is kind, even though she is a bit hard-headed. She is clever; too clever for her own good. But she is honest, and just a young girl. She is innocent and she has not yet seen what man can be capable of. She has seen, however, what 1 can do.

He has a presence that weighs you down. He can send shivers up your spine and goosebumps on your arms. You never know what he is going to say. He could say good morning or threaten you if you do not get the job done. He is a man shrouded in mystery like he is shrouded in his black robe. He is unpredictable, and a genius. He will be difficult to defeat him, if not impossible.

But how can I defeat him? He does not seem to have weaknesses. He is merciless, and will destroy his own creations if necessary. Travis revealed that part of 1. And I know 1 would be perfectly willing to do it again.

What am I going to do?

~

I showed up at breakfast, but I played with my glop, stirring it with my spoon, taking spoonfuls and letting them slowly fall off and back into the bowl.

"Are you OK, Mitch?" 25 asks, noticing that I was not eating.

"I am not hungry," I replied.

"Are you sure?" Kris remarks.

"Yes, I am sure."

"It is just you have not been eating for the past few days." 25 says. "Is something bothering you? If it is about 1 not waking you up the other day, just do not worry about it."

I nodded. "Mm-hmm,"

I feel 25 put her hand over mine. My head snaps.

25's blue-green eyes are fiery. "Tell me what is bothering you. I want you to be happy, Mitch. You are obviously not happy right now."

I sighed, hanging my head. "I am worried that I will be shattered."

25's grip tightens. "You will not."

"Do not give me false hope, Maud. My shattering is imminent. I still have not killed Scott Hoying, and 1 knows that. Why else would he not wake me up the other day?"

25 smiles sadly. "I am worried, too, Mitch. For you and for me. If 1 finds out about some of the things I have said..." She sighs. "If either one of us gets shattered, then maybe we can meet in some other life."

Some other life? What other lives are there?

I nodded. "Maybe,"

25 smiles. "Good. Try to relax. Stress does not suit you."

I smile, chuckling. "Thank you, Maud."

She nods, grinning. "No problem."

How can she be so laid-back? Or is this just a guise? I am sure she is worried; she just said so herself. She must be acting. If so, she is very good at putting on an act.

~

After I dove into my Pool, I saw Alex talking to Scott as he was brushing his teeth.

"I've been reading up on this, Scott. There have been countless people found in front of a mirror, their lungs filled with water."

Scott sighs. "You're just being paranoid, Alexander."

"I'm serious! These deaths were filed as murder cases!" Alex threw his hands up in exasperation. "If they find you drowned in front of that mirror, don't come crying to me when you're a ghost."

Scott rolls his eyes. "I will kick you out right now Alex."

"Look, Scott, I'm worried about you, okay? I don't know what I would do if you were murdered."

"I'm not gonna get murdered, Alex. Besides, who would murder me? Kevin? Avi? You?"

Alex hung his head. "You aren't taking this seriously, babe!"

"No, I am not." Scott replies.

Alex rubs the area above his eyebrows. "Scott, please listen to me!"

There was a buzzing sound. Scott reaches into his pocket and pulls out what I believe is called a phone.

"Alex, I need to hurry. I'm gonna be late."

Alex groans. "Fine. Just remember what I said! Mirrors can kill!"

Scott rolls his eyes again and walks away.

Alex sighs and stares into Scott's mirror. Since Alex is not assigned to anyone, I will not have to worry about mimicking his movements. But I do have to worry about keeping myself hidden.

I swim backwards a bit, slowly. If Alex notices a ripple, it would confirm his suspicions.

Alex is a big obstacle in my mission to kill Scott Hoying. Even though I will probably die leaving that mission incomplete.

I decide to wait until Alex leaves to move any further. I need to be incredibly cautious.

After a minute or two, Alex sighs, turns on his heel, and leaves.

I exit my Pool.

The deaths have been reported, and reported as murder cases. But were they ever solved? Have we been caught? Do they know we exist?

Maybe some people believe in us, like Alex. Maybe some people write us off as urban legends, like Scott.

The outside world has knowledge of us, even if it is just a little.

I am both scared and excited. I am scared because the families will know that I killed their loved one. But I am also excited because if we are caught, maybe all of this will be over.

I smile. I may not have to be shattered. 25 may not have to be shattered. Scott may not have to be killed. He can be happy and grow old with Alex.

Everything may turn out okay.

_________

Sure, Jan.

Oh yeah! My cover contest! That's right! I knew I was forgetting something!

So that's still going on. Be sure to submit your covers!

-BaileyLizzy1124

EDIT: Maud is a nickname for Maudire sorry if that confused any of you!