As soon as I got home from the hospital, I grabbed my laptop and started writing a new email.

Travis,

Hey, it's Mitch.

I just got out of the hospital and I feel betrayed and hurt.

My friend has been lying to me and has returned to the world behind the glass.

She knows things we don't.

We need to meet up, and soon.

She said she would eliminate my friends and I can't let that happen.

I'll be visiting family in Texas soon and I plan on squeezing in a meet up with you.

Find out as much as you can.

We need to figure this out before it's too late.

-Mitch

I sent the email and sigh.

This was really happening. Kirstie's a traitor. I have to protect my friends at all costs.

Life was great before she came. Now it was a raging tumult of memories and lies.

I didn't know what to believe anymore.

Could I trust Travis? I haven't even met him yet. But he claims to be like me.

I didn't want to cancel our meet-up; that would make him suspicious if he's betraying me as well. I'll just have to keep my guard up this time. I'll have to tread carefully.

I decided to check Tumblr while I waited for Travis's reply.

My eyes strayed up to the tabs. The one with my email was showing a little one in the corner.

My heart leapt and I clicked the tab.

I swore as I realized it was one of those emails from change.org. I deleted it and resumed my Tumbling.

Then I hit post limit.

I got out my phone and resorted to Twitter.

I'd look up occasionally to see if Travis replied.

My phone was about to die, but thankfully I had my handy dandy charger on my desk.

I got off my bed to grab my charger.

I rummaged through the stray papers searching for my charger.

Then I found a slip of paper with Kirstie's number on it.

We had all exchanged phone numbers during Apples to Apples.

I sighed, took the paper, balled it up, and tossed it into the wastebasket.

I finally found my charger and sat back down on my bed to plug it in.

Travis had replied.

That sucks, man. I'm sorry to hear that.

When exactly are you coming to Texas? I'm in school right now, so my schedule isn't very supple.

I bit my lip. My doubts about Travis's trust were like waves, receding then returning to wash away any footprints.

Could I really trust Travis?

I trusted Kirstie and look at me now. Fresh out of the hospital, hurt and betrayed.

Avi.

Was Avi taking it well? He refused to believe Kirstie would betray us.

He fell hard. Whenever he was with her he was... happier. Now he's fallen again, and I'm afraid he won't come back up.

I didn't expect him to believe me. Like he said, I have no evidence.

I just hoped he was staying away from his mirror.

Scott's voice brought me back to reality. "Mitch!"

"Yeah, Scott?" I yelled back.

"Chipotle sound good?"

Mitch's mouth watered a little. He swallowed and replied. "Yeah, that's fine."

"What do you want?" Scott asks. "Your usual?"

"Sure,"

"All right. I'll be back soon!"

"See ya!"

I heard the car starting and my head began to spin.

Oh, no. This again.

I let the memories flood over me and slip into unconsciousness.

~

We were all gathered in the mess hall, the tables folded up and leaning against the northernmost wall.

I wouldn't do this in a mess hall, but 1 was eccentric that way.

I wanted to be excited. Our 25th Reflection would be born today. But I felt... empty.

Travis has been gone for two years now, but part of me still wasn't over it quite yet.

Not a word was spoken. All the Reflections were lined up, standing at attention.

My gaze was the only one that wandered around absent-mindedly.

Everyone else stares off at nothing in particular, their eyes cold and emotionless.

There was an eerie aura in the room with all the blank stares.

I could hear 1's footsteps.

All eyes darted to the door.

1 walks in carrying a woman in his arms.

A female Reflection...

We all watched as 1 laid the woman's body on the floor.

I was the youngest Reflection at the time, and had no idea what it was like to see a new one being created.

I wasn't excited. More... intrigued than anything.

The only sound was 1's footsteps and rustling fabric.

1 sets the woman on the floor, her head lolling to the side.

That was when I got my first real glimpse of her.

She was of Mexican origin, which led me to assume her platinum blonde hair was the work of cosmetic dye.

She had double piercings above and below her right eyebrow.

She was beautiful.

According to Kris, the creation process can alter a subject's appearance. I began to wonder what about this woman would change.

Streaks of gold, bronze, and silver circulated the woman's body as 1 recited the incantation.

The metallic streamers lifted the woman into the air. 1's chanting increased in volume.

A single golden streak cut through the fabric of her blouse, her chest radiating light as it entered.

The woman's eyes flew open. They were a dark brown.

A silver streak enters her irises, turning them a blue-green color. Her eyes shut again.

The bronze streak weaves itself into her shoulder-length hair, glowing blindingly.

It unwound itself, the woman's hair turning a rustic color and extending it as it flew away.

The three streaks worked together to pale her skin until it was pure white.

The bronze streak leaves its shimmers on her cheeks, giving her freckles.

My eyes widened, my mouth hanging slightly open.

The streaks extend their length, acting as supports as the woman is lowered to the ground.

The streaks faded into shimmering light as 1's chanting ceases.

Silence hung in the air as I stared in awe and wonder.

A small groan arose from the woman as her eyes fluttered open. She sat up in a panic, her head whipping around.

"W-what? What the crap is going on here? Where am I? Who are you people?" She questions shakily as she stood. Her laced her fingers together and held her hands to her chest.

She gasps loudly as 1 comes up from behind her and places a bony hand on her shoulder.

"Relax, my dear," 1 soothes. "You're home."

"And what exactly is home?" She asks.

"You have been charged with an incredible honor. You will cleanse the world of its sins, sanctify the world."

The woman's eyes widened as the gravity of the sacred duty pulled her down.

"I know it sounds like a lot," 1 says. "But you will have me and everyone in this room to help you.

"From now until you have proven yourself worthy of a name, you will be called 25."

The woman still looked shocked, but she nods.

"I assume you're hungry." 1 says, removing his hand from her shoulder.

The woman shrugs. "Kinda,"

"We'll have a special banquet in your honor!" 1 announces, holding out his arms.

The woman looks around as everyone cheered.

Our eyes lock.

I gave her a reassuring smile. I remember when I was first created. I was confused and afraid.

But as I looked around, I saw Travis smiling at me.

I immediately felt at peace.

The woman's relief was apparent in her posture and body language.

She smiles back at me, nice and wide.

~

"Mitch!"

Scott's voice was distant and muffled.

"Mitch! Please don't be dead, Mitch. Mitch!"

I could feel Scott shaking me, trying to wake me up.

"Scott?" I mumbled.

"Mitch! Oh, thank goodness. You scared the crap out of me! Never ever scare me like that again Mitchell Coby Michael Grassi!" Scott says all in one breath.

I tried to open my eyes, but my eyelids were heavy.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I dunno." Scott replies, wiping away stray tears he was obviously hoping I wouldn't see. "I came back, called your name, and you didn't answer. I came into your room to check on you and you were lying on your bed, motionless. And... you weren't breathing..." Scott's voice broke.

"What, you didn't call 911?" I questioned.

"I only just found you." Scott replies, blinking repeatedly. "Do you remember anything?"

"I remember having a flashback, but I've never stopped breathing whilst having one before..." I said slowly.

"Can you stand up?"

"You kind of have me in your lap, Scott. Unless you want me standing on your thighs, I'll do it gladly."

Scott chuckled. "Yeah, how about a no?"

I slid off his lap and slowly got to my feet, only to take a figurative sledgehammer to my skull. I cried out, dropping to my knees. I swore.

"Mitch, what's wrong?" Scott asks, his voice slightly higher than usual.

"Argh, headache," I groaned.

The pain, thankfully, began to subside.

"Do you need Ibuprofen?"

"No," I replied. "I'll be fine. The pain's going away now."

"You sure?" Scott inquires with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I'm sure."

Scott was skeptical, but he shrugged and joined me downstairs for Chipotle.

_________

So yeah now you know how Reflections are created!

Are you a lot less confused now?

I hope so. If not, I have failed my duty as a writer.

Hope y'all enjoyed this chapter!

-Spontaneous_Soprano