My phone fell from my hand as Scott said those two words.

"Mitch?" Travis says.

My breaths came out in short huffs. He didn't... He isn't...

I shut my eyes, breathing in deeply.

"We need to go." I said, opening my eyes. "Something happened to Avi. I need to get over there." I added while grabbing my keys.

"Do you need me to come?" Travis asks, standing.

"I don't care I just need to get to Avi's."

~

I ran inside to see what was going on.

The door was unlocked.

"Scott?" I called. "Kevin?"

"We're in the bathroom!" I hear Kevin yell back.

My blood ran cold.

He's dead. Oh, he's dead.

I ran to the bathroom anyway.

But Avi wasn't dead.

But I wasn't so sure about Kirstie.

Blood was gushing from her head.

What happened? How did she get here?

Avi was sobbing over Kirstie's body. "It's all my fault..." I heard him choke out.

"We need to get Kirstie to a hospital." I said.

"You don't think we haven't already called an ambulance?" Scott replies sassily.

Then I could hear the sirens.

"About freaking time." Scott mutters.

Paramedics came in and took Kirstie from Avi's arms, laying her on a gurney.

Avi watches as they lift her into the ambulance, his stare blank and glassy.

~

Avi told us what happened while we sat in the waiting room.

"I walked up to my mirror and begged for Kirstie to come back.

"I waited for her to answer, but she grabbed the front of my shirt and suddenly I was underwater.

"Then I saw her. She was exactly like Mitch described her; russet hair, blue-green eyes, freckles, but her features were exactly the same. I knew it was Kirstie.

"She breaks the surface and brings me onto dry land. Well, the ground was wet but you know what I mean.

"She folded her arms and was standing there acting like she was too cool for school, talking about how I better be glad she didn't kill me.

"She punched me when I asked her if she didn't or wouldn't kill me.

"Then this ominous voice pierces the air, sending shivers up my spine.

"Kirstie just burst into sobs, sinking to her knees.

"When the voice asked about why I was there, Kirstie only cries harder.

"I grew angry. I clenched my fist, called him a coward, then demanded that he show himself.

"I couldn't really see him. It was dark. But he hits Kirstie, yelling at her to get up and not be so soft.

"My anger spilled over. I told him to not hurt her again.

"Then these... shadows curl from his fingertips, gyrating as they created a small sphere.

"The figure said that if I said one more word he would kill me where I stood.

"So I, being the stubborn mule I am, opened up my mouth to say something.

"I was only bluffing, but Kirstie thought I wasn't.

"She yells my name and pushes me out of the way just as the figure threw his shadow ball.

"It hits Kirstie square in the chest and it blew her backwards." Avi pauses, letting out a shaky breath. "She collides with the cave wall. I heard a sickening crack. She falls to the floor and she just lies there, motionless.

"I ran to her and nearly slipped on her blood.

"It was gushing out of her head like a waterfall.

"I felt like I was about to vomit, but I swallowed it and cradled her in my arms.

"Her eyes were closed, her lips parted slightly. Her face was losing its color.

"I called her name, over and over, but the only reply I got from her was her quiet, labored breathing.

"I went back to the Pool from whence we came.

"I wasn't sure if it would work but I had to try.

"I used one hand to plug her nose and the other to cover her mouth.

"I jumped in.

"It was hard to swim with just my legs and holding Kirstie's breath for her.

"It felt like hours before I finally found the end and returned to my bathroom, where Scott and Kevin were.

"I scared the crap out of them.

"But Scott saw Kirstie and immediately pulled out his phone to call the ambulance. And you, Mitch.

"I really hope Kirstie's okay. If she dies, it'll be all my fault."

We were silent. We weren't sure what to say.

Well. The others didn't know what to say.

I had a million questions, and I'm sure Travis did, too, but after I saw how much this was breaking Avi, I kept my mouth shut.

The doctor came out. "Family of Kirstin Maldonado?"

We all stood.

"She has a concussion, which would be easily fixed..." His voice trailed off.

"But...?" I pressed.

"Her spine has been severed slightly."

Avi sank to his knees, his eyes wide.

"I'm not quite sure if she'll make it or not, but let's hope she will." The doctor adds, trying and failing to better our situation.

He rubs Avi's shoulder sympathetically, then walks away.

Avi doesn't cry. He just sits there, his wide eyes dry.

I heard Scott sniffle. I looked over and saw tears slipping down his cheeks.

Kevin was crying.

I pressed my lips together as my lower one began to tremble.

I barely knew Kirstie. In this life anyway.

She betrayed me.

Why am I crying for her?

~

We got to visit here a few hours later.

I felt my mouth go dry as I saw all the IVs she was hooked up to, the bloody bandage wrapped around her head.

I swallowed hard and stood by her hospital bed, along with the others.

Avi kept a white-knuckle grip on the metal sides; it was the only thing keeping him up.

"Can she speak?" Scott asks the doctor.

The doctor shook his head. "Not yet. If she improves, she will be able to speak."

Scott nods.

The doctor continues his report. "The area of the severing has caused brief paralysis from the waist down. If she recovers, it's gonna take a long time. Spinal injuries are very serious."

I licked my lips. "Just try your best, Doctor." I said.

"I'm sworn to do so, Mr. Grassi." The doctor replies. "I'll leave you guys alone."

The doctor walks out of the room.

"Mitch," Avi began. "There was a man in that world. He wore a black robe."

I stood up straighter.

"He said something about him not actually shattering Kirstie. What does that mean?"

"Shattering?" I echoed. "I think that's what happened with Travis and me."

"Can... Can you elaborate?" Scott says.

"I remember having this flashback." I explained. "I'm dragged out of my bedroom and into a cave. These two guys take pickaxes and start chipping at a stalactite above my Pool. It felt like I was being broken from the inside out."

Kevin, Avi, and Scott were leaned in as I spoke.

"And I had another one later. The robed figure came in with Kirstie in his arms. He must've performed magic or something because her hair color changed, her eye color changed, her skin tone changed."

"So the Reflections are people taken from the human world and changed by magic?" Kevin asks.

"That seems like the most logical explanation." I replied.

"So in that case that must mean if a Reflection gets 'shattered' the magic is stripped away and they return to their human form?" Scott theorizes.

"I guess."

"So if Kirstie was never really shattered like the robed figure said... Then Kirstie is still technically a Reflection." Travis says.

"But what happens if she doesn't make it?" Avi asks. "Will she die in the other world, too?"

I shrug.

"But if you and Travis died in the other world and came back to Earth, maybe the same will happen to Kirstie." Kevin suggests.

"But she's still a Reflection, and is, therefore, still connected to the other world." Travis points out.

"Can she die at all if she's caught between worlds like this?" Scott says.

"I hate to say it," I replied. "But we'll just have to wait and see if she makes it or not."