2025-03-27 04:03:38The cracks in the mirror widened.
"KRRRKKK..." The sound of shattering echoed through the room, like a dark whisper creeping into Alina's skin. Moonlight from the large window reflected off the broken glass, creating sharp flashes that pierced her eyes. She wanted to run, but her body was frozen. Darren, standing beside her, immediately pulled her back. "Don't look, Alina!" his voice was sharp, almost a command. But how could she turn away from something so terrifying? Behind the now cracked mirror, her reflection moved on its own. The same face, the same eyes, but not her. The shadow smiled. No, it wasn't a normal smile. It was wide, too wide. Her lips parted unnaturally, revealing stark white teeth under the dim light. "You finally see me..." That voice wasn't a reflection, but a real voice. Alina's chest heaved. Her breath came in gasps. "Darren... what is this?" her voice barely escaped her lips. Darren frowned, his expression sharp. He pulled Alina closer, away from the mirror. "I said, don't look," he repeated, this time with a colder tone. Alina swallowed. "What is that? Why is my reflection talking?" Darren didn't answer immediately. He looked at the mirror with a hardened jaw. KRRRKKK! The cracks grew larger. And this time, something crawled out from within. A pale hand emerged from the gaps, its fingers long, its nails pitch black. Alina gripped Darren's arm tightly, her body trembling. "No... no... this isn't real..." But the sound of "TAP TAP TAP" on the marble floor proved it was. The figure in the mirror walked out. It had the same form as her, but more... dark. Its hair was longer, falling haphazardly over its face. Its eyes were empty, pitch black without pupils. The white gown it wore was the same as hers, but now stained with dried blood. Alina wanted to scream. But the voice came first. "I've been waiting for you for a long time..." The figure turned towards her with a slow, eerie movement. Its head tilted slightly, as if observing something interesting. Its smile widened. Darren grabbed Alina's wrist roughly. "We have to go now!" But before they could turn— The figure in the mirror whispered: "You think he's protecting you, Alina?" "He's the one who locked you up here." The world seemed to stop. Alina turned slowly to Darren, whose face could no longer hide his unease. His eyes darkened, his jaw muscles tensed. "Don't listen to him," he said quickly, his controlled voice now a little shaky. But how could she ignore those words? Alina's chest felt tight. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm her racing heartbeat. "What does that mean?" she asked softly. Her shadow self, now fully out of the mirror, laughed softly. "He's lying. Just like he always does." Darren stepped forward, shielding Alina. "Go back to where you came from." "No," the figure whispered, its voice echoing. "Now I'm here. And I will reveal the truth." Suddenly, the chandelier flickered wildly. "ZZTT!" One bulb shattered, then another, until the room was lit only by dim moonlight. Alina panicked more. She felt something dark, something threatening, surrounding them. "Darren, we have to get out!" she urged. But before they could move, Alina's shadow—or whoever it was—smirked. "I know who you really are, Alina." Those words pierced her. She staggered. Her head began to spin. Empty memories, lost fragments… Who was she? Why didn't she remember anything before the wedding day? Alina gasped. "I... I don't understand." The figure laughed louder. "Of course you don't. Darren made you forget. He erased everything." The world seemed to spin. Alina looked at Darren with wide eyes. "You said I lost my memory in an accident." Darren didn't answer. His usually calm eyes were now dangerous. "BOOM!" Suddenly, a strong wind blew from within the shattered mirror. Alina screamed as the room filled with faint whispers. "Alina..." "Don't trust..." "You must remember..." The figure came closer. "I can help you, Alina." But Darren acted faster. He grabbed Alina's shoulders and pulled her back. "Don't listen to him!" Alina looked at him sharply. "Why should I trust you?" Darren gritted his teeth. "You don't understand, Alina. There are things better left locked away." Alina backed away. Her hands trembled. "Locked away? So... he's right? You really are hiding something from me?" Darren raised a hand, as if to touch her, but Alina retreated again. She didn't know who to trust. And at that moment, the figure in the mirror whispered in a voice almost like the night wind. "You have a choice, Alina." An object floated towards Alina. A silver key. Darren tensed. His eyes widened. "Don't—!" But Alina had already reached for it. And as her fingers touched the cold metal— A wave of memories exploded in her mind. Screams. Blood. A woman crying, her hands reaching out in a dark room. "ALINA, RUN!" Then Darren's voice. Calm, cold, without emotion. "I'm sorry, but she can't leave." Before everything went dark. BANG! The sound of a gunshot echoed in her memory. Alina staggered. Her head felt like it had been struck by a hammer. The pain pierced to the bone. Her fingers gripped the silver key tightly, while the world around her began to shift—as if reality itself was cracking, like the mirror behind her. The flashbacks continued in her mind. She saw herself running in a dark corridor, gasping for breath. The cold floor was bloodied. Her breath was trembling, her feet wounded. Behind her, heavy footsteps grew closer. Then the voice again. "I'm sorry, but she can't leave." Darren's voice. No. Alina bit her lip, holding back a sob. She turned to Darren, who stood stiffly with an expressionless face. His usually controlled black eyes now hid something—a secret he had never told her. "It's impossible..." she whispered, her chest rising and falling wildly. "You... you said I had an accident. You said I lost my memory." Darren sighed. His eyes closed, as if seeking calm. "I wanted you to be safe, Alina." Alina laughed bitterly. "Safe? From what? From whom? From the truth?" Behind her, the figure from the mirror spoke again, its tone full of satisfaction. "You're starting to understand, right?" "He erased your memories so you wouldn't remember who you really are." Alina bit her lip. Her throat constricted. If she asked more, would she find something worse than she could imagine? But she had to know. She looked at Darren with tear-filled eyes. "Who am I, Darren?" her voice trembled. Something in Darren's expression changed. There was a battle within him. Then, he spoke. "Seven years ago, I found you in an underground room. You were held captive, Alina. Locked up. I freed you and took you away." Alina froze. Locked up? By whom? Why? She clutched her head, the pain intensifying. "Who locked me up?" Darren didn't answer. But the figure in the mirror laughed softly. "He knows. He just doesn't want you to remember." Alina shook her head. "Answer me, Darren!" Darren looked away. "I can't." "What do you mean you can't? This is my life, Darren!" His breath sounded heavy. "Because if you remember... you'll never be able to return to being the Alina you are now." Alina shivered. Something in her heart whispered she wouldn't like the truth. But fear wouldn't stop her. She squeezed the silver key in her hand tighter. If this could unlock something—a locked memory, a hidden door—she would use it. The figure in the mirror smiled widely. "You want to know everything, right? Then you must find the door." "The door?" Alina frowned. "Behind this house, there's a place Darren doesn't want you to see." Alina's heart pounded. She turned to Darren, searching for truth in his eyes. But he remained silent. And that silence... was answer enough. Without thinking, Alina ran out of the room. Darren tried to reach her, but she was too fast. She didn't know where to go. But her feet led her somewhere. And at the end of a dark hallway, behind a wall she hadn't noticed, was an old iron door. With a keyhole shaped exactly like the key in her hand.
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
Unnamed Marriage The Key
Cold air swirled around Alina, hitting her face with a bone-chilling touch. She stood stiffly before the towering old iron door, the suffocating aroma of rust and dampness filling her nostrils. Her heart pounded, her fingers gripping the silver key felt damp with sweat. Behind her, Darren's footsteps grew closer, his heavy voice breaking the ominous silence."Alina, don't do this," Darren whispered, his voice full of warning, almost despairing.However, Alina ignored him. Her eyes were fixed on the keyhole that seemed to call to her, whispering promises of secrets hidden behind that door. With trembling hands, she inserted the silver key into the hole.Click.The small sound echoed in the silence, and something within Alina vibrated, as if the key had opened not just a door, but also deeply buried memories. She pulled the handle and pushed it open slowly, and instantly, the air around her changed. The smell of wet earth and something decaying assaulted her sense of smell, making her s
Unnamed Marriage Strange Shadows
Rain began to pour heavily, drumming a mournful rhythm on the roof of the dilapidated old house. The dim light from the hallway lamp cast eerie dancing shadows on the decaying wooden floorboards, as if they had a life of their own. The scent of wet earth crept in through the cracks in the windowpanes, mixed with the smell of dust and something more pungent, like burning wood.Alina stood stiffly, her breath coming in gasps. Her heart pounded fiercely, as if it wanted to break free from her chest. In front of her, the old man with the scarred face smirked faintly, while Darren stood tense beside her, gripping his folding knife tightly.Bang!A loud sound echoed from upstairs. Something fell, or maybe someone. Alina flinched, her eyes widening. Darren immediately grabbed her arm. "We have to go, now!"However, the old man remained standing in place, his expression calm, even seemingly relaxed, which only made Alina shudder. "What's up there?" Alina whispered, her voice barely audible.T
Unnamed Marriage The Shadow That Never Left
Rain continued to pour heavily as Alina and Darren finally reached the main road. Their breaths were ragged, chests heaving, and their bodies soaked by the seemingly endless downpour.Alina looked back.The old house they had just left had vanished. There were no remnants of broken glass, no suffocating narrow hallways, no black shadows chasing them.Only the wet asphalt road and the silent forest in the darkness.As if the place... had never existed.Her hand trembled, and she only then realized that blood was trickling from small cuts on her arm and leg, likely from the shattered glass earlier. Darren didn't look any better—his clothes were dirty, wet, and there was a red scratch on his cheek.However, there was no time to analyze their injuries. No time for lengthy thought."Darren," Alina's voice was barely audible. "What really happened?"Darren shook his head slowly. "I don't know... but we have to get out of here."He reached into his pants pocket, pulled out his wet phone, and
Unnamed Marriage Darren's Black Eyes
Alina froze. Her eyes were fixed on Darren, who now looked at her with pitch-black eyes. No pupils. No trace of life. Her heart pounded, as if it wanted to tear through her chest. The Darren she knew... was gone, replaced by something terrifying.Slowly, Darren's body began to move. His head tilted slightly to the right, then to the left, as if studying something. Alina held her breath, trying to control her fear.Something that wasn't Darren now sat right beside her, emitting a chilling aura. The old car where they were hiding felt increasingly cramped, the air inside so heavy that even breathing seemed to make the creature aware of its presence.Alina felt something press on her chest, a coldness began to crawl up her back, creeping up her neck, making her goosebumps rise. Then, Darren or whatever it was smiled. His lips moved slowly, uttering words that made Alina's blood freeze. "Why are you scared, Alina?" The voice wasn't Darren's. It was deeper, echoing, as if coming from a ver
Unnamed Marriage A Face Without Life
Alina was thrown backward, her body jerking violently. She struggled, kicking at empty air, but the grip on her was too strong—cold and unyielding like steel. Something dragged her back into the train car, the door groaning as it slammed shut with a sharp click! That sound—familiar and terrifying—froze her in place."Why are you trying to run, Alina?"Darren’s voice. But it wasn’t Darren. The figure before her looked like him, but his black eyes held an unnatural intensity, something inhuman.A chilling dampness crept over her skin, and the air reeked of rusted metal mixed with something putrid—like rotting flesh under the scorching sun. The train car trembled faintly, as though something slithered beneath the metal walls. This place wasn’t just a space; it was a trap, and it wanted to consume her whole.The ceiling’s paint peeled away like scorched skin, and the floor beneath her twisted—it no longer felt like solid wood but something... fleshy. Alina swallowed hard. The train wasn’t
Unnamed Marriage Falling into the Void
The corridor felt like a giant mouth swallowing her whole. Alina struggled, trying to plant her feet and run back to the street, but the ground beneath her was soft—like quicksand pulling her deeper. The cold was piercing, different from the air outside. This wasn’t just darkness. This was emptiness.She tried to scream, but her voice was swallowed by the void. No echo. No walls to touch. Only the blackness devouring her further. She felt like she was falling, yet there was no wind brushing her hair. No real sensation of movement. Just the endless feeling of descent.And then—Tap. Tap. Tap.Footsteps. Slow. Rhythmic. Not hers.Alina’s heartbeat quickened. She wasn’t alone.She tried to pinpoint the source of the sound, but there was nothing to see. Just when she started thinking it was all in her head, the footsteps grew closer. Tap. Tap. Tap. Faster. Nearer.Then—A whisper. Right in her ear."You shouldn’t be here."Alina jolted. The voice… was too close. Too real.And then, someth
Unnamed Marriage The Timeless Void
Alina was stunned, her eyes fixated on the book lying on the table. Her name was etched there, in bold handwriting, as if freshly carved with pitch-black ink. Her heart pounded in her chest, she reached out hesitantly, her fingers trembling as she touched the rough edge of the page.The touch triggered a sudden shift. The room around her vibrated violently, the ceiling lights flickered wildly, as if about to go out in an instant. The air grew heavy, pressing down on her chest, almost suffocating her. Before she could pull her hand away, the book opened on its own, its pages flipping rapidly, swept by an invisible wind, then stopping at a blank page.Words began to appear there, crawling across the white paper, "Running won't change anything. It's time you remember." Alina recoiled, the letters looked like blood, crimson ink seeping into the paper, creating gruesome stains.Before she could process what was happening, her surroundings shifted again. The room's walls melted away, vanish
Unnamed Marriage The Mirror's Secret
The mirror shattered into a thousand pieces. Alina's world crumbled around her, soundlessly, without screams, just a gaping void, sucking everything into the abyss of darkness. She floated, her body weightless, a speck of dust adrift in nothingness.The mirror that had reflected her image was destroyed, splintered into countless tiny fragments. Each shard floated around her, revealing fragments of memories trapped within, disjointed flashes of the past.The first flash, a little girl of eight huddled in a sterile white room, her eyes wide with fear as alien sounds buzzed around her. "Subject exhibiting signs of personality fragmentation," a cold voice echoed. "We must ensure her consciousness stabilizes."The second flash, the little girl stood before a mirror, tears streaming down her face. Yet, her reflection smiled, a strange, chilling smile. "Don't be afraid," the voice whispered, "I'll protect you."The third flash, a pitch-black room, muffled screams in the distance. Someone ran
Latest Chapter
Lyra's Secret Passage
Following Thomas through the secret door behind the bookshelf, Alina felt her heart pound. The narrow, dark passage felt cold and damp, the stuffy air carrying the scent of dust and decaying wood. Thomas's steps were firm but hurried, as if time was no longer on their side."This passage used to be used by the family to escape if there was danger," Thomas whispered without looking back. "Only a few know about it."Alina continued to follow, her mind in turmoil. If she was truly Lyra, why did Darren and Alana insist on calling her Alina? Why were they hiding her true identity? And what great secret was Darren hiding, which now felt increasingly real as this lie unraveled?The passage ended at a wooden door that was sturdier than the first. Thomas carefully opened it, revealing a spiral staircase descending steeply. The commotion from above grew louder, Seraphina's shouts and the sound of hurried footsteps echoing throughout the house."We have to be quick," urged Thomas, starting to de
Other Name
The sound of knocking and shouting from outside the room shattered the tense silence. Darren and Alana exchanged anxious glances, leaving Alina frozen in place, still reeling from the awakening of her newfound power. The door creaked open, revealing an old man in a faded but neatly kept servant’s uniform. His wrinkled face bore the sharp gaze of someone who had seen too much.“Master Darren, Mistress Alana,” the servant said, his voice laced with concern. “There’s… an uninvited guest at the main gate.”Darren scoffed in irritation. “Who is it this time? We’re not in the mood for visitors.”“They insist on seeing the lady… one of the ladies,” the servant replied, his eyes flickering briefly to Alina with an unreadable expression.Alina felt the weight of his stare—it wasn’t just the respectful gaze of a servant to his master. There was caution there… maybe even recognition?“Tell them to leave,” Alana snapped. “We don’t have time for strangers.”“I tried, ma’am,” the old man replied, s
Not Yet Over
Alina tore through the jungle, her primal instincts guiding each step. Crack. Every broken twig, every whispering breeze carried a question. Her mind swirled, fragments of memory surging up like dark waves. Betrayal gnawed at her trust. A smoldering hatred burned in her soul.She reached the ruins of an ancient building, now blanketed in moss and tangled vines. The air hung thick with gloom. A chill crept down her spine.This is where you died, whispered a voice deep within her.Among the crumbling stones, shards of a mirror lay scattered across the mossy floor. Her heart pounded—thump-thump. Is this the broken mirror they spoke of?She picked up a piece. Its surface was foggy, coated with dust.The moment her fingers brushed the cold glass—zzzzzzt!—a surge of vision struck her. She saw herself, eyes glowing crimson, locked in a deadly gaze with another figure. Darren.Not with tenderness, but with hatred.He stabbed her.Not with fangs, but with a gleaming silver dagger under the moo
The Past
Darren’s bite felt like searing embers burrowing beneath Alina’s skin, spreading a sharp sting that made her shiver. Her breath hitched, vision blurring. She struggled with all her might, but Darren’s grip was unyielding. The world spun around her, and her body slowly lost balance.Then—“ENOUGH!”The voice thundered, piercing the silence of the cave like lightning tearing through a quiet night.From the shadows emerged a man cloaked in black. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and exuded a chilling aura that rippled through the air. His eyes glowed red like coals burning with ancient vengeance. Without a word, he raised one hand, and a surge of dark energy shot toward Darren—BOOOM!Darren was flung against the cave wall, groaning as his body collided with stone with a sickening THUD.But he rose quickly. Fury and hatred filled his eyes. “Who are you?!” he hissed, seething.The man smirked, his chuckle soft yet piercing. “I am the one who restores Alina’s destiny.”Darren sneered, bitter
Back
Alina's steps felt heavy as she passed through the towering iron gates, the barrier that separated the outside world from the grand house that was now her home. The mansion stood firm atop a hill, surrounded by vast gardens filled with exotic flowers that resembled a mysterious forest more than a well-kept garden. Tall pillars supported the façade of the classical-modern structure, while large glass windows reflected the moonlight, creating the illusion of shifting shadows behind them.As she crossed the threshold, the scent of lavender and sandalwood filled the air—soothing, yet carrying an inexplicable sense of unease. The white marble floor gleamed like a mirror, reflecting the high ceiling adorned with sparkling crystal chandeliers. Long hallways stretched endlessly, leading her deeper into a labyrinth of blurred memories. Large paintings lined the walls, portraying unfamiliar faces that stared at her with hollow eyes—faces that felt eerily familiar.It felt like walking among the
The Successor
"THUMP-THUMP-THUMP!"Alina's breath hitched, mingling with the sound of her footsteps pounding the wet ground.The night air pierced her skin, bone-chillingly cold, yet sweat drenched her temples. Behind her, the heavy footsteps and strange growls continued to follow, echoing among the towering trees."GRRRAAAUUUGHHH!"A wild roar echoed throughout the forest, making Alina's hair stand on end.The creature was still relentlessly chasing her.Her eyes frantically searched for a way out of the forest that felt like an endless labyrinth. The giant trees towered with thick roots that tangled her steps, branches swaying like invisible hands seemingly wanting to grab her.Above, the moon was faintly visible behind the dark mist that enveloped the night sky.She couldn't stop.Something inside her whispered, "If you stop, you die.""Come on, Alina... keep running."But her body began to rebel. Her muscles ached, her lungs burned.Then—"CRACK!"Her foot caught on a root protruding from the g
Swallowed by Darkness
"WHOOSH!"The air around Alina felt like it was being sucked away, creating a hollow vortex that pulled her into darkness. She fell, sliding into an endless void, her hands groping desperately, searching for a hold, for something real. But there was nothing, just emptiness that continued to pull her deeper, further from the world she knew."Help... can anyone hear me?" Alina's voice was small and fragile, lost in the shadows that swirled wildly around her, obscuring every trace of light.Then—"CRACK!"Something shattered in the darkness, a thunderous cracking sound, breaking the chilling silence. The shadows began to move, wrapping around her body like the living roots of an ancient tree, cold and rough, crawling on her skin like maggots."AAAAARGH!" Alina screamed, a piercing pain, as if something was piercing her skin, crawling inside her, changing her from within."You are not the Alina you once were." The voice whispered again, faceless, sourceless, just a cold voice that flowed
Faceless
"WHOOSH!" The wind roared past Alina's ears as her body plummeted into an abyss of endless darkness. Her hands reached out, grasping at nothing, desperately searching for something—anything—to stop her fall. But there was only emptiness, a biting cold that clung to her skin, and the deafening drum of her heartbeat pounding violently in her chest."Is this the end?" she whispered, her voice swallowed by the void.Suddenly, shadows began to swirl around her, shifting like living mist. They had no form, yet something about them was more terrifying than their shapelessness—they had eyes. Pairs of glowing red eyes pierced the darkness, watching, waiting."HSSSSHHH!" The hissing sound slithered into her ears, sending shivers down her spine. Alina held her breath, eyes widening in fear. The shadows crept closer, writhing, twisting, reaching for her as if eager to seep into her very being."No... stay away!" Alina whispered, but her body was frozen in place, paralyzed by terror."Don't be afr
Calling the Forgotten Name
Alina froze, her heart pounding violently. The figure at the end of the street remained silent, shrouded in thick darkness. But its eyes—two dimly glowing dots—pierced through the blackness, stabbing straight into her soul, stripping away every layer of her thoughts. The wind blew, carrying a strange scent—a mix of cold metal and something rotten, something decaying.Alina swallowed hard, her throat dry. Her fingers clenched around an old pocket watch, a foreign object that had suddenly appeared, a relic from a fragment of time she couldn’t comprehend. "Who are you?" Her voice trembled, small and fragile in the suffocating silence.The figure didn’t answer. Instead, it began to walk, its footsteps slow and deliberate, echoing in the deserted street. Tap. Tap. Tap. Each step sounded like a distant reverberation in a void. The surrounding buildings stood lifeless, devoid of any sign of existence. No cars. No murmurs of other people breathing. And most unsettling of all—no shadows.Alina
