Mirage From The Incredible Novels & Stories

"Okay, Chels. Make that money. Save your brother." I pulled back, gripping her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. "But listen to me," I said, my voice hard. "The Mirage is a maze. It's designed to make you lose track of which way is up. The money, the lights, the rich men who think they are gods... it's all a trap." "I know," she whispered. "Don't get lost in there," I warned her. "Because if you disappear, I don't know if I can pull you back out."

I scurried away, fingers trembling, legs moving fast. “Maggie….” Maverick yelled. His voice chased me, but I vanished without a word. I stopped in the restroom, hands gripping the counter to catch my breath. My gaze darted to the mirror, staring back at my reflection. My eyes had a glow of golden hue, sparking like flames. For a brief moment, it felt like the fire escalated. The mirror cracked shattering to the floor. I stepped back, frightened. I stared at the remaining jagged piece, staring at the destroyer I was becoming.

On-screen: surveillance footage. They watched, fear hollowing their bones. Mira-Eve—lithe and silent—emerged from the forest edge. She moved with unnatural grace, shoulders relaxed, breaths even. At the twilight threshold, she paused. She turned her gaze toward the camera—to them. And a smile curled across her lips. It was Magnolia’s smile. For one moment—uncounted by analytics—it was Magnolia’s soul reflected in a smaller mirror. Then she stepped into the mist.

A giant mirror emerged from the undulating surface, its frame intricately carved with symbols I didn’t recognize, glowing faintly in the dim light. My breath hitched as the mirror’s surface swirled with silvery spirals, spinning faster and faster until they coalesced into an image. I stared, wide-eyed, as a scene began to unfold before me, vivid and lifelike as though I were standing in the middle of it.

A shockwave rippled outward, washing over the Vale. When the light cleared, the survivors gasped. The crater was gone. In its place stood a single, perfect mirror. Seven feet tall. Silent. Waiting. Kael stared, blood running cold. His reflection didn’t move. Then it blinked. And whispered, “Come find me.” Far beyond the mountains, where the dawn was splitting itself apart, a different light flickered. Not sunlight. Not magic. Reflection. A figure stepped forward into a world made of mirrors — endless, shifting, alive. His shadow stretched across a fractured horizon, long and patient.

Her intention was to wash her face, but she could barely dip her hand into the water when she froze. Her reflection looked back at her, eyes lingering too long, the faintest delay between her blink and the reflection’s own. Then, a smile appeared, crooked and wrong, ghosting over the image even though Mira’s lips hadn’t moved. It was happening again. Mira stumbled back, water sloshing over the rim and onto the floor. Her pulse raced, heart pounding loudly against her ribs. When she looked again, the reflection was normal, wide-eyed, trembling, just her. Her legs failed her, and she collapsed to the floor, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Voices screamed in her head, their words incohere

“Please. Come back to me. Come back to us.” His voice… gods, his voice cut at my lungs. It didn’t match the illusion. He sounded terrified, but not of me, but for me. The illusion fought back harder at the sight and sound of that. I saw him sneering and laughing, as he threw Mira off a cliff. I saw Mira reaching for me, her voice broken and terrified. “Mama” she cried, her eyes fully blown in fear. “Help! Help! Help me please. Mummy, come get me!”

However, as the voice persisted, Luna realized that something extraordinary was unfolding. Mira's voice resonated not from the physical world but within the intricate realms of Luna's mind. The connection transcended the boundaries of spoken language, echoing through the ethereal corridors where thoughts met in a delicate dance. Luna, now awakened to this newfound reality, met Mira's gaze with a mixture of astonishment and understanding.

“You’re adorable when you deny it. Anyway, to reach the Heart of the Mirage, follow the ancient trails marked by phoenix feathers. But beware, the journey is going to be hard as hell.” She rose from her chair, pacing towards the window. The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows across the desert sands. “It’s getting late,” She announced, her eye fixed on the horizon. “Out here, a storm brews every night, one too strong for anyone to live through if you’re out.” Hunter raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face. “A storm? What are you talking about?” The hybrid leaned against the windowsill, her gaze steady. “A mystical phenomenon, a manifestation of ancient magic. It’s a nigh