Pain is a feeling that feeds on its owner's suffering. Little by little, it grows inside you, becoming a part of your life, planting fear in your heart, and making every step you take a crossroads between life and death. What a terrible feeling! It has become an innate feeling within me, haunting me at all times, misleading me and making me wander between these horizons before me.

  A girl with a pained soul restricts her body with every step to prevent it from advancing, planting in herself a feeling that is not just fleeting, but a feeling stronger than that. A small soul lost among those hands and eyes around her, listening like a servant to what is commanded of her, for a goal akin to the impossible, to eliminate the regret within her.

  *******

  Alice hadn't lost her anxiety since the car started, and the fear that gripped her heart squeezed her chest more than before as she looked through the window with fearful and anxious eyes.

  She felt a fleeting breeze strike the wet cheek of her face, so she closed the window, feeling the seatbelt with her hands.

  Maria turned to Alice, smiling as she sensed Alice's fear, and patted her head. Alice turned to her, smiling gently and saying in a voice that barely concealed it, "Mom... did you see Eve... before the session started?"

  "It's okay." Maria.

  *******

  The receptionist opened the door, and Alice entered eagerly and impulsively to see her friend's face and the thousands of plastic tubes around her, which sent a feeling of confusion and sadness into Alice's heart.

  Maria advanced towards Alice, looking at Eve, then turned to Alice.

  "I know what you're thinking... don't worry."

  "Mom... I know what Eve is going through is difficult... but... could... could this be Eve's wish?"

  Maria was surprised by Alice's words, so Alice continued, "I mean... I haven't lived with her for long... and yet... I still feel... that I'm useless to her... 'even though she saved me... and hasn't forgotten me even...'... I feel helpless... I could never help her..."

  Alice felt regret inside her, seeping into her veins little by little, as if it were poison spreading through her body. Its pain made her speak in front of her mother, who turned to her, her face showing more fear than before, clutching her skirt tightly.

  Maria approached Alice, saying in a soft voice, "I know how you feel... but... regret is a difficult feeling... and giving in to it won't help... so... be optimistic... there is still a chance after every failure."

  "Maybe..." Despite these words that seep into my mind, hope has become like a candlewick, easily burned by a slight flame, melting the wax as despair melts with it, overwhelming my heart time after time. But I hope this last chance exists, may a dewdrop fall on the flame of that suffering, so that this regret disappears within me, and the wick of hope remains pure white, standing out amidst the blackness that covers it.

  *****

  "Your daughter's file has been prepared... Room number 45... the session time will be from seven to nine in the evening... the doctor suggested she come every weekend... instead of staying two months in the hospital... given that it's the school period..." The receptionist said this while recording Alice's information on the computer, then rose from his chair, heading towards one of the corridors, carrying the file in his hand.

  "Come on... follow me... Addis." The receptionist said this.

  Alice felt anxious and turned to her parents, who hugged her.

  "Everything is alright... you'll be fine."

  Alice turned around, following the receptionist, looking at her parents as if it were a final farewell. A wind blew, carrying memories from the past with it, the affection she had received, that charming smile from the angel who cared for her, those hands that held her before she fell. Her vision became difficult and blurry, those tears that hadn't fallen from her eyes were warm, as if the love she had lost had planted strength within her to continue, for Eve's sake, and for everything.

  ******

  "I hope that treatment works." Bill said pleadingly.

  "I hope so... Bill... if what Alice said a week ago is true... then is there a chance... for them to return?" Maria said in despair.

  ******

  The receptionist stopped in front of Alice's room, turned to her, and said, "The doctor will come... come in." The receptionist opened the door, and Alice entered the room to find an old-fashioned television. She turned to him, asking, "Can I turn it on later?"

  "(Soft laugh) Don't worry... consider the room yours." The receptionist said this, closing the door.

  Alice walked to the window and looked out, feeling a cold breeze on her face. The cloudy weather prevailed over the entire city.

  'The room itself... no... it just resembles it.' Alice thought to herself.

  Alice pulled her head back in, walked to the bed, and lay down, immersed in thought. She took out her diary and a small pencil from her small bag, opened the diary, and began to write.

  'I think... the session used to be at five minutes to nine... and now... it's exactly eight... it seems the doctor had a hand in that... since he's responsible for me...'

  Alice turned towards something covered with a white cloth, put her diary back in her bag, and slowly advanced towards it, little by little, with signs of curiosity and caution on her face. She reached out her hand towards the white cover.

  Alice felt a strange sensation, as if what was under that cover was familiar. She suddenly heard the sound of approaching footsteps nearby, turned towards the door, and was overcome by fear and anxiety. Making a decision became crucial, and her hand suddenly began to tremble.

  'Damn... the time... is not right... I have to hurry.'

  *******

  Otto stood in front of Alice's room door, flipping through the pages of Alice's file.

  'Alice Addis... 10 years old... psychological state... nightmares and fluctuations she suffers from... as soon as I enter her world... I will find you... soon.'

  Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

  Otto reached for the handle, but Alice suddenly opened the door, surprised to find the doctor in front of her. She stepped back to open the door wider.

  "D...Doctor... excuse me... I should have stayed quiet." Alice said nervously.

  Alice stepped back and sat on the bed, and Otto sat on the chair in front of her.

  "So... how is your health these days?"

  "It's... at its best...'...please don't notice...'..." Alice said, trying to hide her anxiety.

  "Tell me now... is everything going well on your end... Alice?"

  At that moment, Otto's facial expressions suddenly changed, turning from calm and smiling to stern and serious.

  Alice felt the coldness of his features pierce her entire body at that moment. She took a deep breath and replied, "Please forgive me for what I did before... I wasn't fully conscious at that moment... I only ask you... to forgive my action... and to forget that situation... I will do whatever you say."

  At that moment, Otto suddenly patted Alice's head, saying, "Be careful again... it was difficult to convince your uncle to cover up your absence for two months."

  At that moment, Alice raised her head in surprise, saying, "My uncle... h...how—?"

  "Let's just say he agreed after a condition of treatment."

  'I smell a scheme he made... he's not completely sick... is this a reason to give him money... it doesn't matter...' Alice thought to herself with a whisper and surprise.

  "...Well... so, Miss Addis... the session time hasn't arrived yet... so I thought I'd come and ask you... about how you returned to the world."

  "I... (swallowing) well... sir—"

  "Call me Otto... we are cooperating together as one family... to achieve our goals... is that understood?"

  "Yes... Otto... actually... explaining is difficult... I don't even know how I returned..." Alice.

  "What exactly do you mean?"

  "Eve... Zero... maybe she knows."

  Otto asked in surprise, "Zero...? Alice... I know you were with her... but how would she know... only the Ferryman... I mean that—"

  "The Guardian of the Threshold... I realize that... I know he has been able to get her out of that world many times... but... he wasn't the one who brought me back... it was Zero... during those moments... the ones just before my return... Eve... features appeared on Zero's face... as if she was."

  "I don't understand... Alice... okay, okay!... how did she do that?... I realize you don't know the way... but... did you do something...? It seems like something strange?"

  "If I didn't know Zero... I would say that everything about her actions is strange... but... since we are friends... the strange thing about her... is... ah... Otto... ah... my head."

  A headache began to grip Alice's head, so Otto handed her the pills, and she took them.

  Otto was shocked, not fully understanding what this little girl was saying, but what caught his attention was that phrase: "Alice... what does this mean... haven't the nightmares disappeared...?"

  "Otto... what is this headache...? Is this the seasickness they suffered from...? Wait... I didn't suffer from seasickness... what does this mean?"

  "Rest... we'll talk later." Otto said this, handing her a glass of water.

  "Otto... I don't know exactly what Zero did... but... I can't remember."

  "Don't worry."

  "Otto... I'll explain to you later..."

  At that moment, Alice took out her diary and began to write eagerly. Otto didn't understand, but the best thing for him was to let her finish what she started, so he left the room, confusion filling his heart.

  *******

  The winter night began to fall early. It was five minutes to seven. Otto left his office, heading to Alice's room. Some questions still lingered in his mind since he left the room. He wiped his glasses, feeling the sweat on his thumb and index finger.

  Otto opened the door to find Alice watching television. She turned to him and turned off the television, saying, "It's time."

  *****

  Otto sat on the chair, holding a notebook that was neither too big nor too small, and his blue pen.

  "Please... record everything I'm about to say on tape." Alice.

  Otto was surprised and astonished, "Oh... okay."

  After Otto prepared the tape and sat on the chair, Alice took a deep breath and began to narrate.

  "...Otto... this might sound strange... but... I will try to explain to you my beginnings with these nightmares."

  "Okay..."

  "Initially... I suffered from these nightmares for a week... they were just minor nightmares... but they started for the first time since I saw Eve in them... days passed... until... I saw the Threshold... a strange feeling... I saw the mirror that my mother (Alice's real mother) used... I glimpsed the Guardian's face as he reached out his hand towards me... he said, 'This life is full of pain... resisting it is like resisting inevitable death... come with me to sleep again... and dream of a tomorrow... free from those memories... resistance is a poison that plants greater pain within you... so cross the Threshold... to become that pain... instead of running away from it.'... I didn't want to leave... to leave everything... but... I took his hand without realizing it... to cross that mirror... to suddenly find myself... in a huge... dilapidated house... I was in the bedroom... the wooden floor was dilapidated... it wasn't the first time I saw these things... what's special about Zero is that she entered that world... she entered the Threshold from the first time... it seemed strange to me... well... I was on the second floor... in a very old-fashioned bedroom... as if 60 years had passed on it... I don't know how I arrived at this number of years... I left that room... to find a giant corridor... and rats my size I saw... I felt chills... to go down those stairs... suddenly... I saw panels covered with dilapidated white sheets that looked old... so I removed the covers... and there I saw mirrors all around me... one of them was broken... so the moonlight that night seeped through those cracks... and there I saw corpses in front of me... I felt a knot in my feet... to fall on that floor with force that made my knees ache... and I was sweating more than before... despite everything I had seen before... I didn't feel fear... and people around me were cooking, grilling, and serving fat people who were eating greedily... and it was as if I realized that this was real, not a dream or a nightmare... then I heard an annoying creaking sound that almost burst my ears... to turn towards that broken mirror... the moonlight reflecting on the mirror gave me an event as if it were a last shot... a last breath... to glimpse myself... as black mold seeping from my eyes, mouth, and ears... that scene deceived me to feel myself... I didn't find that mold on me... I gathered all my strength... to get up on my knees... I advanced towards it... I felt those shards that hadn't fallen to the ground... I focused a little... to glimpse a girl who looked very much like me... but she was wearing a maid's uniform... and behind her... that entity—"

  "What was it...?" Otto asked.

  "It wasn't any monster I've seen in my life... it was like a tree whose roots came out upwards... the Lord of Mirrors... I raised my head because of its height and size... he asked me... to look at myself... so I lowered my head... then that girl suddenly grabbed me with a disgusting laugh on her face... and her pale eyes... and her blonde hair... this scared me a lot... so I started screaming and asking for help... I was completely alone... then rotten black tentacles came out of that mirror and pulled me... then—"

  Suddenly, Alice felt a prickling sensation in her chest. Alice froze in place and suddenly began to cough severely and forcefully.

  Alice put her hand over her mouth, coughing intensely. Otto rose from his seat in worry and shock. Alice gradually stopped coughing.

  "Alice... are you alright?" Otto asked in astonishment.

  Alice raised her head, and shock struck her. Otto saw Alice's hand and found a strange black substance in it. Otto didn't understand anything, and astonishment and shock were evident on his face. He looked at Alice, and a mixture of fear and shock was evident on her face.

  Alice felt chills grip all her limbs, and a familiar feeling suddenly began to clench her heart. Her pupils widened in alarm.

  "What's in your hand?" Otto said, pulling her hand in surprise and astonishment.

  Alice didn't utter a word. Suddenly, that substance began to move. At that moment, astonishment struck Otto's heart. He released Alice's hand, and that sticky black substance fell, vanishing little by little.

  Alice raised her head forward, then turned behind her, fear evident on her face, and was shocked by what she saw.

  Alice rose from her place and approached what she saw. She found a mass of moving mold in front of her, which changed its shape little by little, transforming into a girl who looked like Alice, wearing the same maid's uniform. A disgusting smile appeared on her face, from which drops of that mold dripped. She suddenly rushed forward, hugging Alice tightly, muttering words that were barely audible, but the worst thing was that feeling that covered her entire body and seeped inside her.

  She became unable to scream or ask for help, and her heart beat very strongly.

  "Alice... what's wrong... Alice?"

  Otto approached her quickly, and she turned to him, that substance dripping from her forehead.

  Alice began to repeat strange words: "Girl... mold..."

  "What girl... what mold?" Otto looked ahead, not finding any other girl.

  'She's just hallucinating.' Otto approached her, saying, "Alice... don't be afraid... these are just hallucinations."

  "I remember that headache that afflicts us... it's painful... more than I imagined—"

  At that moment, Alice collapsed, unconscious. Otto tried to wake her up, finding that substance she mentioned seeping onto the floor.

  *******

  Alice was transferred to the emergency room. Fear had made her lose consciousness. Fortunately, it didn't pose any danger, so she returned to her previous ward. But what necessitated her transfer was that strange substance. This made Otto ask himself many questions, waiting for the morning.

  At this time, Alice remained unconscious, and yet, that feeling of fear of herself never disappeared.

  ******

  The reality of her life still haunted her. That small soul still continued. Her hope was almost gone, and despair gradually overwhelmed her heart.

  Alice began to repeat strange words: "Girl... mold..."

  "What girl... what mold?" Otto looked ahead, not finding any other girl.

  'She's just hallucinating.' Otto approached her, saying, "Alice... don't be afraid... these are just hallucinations."

  "I remember that headache that afflicts us... it's painful... more than I imagined—"

  At that moment, Alice collapsed, unconscious. Otto tried to wake her up, finding that substance she mentioned seeping onto the floor.

  *******

  Alice was transferred to the emergency room. Fear had made her lose consciousness. Fortunately, it didn't pose any danger, so she returned to her previous ward. But what necessitated her transfer was that strange substance. This made Otto ask himself many questions, waiting for the morning.

  At this time, Alice remained unconscious, and yet, that feeling of fear of herself never disappeared.

  ******

  The reality of her life still haunted her. That small soul still continued. Her hope was almost gone, and despair gradually overwhelmed her heart.