Reflections of the Damned

Through the Eyes of Lara

Lara's head throbbed as her consciousness stirred, the cold bite of the hospital's air pulling her from the dark void she'd been in. The faint hum of fluorescent lights above made her eyes flutter open, their sharp glow stinging as her vision blurred.

She blinked hard and sat up slowly, her body aching as though she'd been crushed under a heavy weight. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled her nose, mingling with the faint metallic tang of blood. She glanced around the room, confusion mingling with dread as she realized where she was.

The ward was disturbingly clean, with pale blue walls and polished white floors that reflected the harsh light. Two other beds stood opposite hers, both neatly made but empty. Everything was too perfect—eerily so.

"Where…?" she murmured, her voice dry and cracked.

A soft sound of movement made her snap her head toward the door. A tall, slim woman was approaching her, her expression calm but detached. She looked to be around 29, with sharp features and dark hair tied in a loose bun. Her hospital gown was pristine, and she moved with an unsettling ease, like she belonged here.

"Finally awake?" the woman said, her voice light but tinged with something unplaceable.

"Who… who are you?" Lara asked, her voice trembling.

The woman pulled a chair closer to Lara's bed and sat down with a graceful ease, crossing her legs. "Andy," she said simply. "I've been here a while. Longer than I can remember, really." She tilted her head, studying Lara. "And you are?"

"Lara," she said cautiously, her body tense. "Where am I?"

Andy gave a small smile, gesturing around. "Sujay Psychiatry Hospital. Where else would you be?"

The words made Lara's stomach churn. Her breathing quickened as memories of what had happened before she blacked out began to flood back—Elias, the doctor, the nurses, the madness.

"I have to get out of here," Lara said, her voice trembling with desperation. "This place… it's not right. It's alive. It's—"

"Shh," Andy interrupted, raising a finger to her lips. "You'll disturb the others." She gestured to the beds opposite Lara, though they were empty.

Lara frowned. "What others?"

Andy's expression didn't change. "Don't worry about that," she said lightly. "Tell me—what brought you here? What's your story, Lara?"

Lara hesitated, glancing at the door as if expecting it to burst open at any moment. But Andy's gaze was steady, patient. Slowly, Lara began to speak.

"My group," she started, her voice shaky. "We were searching for answers about the City. We thought this hospital might hold some kind of clue. But when we came in…" She faltered, the memories clawing at her mind.

Andy tilted her head. "Yes?"

"The nurses. They weren't real. Or maybe they were, but…" Lara shook her head, trying to find the right words. "They injected us. Took us away like we were prisoners. I don't even know where my friends are now."

Andy's lips curved into a faint smile. "That sounds… dramatic."

"It's the truth!" Lara snapped, her voice rising.

Andy held up a hand, her expression calm but firm. "Relax, Lara. You've been through a lot. It's no wonder your mind is… confused."

"I'm not confused," Lara said through gritted teeth.

Andy leaned back in her chair, gesturing to the window. "Then tell me—if everything is as bad as you say, how do you explain that?"

Lara turned her head slowly, her heart pounding as she looked out the window for the first time. What she saw made her breath catch.

The City was alive.

Outside, the streets bustled with life. Cars zipped by, their horns honking. People walked the sidewalks, laughing, chatting, carrying shopping bags. The sun shone brightly, glinting off the glass of towering skyscrapers that stretched into a cloudless blue sky.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Andy said softly.

"No," Lara whispered, shaking her head. "No, this isn't real."

Andy's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about? Of course it's real. Look at it."

"This isn't the City," Lara said, her voice growing louder. "The real City is dead. It's broken, crawling with shadows. This is a lie!"

Andy's smile faded, replaced by a sharp glare. "Shut up," she said coldly.

Lara turned to her, shocked by the sudden shift in tone. "What?"

"I said shut up," Andy repeated, her voice icy. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Lara's heart raced as she slid off the bed, backing toward the door. "Who are you?" she demanded. "Why are you here? You're too… real."

Andy stood slowly, her movements deliberate. "I'm a patient, just like you," she said, her voice flat. "And you… you're insane. Schizophrenia, wasn't it? That's what the doctor said."

"I'm not crazy!" Lara shouted, banging on the door. "Let me out of here!"

The door didn't budge. The polished metal felt ice-cold under her palms, the chill seeping into her skin.

Andy sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You don't get it, do you?" she said, her voice tired. "This is your reality now. You'll never leave."

Lara turned, her eyes wild. "You're lying."

Andy's gaze softened slightly, but her words were no less cutting. "Why do you think everything is an illusion, Lara? What if this is the truth, and everything you're fighting for is the lie?"

Tears welled in Lara's eyes as she sank to the floor, her head in her hands. "I can't… I can't believe that."

Andy crouched beside her, her expression unreadable. "Then you're more lost than I thought," she said softly.

A soft knock came from the bathroom, shattering the silence.

Lara froze, her blood turning cold.

The air in the room dropped suddenly, the warmth replaced by a bone-chilling cold that seeped into her very core.

"Don't make a sound," Andy whispered, grabbing Lara's arm.

"What's happening?" Lara whispered back, her voice trembling.

"Follow me," Andy hissed, pulling her toward the corner of the room.

But as Lara moved, her foot hit the bed rail with a loud clang.

The sound was deafening in the silence.

A figure appeared from the shadows near the bathroom—a woman, or what had once been a woman. Her face was hollow, her eyes replaced by empty sockets that bled dark, viscous tears. Blood dripped from her head, soaking the front of her tattered gown, and sharp, jagged teeth glinted as she opened her mouth in a silent scream.

Lara backed away, her heart hammering as the woman lunged forward, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her onto the bed.

The pressure on her throat was unbearable, her vision blurring as she clawed at the woman's arms.

Andy ran into her room, returning moments later with a small talisman. She pressed it onto the woman's back, and a piercing shriek filled the air as the figure dissolved into ash.

Andy grabbed Lara, dragging her into her room and slamming the door shut. She hung the talisman on the doorknob, her hands trembling.

Lara collapsed onto the floor, her chest heaving. Hot blood dripped from a deep gash on her shoulder, soaking into her torn hospital gown.

"What… was that?" she gasped, her voice trembling.

Andy rummaged through a drawer, pulling out a first aid kit. "That," she said grimly, "was the hospital's way of reminding you that you should accept your fate ."