The morning sun peeked through the dusty blinds of Alina's room, brushing against her face like a quiet nudge from the universe a reminder that life should be the same.
But it wasn't.
She felt it.
Something had shifted. Not in the world outside, but deep within her like a string had been pulled, and now everything was humming slightly off-key.
She dragged herself to the mirror, eyes landing on the birthmark again. That faint crescent moon on her collarbone, still glowing ever so slightly. Almost like it was… alive. Beating.
Water splashed cold against her face. She needed to wake up shake off that strange, vivid dream.
But when she looked up, her breath caught.
She didn't move.
But her reflection did.
It blinked a heartbeat before she did.
Alina stumbled back, a shiver racing down her spine. "What the hell…?"
The girl in the mirror same face, same messy hair, same sleepless eyes was her. But the eyes were lit with a soft golden glow, like light trapped behind glass.
And then… her reflection lifted a hand.
Alina hadn't moved.
She leaned in, pulse thudding in her ears. The glass shimmered not like glass at all now, more like water, rippling under invisible fingers.
Then, the reflection spoke.
"You are awakening. Don't run from it."
Same voice… but older. Wiser. Timeless.
Before she could react, a sharp burst of light swallowed the mirror whole.
And then stillness.
Silence.
She blinked. Once. Twice.
It was gone.
Just her reflection. No glow. No ripple. No voice. Just a scared girl staring back at herself, trying to pretend everything was okay.
"Am I going crazy?" she whispered.
But even as the words left her lips, she knew the truth.
Something had begun.
And there was no turning back now.