Miro Maze by (っ◔◡◔)っ YzaDora at Inkitt

MiroMaze

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Any references of historical events, real people or real places are used fictitiously. Names, characters and places are products of the author’s imagination.

Published in the United States of America

Cover Art & Content by YzaDora©

Seventeen and eighteen year old brothers, Ethan and Julian McCormick were pedaling their bikes into town on a warm Summer Friday afternoon when Julian caught sight of a flyer fluttering in the gentle breeze near a street lamp. Its bright neon colors immediately drew his attention, “Hey, Ethan...stop for a second, check this out!” he exclaimed, pulling his bike off the road to investigate.

“What is it?” Ethan asked with a grin, “Another lost pet?” he peered over his brother’s shoulder, “A carnival-park? Here?” he scanned the area skeptically, “Since when? We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere.”

Julian shrugged and flashed a mischievous grin, “I don’t know, who cares. It could be fun, what do you say?” he asked, tucking the flyer into his pocket, “Come on, dude…it’s not like anything exciting happens around here.”

Ethan chuckled and nodded in agreement, “Yeah, yeah okay. But…”

“No buts.” Julian interrupted, gripping his handlebars, “Race you home!” and with a sudden burst of energy, Julian took off down the street.

“Cheater!” Ethan hollered, his legs pumping the pedals with lightning speed. The thrill-seekers sought their fun on the rugged hills beyond the town, where they conquered biking and skateboarding tricks unseen by prying eyes. Surging ahead of his brother, Ethan taunted, “Ha-ha, sucker! I win!” he skidded to a stop, triumphantly parking his bike by the fence of their house, raising his arms in victory.

Julian dismounted his bike, giving Ethan a supportive pat before noticing the commotion coming from inside. Despite being the elder sibling by a year, Julian always shielded Ethan from their parents’ heated arguments.

“It’s okay, Julian.” Ethan murmured, gazing at him earnestly.

“I just want to protect you from it, that’s all.” Julian explained.

“Can’t protect me all the time.” Ethan pondered for a moment, then suggested with a mischievous smile, “How about a game? I’ll let you win this time.”

“Let ME win?” Julian chuckled, an air of confidence in his voice, “Nice try. You may be faster on the bikes, but no one is better at video games than me, remember that.” and with a playful ruffle of his brother’s blonde hair, Julian pushed him towards the garage. Once inside, they parked their bikes against the wall and blasted music to drown out the noise from the rest of the house.

For hours they battled it out, cheering and laughing as they competed in their video games. Eventually, Julian emerged victorious with a smug grin, “Looks like I win again, bro.”

Ethan chuckled in defeat, “Yeah, yeah, this time!”

Their joy was interrupted by the thundering footsteps and booming voice of their father, “ETHAN! JULIAN!”

Rolling his eyes, Ethan muttered, “What does he want now?”

Their father stormed through the garage door, demanding their attention, “I’ve been calling you for the past ten minutes!”

Ethan mumbled an apology, but his father wasn’t satisfied, “What was that, boy? Speak up!”

With a sigh, Ethan repeated his apology, “Sorry.”

Their father’s patience wore thin, “Fuck your apologies, get in the house! Your mother needs both of you!”

With a heavy heart, Ethan set his gaming controller down on the table.

“Ethan, no.” Julian sprang to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination as he faced their father head-on.

The man, undeterred by their defiance, sneered at the boys menacingly, “You got somethin’ to say, boy? Hmm?”

Julian gripped the controller tightly, ready to defend himself and his brother, if necessary, “We weren’t finished with our game yet.” he groaned, clenching his jaw.

“Weren’t finished with your game yet, huh?” their father mocked, then turned, seizing a nearby baseball bat. Swinging it fiercely, showing some skill with the weight, he wreaked havoc on their gaming setup, shattering the TV screen then smashing their gaming consoles into pieces. As he lowered the bat, he warned, huffing deeply, “Get your asses in the house…now!” he pointed at the door behind him with the bat still in hand.

Furious but undaunted, Julian refused to back down, “No!” he hurled the controller at the man, and determined to protect his brother at all costs, he pulled Ethan behind him toward their bikes, “Let’s go, GO!” he shouted.

Ethan wasted no time, sprinting away from the house with the bike in tow. With a quick hop onto the seats and a few strong pedal strokes, he and Julian zoomed down the street, leaving their pursuer behind.

“Get back here, you little bastards!” their father ran after them. Standing on the street, watching as the two boys grew smaller in the distance, he complained, “Worthless.” then spat on the ground, before retreating back inside.

Seeking refuge in the woods, they settled into their hideout, a makeshift treehouse made from an old hunting shack. With the adrenaline of their escape still coursing through their veins, Ethan and Julian sat in silence, catching their breath, feeling the breeze tickle the sweat from their exertion.

“Are you okay?” Julian asked, concern etched on his face as he sat beside his brother.

Ethan nodded, trying to steady his breathing, “Y-yeah, just a bit shook up, that’s all.”

“I hate that man.” Julian said with a scowl, “I can’t wait to get out of here next year, and when I go, I’m taking you with me.” he glanced at his brother, “I’m not leaving you here with them.”

“Where will we go?” Ethan asked, intrigued by the idea.

“I-I don’t know.” Julian admitted, “But anywhere is better than here.”

Ethan’s smile faded as he quickly turned his head, hearing snapping twigs and branches nearby, “Hey, shh...I hear something, listen.” he whispered to his brother, tapping his arm. With cautious curiosity, they peered through the small window, their blue eyes scanning the trees around them. At first, they saw nothing, until figures emerged in the distance, moving slowly as if they were zombies or devoid of all emotion, “What the fuck is that?” Ethan wondered.

“I don’t know, but let’s just…stay here for a while, hmm? Could be hunters looking for some deer.” Julian suggested, then pulled out the flyer from his pocket, “NAMELESS AMUSEMENT, huh? That’s a fucked up name for a park, yeah?” he remarked.

“What was the name?” Ethan inquired. Once handed the flyer, his eyes widened as he read the advertisement, “What the hell is this?!” he exclaimed softly with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, “They’re joking, right? I mean, this has to be a joke!”

Julian nonchalantly shrugged, “Who knows? According to that, it’s their last night through here, so why not go see what they’re all about, hmm? We’re certainly not needed at home anytime soon.” he mumbled, glancing down at his palms.

Ethan, intrigued, quickly nodded, “Count me in!” he carefully placed the flyer on a makeshift shelf surrounded by magazines and books. As he peered through the small window once more, loudly he let out a sudden shriek before toppling backwards.

Julian, caught off guard, scrambled to his feet in alarm, “What the fuck, Ethan?!” he grumbled.

“Th-there!” Ethan panted, pointing towards the door, “Look over there!” he tried processing what he saw; a figure with hollow eyes peered in at them.

Julian furrowed his brow and grabbed a nearby baseball. With determination, he cautiously made his way towards the door, preparing himself for whatever may be on the other side. After taking a deep breath, he swung the door open and shouted, only to find emptiness. Poking his head outside and scanning the surrounding woods, he sighed, “Ethan, there’s nothing out there.” he turned back to his brother, puzzled by the commotion.

“Wh-what?!” Ethan exclaimed, rushing forward with caution as he scanned the area, “B-but I saw someone right there, I swear to God, Ethan…there was someone there looking through the window!”

“Alright, relax. If you say you saw something, I believe you. It’s alright.” Julian reassured him, returning the bat to its spot, “Don’t act like such a baby about it.” he teased, giving his brother a nudge, “Come on, let’s go.”

“I’m not a baby!” Ethan furrowed his brow, taking one last look around before climbing down the ladder to join Julian. They grabbed their bikes and rode out of town, heading towards the brightly lit carnival on the outskirts. The park was alive with flickering lights and towering rides, beckoning them closer. With a shared grin, they raced down the hill and parked their bikes with the others outside the gates, “Hey, where do you think they got the name, NAMELESS AMUSEMENT?” Ethan whispered, excitement bubbling in his voice.

“I don’t know.” Julian said with a shrug as he and Ethan entered through the gate. But as they stepped inside, Julian’s eyes widened with excitement, “Damn, they went all out!” he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He was surrounded by attractions of all kinds, and he couldn’t decide where to start first, “Come on!” he said eagerly, leading his brother through the bustling crowd. As they wandered through the park, Julian and Ethan left their worries behind and embraced the carefree joy of youth, and enjoyed the sweet aroma of cotton candy, hot dogs and popcorn. They played games, rode thrilling roller coasters, and even took a moment to flirt with some girls from school. But then, Julian caught sight of something intriguing in the distance, “Hey, Ethan...look at that, let’s check it out!” Julian pointed excitedly towards a mysterious structure looming in the far corner of the park.

Ethan nodded eagerly, following his adventurous brother through the bustling crowd. They made their way towards a massive warehouse that had once been abandoned, but was now transformed into a thrilling attraction. The entrance alone sent shivers down Ethan’s spine; a gaping mouth lined with sharp, demon-like teeth, and above it, two gigantic eyes gleaming with red and yellow lights. Despite the lack of visible bulbs, the eyes seemed to follow Ethan’s every move, giving him an eerie feeling. Glancing at his brother, who was beaming with excitement, Ethan couldn’t help but offer a hesitant grin, “Are you sure about this?” he asked, standing by Julian’s side.

Julian chuckled, placing a reassuring hand on Ethan’s shoulder, “It’s just a park, Ethan. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Ethan couldn’t help but tease, “I don’t know.” he shrugs, “Maybe a killer clown follows us in there and slaughters us both?”

Julian’s chuckle turned into a sarcastic laugh, “I know we’re both horror fans, but that’s some fucked up shit to think about.” he shook his head, then spotted figures stumbling out of an exit, looking like mindless zombies.

“Yeah, well, you know the movies never end well for the kids.” Ethan mumbled softly, following his brother’s gaze, noticing the bizarre sight for himself. He observed the other kids and adults around him, feeling a bit uneasy at the thought of what lay ahead. However, he shared a knowing smile with his brother and decided to brush off his unease, chalking it up to the rush of adrenaline from the mysterious warehouse awaiting them.

At the entrance stood the ticketmaster, a peculiar older man dressed in a vintage green suit, cream shirt, red bowtie, and a striking red top hat. With a booming voice, he called out to the crowd, luring them in with promises of a thrilling experience, “Five dollars for the thrill of a lifetime! Come on in, and face your fears! Explore the MIROMAZE!” his wide, bulging green eyes seemed to add an air of mystery to his words, “You will come out a new person, I guarantee it, or your money back!” he laughed as he theatrically gestured towards the warehouse behind him. Spotting two teen boys nearby, he turned his attention to them, “How about you boys, hmm? Are you brave enough to face yourself?” he challenged, his foreign accent added an exotic flair to his words.

“Face ourselves?” Ethan muttered, intrigued by the man’s enigmatic offer.

With a mysterious smile, the ticketmaster replied, “Yes, little Sir. Step inside, and find out. But be warned, what you see in the mirrors, are you, but not you.”

“Sounds wicked!” Julian exclaimed as he quickly pulled out his wallet to pay for both himself and his brother, “You coming?” he asked Ethan with a daring look.

“Um…y-yeah.” Ethan replied hesitantly, reluctantly following Julian’s lead.

The man tipped his hat off with a mysterious grin, “Enjoy.” he said with a hint of sinister excitement dancing in his eyes.

As they stepped into the warehouse, they were greeted by a maze of dazzling mirrors that seemed to go on forever. The further they delved into the labyrinth, a sense of unease began to creep over them. The once lively atmosphere turned ominously quiet, with the laughter of other visitors and carnival outside fading into the distance. The lights began to flicker before abruptly going out, leaving only the eerie glow of emergency lights to illuminate their surroundings. In the dim, greenish light, the reflections in the mirrors took on a sinister quality. The figures staring back at them were no longer their own, but twisted doppelgangers with pale, gaunt faces and eyes that seemed to pierce into their very souls. The mirror twins moved in perfect unison, their malicious grins revealing sharp, inhuman teeth.

Ethan couldn’t contain his fear, “What the fuck is going on?! I don’t like this! Julian, I don’t like this…I want to go home!”

Studying the images closely, Julian argued passionately, determined to uncover the secret behind the realistic trick, “Relax, it’s just a trick. Don’t be such a wimp.” he reassured his brother.

“I’m not a wimp, I just...I just want to get out of here!” Ethan exclaimed, his eyes darting around the eerie surroundings. The reflections in the polished panels seemed to move unnaturally, sending shivers down his spine. Suddenly, the lights went out, plunging the warehouse into darkness, “Julian!” he called out in alarm, his voice filled with fear, “JULIAN!”

But instead of his brother’s reassuring presence, a voice nearby mimicked him, “Stop shouting, I’m right here.”

“Who said that?!” Julian demanded, his tone firm.

“Julian, stop it!” Ethan cried. As panic started to set in, his shaking hands fumbled with his phone as he turned on the flashlight. He frantically scanned the area, searching for his missing brother, “Julian!” he called out, his voice trembling.

“Over here!” Julian’s voice came from ahead.

Ethan followed the sound, only to find nothing there, “Julian, STOP IT! This isn’t funny, where are you?!” he exclaimed, his heart racing with uncertainty and fear.

“Ethan, I’m over here!” Julian called out from a distance, flicking on his phones’ flashlight.

Furrowing his brow, Ethan spotted his brother further down the path, “If you’re over there..then who called me over here?” he murmured.

“I did.” a voice sneered in his ear.

Startled, Ethan screamed and whipped around, sweeping his flashlight across the darkness in search of the trickster or his brother, “Julian...JULIAN!” he cried out.

Julian hurried over to him, clutching onto his brother tightly.

“Face your fears…” eerie voices whispered all around them, “face yourselves!”

Ethan and Julian trembled, uncertain of which direction to take as they peered into the depths of the maze. The only thing they saw were endless reflections staring back at them. Suddenly, their eerie doppelgangers pounded on the glass, causing it to shatter before lunging out, reaching for them. The air grew thick with foreboding and a crisp bitterness; their breaths fogged as the brothers panted with fear.

“Run...RUN!” Julian yelled, yanking his brother along. Using his phone’s flashlight to illuminate the path ahead, it suddenly vanished into thin air, as if there was a bottomless pit in front of them. Managing to halt just in time, he held Ethan back with all his might, breathing heavily as he looked around, “What the hell is happening?!”

“Help! Hello…HELP!” Ethan shrieked, hoping his pleas would reach someone beyond the carnival noises, but his voice was drowned out by the rides and music, “HELLO!?”

“Hello!?” eerie voices mimicked his cries of distress, reverberating loudly before the mirrors shattered from a sudden blast of wind.

The brothers crouched in fear, their screams echoing through the maze. Their phones slipped from their trembling hands, the screens shattering upon impact. Wincing as shards of glass cut into their skin, they remained frozen in place until they mustered the courage to look up. Ethan fumbled around on the floor, searching for his phone with determination. Smacking it against his hand in a desperate attempt to make it work, he cursed under his breath when it failed to turn on, “Shit...damn it!” he exclaimed, hurling the useless device away in frustration. Feeling along the ground, he called out for his missing brother, “Julian?” he whispered, his voice barely audible in the eerie silence. But before despair could set in, he felt a hand on his shoulder, the touch sent an unnatural chill down his spine, “Ju-Julian?” he repeated, “Is that you?”

“No…” a voice whispered chillingly, before a hand tightened its grip on his shoulder, feeling like claws digging into his shirt and skin, pulling him down a dimly lit passageway.

Ethan let out a scream as he tried to break free, but only ended up cutting his hands on the shards of glass. When the mysterious figure finally released him, a strange green glow filled the warehouse, briefly revealing their surroundings before fading into darkness again, “What’s happening? Who are you?” Ethan asked in a shaky voice, eyeing the shadowy figure that seemed to vanish in the flickering light.

The doppelganger knelt in front of him, a sinister grin exposing its unnaturally sharp teeth and empty eyes staring back at him, “I am you, Ethan...the darkest part of you.” it whispered in an ominous voice.

Ethan’s heart raced as he asked with a hint of panic, “I-I don’t understand! Where’s my brother?”

“Ethan!” Julian’s voice rang out, as if coming from both near and far at the same time.

Ethan looked around nervously, unable to locate his brother.

“He’s waiting for you...in there.” the figure gestured towards the shimmering mirror behind him, “Here, let me help you!” and with a deep grunt, he pulled Ethan towards the mirror, before pushing him through with a force that shattered it into a shower of sparkling shards; the walls of the maze crumbled away as dust settled around him.

In the aftermath, Ethan found himself in a vast darkness, where silence enveloped him completely, leaving him feeling stranded and alone. Only one mirror remained, standing tall and defiant amidst the void. His heart pounded as he stared through its cracked surface, his own reflection twisted and distorted by the jagged shards; a ghostly likeness with sunken eyes that seemed to pierce into his very soul, “Who are you?!” he pounded hard on the glass, “What do you want?!”

“Ethan?” Julian’s voice murmured nearby.

Spinning around, Ethan’s heart raced as he frantically scanned the empty void behind him. Hesitant to believe it was really Julian and not some illusion, he held his breath and waited. Suddenly, Julian emerged from the shadows, moving slowly and cautiously, clutching his side in pain, “Julian?” Ethan whispered, his voice filled with relief, “JULIAN!” but as he looked closer, he saw a shard of glass embedded in his brother’s side, “Oh my god, wh-what happened?” he exclaimed, fear gripping his heart.

“I guess I must’ve been hit when the mirrors exploded.” Julian grunted, his face contorted with discomfort, “Just my luck, huh?” he joked weakly, trying to lighten the mood.

Ethan’s expression turned to one of seriousness, “That’s not funny.” he scolded.

“Wasn’t supposed to be.” Julian groaned, the pain evident in his voice, “Wh-where are we?”

Guiding his brother to lean against the mirror, Ethan shook his head in confusion, “I don’t know.” he admitted, peering through the mirror, seeing his reflection mimicking his every move perfectly. The surreal nature of their surroundings only added to the mystery and danger they found themselves in.

Suddenly, the mirror standing before them began to shrink, with the light fading away and replaced by a new source behind the brothers. Eerie music filled the air, echoing like a sinister melody from a twisted music box. Ethan and Julian were overcome with fear, their hearts racing as they turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows behind them. It was Julian’s doppelganger.

“What do we do now?” Ethan whispered, gripped with terror as he clung to his brother.

Julian gritted his teeth, his eyes scanning their surroundings, “Follow him, or it, I guess.” he declared resolutely.

“What?!” Ethan protested, “Are you fucking crazy?! You want to follow the things that put us here?!”

Despite the fear that gripped them, there seemed to be no other choice as the darkness closed in around them, “I don’t think we have a choice, Ethan. Look around…the void is getting closer, and I think that’s the only way out of here.” he added, a sense of urgency in his voice.

“You’re right, Julian.” the doppelganger taunted, its voice a chilling whisper that seemed to surround them from all directions, “It is.”

“I wasn’t talking to you.” Julian grunted, feeling Ethan’s hands pulling him to his feet.

Ethan was hesitant, but with the void creeping ever closer, it seemed that following the doppelganger was their only chance.

In this nightmarish realm, the carnival twisted into a grotesque park of horrors, with rides resembling bone and metal rather than steel and paint. One of the rides, there seemed to be victims that screamed as they faded in and out, feeling as if their souls were being torn apart. Guided by the sinister doppelganger, Ethan and Julian ventured deeper into a twisted funhouse landscape, each attraction more terrifying than the last. Their reflections in the mirrors grew increasingly monstrous, contorting into shapes beyond the realm of possibility. They might have been avid horror fans, but this was some fucked up shit and something they thought would be found in one of their video games or movies, not reality.

As they reached the heart of the park, the doppelganger turned to them with an eerie smile, raising his hands as shadows crept along the ground, “Welcome...to NAMELESS AMUSEMENT Where you enter…but never come out.” he whispered.

Julian and Ethan trembled as the shadows engulfed them; their screams echoing through the haunted carnival.

Outside, the attendees enjoyed the sights and sounds of the carnival, unaware of the horrors lurking within the warehouse, waiting for their next unsuspecting victims

“Five dollars for the thrill of a lifetime!” the ticketmaster called out energetically as he ushered in the next group of eager souls. With a friendly smile and a tip of his hat, he then turned and observed the doppelgangers of the boys emerge; their eerie, hollow eyes fixated on him before giving a subtle nod, “Ah, welcome…welcome! Five dollars…” he greeted more youth.

The doppelgangers exchanged glances, a silent understanding passing between them.

“Let’s go home.” Julian spoke in a deep, unnatural tone.

Ethan’s grin held a hint of mischief as he replied, “Yes, let’s. I have the urge to practice my swings.” he mimicked swinging an invisible baseball bat, “Perhaps starting with dad’s head.” he added.

Julian chuckled. Wandering forward, the two of them made their way through the carnival with a purpose amongst other doppelgangers, exchanging knowing nods, moving through the crowd like predators on the hunt. As they reached the gates, they gathered their bikes and dispersed in different directions, ready to wreak havoc in this world.

As Ethan and Julian arrived back home, the street was quiet. With a quick flick, they tossed their bikes onto the curb and stealthily slipped inside, leaving the front door wide open ready to unleash a wave of spine-chilling screams that would echo through the night.

The End…?