Mirrorville

“Marley!”

Reyna Timmons had been shouting her little sister’s name for the better half of an hour. Why on earth Marley and her band “The Rebels” had decided to rehearse in their garage tonight of all nights was beyond her. Didn’t Marley know that Grease auditions were tomorrow and Reyna had to rehearse, so she could get the lead? Reyna was a senior at “The Mercynville High School Of The Arts.” Which wasn’t your regular type of high school by far. No. This school didn’t just teach boring subjects like English or algebra — this school specialized in preparing its students for a future in the arts. Whether it would be years of training at Julliard or going straight to an audition on Broadway, once they graduated, success was almost guaranteed. As for Reyna herself, she had her entire life planned out.

First, she would get the lead role of Sandy in the school’s production of Grease. Then, she would graduate the top of her class in a few months (which, with her history of excellent grades and extracurricular activities, was assured). Next, she would go to college at Julliard for a few years and continue her education. Finally, she would audition for a starring role in either a romantic-comedy or get a lead role on Broadway. All of this solely depended on how things went over tomorrow. Was Marley just oblivious?

“Oh, baby, don’t think I’m just oblivious...!”

Marley smirked as she continued to sing lead vocals on a song she’d cowritten alongside her best friend, and stringing another few cords on her electric-blue guitar. These were one of the rare fleeting moments the youngest Timmons sister felt at peace in the world, creating new and epic works of art alongside her band — The Rebels.

It brought her back to happier times. When things in her life made sense. She loved rock, pop, and even a little country. Marley could sing and play them all. Her father had always said — “Music is the way to the soul!”

It wasn’t the first time he was right, thought Marley.

Marley’s best friend, Anna Wallace, was on the bass and sang backup. Anna was awesome. There just wasn’t another word that better described her. Anna carried a four-point GPA at the Mercynville High School Of The Arts, something no other student could say. Anna was just as musically gifted as she was academically. But she didn’t care about being a rock star so much as getting into Harvard in two years. Marley and Anna were each fifteen and had been friends since they were two-years-old. Armie Sitwell played the drums and was seventeen, like Reyna. Armie was a little chunky and wasn’t very popular at school, but he was always kind and cheerful. He also had a serious crush on Reyna, something Marley and Anna tolerated daily.

Right now, the Rebels were practicing for their biggest gig yet — the Mercynville High Showcase. Every band in the school would be performing in front of talent agents and record label executives. Things were looking up for Marley. Maybe one day soon she could leave this suburban town. Mercynville was nice and all, but there was one big problem with it — Marley felt like an outsider. It was almost like being Natasha Romanoff trapped in The Sound Of Music, where everyone expected her to be Julie Andrew’s lame character instead. Barely anyone understood why she’d rather be the Black Widow of Rock instead of a prissy nun singing about how the hills are alive or whatever.

…Maybe that’s why everyone seemed to worship at Reyna’s feet. Reyna was a bigger priss than anything The Sound Of Music could ever hope to produce. Reyna was a prodigy. The greatest thing since their mother — the infamous Willa Timmons herself — had been on stage! A true master at her craft! That’s what everyone in Mercynville said... everyone except Marley.

Marley’s life had become something of a joke ever since her dad vanished seven years ago. Her father was the only person who ever treated Marley like she was a star. They had everything in common — music, movies, a shared sense of humor — everything. But then, one night, during a terrible storm, he just disappeared. Marley’s mother, Willa, had concluded that her husband, Patterson, had just abandoned their family. Ever since, Willa put all of her focus on helping Reyna with her journey to fame. Which most of the time left Marley out in the cold.

Marley was just about to start singing the second chorus of Oblivious To The Truth when the power in the garage suddenly went out. “What the hell?” asked Marley.

Reyna walked away from the fuse box, smirking. “Have fun playing in the dark, little sis.”

Anna smiled wearily at Marley. “At least this time we got to practice for an hour.”

Marley sighed, exasperated.

It only took ten minutes for Marley to approach their mother about the “Reyna Problem”. Reyna, herself, had gone upstairs to rehearse as Marley tried her best to plead her case. Which wasn’t going her way... as usual...

“But, Mom, it’s unfair!”

Willa Timmons continued to walk towards her office, the sound of her high heels clicking on the hardwood floors. It was located on the far side of the house, which gave Marley enough time to finish the conversation. Hopefully, something would go her way tonight.

“Your sister needs to rehearse for Grease auditions, Marley. It’s the biggest musical event the school has ever produced. There will be scouts from Julliard in attendance.”

“I know,” said Marley. “I go to that school too. That’s how I know that they’re having a musical showcase for indie bands.”

Willa raised her eyebrow tiredly.

“Indie bands? Now, I know you’re just making up words.”

“Indie means independent,” said Marley. “Anna, Armie, and I haven’t been signed to a record label yet, but this could be our big break.”

Armie and Anna, who had been following Marley and Willa through their walk in the house, decided to speak up.

“Yeah, Ms. T, we’ve been getting really good!” said Armie.

Willa sighed dramatically. Marley knew where this argument was about to go. Willa the artist formerly known as The Greatest Starlet On Broadway, was about to utilize her infamous dramatic timing. “I can see that since I hear you three kids play every day. Every single day. How about we compromise? Your sister gets to practice, I get to keep my sanity, and you three get to clean out the fridge.”

Marley immediately threw up her hands in protest. “No way! That’s not fair!”

“Really?” asked Willa. “There’s a triple-layered fudge cake inside.”

Armie’s eyes lighted up excitedly. “With chocolate chips?”

“White and dark.”

Armie licked his lips. “Deal.”

Marley and Ana both glared at him. If looks could have killed — Armie would have died right then and there. Marley turned her gaze back to her mother. “No. We won’t be bought off with week old fudge cake!”

Armie shrugged. “I will.”

“Armie!” Marley yelled in protest.

Anna looked at Armie with complete disgust. “Can’t you think about something other than your stomach, Armie?”

“Sometimes... a little... not really... nope.”

Armie turned to Willa. “Can I help myself or...?”

Willa smiled back. “Sure, sweetie.”

“But — Mom!”

Willa’s smile vanished in an instant as her expression turned frightening.

“No buts, Marley. This conversation is over. Besides, you need to consider other avenues other than being a musician. It’s just not practical.”

“Dad was one,” Marley mumbled underneath her breath.

“I heard that,” said Willa. “Your father was many things... but he gave every piece of it up. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to prepare for the open house tomorrow. I’ll be in my office.”

Willa marched away into the other room. Marley sighed as Anna put her hand on her shoulder. “You gonna be okay, Marley?”

“Yeah,” Marley tried to relax her tensed body. She hated how things were in her family. But at least she had Anna and Armie. “Dad’s always been a hot topic. We’ll just have to practice at your place for a while.”

“Hey... I always liked your dad,” said Anna.

Marley half-smiled as Armie pulled the remains of the fudge cake out of the fridge with a semi-guilty look. “Me too,” he said. “I always thought he was an awesome guy.”

Reyna walked down from the stairs and smiled, decked out in a tight-fitting floral patterned dress. In moments like these, it was hard for Marley to separate her sister from a life-size Barbie doll. Armie noticed Reyna immediately as his expression turned into a nervous daze. What else is new, thought Marley. This is one of those times Armie isn’t thinking about food. Figures. Marley’s expression almost instantly turned frosty at the possibility of one of her friends dating Reyna. She knew that Armie and Reyna used to hang out when they were little, but after freshman year the Mercynville Barbie had ditched her oldest friend. Marley didn’t know the exact details nor did she try to pry. Armie wasn’t the type to share embarrassing moments of his life with anyone. But he, unfortunately, was well adept at creating new ones in public on a daily basis.

“What are you doing here?” asked Marley. “Shouldn’t you be practicing ballet or something?”

Reyna smirked at Marley’s annoyance. “You need to chill, little sis.”

Reyna towered over Marley by three inches, but Marley had no intention of backing down. Reyna merely let out a mirthless laugh and grabbed her phone off the counter. She then proceeded to read her playlist.

Anna glared at Reyna with discontent. “My mom says that smartphones are what’s wrong with our generation, and she’s right. People like you are obsessed with crazy stuff like Google-Tunes, You-Face, and Twitbook.”

“You’re fifteen, right?” Reyna asked Anna. “How can you not know what Facebook or Twitter are? What are you? A Nun? …Oh, that’s right — you were just raised by one.”

Reyna flicked her ponytail with a false grin as she turned away from an infuriated Anna. Marley clinched her fists as she a started to approach her sister.

“Ahem.”

Armie made a slight coughing noise and walked in between the three girls. “Hey, Reyna. Why don’t we all take a deep breath and watch some Netflix?”

Reyna looked at Armie and said bluntly, “And you are?”

A complete look of shock came over Armie’s face. “It’s me. Armie Sitwell. We used to spend every… y’know? …I live next door. I started working at The Magic Shop. Not only that, but I started playing the drums in Marley’s band a few months ago. Ring any bells?”

Reyna rolled her eyes, thoroughly unconvinced. “Are you sure your name isn’t Archie?”

“It can be,” said Armie. “I mean, if it’s easier to remember.”

A few awkward seconds passed by until a nervous Armie picked up a plate, offering it to Reyna. “Fudge cake?”

Reyna turned her nose in the air. “Gross.”

And with that, Reyna returned upstairs. Marley and Anna rolled their eyes at Armie. How could he like her so much? thought Marley. She treats him like shit. When she does that to me — I can barely stand her, and I’m her sister. And he’s not like everyone else in this town. Armie’s not an idiot. It doesn’t make sense. They couldn’t have been that good of friends… or maybe they were too good…?

The thought of Armie and Reyna randomly hooking up as awkward freshman sent a grotesque shiver down Marley’s back.

Armie gazed up the stairs before turning back to Marley and Anna. “I think that went well, don’t you?”

Despite herself, Marley grinned. Almost laughing, she said, “I don’t know. Anna, what kind of impression do you think Archie made?”

Anna chuckled. “Not sure. Let’s wait and see if he starts calling us Betty and Veronica before we make that decision.”

“Hilarious,” said Armie. “You two are sucking all the hope out of me when I’m trying to stand out with my good looks and distinct personality.”

Marley patted Armie on the back. “Dude, you have got to stop crushing on my sister. Whatever was going on with you two — Reyna’s over it. You need to let it go.”

Armie sighed. “I can’t help it. I’ve got a serious case of the feels.”

“Aw, Armie, don’t get upset,” said Anna. “She’s not worth the effort.”

“Debatable,” said Armie. “Anyone else want some cake?”

“No. You go right ahead... Archie.” Anna let out a burst of laughter as even Armie couldn’t stop himself from letting out a chuckle. And as she watched her friends laugh and relax — for the first time that night — Marley smiled.

“It was just a smiley face emoji, Mom!” Anna sighed.

“That you sent to a boy!” Mrs. Wallace replied furiously.

“Armie’s just my friend,” Anna frowned.

“It was bad enough you were late for curfew!”

“Only by five minutes,” Anna muttered. “And it’s not like I was partying with him, we were practicing our set at Marley’s…”

“Such language,” Mrs. Wallace glared. “In my time, young women didn’t dare say words like ‘Partying’!”

“In your time women were saints,” Anna glared.

SMACK!

Mrs. Wallace slapped Anna on her left cheek. “I will not tolerate backtalk — Anna Marina Wallace! I… expect better from you.”

Anna held her head down and nodded, before Mrs. Wallace fixed the one hair out of place on the former’s head. “When I adopted you — you were a lost child. I sacrificed a great amount to do so, but it was worth it. I turned you into something greater, a true woman of honest values. And I only want what’s best for you. Correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good,” Mrs. Wallace smiled. “Now, it’s already ten-thirty — so I need you to cook the cupcakes, cookies, and muffins for church bake sale. Then clean-up the kitchen, do your homework and try to get a good hour’s rest if possible. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Anna nodded.

“Good, girl,” Mrs. Wallace smiled in a sickeningly sweet way, before walking up the stairs of their small home.

Anna stifled a yawn as she sat her phone on the kitchen counter, wrapped an old apron around her waist, and silently wished she would’ve stopped Armie from eating all of Mrs. Timmons leftover cake. It could’ve saved her from baking at least one out of eight cakes for the night. But when did she ever think clearly when Armie was involved? She hadn’t lied to her mother (if you could even call her that), Armie and her were just friends… even if Anna wished they were more.

Like most things in her life, Anna couldn’t figure out why she felt such a way about that boy. It was like all her emotions (including the ones that fueled the “Feels” as her crush would put it), came preset. As if her heart and mind were comprised of an ICloud backup that only needed to be restored, whenever she felt the world she was living in was, itself, an illusion. And Anna being the adopted child of Mercynville’s biggest supporter of the Baptist Church, contributed to that theory long and often.

Anna supposed that was one of the many reasons her and Marley were best friends. Marley felt the same way she did, that their lives in Mercynville seemed like the opposite of a sweet dream, but just as unrealistic. Like there was an obvious secret to being perfect and… the two best friends were the only ones who were too stupid to figure it out.

“Almost time to restock,” Anna sighed as she downed the last four caffeine pills inside her sixty-ounce bottle. “You’d think these would at least last two weeks.”

Yep, Anna thought. Life in Mercynville will always be a beautiful nightmare.

She then opened the fridge, snapping open a fresh energy drink from inside and taking a long swig. Anna then, put her ear buds on and started her favorite Taylor Swift song…

“CAUSE A HATERS GONNA HATE…”

“I hate to say this, but it feels like you’re avoiding me. And I understand why… but don’t you think it’s time we actually talk about what really happened that night? You’re the only other one who was there and —!”

“Sorry, but the voicemail box of the person you were trying to reach is full. Please call back again.”

“Damn’t!” Armie slammed his phone down.

“What is it now?”

“Reyna’s voicemail is full,” Armie sighed. “The entire message I was trying to leave her is as good as gone — chopped in half.”

“I didn’t think smartphones worked that way,” Armie’s Uncle mused. “Usually they don’t allow you to start a message if the inbox is that close to being full.”

“Knowing Reyna, you’re probably right,” Armie ran his fingers through his chestnut hair. “She might be using an app to get me to leave her alone. Almost wish she’d just block me if that’s the case.”

“Don’t put all the blame on her,” Uncle Sitwell replied. “You were both at equal fault for that night. And you’re not giving her any reason to want another relationship with you. Look at the weight you put on in the past few years. And the way you dress like a bum! You look like someone who’s already failed in life.”

“You know that my anti-depressants make me hungry,” Armie winced. “I can’t help that. Besides… Reyna and I never got far enough to be an actual couple… we were just friends… best friends.”

“Well, until you get a better head on your shoulders and straighten your life out — you might as well leave the poor girl alone. She’s moved on from that night and it would serve well for you to do the same. Now, get to bed. You have school in morning.”

“Yes, Uncle,” Armie groaned as he walked upstairs to his bedroom, removing a half-eaten Twix bar out of his pocket and taking a bite. Why does almost everything in my life have to feel like a nightmare? Where barely anyone gives a shit? Like I’m in a freaking horror movie.

Marley tossed and turned in her bed for what seemed like an eternity, her mind trapped in the endless void of a frightful slumber.

“Mom? What’s wrong?”

“I thought I heard a burglar.”

“Shouldn’t we wake up Reyna too?”

“Don’t be ridiculous — Reyna has school tomorrow! She needs her rest.”

“But I have to go school too.”

“Yes, but you’re grades are already suffering — Reyna’s aren’t. Besides you’re only in the fifth grade. Now, go downstairs and make sure no one is inside!”

“But what if someone is? I’m…”

“Just run back upstairs of course. Now — go!”

“O-o-okay, Mom.”

Marley forced herself out of bed with great trepidation as she soon tiptoed down the stairs. The downstairs hallway started to contort and change around her, transforming into…

The Mercynville High School hallway, but that wasn’t the only thing that had changed. She was back to her normal age, and wearing a salmon-colored leather jacket paired with a matching black top and jeans. Marley felt as if she’d been shaken awake out of the same recurring nightmare she’d experienced since her father vanished.

But she wasn’t awake. She could’t be. Blood was splattered all over the lockers lining the walls, while mutilated bodies were littered around her feet.

“What the…?”

Marley glanced over her shoulder as a creature started to emerge from the remains of one of the dead bodies.

“Oh — shit!”

Marley immediately regretted her very audible gasp as the creature turned its head towards her and lunged. Marley ran down the hallway, leaping over the deceased bodies as if her life depended on it. She soon reached the auditorium, locking the doors behind her.

This has to keep it from me, Marley thought silently. She was wrong. The only lights in the room were engulfed by a figure of pure darkness. The figure grew in size, encompassing everything…

There was a shriek, but it didn’t belong to Marley. It was an earth-shattering pitch. Marley could have sworn that her eardrums had busted from the noise. Then — the earth shook, and the lights returned brighter than before. The creature’s dead body was perched on a sword of pure blue flames. It had black as night skin, blood-stained fangs, and no eyes with only a fork-shaped tongue used to breathe. Quickly, the flames spread over the creature’s body as it burned to ash. The warrior holding this mystical sword was a boy close to her height with large muscles and wearing a green t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. “So… you’re one of them,” said the boy.

“One of what?” asked Marley, scared and bewildered.

“One of his daughters,” said the boy. He then smirked. “You don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not a Shaxera.” He pointed at the remains of the dead beast. “They can’t even take human form. My name is Jeb Watkins and I need you to listen to me.”

“Your name is Jeb?” asked Marley in disbelief.

“What’s wrong with my name?” Jeb frowned.

“Nothing,” said Marley. “You just don’t look like an eighty-year-old man.”

“It’s a warriors name of the highest honor!”

Marley smirked. “If you say so.”

“Like the name ‘Marley’ just reeks of youth and modernism.”

“It’s still better than Jeb,” Marley shrugged. “Also who in the hell uses words like ‘Modernism’? You sound like a walking dictionary.”

“Can we forget about this for a moment?” asked Jeb. “Or are you having too much fun being an annoying brat.”

“Not at all,” Marley sneered. “But if that’s the kind of girl your into — hop into the dream of my sister two doors down. She’s annoying as hell. I’m sure you two will hit off.”

“Oh, god!” Jeb sighed. “Do you not realize we’re running out of time. You’re going to wake up soon.”

“Isn’t that the whole point of dreaming?”

“Yes and no,” said Jeb. “Listen to me carefully — I live in another world separated from yours by magic. Until I can travel to where you are, in your world, I can only contact you, and in some cases protect you, through your dreams.”

“How long have you been protecting me?” Marley asked, raising her eyebrow.

“Since Patterson disappeared,” said Jeb.

“You knew my dad?”

“I’ve known him for years,” said Jeb, “and contrary to popular belief — he hasn’t vanished until a few months ago.”

“Now, I know this is a dream,” said Marley, rolling her eyes.

“You don’t understand,” said Jeb. “People from my world are being lost forever. They go missing and never return. Your father was the Sleepwalker, a powerful wizard who could cross worlds through dreams. Before he vanished, Patterson passed down that ability to me. If you care about your father and wish to see him again — you need to find the Golden Ring. The ring your father left you. Put it on when you wake up and go to the enchanted mirror at exactly nine o’clock. Then I can come into your world and bring you back with me.”

“Why do you want me to cross over to yours?” asked Marley. “Why do you need me?”

“To succeed where Patterson failed,” said Jeb. “To stop Ignotus Shade from destroying every world in existence — you’re the only one who can. If you need help to look for the mirror, find my brother. He can show you the way.”

“The way to where?” asked Marley. “What is your world even called?”

Jeb smiled.

“Mirrorville.”