Mirror Image

Chapter One

Sierra has been constantly tormented by the same horrible nightmare for a long time. But when it comes true and she's pulled into another world, will she be able to fulfil the ancient prophecy, defeat the evil princess, get rid of the demon, AND go home?

Sierra Ruuslow stared at the gorgeous sunset. Out here the sky was practically always cloudless, and the sunsets were absolutely marvelous. The sky was exploding in reds, oranges, pinks, the slightest blue, and the hints of the midnight blue night sky was tugging at the sky. Her short, messy brown hair was blowing around in the breeze and she shivered as night took over and the temperature cooled.

She got up off the grassy ground, slipped on the sweater she had brought with her, and walked back to her house. Sierra entered into the familiar building and smiled at the cozy feeling the place emitted. After hanging up her sweater in the hall, she entered the den and found her parents lounging.

"Hey, Erra." Her father greeted in his deep voice. Sierra's mother also greeted her only daughter.

"Hi Mom, Dad." Sierra said. "The sunset was absolutely amazing tonight. I could see the light blue of day, the warm colors of sunset, and the dark blue of night all at the same time!"

"Sounds lovely, honey. But you'd better get off to bed now." Mrs. Ruuslow told her. Sierra nodded and dashed upstairs to her room.

Quickly, she changed into her nightgown and got ready for bed. Once she was ready, Sierra laid down on her bed and huddled under the quilt. Then she closed her deep blue eyes and fell into a deep sleep...

Something was chasing her. Something was chasing her through a maze of mirrors. Sierra could she it just out of the corner of her eyes. She was fairly well ahead, but if she were to stumble, it would all be over.

She wheeled around the corner, almost falling, and continued on her flight from the unknown monster. All around her, Sierra saw her terrified reflections. Her feet slapping the cold ground, the fear in her eyes, her already messy hair tangled from all the running, and even the dark creature behind her. with an extra burst of speed, she ran on...and slammed into a mirror.

Sierra stumbled and fell backwards to the ground. She laid there, dazed, for a fraction of a second until she heard her pursuer's heavy breathing. She scrambled up to her feet and continued running. Mirrored corridor after mirrored corridor, the chase just continued.

Then suddenly she came to a dead end. Sierra's body filled with cold dread as she stared up and the enormous mirror in front of her. I wasn't like the corridors she had just been running through, those had been just plain mirror walls. This one was an actual framed mirror.

Its frame was black gold, infinitely twisted and twirled in endless swirls and designs. The size was probably three times the average human height. But it was what she saw in the mirror that surprised her.

The reflection she saw was herself. Of course, that's what everybody sees; the mirror image reflection of how they appear. But Sierra didn't have a crown on, her hair wasn't long and braided, she didn't look calm, her eyes weren't ruby red, and she most definitely wasn't wearing a silk gown. The Mirror-Sierra started calmly back at her.

But then Mirror-Sierra's expression turned into one of pure evil. She reached out of the mirror and grabbed hold of Sierra's nightgown. As she was being pulled into the depths of the mirror, Sierra heard the monster approaching. With no way out, Sierra just screamed...

"Sierra!" Her mother exclaimed, shaking her daughter awake. Sunlight was streaming in her bedroom window, indicating that it was around late morning.

"Mom?!" Sierra asked, confused. The dream felt so real that she half-expected to be inside a mirror with that horrible part of her.

"You were screaming so loudly we thought you were being murdered!" Her mother heaved a sigh of relief and buried her head in her hands, her fingers sticking out from her wispy red-brown hair.

"I'm sorry Mom. It was a really horrible dream." She shuddered just thinking about it.

"Well maybe seeing Ancelsti will calm you down." She said before walking wearily out of the room. Sierra crawled out of bed and wiped her forehead, which was covered in a cold sweat.

After getting dressed and having some breakfast, Sierra grabbed a jacket and left the house. Feeling paranoid, Sierra kept looking behind her as she walked down the hill to the stables.

A chorus of neighs greeted her when she came through the door. She smiled, leaving her nervousness outside, and went to the only stall she had eyes for.

"Hello Ance." She said softly to the pretty chestnut mare with the huge, soft brown eyes. Ancelsti looked up from her hay and thrust her head over to Sierra, nuzzling the girl's shoulder affectionately.

"I missed you too girl." Sierra laughed as she stroked the white blaze on the mare's nose. Ancelsti nicked and nudged on of Sierra's jacket pockets.

"You smelled those, didn't you?" She said as she pulled out the two sugar cubes she brought. Ancelsti's eyes lit up when she saw the treat. She whinnied wistfully. Sierra laughed again and fed her horse the treats.

"So you're the reason for Celst's neighing." Said a teasing voice from behind her. Sierra turned around and smiled.

"Hello to you too, Geoff." She greeted. His light green eyes sparkled and he ran a hand through his shock of black hair. He walked forward and leaned, with mock arrogance, against Ancelsti's stall door.

"I haven't seen you in a long time." He told her, his expression turning from arrogant to concerned. Sierra shrugged and leaned her back against the door.

"I've been...busy." She whispered.

"Nightmares?" Sierra nodded.

"How about we go for a ride?" He suggested. She looked up and smiled playfully.

"Are you sure old Shadow can keep up?"

"Old? He's younger than this hag of a mare you have." Ancelsti snorted and bit his shoulder lightly.

"She resents that." Sierra said nonchalantly, amusement making her eyes glitter.

"I can tell." Geoff grumbled, rubbing his shoulder. Ancelsti whinnied with joy.

"So? Do you want to?" He asked again.

"Yeah."

"Cool. Meet you out front." Geoff ran down the aisle and disappeared around the corner. Sierra sighed and felt her nervousness coming back. She shook her head and walked to the tack room.

'Maybe he's right. Maybe all you need is a nice long ride.' She told herself.

Well there's the first chapter! I hope you like it. Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Then PM me or review! Till next time!

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