FILE 4: THE CHILD PART 2

"Sarah? Sarah, we're coming in. I brought someone to see you. He's a very nice man, Nathan. Sarah?"

While Janett searched for her daughter, I observed my surroundings. It was your average little girl's room. Pink curtains, a pink bed, and lots of girl toys. 

Nothing special. It was also clean, not like my room when I was a child. I opened the curtains when there was a scream.

"Sarah!" Janett yelled in alarm and rushed to her daughter, who was hiding in her laundry basket. Janett tried to hug her but was pushed away.

Sarah rushed toward me and began to punch me. It looked so funny that I wasn't even offended.

"Close it! Close it!" she shrieked. However, I ignored her pleas and examined the little girl of nine years.

She inherited her mother's curly red hair but had blue eyes instead of brown. Her skin was sickly pale, and she was as thin as a reed.

I grabbed her fists, making her cry out in pain. Janett came sprinting, crying out. This is the last time I'm working with women only. Next time, Mars is coming with me.

"Be silent, both of you!" I bellowed. It calmed down. I released the little girl, who fell to the ground in shock. "Mrs. Grace, leave Sarah with me for a few minutes. I need to see what I can find."

"But-"

"Don't worry, I won't hurt her, I promise. Just ten minutes, I swear," I pleaded as I bowed.

She glanced at me, then at her glaring daughter, then back at me. "All right," she said quietly, then left, closing the pink door after her.

I activated my SENSE and stared at the girl. What I saw infuriated me. I shot up and grabbed 'Sarah' again. "Where's the girl?" I demanded.

"What are you talking about? I'm 'Sarah'," she huffed as she struggled.

I tightened my grip, making her wince. "You may be able to fool others, but not me. I can see very clearly what you are."

It eyed me with uncertainty. "Dunno what you're saying. I'm Sarah. Now, let go before mom comes back and kicks you out of the house," it snickered.

I wasn't fazed. "Stop lying. You're her reflection, aren't you? When her mother described the symptoms, 

I had an inkling, but now I'm sure. No contact, no eating, avoiding the sun, and nobody notices anything wrong. Only the reflection can be the cause." As I spoke, the reflection got angry.

"Yeah? So what? I got tired of her having fun. She plays and chats, eats sweets, and smiles all the time. So I thought, I can take her place and have fun too!" it gloated.

"I doubt you had fun, right? Since your appearance seems to speak for itself," I pointed out. I released the reflection, and it staggered backwards.

It straightened itself and sighed. "You bet. I didn't know how to swallow food, and when I tried, I almost choked.

Every time her friends want to play, I find myself freezing, so I now avoid them. The sun scares me to death, it's so bright!" it complained.

"What do you expect? You never did any of these things, you just watched Sarah from the other side," I admonished.

"But I'm Sarah!" they cried.

"No," I denied. "You're her reflection. Now back to my original question, where is she?" I checked my watch.

We had two minutes left until Janett returned. I almost expected it to point to the mirror case behind it, but no. Instead, it pulled out a locket and opened it.

Lodged inside was a piece of tinted glass, and with my SENSE, I saw and heard the tiny girl trapped inside. 

I had just clasped the locket when the door opened. With a frown, Janett stood there, looking at us. "It'll take one more day," I promised her. I bade them farewell as I took my leave.

Mars listened as I recounted the situation. 

I had just come from a nice, long bath and sat with a cup of coffee and chocolate cake. He licked his paw thoughtfully.

"It's not rare that a reflection takes its owner's place. However, it rarely happens to a child."

"'eally?" I mumbled as I munched. "Quite. Your mother had a case just like this one, except it was an older woman. Her reflection was jealous of her happy life, so she took her place." 

"Are reflections miserable or something?" I sipped my coffee. "Not at all. They don't feel any emotions."

"Then why replace their originals?" I was bewildered. Mars' tail whipped as he answered.

"Inside the mirror, they don't feel anything, nor do they think about anything. They just watch. However, if the person becomes happier, the more it influences the reflection.

The reflection then feels like the first time, and it's addictive to them. The longer they see their original happiness, the more they want happiness for themselves, so eventually they switch places."

"But it doesn't work, right?"

"Of course not. I see you remember your lessons," Mars inclined. Of course, I did. I'm the son of the McNeill family, after all. I'm not just good-looking, you know? Mars started grooming himself.

"You'll be performing the ceremony tomorrow, I presume? Make sure the mother leaves the-What is it? You look uncomfortable." Mars squinted at me suspiciously.

"Nothing." I laughed weakly. I hate performing ceremonies. It makes one sweaty and dirty. I didn't like the sweat marks on my clothes.

The next day, I was before an unenthusiastic Janett. She wore a lab jacket over jeans and a polo shirt. She wasn't too keen to see me, but she let me inside.

"I'll be working outside in the shack lab," she informed me. Shack lab? That's something I had never heard of before. "But I'll keep an eye on you," she threatened me with a cute face.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Grace. I won't even be half an hour before you have your original daughter back," I smiled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she grimaced. I waved my hands frantically, "I mean, the way she used to be. Right? Right. I'll be going now."

I ran away before making a fool of myself. For the first time in my life, I wish Mars was there to bite my ankle.

I flicked my blonde hair, adjusted the bag I was carrying over my shoulder, and to the waiting imposter. Oh? I didn't mention a bag.

I was presently carrying a duffle bag full of candles, salt, incense, rope, and paint. It sounds like I'm banishing a demon, right? 

Since this ceremony is based on a demon-banishing spell, my grandfather and some warlock banded together to alter it to just a Banishment Spell. I'm going to use it to banish the reflection.

'Sarah' stared in amazement as I piled all the whatsit on the floor. I then drew the pentagram. (Will her mother hate me since it's painted?)

It's not permanent. I lit the candles and incense, threw salt in the air, and set the locket in the middle. I gave the rope to the reflection to hold, and the other tip was against the locket. I sat cross-legged and chanted;

Leig leis a bhith neo-àbhaisteach seo 

A dhol air ais far a bheil e.

Thig anam a' chuirp so air ais.

Leig leotha a bhith sàbhailte.

The incantation was a total hitch since it was in my native tongue. I activated my skill, SENSE, and watched with glowing eyes as the rope radiated blue.

With fascination, I witnessed 'Sarah' sink to her knees and fall unconscious, causing the rope to turn scarlet. That meant the reflection was moving on the path back to where it belonged.

The rope returned to blue and shimmered for a few seconds before turning red again. I held my breath. Suddenly, the candles blew out, and the rope became dull.

I waited apprehensively as the incense smell drifted across the room. 

"Ugh, ow," Sarah whimpered. I exhaled the breath I was holding. It went quite well for my first time. I should be awarded.

Sarah tried to stand up but swayed to and fro, so I helped her on the bed. She lay quietly for a while, but finally said, "I heard everything, Mr. Nathan.

I didn't know reflections could get jealous," she whispered sorrowfully.

"You don't need to think about it. Reflections can't think or feel. You're a special case, so wipe this from your mind," I pacified her. 

"This won't happen to me again, will it?" She implored me fearfully. 

"Your reflection has learned a hard lesson. They won't be back," I uttered firmly. She looked relieved and closed her eyes.

Making sure that she was all right, I departed, hearing a soft, "Thank you, Mr. Nathan," before closing the door.

Janett was just entering her side door when she saw me. I was sweaty, like I had feared, but she didn't seem to notice. "My daughter?" she insisted. 

"Sleeping. But back to normal. Oh right, as for my payment-" I was speaking to empty air as Janett had disappeared. Oh well, I'll contact her later. Let her have a joyous reunion.

I closed the front door behind me when I heard crying and laughing. It's always nice to know you are the cause of others' joy. I'll wait until tomorrow before sending the bill.

Now it's time to go back home, to feed Mars his lunch, and for me to clean up, order pizza, and write my report for my dad.

 *

YunHee had been called to see the boss. She was nervous, as they had not yet made any headway. She was miffed that Janett had quit her job to spend more time with her family.

She donned lipstick and let her hair down. Her boss loved women with long hair. 

She entered the password and shuffled in quickly as the doors closed behind her. Her boss stood with his back towards her as he peered out a giant window.

He played with a pen, the clicking echoing throughout the large office.

She peeked out from under her hair. He was a tall, muscular man who always wore a striped suit and slicked-back brown hair.

He was good-looking but not too handsome. No one knew his real age, but YunHee guessed he could be in his late thirties.

He turned and pointed at his desk. "Report," he said curtly. She bowed and did what she was told. 

The large man didn't look happy. Her face was slick with sweat as she waited for his response. He pushed a document across the table. Picking it up she peered at it curiously.

"Kang Haneul, aged twenty-nine, was born in Seoul, South Korea. He attended the special class at Gangwha High School and won the first prize at the science fair.

Studied Neuroscience and Research at the University. Today, he is the main research scientist at the Seoul Research and Development Centre."

A picture of a young man was beside the information. "What's this, sir?" Yunhee asked, confused. Her boss pointed to the document.

"It seems we need more talent. He is considered one of the best in South Korea. I want you to go and recruit him. Offer as many benefits as you can. Entice him to work for me," he ordered.

"If he refuses?" she gulped.

"Then get creative," he answered shortly. He turned away, his back facing her. The discussion was over, so she bowed and left, holding the document against her chest. After silently closing the door, she hurried to her two assistants.

They were busy cleaning their stations when she came panting. Startled, they quickly stood up and paid attention. "Ma'am," they said in unison.

"No time for that. We are leaving for Seoul. No questions. Pack some clothes and necessities and book three tickets for the train tomorrow," she commanded.

They bowed and scurried off. She clutched the paper anxiously. 'Please,' she begged, 'please don't resist us.'