Unpatterned

Inside the large room, a busy table carried documents and files stacked on each side and end. The cabinets, filled with numerous books, surrounded the table, giving the room a sophisticated and professional look.

The rustic wooden floor creaked as I moved restlessly and worriedly from one place to another. Unconsciously, I walked back and forth, finding solace in the repetitive motion. It helped me think clearly, even though exhaustion weighed on me. It felt right, a natural rhythm that kept me alive in my thoughts.

Pausing in my pacing, I noticed a large mirror hung on the wall. Its luxurious appearance, with a gold-rimmed frame adorned with jewels, added to the room's grandeur. The jewels sparkled even in the dim moonlight, captivating my gaze.

Surprisingly, I hadn't noticed the mirror before as I wandered around the room. It was only when the moon lowered its head and peered through the window, casting its light, that I saw it.

Intrigued, I approached the mirror with cautious steps, feeling an inexplicable pull towards it. The mirror stood out, contrasting with the rest of the room's sophisticated atmosphere. It exuded a distinct charm, an air of mystery.

As I became closer to it, the room's mood shifted entirely. The indiscriminate darkness engulfed everything, turning the surroundings as black as the night. The moon, having shifted its gaze elsewhere, closed its eyes.

The room fell into silence, swallowed by the encroaching darkness. It was a frightening development, but I couldn't say I was necessarily scared, having encountered more insidious events in the past few hours.

Suddenly, a light emerged. A small fire flickered, moving from one spot to another around the room. At first, it seemed odd to me until I realized that the candle was not physically present in the room. It was the mirror reflecting the room, with the light inside it hovering and dancing around.

I squinted my eyes, closely following the rapid movement of the light inside the mirror. It misbehaved, circling the mirror's edges as if yearning to escape.

Raising my weary right hand, I reached out toward the mirror, attempting to catch the light within. As my hand made contact, I felt warmth and comfort. A different atmosphere enveloped the room, akin to stepping into a relaxing bath after a long day's work. It was soothing, reassuring me that nothing else mattered at that moment except to live in the present.

"Hello, Enzo," a ghostly and unsettling whisper crept into my ears. "It's finally nice to be able to talk to you," a cold, bony hand touched my shoulder.

Startled, I fell silent, gripped by terror at the presence of this unknown person who had entered the room. Where did he come from? How long had he been watching me? Did he mean me any harm? Thoughts flooded my mind as I searched the room for any signs of suspicious activity.

"I am not in the room, nor am I inside the mirror. However, I am always with you," the whisper continued.

The unnerving words hung in the air, and I stared straight into the mirror, where the fire's light revealed a sinister and repulsive reflection. The face appeared pallid, almost corpse-like, with an unnaturally smooth and sunken appearance. The skin, tightly stretched over prominent bones, seemed translucent, allowing glimpses of eerie contours beneath. Hollow eye sockets devoid of life were shadowed with unsettling darkness, drawing me in. The sockets themselves emitted a faint glow, casting an otherworldly gleam upon the face.

The cheekbones jutted out sharply, creating deep hollows that accentuated the skeletal structure. The nose was skeletal as well, with thin, sharp edges that gave it an ethereal quality. It appeared fragile yet menacing as if it could disintegrate at any moment. Pale and thin lips stretched into a perpetual, sinister smile that seemed to mock the living.

The pronounced jawline showcased the bony structure, extending slightly further than normal and adding to the unsettling proportions of the face. Darkened veins beneath the surface of the skin traced a twisted path, lending an ominous air to the overall appearance.

As I gazed upon this terrifying sight, an eerie chill ran down my spine. The combination of the ghostly complexion, sunken eyes, and dark bony structure created an indescribable feeling of dread and unease.

"No need to be so terrified... I am just your friendly neighborhood... Ally," he added, seemingly contemplating the choice of words. A sinister smile grew wider, stretching from ear to ear.

The flame continued to warm my hand as I stood there, stunned by the sudden encounter with this unknown entity.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" I mustered as much courage as I could and asked the questions that burned inside me.

"For now, just call me Y. Think of it as my nickname, given that I am here with you. I have been patiently waiting in the abode, hoping for our meeting. Sooner than I expected, but better than imagined," Y replied, his voice filled with chilling clarity.

"I don't recall ever being by your side. I don't remember you at all," I retorted, a mix of annoyance and apprehension in my voice.

"Oh, I have been with you before, constantly watching you. However, this is where we finally meet. Our last encounter was rather discouraging, as your father was quite insistent on me leaving you alone. But in the end, I prevailed and insisted on being with you," Y said, a smirk playing across his face.

"I keep meeting strange people, one after another. Are you going to ask for a contract too?" I replied, growing increasingly impatient and annoyed.

"Oh no, the marionette from before was certainly an unforeseen variable. It seems outside forces are trying to intervene in this Quincentenarial game," Y remarked.

I understood the meaning behind the word "Quincentenarial" in his sentence, and it irritated me that something so weighty and dangerous was being treated lightly by some strange creature accompanying me.

"What game? Is this war just a game to you? People are dying, and thousands suffer from injury and trauma every day... Is this all some act of providence orchestrated by an unknown being?" I vented my frustration and anger at his statement, still fixated on the mirror.

"It is unhealthy to be so emotional while still a child. Although I understand your sentiments, it is quite depressing to know the outcome of this war. I apologize if my words have upset you. Also, it's not 'some unknown being.' A more suitable term would be 'the natural entity that overlooks equilibrium,'" Y added.

I was about to inquire further about his words when he abruptly interrupted, his tone becoming smooth and urgent.

"Now is not the time to discuss that. Enzo, the 'world' recognizes your presence. Centuries have passed since the completion of the figurative voices, and I... we must prepare for the worst," Y said hurriedly.

"I don't know what's going on right now. Everything is blurry, too much information at once. Couldn't you have come at a time when I could comprehend all this properly?" I expressed my frustration and irritation.

"Strike while the iron is hot, as they say. However, I agree. It is not suitable to discuss everything in such a hurry. Take your time. The key will be delivered to you shortly. You should rest for now, young Enzo. You will need your strength for the journey ahead," Y advised, his tone softer and less cryptic.

Reluctantly, I agreed, knowing that my body and mind needed some respite. As I turned away from the mirror, I felt a strange sense of both familiarity and unease. The presence of Y raised more questions than answers, and I couldn't shake off the feeling that my life was about to change drastically.

"Yes, if you don't mind, I would like to go back to my room and rest while it is still night and cold. I still have a lot of things to do and continue my training... Oh no... I forgot about Uncle Robert. What happened to him? Am I going to clean the entire house again?" Vexation washed over me.

"Don't worry about the Dog Whisperer. He went out of the house in a hurry, taking the hounds with him. The only people in the house right now are you, the quiet servants, and me, Y," he stood behind me in the mirror as he faintly blended into the darkness, eating him with the shadows.

He slowly disappeared from my back and said one last thing before he completely left.

"The Unpatterned Oscillation has begun, more dangerous than ever. I will follow you, Sovereign, serve me, and I shall serve you." He was devoured by the shadows, and everything went silent.

The flame from the mirror disappeared, and it was back to the lonely cold room. I turned around and found myself in my bedroom. I looked to my side and found my bed ready to be slept on. I didn't even bother to comprehend as I jumped onto the bed, hoping for a nice sleep tonight.

I slammed my head on the pillow and screamed with frustration. "What the hell just happened today?" I wasted a fluffy and wonderful pillow with my distasteful scream.

Ready to succumb to the weariness that had settled deep within my bones, I crawled into the comfortable bed, closed my eyes, and hoped for a night free of disturbances and revelations.

I slept like a baby that night.

Little did I know that the true journey was only beginning, and the darkness that loomed over the world would soon consume everything in its path.