Ivy-too still felt a bit sore as she scrambled to her feet as well. "Calm down, will you? I know how to leave safely. There's uh, also still a barricade for the main entrance?" she reminded with a weak smile. Popping her fingers, she gestured for Ivy to follow. The noises were still coming closer but not at too quick of a pace.
(Gonna be leaving for the weekend in a couple minutes! Be back Monday!)
(Yeah sure! Have fun!)
Right. Yes. Silently cursing herself, Ivy followed her Reflection into another part of of the building, hugging herself in fear.
The Reflection scrambled up the stairs quickly, checking behind her for Ivy. "I'm sorry for the tone I used, I'm just not used to talking to people," Ivy-too admitted. And it was the truth. She hadn't had a conversation longer than a few sentences in a long while.
Unable to stay calm any longer, the tears started to flow. “That sounds so horrible…” she hiccuped, imagining herself stuck in that situation. She was still moving steadily, but the rooted sadness on her eyes was unmistakeable.
Ivy-too turned around at the top of the stairs, walking backwards a few steps before placing her hands gently on her counterpart's shoulders. "Hey… no need to cry. I get to do an important job in place of that. Protecting you. And I think you're pretty worth protecting," she said. Her tone was more soothing and quiet as the Reflection offered a small smile.
Ivy stared into her own eyes, hearing her own voice tell herself she was worth something. It was something she’d never even thought to experience. Unable to find the words, she nodded with wide shining eyes.
The Reflection pursed her lips, satisfied that Ivy understood, and nodded back. There really wasn't much of a way around what reality was, but what she said had been the truth. She'd protect her Counterpart with her life. "Alright. Let's keep going. There's a small door around here that the Rogues have no idea is here. We'll run through there and be fine," Ivy-too explained. She wanted to keep the other girl calm while she was here. It was not a pleasant world to be in at the moment.
(Sorry!!)
Intimidated into silence, Ivy just nodded again and followed her Reflection, gripping her hands together for any kind of reassurance. She had no idea where she was going or why, but for some inexplicable inexplicable reason she trusted herself. She was content to follow.
(It's fine)
As she said, Ivy-too lead her towards the small escape door, hidden behind a few boxes. Pushing them aside, the Reflection opened it to allow her Counterpart through. "After you, m'lady," she said, attempting to lighten the mood.
Ivy forced an amused smile onto her face, ducking through the door. They walked into a darkened space that contained another mirror, but this one was split down the middle by a deep crack. Ivy paused, looking over at it. Something about it seemed strange… but she kept moving and walked in further, pausing to let Ivy-too crawl out as well.
It was good to see Ivy smile, but the Reflection knew it wasn't genuine. As she crawled through the doorway, Ivy-too pushed the boxes in place and shut the door again behind her. Standing, the girl grinned, knowing a mirror was in the room. Her smile fell immediately, noticing the long fracture marring its surface. "I don't understand. It should still be fine…"
Ivy slowly turned around, facing the mirror. "Is that not normal?" she asked, eyes flitting over to Ivy-too in worry.
The Reflection shook her head as she strided over towards the mirror. Her finger traced the crack carefully.
"Not usually. It should still work as a barrier but," she paused, looking back at Ivy. "I don't know if I can get you back to your world unless it's entirely intact…"
"Well…" Ivy started, biting her lip, "we have to try. If you can't do it, we keep moving, but it's worth trying." Her tone had strengthened for that single sentence, Ivy-too's courage rubbing off on her. She clasped her hands together in front of her. "I think," she added.
(question… do you find my replies too short?)
(Not really, I just have trouble thinking of what to write or don't have a lot of time. This week is going to be veryyyy busy because I have a hugeeee project to get done all by myself in 3 days.)
(Ok thanks! That's okay, I just wanted to make sure)
"Well…" Ivy started, biting her lip, "we have to try. If you can't do it, we keep moving, but it's worth trying." Her tone had strengthened for that single sentence, Ivy-too's courage rubbing off on her. She clasped her hands together in front of her. "I think," she added.
Ivy-too smiled lightly. "Words like that are really what made me enjoy being your Reflection," she said, stepping towards the other girl. The Reflection took her Counterpart's hands in her own. Ivy's hands seemed smoother, possibly from using lotion every now and again compared to her own calloused hands. Ivy-too was about to speak again when her legs gave out beneath her as the stabbing sensation returned, pain making her hiss loudly. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. In exception to the previous time obviously.
Ivy jerked her hands in shock, but not a second later she had her hands on her Reflection’s shoulders and was desperately searching her face. “What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked frantically.
Somehow, Ivy touching her didn't increase the pain. She made a noise, shaking her head. "I… don't… know," the Reflection managed. The feeling ate her up inside until a few seconds later. Ivy-too was taking deep breaths, trying to get oxygen back into her lungs. "That's… never happened before."
Oh god… “It’s okay, just breathe, focus on me,” she suggested quickly. Her bright eyes studied the girl in front of her, searching for a solution. “What’s causing it, do you think?”