baekhyun leapt towards the closed door, banging his fist against it rapidly. his breath was released in ragged pants, heart rate increasing dramatically as the door didn't budge, leaving him breathless. he sunk down onto his knees, forehead pressed against the cool wood of the door. tears escaped his eyes and traveled down his cheeks, lips pressed together to form a thin line. his hands were splayed against the door, dragging down the surface before coming to rest in his lap, his inky irises landing on his watch. "four thirteen," he noted with slight distaste, his thin eyebrows knitting together as he pulled his lower lip between his teeth, playing with the flesh. it had been nearly half an hour since he had arrived in this wretched place, making him wonder why it seemed like the sun had set so early.

sighing loudly, baekhyun pushed himself off of the ground, feverishly wiping his tears with the back of his hand as he strode towards the bed, his shoulders hunched and his breathing uneven. the room smelled musty, as it had been deprived of clean air for years now, and baekhyun uncomfortably observed that the mirrors perfectly captured each of his movements, almost as if it wasn't a reflection, but an identical being performing the same actions. rays of the still setting sun seeped through the small window, illuminating the room with a warm, gentle glow, the light bouncing off of his ebony locks as he played with them while sitting on the bed, crossing his legs in front of him. he gazed at the mirrors rather curiously, inquisitive eyes grazing over each frame.

as he looked at himself in one mirror - a large antique with a brass frame - he noticed something slightly different about it. his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as he leaned forwards, dropping his hands into his lap. baekhyun moved to his hands and knees, precariously gazing at the mirror. he cocked his head to the side, intently scrutinizing his distressed reflection. a blood curdling scream left his lips as a dark figure was perched at the window, a dark hand left scratching at the glass. the screeching of nails against glass caused goosebumps to rise on his skin, hairs at the nape of his neck rising in alarm. baekhyun stumbled backwards, clutching his knees to his chest as he continued to scream, his voice weakening and growing hoarse as it finally died out, similar to a flame on a damp piece of wood. he breathed heavily, wrapping his arms around his legs and rocking back and forth rhythmically. "it's okay, you're fine, you'll live. this is just a terrible nightmare, you'll wake up, realize you still have school, and repeat that horrible routine again." he repeated it under his breath like a prayer, his lips moving faster than his mind could comprehend, eyes shut tightly.

he wasn't sure at which point he fell asleep.

all he knew was that the nightmares he received were much worse than this reality.

he watched his reflection as his blood splattered on the mirrors, his voice hoarse as he let out a muffled cry, noticing the small empty hole at the side of his head. the thick red liquid poured out of the wound, globules of something else in the mix. he placed a hand against his head, attempting to stop the blood loss as it seeped between his fingers, dripping down his arm. his lips had been brutally sewn shut with yellow thread, his skin an awful hue of blue where the needle had pierced his skin. his eyes were no longer the gentle ebony; they were now a harsh off-white, blending in with the rest of his eye. his pupil was dilated, expanding and shrinking like a camera lens. more blood escaped through his tear ducts, excruciating pain attacking his body as the red tears made their way down his cheeks, tainting the skin underneath.

as he continued to be tormented in this alternate realm, his bloodshot and bewildered eyes caught something smeared into the maroon substance on the mirror.

"who is in control?"

• • •

he woke up with a thin layer of cold sweat coating his skin. from his curled position on the bedsheets, he sat up, lips parted in a panicked gape. he turned his head to take a look at the window, holding in a guttural scream as he saw four harsh scratches in the window, made messily.

in a split second, a something large passed the window, causing him to cry out before burying his face into his knees, his eyes leaking tears that trailed down to his chin, dripping off onto his legs. rocking back and forth, he whispered words to any gods above that could assist with his situation, the musty air of the small room almost suffocating. his hair was a mess, and he didn't waste any time in raking his fingers through it, working out the tangles with ease.

and as time dragged on, baekhyun could only sit and count the seconds, anxiety pounding through his system.