Chapter Text
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Yuuri coughed weakly. It sounded scratchy and horrid and caused a burst of sharp pain to stab her in the chest. Everything hurt. Her thoughts were achingly slow, struggling to process. She was… she was going home, wasn’t she? But then… then…
Her head hurt. Everything hurt.
Tears slowly ran down her cheeks as she stared up dizzily at the night sky.
The stars twinkled down at her. For a moment, they looked like they were moving. And then they were.
The stars began to dance, spinning and twirling like those gorgeous ballerinas she’d seen on her computer screen. They danced to a love story, a tragic one. Yuuri had seen it before, the name slipping away from her thoughts. Stars flew through the air, bright blue and red lights flashing across her vision.
No… not blue and red. Not just those colours, at least. There was purple and pink and yellow and green and all the colours she could think of. The stars smiled at her and danced in their rainbow tutus, lifting their arms and their legs with an elegance Yuuri envied. The stars slowly came down from their perch in space, in a spiraling line that slowly surrounded her. It’s beautiful. Wet warmth surrounded her, and she breathed shakily. It’s so beautiful.
There was no longer any sky, or any lights. Just the dancing ballerinas, performing a beautiful, but tragic love story. Just for me. Love stories were her favourites. A way to imagine herself having someone who’d love her as much as the people in those stories loved each other. Friends, family, a lover… I want that. Once I get out of here. I can have that.
A singular star shone brighter than the rest, separating from the group. It was blue, a calming blue colour like the sky during the daytime. The star did a sauté , but when it jumped its tutu collapsed inwards like a black hole, spinning into a ball of bright blue falling from its place in the sky. A shooting star.
I wish…
She tried to reach out to touch the stars, but she couldn’t feel her arm anymore. Yuuri couldn’t really feel much anymore, apart from the gravel and rocks of the street digging into her back.
I have to live long enough to leave.
Please.
I don’t want to die.
Something grasped her hand.
And then she was falling.
Ah, my dear esteemed benefactor…
Yuuri felt oddly calm. The pain was so far away now. Vaguely, she knew that she was moving. Walking towards something.
My proud, beautiful flower of evil.
Someone is… speaking.
You are truly the fairest one of all.
Are they talking about me?
O magic mirror, thy wisdom I entreat…
What sort of poem is this?
Reveal unto me the visage I seek…
You, whose image the Dark Mirror did beckon forth…
If your heart bids it, take the hand of the one reflected in the mirror.
Suddenly a fire erupted in front of her, green flames flickering around an ornate mirror. A pull in her chest led her towards it, as a pale hand appeared inside. The hand slowly reached out from the mirror, breaking its surface like water. It rippled as the hand waited steadily. For her- for me.
Yuuri reached right back, faintly aware she was now close enough to touch. The pale hand wrapped more gently than anyone had ever done around her own, smooth, cool skin a sharp contrast to her own too warm hands.
The moment she held on, it suddenly yanked backwards, sending Yuuri headfirst into the mirror.
As flame reduces even the stars to ash
She wanted to scream as a burning pain began rising up her arm from where the hand was gripping her. It hurts- stop, it hurts! But her mouth didn’t move and no noise came out.
As ice seals away even time itself
It felt like being dropped into an ice cold bath, freezing her to the bone.
As great trees swallow even the sky
An intense pressure was building up as wind flew into her face, leaves rustling in the darkness- something was happening.
Fear not the power of darkness.
Now—demostrate your power.
What power?
To me. To them. To yourself.
The hour grows long, and time is scarce.
The voice was almost done, she could tell- even as Yuuri’s head felt like it was about to burst open.
Keep steady your grip, no matter what may Come...
She felt one final tug, and then she knew no more.
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PROLOGUE: Welcome to the Villain’s World!