I stare into Taren’s now blue eyes, dazed and confused.

“Luke?” I manage.

“Yes. Now, get away and take the necklace with you. Go into a bathroom and touch a mirror. Any mirror. Just get away from Taren.” He says, obviously fighting for his place controlling the body.

“NO!” he shouts, now Taren.

What on Earth is going on?

I try to speak, but I can’t find my voice. Or, my voice, rather, can’t find the words. It’s like my mind is locked. My mind is shut, and my gaping mouth won’t close. This may not be the world that I thought I lived in. Or maybe Taren just came from another world. Whichever way it is, things just get weirder and weirder.

I see my Mom’s car parked in the lot. She’s probably somewhere in the mall having a conversation with the police. She’s probably telling herself that she’ll find me, that this is a bad nightmare, the kind when you wake up in the morning to tell everyone about it and you realize that you forgot the whole thing. When this is all over, she’ll wake up like that.

But I won’t.

When this is over, every traumatic minute of my new lifestyle will be remembered. And hopefully the good parts, too. Like staring into my lost true love’s eyes, completely sure that he would throw himself in front of a bullet to save me. I know that I would walk away, but I’m not sure that he would.

Luke- I check to make sure- yes, Luke- picks me up and starts running. I don’t question him. I have a feeling the bullet is about to be shot.

He comes up to Mom’s car mirror on the left side. I look in the window to find Lana in there. My 12-year-old sister, five years younger. Luke rips open the door and picks her up.

“Take off the necklace.” He orders. I obey.

“Everyone hold on, and follow me.” We Lana and I obey again, and step through the window into a parallel universe.