The Curse Conduit

Uriah had spent the good part of two hours in the gym pushing himself as if the devil was after him. As he finished on the treadmill he was drenched in sweat and physically exhausted. But for all his work it had not settled his mind. It still raced, trying to put the pieces together in some sort of cohesive plan that made sense to him. As he rested his head in his hands covered with a towel, he could have sworn that he heard someone. Uriah looked around the gym, he was alone. “Get a grip Uriah.” He shook his head and began to walk to the exit. As he passed the large mirror on the wall he stopped dead, dropped his towel and fixed his eyes on the mirror. “This can’t be.”

As he walked closer the image in the mirror did the same but it was not his own reflection, it was Uri and standing next to him was Urian.

Uriah’s words caught in this throat. “What do you want?”

Uri spoke. “You have to help him.”

Uriah couldn’t believe he was having this conversation. “Help who?”

“Your friend sir, will die.”

These words shook Uriah to his core but before he could confirm what he was thinking Urian began to speak.

“We were too late. We could not save Danny. You have to save them or your friend will die.”

Again Uriah shook his head. “Save them, save who?” He looked at Uri. “Declan is dead, you’re all dead. How do you know my friend will die?”

Urian stepped forward as if to make his point clearer and the mirror shimmered a little making Uriah step back. “I have seen it. I have been with you. Like you have been with us. So many times have we tried to reach you?”

Uri continued. “I too have seen strange things I cannot explain. In my dreams I travel to strange lands, strange people but always you are there, always Master Declan is there and always he dies.”

Uriah held up his hands. “This is crazy. What do you mean you tried to reach me? I don’t get it.”

Again Urian stepped forward and again the mirror shimmered. “Have you not had dreams about me before?”

Uriah shook his head. “I don’t remember my dreams.” He looked at the reflections. “Not until recently.”

Uri also moved forward and again the mirror shimmered. “Not until you met your friend, the one I know as Declan.”

Uriah shot Uri a concerned and frightened look. “How can you know him?”

“I see him in my dreams but he is not as Declan but as you, dressed like you. For many years I did not understand.”

Urian jumped in “I still don’t get it.” He looked at Uriah. “All I know is that we are connected somehow. Right now in my time I am alive but Uri here is also alive and it appears that you are to.”

“I still don’t know what you want me to do.” Unconsciously Uriah took a step closer to the mirror and it shimmered again making him step back again.

Urian continued. “Look, all I know is from the time that Danny died things have been strange. My dreams, Uri here is intent on invading my life and know it appears we are to invade yours. I have seen your friend die.”

Uri nodded his head. “Now that you have met you must help him.”

Uriah was getting more and more frustrated. “This is ridiculous. Derek is fine. Except for lack of sleep and if you would stop harassing him in his dreams he would be okay.” He began to shout. “Leave us alone and we will be fine!”

All three men moved forward at the same time and the mirror shimmered before shattering into a million pieces.

Uriah jumped, moving to protect his face. When he looked around he found himself still on the bench, the mirror still intact. He had fallen asleep. He swore under his breath. As he passed the mirror he gave it a sideways glance. It shimmered and he saw both Uri and Urian. He also heard their voices as he left the gym. “Help us.”