Mother of mirrors
511 Words
Scene 1: The Diamond Vault
Federal Reserve, Manhattan
Staria’s hands pale and steady under Carson’s control sliced through laser grids with a diamond-tipped stylus. Elara (5) trailed behind, tears crystallizing into sapphires that clattered on the floor.
“Why fight me, piccola?” Carson purred with Staria’s voice, stroking Elara’s cheek. “When I wear Mama’s skin, I am her. You’ll learn to love me.”
Elara whispered to the vault’s cameras:
“Daddy… he’s lying. Mommy’s screaming inside.”
Scene 2: The Carved Prophecy
Carson slammed Staria’s palm against the main vault door. Blood welled. He dipped a diamond shard into it, carving onto her forearm:
- Jason cradling Staria’s corpse in the chapel ruins.
- Elara placing a glowing diamond in her mother’s mouth.
- Staria’s eyes flying open—irises now diamond-gray.
“Your future, Jason,”Carson hissed through Staria’s lips as security feeds broadcasted globally. “Save your wife… kill your child.”
Scene 3: The Bargain in Blood
Jason crashed through ventilation shafts, landing silently behind them. His gun trembled aimed at Staria’s temple.
“Let Her Go.”
Carson pressed Staria’s knife to Elara’s throat.
“Shoot me, and the blade automatically severs her spine. Your wife rigged it.”
Elara met Jason’s eyes, tears hardening into diamonds.
“Daddy… let me die.”
“NO!”
“Then Mommy stays dead,” she whispered. “The prophecy needs my diamond heart in her mouth. Only then will Carson leave.”
Scene 4: The Sacrifice Algorithm
Rossi’s voice boomed through speakers:
“Asset 7382! Terminate the child! That’s an order!”
Jason shot the nearest camera.
“I’m done taking orders, Rossi."
Carson laughed, dragging Elara toward the Soulstone Amplifier a machine pulsing with stolen diamonds.
“She’s right, Jason. The child’s heart is pure energy. It will eject me from this body… and make Staria immortal.” He stroked Staria’s carved arm. “But you must cut it out.”
Elara nodded, pressing Jason’s gun to her chest.
“Do it, Daddy. Before Rossi does.”
Scene 5: The Fracture
Gunfire erupted
Rossi’s sniper round tore toward Elara’s heart.
Jason tackled her, the bullet shredding his shoulder.
Staria’s body jerked, Carson screaming as her will briefly surfaced:
“JASON! NOW!”
Jason seized the diamond shard from his bleeding shoulder and stabbed it into the amplifier.
Lightning exploded.
- The vault doors melted.
- Rossi’s sniper perch incinerated.
- Carson’s spirit ripped from Staria’s body.
Staria collapsed. Elara crawled to her, placing a diamond formed from Jason’s blood into her mouth.
Cliffhanger: The Rebirth
Staria’s gasp echoed. Her eyes flew open
diamond-gray, glowing with Elara’s power hissed from the ruins:
“You won, Jason… but her new gift? It’s a curse. She sees every death now… starting with yours.”
Staria sat up, touching her daughter’s face. Her voice was haunted, ancient:
“Jason… pack your guns. We go to Sicily tonight.”
She pointed at the chapel ruins on a security monitor.
“Carson’s waiting. And this ends where it began.”
- Writer
