Mirror name

Funerals always feel strange to Alena. Not because of the smell of wet soil, not because of the sound of soft prayers that sounded like whispers, but because the funeral made everyone pretend to know death. They came wearing black clothes, bowed their heads, talked softly, then went home and went back to living their lives as usual. As if the newly buried person is only a small part of their day. But not for Alena, that day felt like something was staring at her from the ground. The cloudy sky hangs low over a small TPU on the outskirts of the city. The drizzle has been falling thinly since morning, making the cold air stick to the skin like a damp hand. People stood around the grave. Some faces looked unfamiliar, some vaguely familiar from childhood but Alena didn't really pay attention to them. His gaze was fixed on the white chest in front. The coffin belongs to Mira, Alena's best friend or at least the person who used to be her best friend. It has been seven years since the last time Mira disappeared without a trace, no letters, no news and no body that she has ever seen. The police stopped the investigation two years ago, the missing person case is ordinary and completed. Then three days ago, a woman's body was found in an empty house near the forest of the Kalijaten area. Her body is rotten, difficult to recognize but the results of the DNA test state one name, namely Mira Adisty. "It's weird huh." The soft voice next to her made Alena turn her head. A middle-aged woman holding a black umbrella while staring at the chest. "Mira is finally home," he said softly. Alena didn't answer because there was only one question in her mind, if it was indeed Mira why did her feelings say there was something wrong? The priest began to read the prayer. The sound of rain was heard more clearly in between his sentences. Tick. Tick. Tick. I don't know why that voice reminded Alena of something. Something from childhood, a dark room, the sound of dripping water and someone crying. Alena pressed her temple gently, her head hurt again. Lately he often has sudden migraines, strange flashing memories, nightmares that feel too real. He even started to find it difficult to distinguish between memories and dreams. "Lena." A man's voice made him turn his head. A tall man stood a few steps away from her. Black hair slightly wet from the rain, wearing a dark shirt, looking at Alena sharp but tired. He is Raka Mahendra, Alena knows him from the news, he is a criminal journalist. They had met once a few days ago when Raka came to ask about Mira. "I've been looking for you since earlier," he said. "What's wrong?" Raka glanced around before getting a little closer. "I don't think this is suicide." Alena's heart stopped for a moment. "What?" Alena looks surprised "Shhh." Raka looked at the people around them. "Not now." Alena frowned. "You know something?" Raka looked hesitant for a few seconds, then he put his hand in his jacket pocket and handed over a small photo. The photo is a bit blurry. In the photo, it looks like an old house, the fence is rusty and the windows are broken. At that time Alena's breath choked. "That..." said Alena hanging "You know this place?" Ask Raka to make sure Alena's hands started to get cold. He knew the house, even knew it very well. Mira's childhood home, where Mira disappeared seven years ago but there was something that made her body freeze. On the second floor of the house there is a figure standing at the window. A woman's face was faintly covered by a shadow but Alena knew exactly who it was. Mira. "That's impossible," he whispered. "That photo was taken two days ago," Raka said softly. "Are you kidding?" Alena looked at Raka. "I'm not kidding." "But Mira is dead." Alena looked away. Raka didn't immediately answer. His gaze actually turned strange as if he was weighing something. "Or," he said slowly, "the one who is buried today is not Mira." Alena guessed. The world suddenly felt quiet. The sound of rain disappeared. The sound of prayer disappeared. Alena only heard her own heartbeat. Duk. Duk. Duk. Then, BRUKKK. The loud noise from the direction of the chest made everyone jump. Someone shouted. The umbrellas moved in panic. Alena froze. The sound came from inside the coffin. Everyone stared at each other. The priest stopped talking. An old man trembled. "W-what is that?" Then it was heard again. TOK. TOK. TOK. A knock from inside the chest. Alena's body immediately cold. This all feels impossible because the box has been tightly closed since this morning. One of the grave diggers retreated in fear. "Oh my God." TOK. TOK. TOK. Three slow taps just like a code. And suddenly Alena's phone vibrated from inside her shirt pocket. His hands trembled when he saw the screen in his hand. There is an unknown number, then there is an incoming message. He opened it slowly then the blood in his body felt frozen. In the message it is written. Don't let them open the chest. Alena stared at the screen without breathing. The rain was getting heavier, people started to panic. Some retreated from the grave. Someone called the tomb guard but Alena couldn't move because of one thing, the second message came in from the same number. If they see his face, everything will start again. Alena's hands immediately went limp, she didn't feel like her phone was about to fall. Raka noticed the change in her face. "What happened?" Alena slowly showed her phone screen. Raka read the message and his face immediately turned pale. "Who sent it?" "I don't know." Alena shook her head Then the phone screen lights up once again. New message. This time just one sentence. Lena I'm still at that house. Lightning struck the sky. And for the first time since the funeral began Alena really believed that Mira might not be dead. Alena believes that someone in the box is not Mira.