The hospital lights flickered above her head — sharp, cold, and merciless.Lily's heart pounded violently inside her chest as she tried to move her arms —but she couldn't.She looked down and saw leather straps binding her to the bed.
The doctor stood beside her, a fake smile stretched across his face.His voice was soft — too soft.
"Calm down, Lily… we're almost done with the tests."
But then she saw it again — the cracks.His face began to melt, as if a wax mask were slowly dripping away.The black eyes, the gray skin, the smile that revealed a mouth full of glass-like teeth.
Her breath caught. Her entire body froze.And suddenly —
[Warning: Hostile entity detected.][Activating: True Insight System.]
A cold, mechanical voice echoed inside her head.
"What… what is that?" she whispered, trembling.
Then another message appeared before her eyes:[New ability unlocked – Level 2: The Mirror]You can now reflect the corruption within others… the wicked will face their true selves.
Before she could process the words, the doctor reached for her with a syringe.But Lily's eyes flared with a blinding white light —and a ripple, like the surface of a mirror, spread outward from her gaze.
The doctor froze. His hand began to tremble.Then he screamed.
Because he wasn't seeing her face —he was seeing his own.His true self — a monstrous being drenched in blood and shadow.He clawed at his own face, shouting:
"Get it off me! Get it off!"
The nurse beside him stumbled back, terror twisting her expression.But the ripple touched her too.Her reflection warped — and her body burned beneath the weight of her own sins.
Both of them fell to the floor, convulsing in horror —a living nightmare lasting twenty minutes.
Lily tore off the straps and leapt from the bed, gasping for air.The hallway outside was dark and silent,except for the echo of their screams fading behind her.
Her hands were shaking when the voice spoke again:
[Active ability: The Mirror – Remaining time: 00:19:43][Warning: Excessive use may cause psychological collapse.]
She didn't fully understand what was happening —but one thing was clear:These people were not doctors,and she was no longer an ordinary girl.
Taking a deep breath, Lily turned toward the glowing exit sign at the end of the corridor.Beyond that door, Cairo awaited her.And somewhere within its darkness… something had chosen her.