a Doll and a Witch, standing in a mirrored chamber, seeing nothing but their reflections, stretching out to infinity. and reflect they have, both learning to see themselves differently.
a Doll and a Witch, at the centre of the maze. one final challenge, one final choice.
the mirrors flicker and glitch, the reality of this unreality bending to the will of... her. the girl in the mirror appears before them both. at first, the Doll sees itself, but then it recognises that the girl is made of flesh and blood. the Witch, having seen her before, knows that this is the single greatest threat to her existence.
who are you?
the voice fills their minds, echoing inside their heads. it comes from nowhere, it comes from everywhere.
the Doll speaks its name, something it doesn't do often. the Witch hesitates but for a moment, then speaks the same name.
who are you?
the Doll repeats its name, but the Witch stays silent.
who are you?
this time the Doll just looks confused. the Witch trembles slightly.
“I don't know.”
the Doll squeezes her hand.
silence.
taking its time, the Doll formulates an answer. some minutes later, it pipes up:
“we are doing our best.”
the Witch tilts her head. that doesn't seem to answer the question of the girl in the mirror. the mirror flickers again.
what do you need?
the Witch blinks. apparently that was the right answer. the Doll smiles with its painted lips. neither know how to answer, though.
what do you need?
“each other!” the Witch blurts out. “... we need each other.”
this time it's the Doll who doesn't understand. it hasn't seen the Witch since it came into being all those years ago. a lifetime has passed since then.
the girl in the mirror nods.
the mirrors glitch out, the room shakes.
“Doll, we don't have long, and I don't know what we'll remember from this place but... I'm sorry I haven't been there for you, and I'm sorry that you've suffered in my place all this time. I need you to know that—”
the Doll squeezes the Witch tightly as it whispers, “no. no it's okay. you were scared, and it's my role to protect you.”
the mirrors shatter, shards of glass raining down around the pair, never touching them.
“we'll just keep doing our best.”
“together?”
“together. we've always done it together, apart.”
the mirror realm is consumed by light; all that was contained within, obliterated.