Chapter 14 - The Second Ava
The thing behind the mirror began copying Ava.
If Ava raised a hand, it raised one.
If she blinked, it blinked.
But half a second late.
Exactly like the Patron.
Madame Voss covered the mirror.
The imitation stopped.
Ava’s stomach remained flatter, but pain spread through her ribs.
Nora helped her sit.
“What is it?”
Voss whispered:
“The debt.”
Ava looked at the covered mirror.
“It looks like me.”
“Because you gave it enough of yourself.”
Nora asked:
“How do we kill it?”
Voss shook her head.
“I don’t know if you can.”
They searched Elise March’s file again.
SHE BROKE THE BOW.
Another line, nearly faded:
SHE GAVE THE AUDIENCE BACK.
Nora said:
“Shared casting.”
“If the bargain promised me the room, I have to refuse ownership of it.”
Opening night remained the best chance.
Ava hated that.
Ballet had become an exorcism with ticket sales.
The board reinstated Nora after Voss threatened resignation and legal action over the forged notice.
Nora’s ankle improved enough to rehearse carefully.
They rebuilt Swan Lake around two dancers.
The board hated it.
Press loved it.
DUAL SWAN CASTING AT HALCYON.
Tickets became impossible to find.
The Patron was being fed publicity.
Every article made the pressure return.
Every photo sharpened the second Ava behind the mirror.
Two days before opening, Tessa found Ava asleep in the dressing room.
Standing above her was another Ava.
Black rehearsal dress.
Tessa screamed.
The second Ava turned.
Then stepped backward into a mirror.
When Ava woke, Tessa was crying.
“You have to leave.”
“I can’t.”
“That thing looked at me.”
“What did it do?”
Tessa held out her phone.
She had taken one photo.
In it, the second Ava stood beside the sleeping real Ava.
Its belly was flat.
Its smile was perfect.
May you like
Written across the mirror in condensation:
I DON’T NEED HER BODY ANYMORE.
