Most of Me by Mark Lumby

over the weapon. But before I could take grip of the handle, Carl punched the ground with a muted thud.
    He said, “Anyway, Daniel. Lets get this over with.” And he stood, brushed the dirt off his trousers, and stood away from the mirror. He invited me to take his position, which hesitantly, I did.
    I reminded myself of the pistol; I felt I was getting too close to stick to the plan, and the chance to use it was slipping away. I regarded the mirror with an awkwardness I feared Carl would notice. Then over my shoulder, I glanced at him. “What should I do?” I asked.
    He grinned and whispered, “Just look. Get on you knees and explore its soul. I don't know what you’ll see; I suppose its different for everyone.”
    “What did you see?” I asked him.
    “You, Daniel,” he revealed. “I saw you.”
    “You knew it would be this way? End like this?” With this announcement I was fill with a sense of failure. If he knew, then he would know everything. He would know why I’m here, that I was going to kill him.
    “I knew that you would proceed me, but that it all.”
    I swallowed hard and sighed into my chest. “But how does what you see effect the protection of the mirror.”
    “It doesn’t,” he spat. His voice was annoyed as though I had offended him. “It’s the vision, Daniel, the fact that the mirror has accepted you and has opened up to you,” he expressed with his arms. “It just means that the power it holds has been unlocked to you! ”
    “I see.” I looked down at the mirror and fell to my knees, and I stared into its abyss. I touched the cold surface; it was way too cold to hold any contact. The skin from my fingers tips peeled away as I pulled them off the mirror. I grimaced, sucking the pain through my teeth. “Its like damn ice!” I grimaced.
    Carl didn’t reply.
    I inspected my skin, but there was no damage. I still felt the tingling in my fingers. I said, “So, I just stare into it, right?”
    The mirror must be destroyed.
    Will he weaken to its power?
    Can Daniel be trusted?
    I removed the pistol from my belt and aimed it at the mirror. I stood, and holding the pistol in both hands, extended both arms towards the mirror. My hands shook and I felt as though I would drop the pistol to the ground. But I swiftly turned and pointed the gun at Carl. Nervous and my voice unsteady, I said, “It needs to be destroyed!”
    Carl stared at the gun with no surprise. In fact, he seemed slightly amused. He said, “And I suppose Father Thomas told you that?”
    “ He did! ” I nodded. “And he’s right. It needs to end.”
    “And is that what you truly believe?” he asked, taking a cautious step closer. He held out his hand.
    I raised the gun higher, my actions telling him to back the hell off .
    He raised his eyebrows, although any surprise on his face was redundant. “And are you actually going to use that?” he inquired.
    I nodded, nervous, but certain that I was going to shoot. I could feel the side of my head getting warm, the other side cold and numb, and my hands trembled even more.
    “You see, I’m only a frail old man, Daniel. I’m sure if you really wanted to break the mirror, then all you needed to do was to pick up any rock lying around and smash it with it. The same goes for me.” He indicated the rear of his head. “Strike it right here; I’d go down quite easily. I don’t suppose I’d put up much of a fight, either.”
    “I doubt that,” I said, knowing that he was stronger that he looked. “I’ve felt your strength.”
    Carl shrugged, then grinned. “No, I think the gun was for you. You’ve given up, Daniel, and can’t take it anymore. So, you’re going to aim the gun at your head and blow out your brains.”
    I laughed, shaking my head in denial. “You’re crazy. I’ll tell you how it’s going to be. I’m going to blow your brains out, then destroy the mirror. Or destroy the mirror, then kill you! Either way, doesn’t matter.” But I could feel something