When the Stars Shatter

The Chrono Cast was all abuzz with exciting news about a new natural phenomenon which was occurring tonight: the Sagittarius meteor shower. Kori Campbell, a popular meteorologist, began her research on the new phenomenon. Her co-worker, John Fisher, worked on the script for the broadcast that would be happening that evening. Kori looked over the pages with its many theories and observations; the meteor shower would be a Lyrid type. She could not wait to see the one-hundred-per-hour surges streak across the night sky.

When the news began at six, John and his co-anchor started their show. Kori nervously twirled her pen, watching and listening for when it would turn over to her. She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly. Now over to her, Kori began with the weather and what to expect that week, but carefully added one more thing. “Tonight will be a Lyrid meteor shower dubbed Sagittarius. Be sure to keep your eyes up to the sky for this beautiful phenomenon.” Kori added, ending her weather segment.

“You're adamant about this whole meteor shower, aren't you?” John commented nonchalantly as he and Kori gathered their things from the break room. She looked at him displeased and pulled on her jacket. “I could say the same about you, since you seem to be obsessed with your new little co-star," said Kori snarkily. “Touché.” John laughed at the jab and shook his head.

Kori walked past him, glancing over her shoulder. “Don't forget to keep your eyes to the sky tonight.” With that, she walked away, heading home. On the drive to her apartment, Kori made a mental note to set up the telescope on her balcony. To ensure she would have a perfect view of the clear night sky. That evening, the air was crisp and warm. Glowing stars scattered above her like a net. Kori fixed her eyes above in anticipation as the first meteor streaked across the sky.

One by one, the meteors lit up the darkness, leaving bright trails in their wake. She could feel time stand still as she watched the Sagittarius meteor shower. Kori smiled at its beauty and mystery. Yet she couldn't shake this feeling that something was off. The color of those streaking stars would turn crimson, then violet, and others blinked far brighter than the others as if they were about to flicker out.

Kori felt light-headed and stumbled inside her home, making her way to the bathroom.

Turning on the light, she turned on the light and, on wobbly legs, made her way to the sink, turning on the water and splashing her face with it. Blindly, Kori reached for the hand towel and dried her face, looking up into the mirror. There, looking back at her, was a distorted figure standing upright and not mimicking her at all. She held back a scream, backing into the wall behind her, as her reflection's eyeless face smiled and waved at her, tilting its head ever so slightly to the side. What is going on? Kori thought to herself, keeping her eyes on what she was seeing in the mirror.

In the background, flashes of crimson and violet pulsed. Her reflection slowly began to turn pitch black, as if ink had slowly dripped down upon its figure. Limbs jerked, and their fingers stretched, turning into claws. Kori's heart pounded in her chest, slowly moving away from the wall, taking slow, deliberate breaths as her reflection continued to morph and change.

Licking her cracked lips, “W-what do you want?” she asked. The inky reflection's smile widened its eyeless sockets where pure ivory bore into her soul.

Raising a clawed hand, it pointed towards the bathroom window where the meteor shower still streaked across the sky. A soft whisper, as if next to her ear, spoke, “Join us.” It hissed, causing Kori's legs to buckle, causing her to slide down the wall. The phone in her pocket buzzed, not taking her eyes off the mirror. She reached for her phone and glanced at the screen. A text message from John read, “Kori, what is going on?! How long is this meteor shower supposed to last? There are inky figures in all the fucking mirrors!” Looking back up at the mirror, she watched as it began pounding its fists into the glass.

The frame rattled and shook the corners of the glass, starting to crack as the swirl of crimson and violet began to spill out of it, causing the room to rumble as if racked by an earthquake. Crawling on all fours out of the bathroom, she made her way to the front door, swinging it open. A gust of wind almost knocked her down as Kori struggled to hold onto the doorframe. She squinted, looking out at the parking lot, which was illuminated by the colors that the meteors emitted, causing each streetlight to grow bright before each bulb busted and sparked. Even the lights in her apartment went out, cloaking her surroundings in darkness with only the Sagittarius shower as a form of light.

Moving forward, Kori stumbled down the stairs, peering over her shoulder with a quivering breath. The sound of something breaking from inside caused her eyes to widen. A faint echo of her reflections distorted laughter, and the calling of her name urged her towards her car, which she quickly got into, pressing the start button and backing out of the parking lot. Where could she go? Was any place safe?

Adjusting the radio, Kori tried to tune into any station that would be covering the phenomenon but only got static. Each house she passed had those things standing in the front yard watching her. Maybe if she made her way to the news station, she could find out what exactly was going on up there. This wasn't even a meteor shower anymore; it was a storm, but it wasn't anything compared to Leonid from 1833, which lasted several days. As soon as Kori arrived, her hands trembled as she fumbled with her keys, desperate to unlock the news station door and step into the safety of the building.

Or so she thought.

Closing the door, Kori walked further inside, the automatic lights flickering to life. This place was always bustling with life, and now it gave her a chilling emptiness. In the main studio room, a screen was on displaying a web page called Centaur's Arrow. Pulling up a chair, she placed her hand on the mouse, scrolling and reading what was on the screen. Swallowing thickly, Kori let the realization of why this was happening slowly sink in.

Hello and welcome to the Centaur's Arrow! A place where YOU can make a difference in the world and help summon a new era of life on Earth. Here is a list of things you'll need to join us in our quest. There is a link below for substitutions if you cannot find what we have listed. Remember, you must be devoted to the cause, or the ritual won't work. Good luck and may Crotus be with you.

Kori leaned back in her chair, the color draining from her face. Who would do such a thing like this? “Well, you are here quite early, aren't you?” a voice from behind her spoke, and she got to her feet. “Mr. Boyer,” said Kori, looking at her boss, who had a few inky black shadows behind him. His eyes went to the screen, and he exhaled in disapproval. “Why did you have to come here and stick your nose into things that aren't any of your business?”

Boyer stepped forward with his arms outstretched to her. “I really liked you, Miss Campbell, and was going to let you go, but now you know too much. Just like John, you'll be replaced too.” He motioned over his shoulder for that horrible inky mass to slither forward. “No hard feelings; it's just better off this way.” As it advanced towards her, she dodged out of the way, running past her boss and the other monster next to him. “You can't keep running forever!” Boyer called out. Kori's figure disappeared and went out the exit door and into the parking lot.

Breathing heavily, she surveyed her surroundings and fell to her knees, watching as countless of those things were steadily approaching the station, and among them was her own reflection leading the way. Fragments of glass sticking out of its skin, having broken free from the mirror it had been imprisoned in. When spotting Kori, that white, open-wide smile spread across its face because it knew that now she had nowhere to run.