A Past Long Gone

Cows, mud, and the Scottish Highlands rolling in the horizon... That is everything little Vincent Walsh had known. This was what he called home for many years. His family's farm, a few miles away from the nearest village where everyone knows everyone, including those like him that live far off from the main roads. However, there were times where he'd wish he'd be able to do something more with life. Explore distant lands, meet new people, experience new things... But, alas, that is all but the pipe dream of a 7-year-old country boy.

"Vincent, come on! Alex will get mad if we don't help him!" Vincent's daydreaming were interrupted by his identical twin brother, Louis. "If you don't get down from there, Imma push you off." Threatened the boy, hands on pressured on Vincent's back as the other sat on the fence seperating his yard from the pasture. "One... two...!" But, before he could even reach three, Vincent was already hopping off. The older brother sighed loudly, groaning as he walked on over to the gate. "Why do we gotta help Alex out again... That's his job..." He mumbled, little hands pushing open the crooked and creaky gate. As one would expect, the two boys were identical. They were both clad in brown twead vests and cotton shirts, both of which were obvious hand-me-down's from their older brother. Altered to fit, patched and well-loved. "Where's he, again?" "The barn." Answered Louis, taking a hold of Vincent's hand after the gate the closed. "He's fixing the roof." The Walsh boys were hard at work that day. The first snowfall of the year had come the night before and the temperature inside the barn had dropped significantly. The elder Walsh boy, Alex, had been up on that roof replacing the wood and metal scraps.The younger two, however, were not allowed to go up there... so how will they help? Even Vincent felt pretty useless in there, but Louis kept insisting. So, here they are, watching their brother do most of the work while they run around getting materials when told to bring them.

A few hours passed, and their services were no longer needed. Alex was done with his task and down from the roof, giving the two boys pat on the head each. "Great job, you two. What would I have done without my two helping hands?" He teased them, ruffling their hair with calloused and bruised hands. Louis and Vincent did not appreciate the tussle of their hair, but they didn't complain, they simply gave eachother annoyed looks. Tossing his arms around them both, Alex leaned down to be eye-leved with them. "What're ya plans now? Wanna help me more?" "NO!" Both screamed simultaneously, making their older brother laugh in amusement. It was the first snow of the year, and they haven't had the time to play around yet! They wanted to play, not help Alex with his chores. Defeated, the male sulked a little as he backed off. "Fine, fine. I'll release you two of your duties for today." He huffed, patting them on the shoulder. "But, tomorrow, you both better help me out with the firewood, m'kay? Remember, I can't do this without you!" The boys groaned in response, tired from this odd behavior of his. It's been nearly a year since he began to behave like this. The twins weren't exactly sure about the reason behind their older brother's clinginess, but they can agree it began shortly after their father had passed away. Perhaps it's his way of making up for his absence? They'll never know, and they don't dare to ask.

Free from their duties for the day, the twins were left to their own devices for what is left of the day. They both watched Alex run off to the pasture before giving eachother a knowing look. It was time. The snow may not be fresh, but it was usable. Louis made a fort out of hay bales that were stacked on the side of the barn, while the other used a horsedrawn cart and simply got to work. They piled up little mounds of crudely shaped snowballs, both of them cackling deviously with every ball they made. And eventually, they were ready. Vincent landed the first hit, pelting Louis on the face. Louis, on the other hand, missed two shots and got hit once again. This persisted enough to make the boy run away from his brother, Vincent chasing after him with an arm full of snow balls. "Stop running, you coward!" He yelled out, laughing loudly. "Stop hitting me, then!!" "That's the whole point of the game! Not me fault if you suck!" The two loudly laughed and screamed, running around the place until Vincent ran out of snowballs and they were both tired and panting. Fatigued, they both plopped down onto the snow and watched the sky go from blue to orange hues through little windows that the clouds created. "That... was fun..." Said Vincent with a childish grin on his face, laying back down onto the snow. "Mm... Yeah..." His brother joined him, holding hands with Vincent as they regained their breathes and steadied their hearts.

But! The day wasn't over just yet! Sitting up in a hurry, Vincent looked out into the horizon. He looked down at Louis with excitemenet twinkling in his eyes. "... What is it?" Asked the youngest. "Let's go there. The lake!" It should be frozen, he thought. It is the middle of winter, after all. "We can skate on it!" "I don't know, Vincent... Mama said we shouldn't go near there..." Louis wasn't convinced, seemingly unsure if he's into the idea. "C'mon, Louissss..." Whined the older twin, shaking his arm around for their hands were still linked. "Pops took us there during the last frost. We made it out fine! Pleeeeeaseeee...?" Vincent pouted, furrowing his brows as he tried to make puppy eyes and convince Louis to do as he requests. He's lucky enough that his brother was easy to convince, so it didn't take long for him to concede. Happy to have gotten his way, Vincent got up, helped Louis up as well, and they headed towards the lake.

Just like Vincent said, it was frozen. The boy stepped on the edge of it and bounced a little, making sure that it was safe to get on. It did not give in or crack, so he deemed it safe. Louis was still on edge about this, but he'll go through with it if it means Vincent will be happy. He had been a little annoyed all day long, after all... "So? Can we get on?" He asked, standing on the shore. "Hmmm.... Seems like it! See? No nothing!" He said, hopping back onto solid ground and looking off into the distance. "Hey, how about we do this?" He pointed to the other side of the lake. It was an open field, much like the one they're on right now. "Let's race across the lake! First one to reach the Stewart's house wins!" "The Stewarts... Isn't Agnes still mad at you?" Louis asked, cringing a little at the thought. "You did shove her into cow muck last time we saw her..." "It'll be fine! If she gets angry again, I'll shove her again!" Joked the boy, lightly shoving his brother over to the ice. Louis was a little tense, but whatever. He'll just give in. He knew he wasn't going to win this race, anyway... Vincent was more athletic and faster than he'll ever be, after all. But it's worth a shot. Who knows? Maybe the slippery ice will work on his advantage. "Fine... But if I win, you'll give me your desserts for a whole week." "Deal. And you give me yours if I win!" They shook hands and got into position.

"One... Two... Three!!" And off they went. At first, Vincent had the lead. He was always fast like that, but had lost his footing and slipped. "Oof!" He groaned, face kissing the ice. Louis could be heard laughing as he ended up getting the lead now... But then he heard it. The ice groaned... then it cracked... And the laughter turned into a scream as water splashed and sloshed around. "Vincent!!" Screamed the young boy, clinging for dear life on the ledge of the ice. "H- Help!! Help me!" He was shivering. The water was freezing cold, and he couldn't get himself up and kept slipping off. Vincent, hearing this, sat up and saw that Louis wasn't there... All he saw were a pair of hands poking out from the ice, clawing the ice to keep himself afloat.

And then he froze. He didn't know what to do. "L... Louis..." He stammered, standing up slowly, eyes full of fear. But just as he slowly stood, the ice cracked again. It wasn't safe. "I'll come help- I will-" A step forward, and a crack again. This was scary. He can't. Neither of them can swim, what can he do? "I... I'll be back! I'm going to get Alex! He'll know what to do!" Vincent called out, voice shaking as he slowly took a step back until he was back on the dirt. He wasted no time in running. He ran, and ran, and ran... He did trip often, but he got right back up. He reached the barn, but found no Alex in there. The cows were gathered inside, though, which meant that he was done with them. Then... the next place he'd be in would be...

Busting the front door open, Vincent frantically looked around. "A, Alex!! Mum!! Help!" The family, who had been in the kitchen working on dinner, poked their heads out. They both looked concerned, but upon seeing that the boy was alone only made them even more scared. "Louis... Louis is in danger!" Heb briefly began to explain what happened, or tried to. Simply by mentioning the lake already had Alex on the move, leaving a shocked and terrified mother alone with Vincent. He didn't know what to do. Should he follow Alex? Should he stay here and comfort their mother? To him, she looked like she was already grieving something that hasn't happened yet... Like she'd lost her son already. He should've known at the time. That motherly instinct, that sensation of a thread to a person you've given life to snapping... That's what it looked like as she doubled down on the kitchen floor, unable to breathe. And he stood there, unknowing of what he could've done. What he should've done. It wasn't long until Alex was back. His loud and heavy footfalls could be heard inside, but what made his presence clear was his loud "Ma!!" With a panicked voice that was on the verge of breaking. Then in he came, with soaked to the bone with a limp boy on his arms. Vincent watched his sobbing mother scramble back up to her feet and run to her sons, clearing the area around the hearth for Alex to lay Louis down. "My baby...! Louis...!" She whimpered, shaky hand stroking his cold cheek. His lips were blue and so were the tips of his fingers and nose. His eyes were closed and there was no clear sign of breathing or life in there. Just... a husk. But even so, she clung on to him. "What are you doing there, just standing around!!" She snapped, "Get me something!! A blanket! Something!!!" She wasn't talking to anyone in particular, but Vincent was the first to move and run to the nearest room. His room, shared with his two brothers. He grabbed the blankets on all three beds, rushing back with them dragging on the floor. Dumping them next to his family, grieving mother desperately tried to wrap her son in the fleece blankets. all while dabbing off the cold water with her skirt. "My child... Why would you go there..." It took a while, but the realization that he was long gone hit her like a freight train. Her wails and sobs were loud, and it was something that Vincent won't ever be able to unhear for the next few years to come.

Years pass, and things at the Walsh home don't get better. Rhona Walsh had fallen into a deep depression and relied on Alex to support the family, both financially and domestically. Her own grief for Louis had also put a impenetrable wall between her and Vincent, as well. Given that the two boys shared the same face, she always ended up being overcome by grief and anger whenever she saw him. Alexander had become the sole pillar of this family, taking it upon himself to care for the farm, earn money, raise Vincent, and so on and so forth. It was tiresome work for a teenager to handle. And then, there is Vincent. He, too, was deeply affected by what had happened and the neglect of his mother. Not having his soulmate with him anymore in life forced him to pretend it never happened at all. Louis never died. He lives inside the mirrors. He'd be seen talking to his own reflection, or sleeping with a hand mirror, as well as taking it out with him to go out and play. At first, Alex didn't think much of it and thought it was just a child being a child... But Vincent was nearing his 12th year of age, and he was still not over the fact that Louis is gone. Their mother wasn't over her grief, either, and everything in this house had remained stationary for the past five years. Walking in on their shared room, Alex found Vincent playing with the big fullbody mirror in their room yet again. He watched him talk to it from the doorway, frowning at the sight. "... What're ya doin', Vinny?" He finally spoke up, kneeling down beside him. "Playing with Louis. He doesn't know what to do, so we're trying to decide on a game..." He said, tapping his chin with his finger. And then he turned around. "Oh! Maybe ya can join us and it'll be funner that way!" He seemed happy, at least. Alex wasn't sure if he should. Does he have time to play...? He had work to do at the barn, and then check up on their mother... "... Sure. Actually, how about ya help ya big brother out in the barn today? Been a while, eh?" His way of speaking was gentle, almost as if he could break his one brother if he raised his voice. Vincent considered his offer, thinking long and hard before turning back to the mirror. He whispered a few words to it before nodding and turning back to Alex. "Okay! We'll come! Let me just get Louis--" "Alexander!!" And there goes their plans... Their mother called, voice loud and clear as she called out for her eldest son from her room. Vincent's smile dropped when he heard this, and so did Alex's. But he brought it back to his face, reassuring his younger brother that it's fine. "I'll be right back, m'kay? And then we can go to the barn." Giving Vincent a pat on the head, he stood back up and left the room.

Now he's alone... yet again. Vincent watched Alex leave the room before turning back to the mirror. "Why does she hate me so much..." He mumbled, standing up. "She always gets in the way... She never wants to see me..." He wondered, staring at himself in the mirror. He hated it. He hated that face of his. A face not even his mother will love. "If only you weren't born, I wouldn't be in this situation! We would've been happy and mum would love me!" Huffing, he went to punch the mirror in the heat of the moment. Breaking something always felt good when you need to let some steam out, but... this wasn't the case. His hand went right through the glass. Startled, he pulled it back out, checking out his hand. "... Curious..." He did it again, then out, then in, then out... "Huh..." That same curiousity grew, and he decided to put more than just his hand. He started with his hand, then his other hand, and then it felt like something was pulling him inside. It was difficult to pull them out, and it was scaring him. "Wait- No-" He mumbled, feeling his body getting pulled inside. Slow at first, and then he was gone, leaving behind nothing but a scream and the mirror toppling over and shatter in his wake.