Chapter 2 : Narcissus, Beyond the Reflection.

As the heavy door swung shut behind me, I shifted my gaze to what lay ahead, my curiosity still aflame with the mysteries this place held. And in an instant, my eyes beheld a sight that defied belief.

Spread before me unfurls a verdant vista, reminiscent of the fabled fields of Elysium itself. A tapestry of lush, emerald green stretched as far as my eyes could see. Each blade of grass swayed in harmony with the gentle caress of the breeze, a vibrant stroke of life against the canvas of nature. Amidst this sea of green, a congregation of daffodils stood in regal splendour, their pristine petals gleaming in the sunlight. Atop each delicate bloom sat a crown of resplendent yellow, basking in the radiant embrace of the sun.

Above, the sky stretched boundlessly, a majestic canvas painted in hues of azure and cerulean, with wisps of clouds drifting lazily across its vast horizon.

« Is this truly the underworld? » I pondered, my footsteps muffled by the grass beneath me as I traversed the everlasting fields of green. The air around me seemed to hum with an otherworldly tranquility, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves.

In the distance, a shimmering expanse began to materialise, drawing my gaze like a moth to flame. It resembled a lake, its surface glimmering in the soft light, beckoning me closer with each step. The air grew cooler as I approached, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh blossoms. Standing sentinel near the water’s edge, a solitary willow tree extended its weeping branches towards the lake, their delicate tendrils swaying in a melancholic dance. Its leaves rustled softly, as if whispering ancient secrets to the rippling waters below.

As I moved closer, the details of the scene before me sharpened. I noticed a figure, barely discernible amidst the play of light and shadow, perched at the water’s edge. They were motionless, their forms blending seamlessly with the tranquil surroundings.

The scene was surreal, bathed in an eerie yet captivating glow, surrounded by an aura that seemed to defy all explanation. Was this truly the realm of the underworld, as the legends foretold? Or was it merely a trick of the light, a mirage born of my own weary mind?

As I drew nearer, the features of a youthful man, scarcely beyond his twenties, began to emerge. His broad, commanding shoulders rose like pillars above his sturdy arms, supporting his statuesque form as it leaned towards the lake’s tranquil surface, draped in velvet chlamys.  His hair cascaded in flowing locks, the colour of beaten gold, obscuring his countenance from view.

Though I stood just a few paces from him, he remained utterly oblivious to my presence. Monk-like in his stance, he was slave to a haze of introspection, lost in perpetual contemplation of the mirror-like surface of the lake. 

« Could this be… » My thoughts began to drift, whisked away by the enchantment of the scene unfolding before me. However, reality swiftly pulled me back as I witnessed his face slowly sinking beneath the surface of the water, his figure crumpling as it abruptly succumbed to the cold embrace of the lake’s depths.

With a surge of urgency, I hastened to his side, my heart pounding in my chest as I reached out to grasp his hand, pulling him from the icy waters and into the safety of land. His breathing was laboured as his sturdy chest heaved vigorously with each desperate gasp for air, still struggling against the weight of the water he had inhaled. His body still shivering from the cold waters below, he unburdened his face by pulling his hair back with his hands, and slowly, his gaze met mine.

To describe him as striking would be an understatement of grand proportions. His visage, graced with the elegance of finely chiseled cheekbones and a nose of sculpted perfection, bore the hallmark of divine artistry. Each contour and line seemed meticulously honed, as if by the hand of a master craftsman. His eyes, a deep and piercing shade of sapphire, held an intensity that mesmerised the beholder, drawing them inexorably into their depths. And his lips, plump and inviting, quivered with a mixture of confusion and intrigue as he tried in vain to make sense of what just happened.

With a furrowed brow, he finally broke the lingering silence. « Well, that was certainly odd, » he remarked, his voice a melodious cascade akin to the ethereal notes of a harp. « Could you perhaps be another unfortunate nymph, cast into this realm by the whims of the gods for some perceived transgression? » he continued, his tone laced with skepticism. « Absurd notion, really. Nymphs, while perhaps not quite as striking as myself, are undoubtedly far more captivating than you could ever hope to be, » he concluded, a derisive smirk playing across his lips as he dismissed the idea with disdain.

His pomposity spoke volumes, a clear giveaway of his identity.  « No, I am certainly not a nymph », I replied,  « nor a simpleton for that matter, to suggest that I could rival your allure, Narcissus. »

Amused by my familiarity with his name, he retorted, « And what brings you to this place? Your sight is an unwelcome one, almost as is this hideous garden. »

Suppressing my rising frustration, I maintained a composed facade and responded « I am here by the workings of greater forces beyond my comprehension, the full extent of which remains veiled to me. Yet, I cannot shake the feeling that our meeting was orchestrated by fate itself. »

He scoffed, my reply’s absurdity too much for him to bear., and retorted, « And why, pray tell, should I deign to engage with a mere insignificant worm such as yourself? For all I know, you could be yet another ploy, another twisted jest orchestrated by the whims of capricious and malevolent gods, intent on subjecting me to the torment of reliving my demise time and time again. » Pausing to pluck a daffodil from the ground below, he cast a disdainful gaze upon it. « Behold, » he sneered, « surrounded by a flower bearing my own name. Oh, the cruel irony! Yet it pales in comparison to my own resplendent beauty. » With a swift motion, he crushed the delicate bloom in his hand before callously discarding it into the nearby river. « Everything in this accursed realm is but a grotesque mockery, a cruel charade designed to inflict upon me endless suffering, » he declared with bitter conviction, fixing me with a gaze filled with suspicion and scorn. « And you, my dear interloper, are no exception. Of that, I am quite certain. »

« Then maybe I am here to help you. » 

« Help me? » Narcissus’s laughter echoed through the clearing, a symphony of arrogance and contempt. « And pray, what could a mere mortal like yourself possess that would pique my interest or warrant my regard? I am Narcissus, beloved by the divine, the very embodiment of perfection that incited envy even among the gods themselves. So much so that they saw fit to reprimand me for my unparalleled beauty, » he declared haughtily, his tone laced with a hint of smug satisfaction. « His gaze bore into me with an intensity that bordered on denigration, challenging me to justify my audacity in daring to approach him.

Staring boldly into the depths of Narcissus’s azure gaze, I offered my response with unwavering resolve: « I believe there’s a lesson in vanity that even you, Narcissus, could stand to learn. »

A flicker of anger danced across Narcissus’s features, his voice resonating with fierce intensity as he vehemently retorted, « Vanity, you say? It seems you misunderstand the workings of the divine. Fools like you cling to the misguided belief that feigning humility will earn you favour in the eyes of the gods. But let me enlighten you: there is no mercy to be found in their capricious whims. This, all of this, » he gestured emphatically to the surrounding landscape, « is but a spectacle for their amusement. And mark my words, nothing within these treacherous realms is as it appears. It is a labyrinth of deceit, betrayal, and unrelenting suffering. » His voice carried a weight of bitter experience, each syllable dripping with the harsh truths he had come to know. 

Narcissus’s gaze lingered upon the tranquil surface of the lake, the blue of his eyes betraying a profound sense of melancholy. « Do you truly believe that I desired this fate? » he questioned, his voice tinged with sorrow. « Do you imagine that I find solace in the way events have unfolded? » His words carried the weight of a burden too heavy to bear alone.

« I am naught but a marionette, manipulated by unseen hands upon a solitary string, » he continued, his tone heavy with resignation. « Cursed to yearn for an unattainable love, ensnared by the illusion of my own reflection, » he confessed, his voice trembling with the weight of his confession. « A phantom, a mirage, condemned to wander this desolate realm devoid of the warmth of genuine affection, » he lamented, his words a lament for the love he could never know.

« And yet, know this, » he concluded, a flicker of defiance igniting within his gaze, « this cruel destiny was not of my own making. It was thrust upon me by the whims of fate, a twisted irony beyond my control. » With a heavy sigh, he turned away from the lake, his gaze haunted by the spectre of what could never be. 

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I found myself drawn towards him, compelled by a force beyond rational comprehension. Though I knew deep down that my efforts would likely be futile, I couldn’t shake the instinctive urge to reach out and offer whatever semblance of solace I could muster. But as I drew near, his gaze remained fixed on the shimmering surface of the lake, refusing to acknowledge my presence. With a dismissive gesture, he waved me away, his voice tinged with bitterness as he uttered, « Just leave me be. Begone, have no use for your hollow pity. ».

Bathed in the sunlight, Narcissus transcended mortal confines, his radiant aura blurring the line between God and mortal. With a resigned sigh, he returned to his customary place by the lake, his movements weighted with the burden of centuries-old sorrow. His reflection shimmered on the water’s surface like a ghostly apparition. Lost in contemplation, he stared into the rippling depths below, seeking solace in the silent companionship of his own reflection, a poignant symbol of the unattainable love that had eluded him for centuries.

I shifted my gaze, and to my surprise, a door had materialised within the roots of the weeping willow. Without hesitation, I made the decision to leave Narcissus to his solitary devices. Torn between determination and the trepidation of the unknown that lay beyond, I grasped the knob and hastily entered, bracing myself for whatever awaited me on the other side.

Written by : Zied Kharrat.