Cage the mirage

painting

"Elliot," I gasped out, barely above a whisper as tears welled up in my eyes at the sight of my brother's face immortalized in paint.

As I gazed at my brother's portrait hanging on the wall, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I had become almost identical to him as an adult.

Memories came flooding back in an instant, overwhelming me with emotions and leaving me frozen in place. It wasn't until a cold voice snapped me out of my trance that I realized someone else was in the room with me.

"Mr. Finn? What are you doing here?" Cain's voice pierced through the air as he approached me. "I...I was just...looking for a bathroom but it seems like I got the wrong room," I stuttered, trying to maintain my composure.

"But this room doesn't look like a bathroom to me," he said with an evil grin, closing the door behind him. "It seems to me like you were more interested in this painting," he gestured towards the portrait of my brother. "I don't mind if you roam around my house without permission, but let's be honest, you weren't looking for a bathroom, were you?"

I wanted to say something but I couldn't mutter a word, "Do you remember when we first met and I told you that you reminded me of someone?" Cain turned on the lights and walked closer to the painting. "I was talking about him. You two look so alike, almost like the same person." He let out a cold chuckle. "Or maybe like brothers?"

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew that he knew who I was by the way he looked at me – just like he used to in the past.

My body was frozen in fear as he stalked closer, his eyes glinting with malice.

"Is it Mr. Finn or should I call you Lucian?" His lips curved into a sinister smirk and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I tried to back away but my feet were rooted to the ground, but before I knew it, I had already backed into a solid wall.

There was no use in hiding anymore, but what could I do? What if he tries to hurt me like before?"do you think that I wouldn't recognize you? just because you have grown up? it's been 15 years, wasn't it? " he laughed hysterically

" My little Lucian how can anyone forget you? these beautiful green eyes, these blonde locks. Oh, and these lips of yours. You look like your brother, the resemblance even scares me, with that face and this slender body of yours, even your height is the same as was his... I'm going crazy,"

he shook his head looking back at the painting of my brother "How is that even possible? and you thought that I wouldn't recognize you?" His voice was low and menacing as he closed the remaining distance between us.

My hands were shaking and my whole body trembled with anxiety, but I refused to let him see my weakness. I am stronger now, I can defend myself.

"The first time we met, I wasn't planning on approaching anyone in the middle of the night, but your blonde hair and fair skin caught my attention. And when I saw your face, it was like being struck by lightning. I thought I was seeing a ghost, but then I approached you and your so-called husband. And with just one glance at you, I knew exactly who you were." His words sent shivers down my spine as his hands gripped my jaw tightly, forcing me to meet his gaze.