Desolated - book 3 •StrangeFrost•

This mirror shows something else

•Loki's POV•
I lightly exhaled.

I ran towards where the past-me was and pushed him, putting an illusion on him and myself so he was a shield agent and I was the 2012 Loki.

I heard everyone around me start to ramble and yell, as the past-Avengers started to run towards me.
I started running towards the exit of the building and rammed the door open.
I started looking for a narrow alleyway I could round down, running so fast I almost tripped on my own legs.

My breath was starting to get heavy as I started panting while running.

I saw a narrow alley between two stores with a gate slightly  ajar.
I turned on my heel, running into the door and slamming it closed as fast as I could.
I locked it.

I froze as I heard a crowd of people stomp past me.

Once I heard their voices dissipate, I let out a heavy and tired sigh.
I fell to my knees, panting, trying to catch my breath.

I heard a heavy knock on the gate.
I froze.

"Exuse me, I know you're in there."

I bit my lip.
Shit.
I closed my mouth, swallowing, breathing heavily out of my nose.

"Please let me in. I just want to talk to you."

I couldn't decide what to do. My mind was racing. I didn't want to get caught, but they sounded oddly familiar.

"LET ME IN YOU BUFFOON!"

I hesitated for a moment, then unlocked the gate and pulled it open.
I immediately recognized who it was.
It was my illusion.
It was the 2012 loki.
It was me.

I stripped the illusions off the both of us, and he looked up at me, confused.

He opened his mouth to speak, but I interrupted.
"Close the fucking door."

He turned and slammed the gate closed, locking it and turning back around.

"I don't know who you are, but why would you help me? And why do you look like me? How do you know how to harness illusions?"

"Because I am you. I'm just from a different timeline."

Loki blinked.
He put his hand up to his forehead and muttered, "god, I've really gone insane."

"No, you haven't."