Candace bit her lip as she looked around the hall of mirrors. She was only 14 now, a child that would be starting high school in a month or two. Considering that it wasn't even summertime yet she was curious what the world would even look like when she left this place. Who would her parents be? Would she go back in time? Would she remember what it was like even being an adult? As she pondered these questions she noticed a small note by her foot. Carefully picking it up she slowly began to read it.
"Candace," it read. "Its no coincidence that you found this place. You have wanted a fresh start, a new life for quite sometime. You still have some regrets left from your old life. Why don't you keep going."
"But I'll be little," she whispered, wincing at the childishness of her answer. Looking back at the note she could see more writing in the back of the note.
"Yes Candace you will be just a young child," she read. "But, you will have a chance to make the choices you wished you had made the first time. I know it's scary but deep down you do want this."
Candace sighed as she gazed around the hall once more. Did she really want to relive her life all over again? Start from scratch and make a better life for herself, a more exciting and prosperous life? To do that she would have to keep moving forward. It frightened her though, I idea of sending herself further into childhood seemed like a nightmare scenario for an independent woman. A scenario she found that was becoming scarier as she grew younger. Looking at her reflection she shivered before noticing a small note on one of the mirrors. Taking the note she now read what it said.
"Your not sure if you can do this," it said. "It is understandable. Everyone wants their youth back but too much is very disconcerting. People want to be 16 not 6 months. We've decided to help though, press the button on your left, it will begin to move the floor under your feet. All you will need to do is stand there until you reach your next regret."
Glancing to her left Candace could see a large red button that said push me on it. She understood what the button would do. By pressing it a candace would be whisked down the hall to the time she decided not to join Girl Scouts. The end result would mean she would become 7 years old once more. Seven, a child back in second grade. Candace would be stuck living her life over through elementary school once more. Did she really want to be that young?
"I dont think I can do this," she groaned. Sighing she began to look for an exit. Their had to be something around her somewhere. Carefully the young teen examined the walls and hallway, being careful not to take anymore steps forward. Unfortunately she didn't realize their was more than one button.
As Candace now felt along the wall she felt something that at first she thought was a doorknob. Grabbing it firmly she tried pulling it it open, finding it wouldnt budge. Confused the girl pushed it forward, hoping that would finally lead her out of this hallway. Unfortunately that wasn't the case as the sound of a generator starting up made her jump to attention. Before she could react she felt the floor underneath jerk forward as it guided her forward into childhood.
"No wait," she exclaimed. "I dont want to keep going." Candace spun around trying to race back towards her late teens. The floor kept pace with her though. She was stuck, racing on a treadmill trying desperately to hold onto 14 as if it was the most precious thing in the world.
"I said stop," the teen cried. "I dont want to be a little girl. Make it stop PLEASE!"
Candace looked over her shoulder ar what awaited her. She could see a short ways down the hall where her 14th birthday banner hung from the ceiling. Once she passed that she would be 13 once more and quickly headed to childhood. She tried to run faster but only found the floor kept pace with her running. The only thing she was doing now was delaying it.
Frantically the girl now looked for a way out. Maybe she could jump to the edge and cling to the wall. Maybe she could break a mirror and escape this trap. Whatever she was going t oj do she needed to do it soon. Candace was growing tired, if she didn't find a way out soon, she would end up a child once more.