The Shrine of Self

More about The Shrine of Self

Dorian stands rigid before the ornate mirror,
his reflection distorted by the looming figure of the CREATURE.

Dorian: WHO AM I? AM I YOU?

Creature : YOU ARE WHAT YOU’VE CREATED, WHAT YOU’VE BURIED. I AM WHAT REMAINS. BUT THE QUESTION YOU ASK… IT IS HOLLOW. WHO ARE YOU, TRULY?

Dorian :I... I DON’T KNOW.

Creature : YOU LIE. YOU’VE ALWAYS KNOWN. YOU’VE WORN MASKS FOR SO LONG YOU’VE FORGOTTEN YOUR OWN FACE. LOOK CLOSER.

Dorian (eyes widening as his reflection begins to shift, revealing an AGED, HOLLOW, FRACTURED version of himself): NO... THAT’S NOT ME. THAT CAN’T BE ME.

Creature : DENIAL. ALWAYS DENIAL. BUT TELL ME—IF I AM NOT YOU, THEN WHY AM I HERE? WHY DO YOU RETURN TO THIS MIRROR, AGAIN AND AGAIN, SEEKING ANSWERS YOU ALREADY KNOW?

Dorian : I DIDN’T ASK FOR THIS! I DIDN’T CHOOSE THIS!

Creature : YOU CHOSE WITH EVERY SIN, EVERY LIE, EVERY INDULGENCE. YOU CHOSE ME THE MOMENT YOU BETRAYED YOURSELF. NOW, FACE IT—FACE ME—OR BE DEVOURED BY WHAT YOU REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.

Dorian : WHAT ARE YOU?

Creature : I AM THE TRUTH YOU BURIED. I AM THE FACE YOU FEAR. I AM YOU... STRIPPED BARE.

Dorian : "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?"

Creature : I WANT NOTHING. YOU BROUGHT YOURSELF HERE. BUT YOU MUST DECIDE—WILL YOU CONTINUE TO RUN, OR WILL YOU FINALLY ACCEPT WHAT YOU ARE? THE MIRROR DOES NOT LIE, AND NEITHER DO I.

Dorian : WHAT... WILL I BECOME?

Creature : THE QUESTION IS NOT WHO I AM... BUT WHO YOU WILL BECOME.