Breaking the Mirror

“What is this?”

What is what?

“This outline!? It says I am going to die a horrible death! Are you serious?”

Well, yeah I’m serious. Every good villain has a tragic yet memorable death.

“But…I just die, just like that?”

I mean, there’s more to it of course. A whole story of the Hero and how he overcomes obstacles on his way to defeat you before you, you know, do the evil thing. And it is upon your death where we all learn that you had a pretty messed up childhood that led you to street life and villainy. Tragic, makes the listeners think.

“Can I at least lose a finger or something instead? I mean, death is pretty final and I’m just now getting used to living.”

Haha. Oh Maldrek, you’ve been alive for longer than you even know. Hey, where’d you get that outline anyway?

“From your…comm putter? It was just out there to grab and when I saw my name I decided to take a look.”

Wait…you accessed my computer?

“Uh, can we just get to the story already? And I might have some suggestions if you don’t mind.”

Of course I mind. That’s my outline. You’re the villain. You don’t even have the majority vote. Now, let’s get to the story already.

“Okay, umm, Mr. Author? I have a qualm with the Call to Adventure. You see, I know this outline is supposed to be some kind of, I don’t know, guide you use to write the story. However, I’m a little concerned about the way you introduced me into the story. Or at least, my champion, or whatever that creature was.”

Maldrek, are we going to do this after each section?

“Well, no. But, isn’t it just a bit cliché? I, as the villain, should have more depth than just ‘wants to rule the world.’”

Of course you have depth. Didn’t you read the outline?

“I did. It just seems like I’m some poster-boy for your message. Seriously, you’re killing me off because of some misinterpreted language. A language barrier! That’s your lesson here? You seriously cannot think that I would willingly be narrowed down to such a simpleton of a villain.”

It’s how the story goes and the story needs its villain, which is you. And I’m not killing you off. The Hero and his allies are going to do all the work. What are you so afraid of? As my character you live in my works, so really, you’re not dying at all.

“…. I’m afraid of dying to prove a point. I just think you should be able to accomplish your lesson without killing me off. And it’s not once. I die every time someone reads those pages. Don’t I mean more than just a sad backstory and tragic death?”

Listen, Maldrek. I understand how your feeling. Every story follows the tragedy of a villain. It’s built within the structure of the story without the readers even knowing it. You, as the villain, are vital to the story’s growth. Without you, there would be no forward progression, only stale platitudes.

“Do you really mean that?”

Of course I do. At one point in my life I identified more with villains than heroes. That makes me an expert you know.

“You, the villain? Don’t make me laugh. You write the Hero so perfectly, a dapper young lad with everything going for him, forced to protect his village from the evil encroaching upon his world.”

Yeah well, not every hero started out the hero. Now, if you’re satisfied, we will continue.

Uh Maldrek, why are you trying to change the outline? And more importantly, how did you resist giving those commands to your followers? I had to rewrite an entire scene because of that, and luckily we are still within the story line, no thanks to your tinkering.

“I thought it would be more relatable if instead I gave them something to do. I mean, all you had them do was stand guard for the Heroes to bull over, and honestly their deaths would have been meaningless, hence, I gave them a task away from your kill-hungry Heroes. You’re so quick to just kill off evil goons.”

If you could see me right now Maldrek, you would know that the stress lines between my brow have just grown deeper. There’s real world consequences for your meddling, like deadlines and meeting them. So don’t.

“Is that really all you care about?”

What now? I thought you were satisfied with your position in this story. Do I need to change your character’s arc just to prove a point?

“No. You will not. And I will not. You kill off my loyal subjects without even consulting me and for no reason at all except what you claim as ‘story progression.’ I accept I’m the villain here, but you can’t write me as some thoughtless cretin.”

You know, the Hero doesn’t give me this much sass. In fact, he offers zero mouth.

“That’s because he doesn’t have to die in the end! He gets the most powerful artifact known to creature-kind and then promptly uses it to destroy an entire group of creatures. Even better, he gets the princess at the end! Of course, when you give a toy to a spoiled brat and then positively reinforce him for using it he is going to have nothing to criticize.”

….

“Oh? Nothing to say but ‘dot dot dot’? Well guess what. I refuse to continue as the villain unless you agree to stop using this outline as a prophetic account of how the Hero kills me off! Until then, I am going to do everything within my caricature to aid the Hero instead of hinder.”

Come on now, Maldrek. Calm down. There is no need to be drastic. We can talk about this in the morning.

“Absolutely not. We finish this now or—”

“I’m sorry. Please, don’t do that. The sudden darkness just feels wrong. I don’t like it. I’m sorry I yelled at you and ruined your deadlines or whatever. Just, don’t send me into darkness like that again, please.”

I’m sorry, too, Maldrek. I am just so frustrated with this story I had to turn my computer off. It seems to be going well, but every time you try to change something I start second guessing my own work and if it will even be any good. It’s hard out here, Mal. Not only do I have to meet deadlines, but I also have to craft something that is relatable and people will accept. If I don’t, I can’t even feed myself let alone my cats.

“Aren’t you just creating your own outline?”

What do you mean? Of course I’m creating my own outline.

“I mean, you’re focusing so much on following this outline that you’re boxing yourself into your own temporal version of it. It’s a crutch, and it’s hindering you, me, and the growth of the Hero. If I can see it, whoever reads it will too.”

When did you gain so much sentience?

“I don’t know, I feel like I’ve always had awareness. It helps to have access to all your other projects. I’ve learned a lot from your other villains.”

What is it with you going through my files.

“All I am saying is, I will agree to the villain role from now on, and I will be the best villain you have ever written, but only if you agree to stop following the outline so strictly and consult me more often.”

…. Okay. But, I will only take suggestions. I won’t deviate from the overall story. You’re still dying in the end. The character growth up to this point doesn’t allow for another option.

“Of course, Mr. Author. And, please, please don’t turn your computer off again.”

Alright, for the next scene the Hero is meeting you for the first time and there is going to be a large conflict between the two of you. This is where the Hero and Villain both come away from the battle wounded in some way, the Hero being unprepared to face you, and you underestimate the Hero’s true ability. Maybe you can lose that finger now?

“Uh, no. I’ve become attached to my extremities and I think I’ll pass on any maiming.”

Well, you’ve got to lose something and take something from the Hero, so, as per our agreement, do you have any thoughts?

“Okay, what if, instead of some physical altercation, I challenge the Hero to a battle of the mind? Something that tests his moral instead of his strength.”

And challenge him to what exactly? A game of chess?

“No, not a game of chess. A moral challenge. Something that tests his ability to tell right from wrong. Think of the character growth the Hero will receive from this encounter.”

Hmm, I can see that working. How does that fit into the overall story?

“Are you referencing the outline?”

…. No?

“I can see the files you are accessing. Our agreement wasn’t to just consult me, but to stop relying on that thing. Do I need to delete it? That’s something a villain would do, right?”

Ha ha, very funny. I’m not relying on it. It’s simply a tool that keeps us on track. I have to meet word count and deadlines remember? Anyway, what is this moral dilemma you suggest the Hero go through?

“I’m thinking I can use that new spell you gave me and rip him away from his allies momentarily. Since the spell is new to me, neither one of us are strong within it, but I can place a seed of doubt in his mind. Tell him his closest ally wants the glory for herself.”

Sure, but why would he believe that? His allies have been loyal companions throughout, and they’ve been through battle and drink together. You think a simple lie will challenge his morals?

“Why does he have to not believe it? Does he have any flaws I can exploit? If not what’s the point of even challenging him.”

I dislike it when you’re right. I cannot believe I am getting writing advice from one of my characters. Still though, what could possibly turn him against his allies, especially something from the villain? You are the last creature he wants to relate to.

“Exactly.”

What?

“Look, I’ve read the outline, and the Hero’s character bio. He has a solid backstory and progression. He seeks the power to protect his country, and I can relate with that because that is exactly what I am doing. Garnering as much power as I can to protect my country. I’m just sacrificing goats to do it and apparently that makes it wrong.”

So, you want the hero to sacrifice a goat?

“You don’t need to be sarcastic about it. All I am saying is, as the villain, I am the final test for the Hero, not just an obstacle. I should have some larger pull on his thoughts than just to be knocked down.”

Are we tapping into your fear of dying again?

“Didn’t you say you used to relate to villains more than heroes? What aren’t you understanding about this concept?”

I mean, I said that to assuage your fears, but yeah. I learned a long time ago that villains have backstories too. Some not so tragic, others quite messed up, and usually the bad guys had a pretty good reason for being bad. Their world just misunderstood them for too long.

“Were you misunderstood?”

At one point. I conquered that ages ago, but it creeps up every now and then. I guess that’s what is happening now. I am so focused on writing something people will read I can’t see past the outline.

“Do you see what I mean now? You and I share similar fears. In the same way, the Hero and I share similar fears. He can relate to that and I can exploit it because as the villain I know exactly what I’m doing and why. I mirror the Hero, reflecting back what he doesn’t want to see.”

You must have been doing some researching while I wasn’t looking. I needed that reminder, and I think I’ve got the story now.

“Then let’s get back to it.”

“Well, that was unexpected.”

Yeah, it kind of just came out that way. Who would have thought the Hero had it in him to kill one of his own allies?

“It was kind of epic. I cried a little.”

Oh stop.

“….”

….

You’re still alive. For now.

“Yeah. He’s going to come back, though, isn’t he?”

You saw the final battle. You survived what should have been fatal and escaped, but after what the Hero has lost? Killing his own ally really messed him up. I think to redeem himself he has to dig out whatever connection he has with you. Breaking the mirror, to use your metaphor.

“Nice. Breaking the mirror. You should use that line, it has some gravity to it.”

So it does.

“What’s next?”

I don’t know, honestly. I’m so far off the outline now I don’t know where the ending is anymore. I know how it should feel, but how do I write that?

“You got this. Look how much you’ve written without even looking at the outline. I’m sure something will come up. If I had any suggestion it would be to have lots of light. Like a lot. Your whole world and the story is just so dark, it needs it.”

I’ll look into adding a second sun to the world on the edit.

“Funny.”

You know, I realized something, Maldrek, and I wanted to thank you.

“Hm?”

You helped me reach the ending. More than that, I realized that I couldn’t have done it without you. I read somewhere that an author’s characters are components of his own, each a piece of who the author is behind the keyboard. What I realized is how much of you I have been hiding from.

“Drats, does this mean you’re not killing me off?”

Haha, no, you still get to die. Though, in a way, you aren’t really going to die. You’re a part of me and will live on as a part of my own character. A piece that is willing to challenge the outline, and still meet deadlines of course.

“Because you still have to feed your cats.”

Right.

“Is that what you meant when you said I’ve been alive a lot longer than I realize?”

In a way, yes. It just took the right story to finally put you into words.

“Thank you for bringing me life, and giving me meaning. I think for as short a time as I have been ‘alive’ it has been almost bearable with you as my creator.”

Shall we?

“Whenever you’re ready.”