Reflective Winds

The man tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep, his breathing hard and heavy. He moved constantly and quickly in his bed, seemingly never able to stay in the one position for long. Every few seconds, he'd squeeze his eyes shut tight, only to allow them to relax again moments later.

Taking a breath, he ran as fast as he could. He ran fast and far, stopping only when he deemed himself to be a fair distance from them. Out of breath, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he panted desperately for the return of breath. Having regained his composure after a while, he blinked. Seeing no one around to bother him, the man relaxed and walked on.

It seemed only moments before a flood of people suddenly lined his path. He shut his eyes tight and vigorously shook his head, as if that would make them all disappear. But, when he opened his eyes again, they were still there, and he spared not a moment before taking off at a run.
"What?"
"Why?"
"How?"
Their questions all floated past his ears as he flew by them, and the man just let them float right back out the other ear again. He had to run, and he couldn't stop. Wouldn't stop. Not until they were all gone.

He started to slow down at the unexpected appearance of something up ahead, blocking his path. It was a lucky thing he had gotten a glimpse, for he only just managed to screech to a halt in front of the black clad figure.
"Why do you continue to run?" the figure asked. The man had only made the slightest move toward escape, but the intuitive figure spoke again. "You can't run," it said. "Not from me. Not this time." With that, it threw it's arms out either side and the man could see an eerie blue- purple glow shoot up either side of the figure before him, like a wall, blocking any path toward escape he may have attempted to take.

He awoke with a start, shooting straight upright in his bed. The man panted as he looked around him. Nothing there, he realised, and relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief. He was alone. All was calm, which was why the man jumped at the seemingly thunderous, well, thunderous next to the quiet silence of his house, knock at the door. There was a few seconds pause, and then the knock came again. He rolled his eyes as he flipped his legs over the side of the bed and slipped off, quickly pulling on some clothes before going to answer the door.

The man blinked at the sight that greeted him. The same black clad figure from his dream. It couldn't be, he thought, shaking his head, but it was still there in front of him when he looked back.
"Robby," it said.
"How did you know my..." he asked breathlessly.
"You have run too long," said the figure. "But run you shall no more."
"What?" he asked, but the figure held up a hand, silencing him.
"I will ask the questions here, though there are none I need to ask. Rather, you need to start asking yourself." The man just stared blankly at it, blinking a few times.

The figure clicked it's fingers inches from his face and a rush of wind washed over him. "I will come again in a year's time," it explained. "If you are ready to face yourself by then, we will discuss breaking the spell."
"Spell?" he asked, staring wide eyed at the figure.
"Go take a look at yourself," said the figure instead of answering his question.

The man ran for the sole mirror he possessed without a second's thought. His mouth dropped helplessly at the sight before him. Thousands of tiny specks flashed blinding light back at him. He shook his head and closed his eyes, but saw the same thing upon opening them again. Releasing a heavy breath, the man resolved the only thing he could do was to return to the figure on his doorstep.

"So you see, now you cannot run away from yourself," said the figure.
"I've been doing it for years," said the man, glaring daggers at the figure who had done this to him. "What makes you think this is going to stop me?"
"As you wish, Crystal Man," said the figure before turning and walking away.

As promised, the figure returned exactly a year later.
"Hello again," said the crystal man, offering a smile. The figure raised a hand to her eyes, for the silver vision before her was somewhat blinding.
"So, are you ready to face yourself?"
"I have already, and I am much better of for it. I must thank you, for I realise now you've given me a gift like no other."
"I have?"
"You see, I'm much happier now than I ever was running. Being like this, the crystal man, it reminds me to reflect," he said, "and I think, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay this way."
"If that is your wish," said the figure. Happily, the crystal man nodded and with that, the figure turned and retraced it's path.