Chapter 3: Fractured Reflections

The sterile scent of Dr. Wright's office hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the vivid memories Charles wrestled with. The previous session had left him drained, the raw emotions of the fire surfacing after years of suppression. Yet, a flicker of hope remained. Dr. Wright's calm demeanor and genuine concern offered a lifeline, a chance to finally confront the demons that haunted him.

Dr. Wright entered the room, her sharp gaze softening as she met Charles's eyes. She settled into her chair, a silent invitation for him to continue.

Charles took a deep breath, his voice rough when he finally spoke. "I… I tried to remember more," he confessed, "like Dr. Wright suggested. But the fire… it's like a wall of flames, blocking everything out."

A flicker of understanding crossed Dr. Wright's face. Traumatic memories often resided in a hidden compartment of the mind, protected by a veil of amnesia.

"It's okay, Charles," she said gently. "Trauma can be a powerful defense mechanism. We'll find a way to access these memories, but it will take time and patience."

She leaned forward, her eyes locked on his. "Tell me what you do remember. Any detail, no matter how insignificant, could be a key."

Charles closed his eyes, concentrating. Images flickered behind his eyelids – burning embers, the choking smoke, the searing heat that clawed at his skin.

"There was… panic," he rasped, his voice trembling. "And then… darkness."

He opened his eyes, frustration etched on his face. "It's like everything after finding Amelia is a blur."

Dr. Wright tapped her pen against the notepad, her brow furrowed in thought. "But you did find Amelia," she pointed out. "That's a significant detail. Can you tell me anything about her? How did she look? Did she speak?"

Charles squeezed his eyes shut, straining to recall. "She was… limp," he whispered. "Pale. I don't remember her saying anything."

A new detail surfaced, a fleeting memory that sent a jolt through him. "There was… something black on her arm," he blurted out. "A mark… like a symbol."

Dr. Wright's eyes widened in surprise. "A symbol? Can you describe it?"

Charles shook his head, frustration clouding his features. "It was… blurry. Like a twisted circle with… branches reaching out."

Intrigue flickered in Dr. Wright's gaze. This symbol, this detail from a long-forgotten memory, could be a crucial piece of the puzzle.

"That's good, Charles," she said, her voice filled with a newfound enthusiasm. "Every detail helps us build a clearer picture. This symbol… have you seen it anywhere else?"

Charles pondered the question, searching his memories. "No," he finally said, shaking his head. "Not that I can recall."

An unsettling silence descended upon the room. The symbol, a cryptic fragment from the fire, hung in the air, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

"There might be something in my old things," Charles suddenly blurted out. "Back in my childhood home. Maybe a book, or a picture… something that could jog my memory about the symbol."

Dr. Wright's lips curved into a subtle smile. "That's not a bad idea, Charles. It could be worth a visit."

A spark of determination ignited within Charles. Perhaps a return to his childhood home, a confrontation with the past, would hold the key to unlocking his fractured memories and finally silencing his tormenting doppelganger.

The session ended with a renewed sense of purpose.  While Charles still grappled with the trauma of the fire, a seed of hope had been planted.  His journey towards healing had just begun.