《Reflection》 Chapter 1 - The Missing A cloud of smoke drifted from seasoned Officer Mark Miller¡¯s cigarette, blowing through the dusty air to smack into the face of his partner, Officer Dan Daivs. The bright and bushy-tailed new hire coughed once, a polite reminder to his coworker to stop smoking. Officer Miller sniggered, releasing another breath in his partner¡¯s face. ¡°So, it¡¯s up these stairs, huh?¡± They trudged up the dark and decrepit stairs of an old, ragged apartment building. The stairs were polished where countless feet had tread, and the railing was dust free where people had skimmed their hands over. Spiders made their homes in the dark corners, where the dim lighting of the hallway couldn¡¯t quite reach. ¡°Yes, sir. Her neighbor said she heard the shower stop shortly before 10 on Wednesday night. Our missing woman didn¡¯t head into work the next morning, and no one has been able to contact her since.¡± Officer Miller¡¯s eyes narrowed, his years of experience weighing down on his shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s hope there¡¯s a body to call in this time. It doesn¡¯t look good for our department to have so many missing person cases.¡± Officer Davis looked affronted at the statement, and Officer Miller gave him a hefty pat on the shoulder. ¡°It sounds bad, but trust me, kid.¡± Miler shook his head. ¡°With cases like these, it¡¯s better to have a body. Otherwise, the hope of their family returning will take over their lives. They won¡¯t be able to move on,¡± he said with distant eyes. They came to a stop outside of Room 101. ¡°This it?¡± Officer Davis took a brief look at the notepad clutched in his hand and nodded. ¡°Looks like it.¡± Officer Miller dropped the cigarette on the filthy floor, stomping it out with unnecessary force. His gut and years of experience told him that this wasn¡¯t the standard missing person''s case. He looked at his partner expectantly. ¡°Well?¡± Officer Davis dug through his pockets, pulling out a key the landlord had provided to them only minutes before. Miller stepped out of the way, allowing Davis to unlock the door, pushing it open. A gust of cool, airconditioned air blew out of the room, carrying dust with it. The two officers coughed. Miller rolled his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure the dust is much better for me than my cigarettes.¡± This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Officer Davis shot him another glare, pushing past Officer Miller into the room. ¡°You don¡¯t bring the dust home with you.¡± Miller looked around the dusty apartment skeptically. ¡°If you say so.¡± Though the two joked around, the apartment was picked up, if a bit dusty. The carpeted floor showed signs of recent vacuuming, and the room was well-lit from windows along the opposing wall in the living room. A door to their right led into the kitchen, where the dishes were clean and put away in their proper place. The table was set, and only the cabinet toppers contained the layer of dust that seemed to cover most of the apartment building. They methodically moved through the apartment, taking pictures of everything and making note of seemingly innocuous things, hum¡¯ing and ha¡¯ing as they went. In the kitchen, food was close to its expiration date, and the dishes were packed neatly away. The TV played in the living room stuck on an unsolved mysteries channel that made Officer Miller quirk his lips up in amusement. The single bathroom was likewise neatly organized, without a towel in sight. No clothes were in the washer or the dryer. The sheets were clean, and the bed was made in the bedroom. Drawers were cleanly shut, and in the closet, they found a safe. The key to the safe was stuffed into the missing woman¡¯s underwear drawer, and they opened it to find her passport and a pile of cash. Officer Miller slammed it shut with a shake of his head. ¡°Well, she wasn¡¯t a runaway.¡± His bones creaked as he stood, and the nimble limbs of Officer Davis were a source of envy. Officer Davis pursed his lips, tapping his pen against the notepad as paced back and forth in the bedroom. ¡°There¡¯s no sign of forced entry, either. Did she leave?¡± Officer Miller shook his head. ¡°I doubt it, son.¡± he pointed to the wall adjoining the entry door in the bedroom, where a giant mirror hung above the dresser. Officer Davis followed his indication, confused. ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± ¡°Look,¡± Officer Miller said, moving his finger to the floor, ¡°in front of the dresser.¡± Discarded on the floor in front of the mirror was a single towel, the same color blue as the bathroom. Officer Davis strode forward, reaching to pick up the towel with glove-covered hands. ¡°That¡¯s weird. Everything else is so¡­organized. Why would she leave this here?¡± He set his notepad to the side and pulled out an evidence bag, placing the towel into it and sealing it. Officer Miller paced to the dresser and yanked the mirror off the wall, placing it so it faced against the wall as his partner watched on in confusion. ¡°Sir?¡± ¡®What did you say her name was, again?¡± ¡°Anna. Anna-¡± Officer Miller raised up his hand, cutting his partner off. ¡°First name¡¯s all I needed. You know about the disappearances, I¡¯m sure?¡± ¡°Talked about them all the time in the academy. Over 73 completely unrelated people have gone missing since the 60s. No one really knows why.¡± ¡°Right. Well, each of the missing persons had a palindrome for their name.¡± ¡°A palindrome? I thought that was just a rumor. But what does the mirror have to do with¨C¡± Officer Miller was curt with his next reply, tiptoeing around the mirror. ¡°All I know is that any time there¡¯s something left behind, it¡¯s in front of a mirror. Did they tell you to listen to your gut in that school of yours? Well, my gut tells me the palindrome and the mirrors are connected.¡± ¡°Is this a prank you play on the newbie? Do you get off on scaring me with innocent objects? I¡¯m not going to fall for it¨Cmirrors don¡¯t eat people.¡± Officer Miller shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll learn.¡± Chapter 2 - Rumors As any tale does in a tiny town, the news of the missing Anna spread through Laval like wildfire. The local Laval High School students were no exception, spending as much of their time as they dared to gossip with their gaggle of peers. Their teachers strode through the halls with fierce feet and narrowed eyes, cracking down on the distraction when they spotted them. Still, it did little to dispel the rumors and the undertone of fear in the school. Elle, whose parents ignored the news, finding it too depressing, was one of the few students who hadn¡¯t heard. But even she could sense the oppressive atmosphere, watching as students scuttled around fearfully in groups, casting suspicious glances at passersby. Her curiosity piqued, she arrived early to her classes, pulled out her books, and pretended to study as she listened for any hint of the event that had shaken up the town. The teachers did their best to quell the talk, but Elle¡¯s luck came through during lunch when students gathered around tables in the cafeteria under the watchful eyes of their teachers, the dull hum and roar of their conversations loud enough to cover up most of the details. Elle¡¯s family had moved to Laval from a big city only a few months ago, leaving Elle friendless. The much smaller town, she found, was already divided into cliques, and it was difficult to slide your way into the fully formed groups. Elle had tried and was friendly enough with her classmates, but they disappeared like ghosts when the school day ended. And so, she sat alone, with all the time in the world for eavesdropping. Catching wind of a conversation the next table up, Elle strained her ears, blocking out the rest of the cafeteria. ¡°Did you hear?¡± A girl turned to her friend and asked, her voice going high-pitched with excitement and barely making it across the roar of their classmates. Her friend nodded furiously, almost making eye contact with Elle, who quickly looked back at her peanut-butter sandwich. ¡°About the missing woman?¡± Another student, her back turned to Elle, joined in. ¡°Missing person? Like those cases?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± The first girl said. She leaned forward, speaking in a near whisper, ¡°My mom works with the police, and she said that they¡¯re going crazy right now! Yesterday, they followed a report to find it was the exact same as cases going back decades! Mom threw all of the mirrors out yesterday, just in case. Said her mom always told her tales of the monster in the mirror.¡± The other two listened with wide eyes. With excitement or fear, Elle couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°My mom did the same thing!¡± ¡°My mom didn¡¯t want to, but my grandma set her straight.¡± The first girl pulled back, tossing her hair over her shoulder. ¡°My mom told me something else, too. The police didn¡¯t want it to get out. Supposedly, all the missing people had a palindrome for a name.¡± ¡°Palindrome?¡± her friend asked. The first girl nodded. ¡°When a name mirrors itself. Like Anna, or¡­¡± they twisted around, meeting Elle¡¯s eyes. The first girl smirked and turned back to her friend group, speaking so quietly that Elle could hardly hear her. ¡°Elle,¡± she finished. Her friends swiveled around to look at Elle, who flushed at the sudden attention, pretending not to listen. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. It was too late; the game was up. The other two girls commended, explaining that they had heard something similar, though they didn¡¯t know the term, as the first girl placed a palm on the table, standing up abruptly. She stalked over to loom above Elle. ¡°You were listening,¡± she stated. She didn¡¯t seem bothered by the fact, and her eyes held a wicked gleam. Knowing she was caught, Elle nodded slowly. A fake sympathetic look crossed the girl''s face. ¡°You¡¯re the new transfer student, Elle, right?¡± Nervous, Elle nodded again. The girl raised her hand to her face in mock horror. ¡°You poor thing! Your parents didn''t know about the monster haunting our town, did they? Must be terrible. Every adult here knows the rumors and wouldn¡¯t dare give their kids a palindrome. It¡¯s interesting, you know? Ever since my mom¡¯s generation, only outsiders like you have gone missing.¡± She leaned forward, her lips nearly brushing Elle¡¯s ear. ¡°Watch out for the mirrors, Elle. It would be so sad if you were to go missing, too, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± She pulled away, smug, to walk back to the cruel smiles of her friends. Elle looked back down at her food, her dirty blonde hair slipping forward to cover her face. The words had been kind on the surface; the intention behind them was anything but. She¡¯d let Elle know in no uncertain terms that she¡¯d be happy if Elle went missing, too. The joke was on her. Elle wasn¡¯t sure about the palindrome issue¨Cmaybe a serial kidnapper had a thing for that?--but she did know that there was nothing supernatural going on. Tales with monsters like these were tales of fiction. A mirror couldn¡¯t eat someone, no matter how much that girl wanted it to be true. People were the real monsters. That night, Elle arrived home to her mother hastily covering the mirror in their entryway with a bedsheet. Elle let her backpack slip to the floor in the doorway, sprinting and sliding the extra feet across the slick wooden floor. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Her mother¡¯s hands froze above the mirror, the sheet slipping to reveal Elle¡¯s baffled reflection. A dark shadow caught Elle¡¯s eye, and she blinked. It didn¡¯t reappear. ¡°I¡¯m sure you heard the rumors,¡± her mom said, flexing her fingers and snatching the fallen fabric corner up. Elle¡¯s reflection disappeared beneath the sheet. ¡°About the missing woman? Is that why you¡¯re covering the mirrors?¡± ¡°Everyone at work seemed really worried. All covering up or tossing out their mirrors. And you¡¯re¨C¡± she stopped short, biting her lip. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid! That¡¯s just some fairytale these country bumpkins tell their kids! It¡¯s like Santa! Not real!¡± ¡°Now, Elle,¡± her mother soothed, her hands tightening on the cloth, ¡°I¡¯m just worried about you.¡± Elle rolled her eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re so worried, why don¡¯t you throw them in the trash?¡± Her mother¡¯s eyes darted to the door contemplativly at that, looking like it wasn¡¯t out of the question. Elle tossed her hands and stomped away, aiming for her backpack. ¡°Seriously?¡± She raised her voice so her father, who she could hear washing dishes in the kitchen, could hear as she snatched her books. ¡°Why are you letting her do this? Whatever monster she¡¯s afraid of isn¡¯t real!¡± She brushed past her mom, expecting to see hurt. Instead, Elle saw her own frustration mirrored back at her. ¡°What¡¯s the harm?¡± her dad asked as she entered the kitchen. ¡°Besides,¡± he muttered as he dumped the pasta into the boiling water, ¡°I never liked them anyway.¡± Elle¡¯s hands clenched over her backpack strap. ¡°This is dumb. But whatever.¡± As she opened the door to her room, her mother said, ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m just worried about her.¡± She paused in the doorway, listening for her father¡¯s response. She heard them give each other a chaste kiss-gross- then he said, ¡°I know. But she¡¯s not wrong.¡± ¡°Is it worth the risk? Everyone is just so worried, and I¨C¡± Elle shut the door behind her, letting her backpack slip to the floor. This whole thing was stupid. Did that mean no mirrors in the bathroom? How was she supposed to get ready in the morning? She dropped onto her bed, reclining to look at the mirror facing her bed. She debated getting up to take it down herself, then thought, if mom wants it gone, she can get it herself. A shadow crossed the mirror, catching her eye. Elle hopped out of bed with a frown, moving to inspect the mirror. Was there a giant spider on her wall? She wouldn¡¯t put it past this new house to be infested with them. Her reflection faced her, and Elle noticed a pimple. Leaning forward to give it a closer look, she crossed her eyes, not seeing the dark figure until it was too late. Her own hands reached out to her, grabbing her arms and yanking her through the mirror before she had time to shout. A knock pounded on her door. ¡°Elle?¡± No one was there to answer. Chapter 3 - Through the Looking Glass Elle thrashed in the other person¡¯s grip, fighting and kicking with all her strength as her room kaleidoscoped around her. Her shoulder hit the floor with a heavy thud. In front of her, the door to her bedroom stood just out of reach. She clawed forward, reaching her hand out to the knob on the left side and scrambling out into the hallway. Elle sprinted to the right, aiming for the kitchen, where she¡¯d last seen her parents. ¡°HELP!¡± she cried, casting a fearful glance over her shoulder. This mistake almost cost her her life. She slammed into a tiny cabinet they kept at the end of their hall, bending half over and spilling the photos decorating the top. Her chest ached with the impact, a bruise already forming beneath her skin. Did she remember wrong in her haste? ¡°MOM! DAD!¡± Elle called, shoving herself back to gain momentum. ¡°Elle?¡± Her dad questioned, standing directly behind her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Oddly, when she saw him, her fear didn¡¯t diminish. Elle skidded to a stop. ¡°T-t-there was someone in my room! They tried to grab me!¡± Her dad shot her a sympathetic look and took a step forward, reaching for her. Elle¡¯s breath quickened, and she retreated. ¡°Elle?¡± Her dad questioned, the ¡®beauty¡¯ mark on his lip bobbing up and down as his mouth moved. Putting the impossible pieces together, Elle looked past him, searching for the couch at the end of the hallway. Her heart stopped when she found it, and her eyes widened, betraying her shock. She let the fear stay on her face as she turned her attention back to her ¡¯dad.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m-I¡¯m worried he¡¯s still in there,¡± she stuttered, her voice shaking. ¡°Can you go check for me?¡¯ He stood for a few seconds, and she thought her heart might burst with stress. Sweat dripped down her forehead, catching on her brow. Finally, he spoke. ¡°Of course, honey.¡± This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. He shuffled to the side, opening the door in a manner that suggested he wasn¡¯t worried. Elle took a sharp breath in, then took the chance. Her feet pounded against the floor as she darted into her parent¡¯s bedroom behind the last door of the hallway. She locked the flimsy wooden door behind her before springing across the room, slamming her way to a stop at their window. ¡°Elle?! Are you okay? Elle!¡± her father called. Elle ripped the blinds away from the window, sliding beneath them to unlock the window with shaking fingers. ¡°Elle sweetie, can you let me in?¡± came her mother¡¯s voice from the door. Ignoring ¡®them,¡¯ Elle flung the window open and leaped over the windowsill, not pausing for even a second as a sharp branch stabbed through her sock-covered feet. Wood cracked behind her, and she felt splinters and shards of various sizes sting into her back as pieces of the door went flying through the window with great force. Terrified, she dared not to look behind her. A furious roar echoed around her, and Elle¡¯s legs and feet burned as she ran faster, bits of rock, dirt, and sticks digging into her soles as she ran. She took a wrong turn at the fork before her, heading to the unfamiliar center of the city instead of the more familiar grounds of the local park. It was too late to change her mind now. A familiar head bobbed up ahead, one of her teachers out for lunch with her family. Elle ran up to her, panting. Her teacher smiled, lifted her left hand, and waved hello. Upon closer look, her face, usually so friendly and open, was off, just slightly. ¡°ellE,¡± she said, and Elle¡¯s heart soared. Someone who could help! ¡°ko uoy era,¡± Elle felt her heart crack in her chest. Other faces, familiar and unfamiliar all at once, swirled around her as she scanned for a place to hide. They reached their left hands up to wave hello, not reacting in the slightest to the presence she could feel behind her. The buildings grew quickly denser, and she slid into the first relatively well-hidden alleyway she spotted, breathless. Her eyes landed on a bright green dumpster, and she flung herself inside, shutting the lid overtop. The smell was nauseating, but the adrenaline kept her gag reflex from reacting. Elle buried herself in between trash bags, covering her mouth and breathing lightly with her hands, listening as footsteps entered the alleyway, walking right to where she was hiding. The person¨Cor being¨Csniffed. The lid of the dumpster lifted, bringing fresh air with it. Elle daredn¡¯t breathe, terrified she¡¯d be caught by whomever¨Cor whatever¨Chad snatched her through the looking glass into this topsy-turvy world, mimicking her father. Seconds passed, and Elle feared she might pass out. The lid dropped back down into the dumpster. Elle held her breath as the footsteps faded, waiting for seconds more, even as her lungs burned. Finally, she took a heaving gasp in, coughing as she inhaled the scene of the garbage. Her lungs and her chest and her face burned as she heaped in the filthy air. Disgusted, she flung the trash off of herself, scraping her fingernails against her arms in an attempt to remove the sticky, smelly residue from her skin and clambering out of the trash as quickly and quietly as she could balance. She lifted the lid slightly, letting the fresh, clean air run straight into her lungs. Her eyes could just make out the road, and she peered out, looking for the being that chased her. None of the people on the street behaved more oddly than the rest, and she climbed out of the dumpster, pieces of trash sticking and falling from her body as she went. Elle dusted herself off in the alleyway, removing as much of the trash as she could reach. Sauces stained her shirt, pieces of pineapple clasped to her pants, honey bunched her hair, and red ketchup mixed with the blood on her feet. The ally shadows arched overhead as the sun started to set. Elle¡¯s eyes stung, and she sniffled as she blinked terrified tears away. Most people gave her a wide berth as she walked down the street, sticking to the shadows as she saw them. She passed another alleyway, looking miserably around for any sign of her kidnapper. ¡°Psst,¡± someone in the alleyway whispered. Elle turned, expecting to see another mirrored image. Instead, she blinked as the person raised their right hand in greeting, saying, ¡°Can you understand me?¡± Chapter 4 - Cabin in the Woods Elle took a few steps backward, wary of the stranger. The creature had been able to speak forward and almost fooled her once already. The woman backed away, raising her hands in the air. Her eyes flitted around nervously as she spoke, and her shoulders were hunched forwards in fear. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt you, I swear,¡± she whispered, her voice carrying through the alleyway. ¡°I saw that thing chasing after you and thought you must be like me.¡± Elle shuddered at the reminder and clutched her arm. ¡°Who are you?¡± she demanded. The woman jumped at her words, her too-large shirt catching in the wind and revealing deep bruises along her arms and her waist. Her pants slipped down a few inches, and she yanked them up before they could expose anything. ¡°Sorry,¡± she apologized sheepishly. ¡°I was getting dressed after my shower when that creature snatched me through the mirror.¡± Elle shook her head, clutching her arm tighter. The woman looked on in concern. ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me,¡± she finally said, ¡°but I promise, I don''t want to hurt you. My name¡¯s Anna; what¡¯s yours?¡± ¡°Anna¡­¡± Elle mumbled, thinking back to the rumors she¡¯d heard only hours before. The details were right, and she desperately wanted to trust the woman. Still, she was unsure. The creature had taken the form of her dad and used the voice of her mother. Who¡¯s to say it couldn¡¯t pretend to be the missing Anna, too? Anna smiled prettily. ¡°So, your name¡¯s Anna too?¡± Elle hastily shook her head. Seeing no harm in giving out her name when the creature already knew it, she clarified. ¡°No. My name¡¯s Elle.¡± ¡°Elle, huh? What a pretty name,¡± Anna said calmly. ¡°How about I tell you the story of how I got here, and you can run off if anything sounds strange, okay?¡± Elle nodded, lifting her chin a little. Anna cast a few hasty glances around her. ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else to talk¨CI don¡¯t want to get caught.¡± She started walking away, waving for Elle to follow. Elle stood rooted to the ground with uncertainty. Comprehension found a home on Anna¡¯s face, and she clarified, ¡°The monster hunted you in front of everyone else. It wouldn¡¯t need to lure you away.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Almost of their own will, Elle¡¯s feet moved forward. She quietly followed Anna through the alleyways and shadows to a forest area on the edge of town. Elle withheld her whimpers as the undersides of her feet were battered and scratched by fallen branches and stones along their path, alternating looking at the ground and Anna¡¯s back. Anna walked patiently ahead with no sign of impatience or exasperation when she periodically turned to check on their progress. She made no move to drop back, either, which quickly became another point in her favor. An old-fashion cabin slowly made itself known ahead. The outside appeared overgrown, with weeds and different plants surrounding it at knee height. It¡¯s windows were clear, unbroken glass, and reflected the steadily setting sun illuminating the forest behind them. Anna pressed a hand against her forehead as she peeked in the windows, blocking out the light. Looking satisfied with the sight, she strode to the door, motioning Elle in. Hesitantly, Elle followed, politely shutting, but not locking, the door behind her as she entered the cabin. Anna waited on a well-kept armchair in the living room, outside of arms reach. Elle¡¯s shoulder¡¯s slumped in relief, and she used the light from the windows to take a look around. The interior of the cabin, contrary to the outside, was well kept, if a bit old-fashioned. To the right, two floral patterned couches faced a fireplace framed by bookshelves on either side. An old radio sat beneath an extremely old boxed tv, with wires and antennas draped across the wooden floor. The kitchen and dining area sat to the left, a pillar on either side of the island kitchen helping to support the roof. A three-doored hallway sat straight ahead. Glass-less paintings of flowers hung along the walls, bringing splashes of color against the bare wood. It had obviously been recently cleared of dust, with only tiny piles at the corners to indicate how long it had been between dustings. Anna¡¯s eyes flicked down at Elle¡¯s feet, and she expressed her empathy, sliding her shoes off to reveal the equally damaged soles of her feet. Her face flushed, and she said, ¡°I¡¯d just gotten out of the shower when it kidnapped me. Didn¡¯t have time to grab any shoes. The bathroom¡¯s down the hallway, first door on your left. The medicine and bandages should still be sitting on the counter.¡± Elle nodded and began shuffling her last few painful steps down the hallway. Her nose crinkled as she caught a whiff of herself. Maybe she¡¯d get to clean her clothes while she was at it. ¡°Oh!¡± Anna lifted up her shoe, showing it off. ¡°There are spare clothes and shoes in the bedroom for all different sizes. The water in the bathroom seems to be working, too, but it¡¯s cold.¡± She warned. The clothes in the bedroom weren¡¯t exactly Elle¡¯s size, but they weren¡¯t so baggy she¡¯d have trouble moving. She picked a simple faded blue t-shirt and one of the two pairs of jeans that looked like they¡¯d fit, with the zipper indicating they were originally men¡¯s jeans. She¡¯d keep her own undergarments, she figured, and wash them in the sink if she needed to. Absently, she noted that there was no mirror to be seen, anywhere. Feeling filthy, she hopped in the shower, discarding her stained and smelly clothes in the trash and using soap and clean water to wash her injured feet. The pounding water revealed forgotten injuries where the monster had grabbed her and where she had been struck with shards of glass. She took care of those injuries, too. She felt significantly better and more relaxed after the shower, almost like she was home again. Elle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, the obnoxiously pink tub broke the illusion, and her eyes burned. She blinked the tears away and returned to the living room, feeling like a person again. Anna was still sitting on the chair in the living room, her feet on the chair at her side, reading a leather-bound book that lay open on her lap. She flipped a page and asked, ¡°You feeling better?¡± Elle nodded, then realized Anna hadn¡¯t looked up. Slightly embarrassed, she said, ¡°Yes, thank you.¡± Anna set the still-open book face down on the arm of the chair. ¡°Do you have any questions for me, or do you want me to tell you what I know?¡± Elle considered for a few seconds. ¡°The second one.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Chapter 5 - The Diary of Eve Frank Anna clasped her hands across her stomach, her eyes drifting off to the side as she spoke. ¡°I was heading to grab clothes from my closet when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Thinking it was a bug, I stepped closer to the mirror to investigate. That¡¯s when the monster grabbed me,¡± she said, crossing her arms and running her hands over the bruises Elle had seen earlier. ¡°I gave it hell and managed to get outside, where I noticed everything was topsy-turvy.¡± Elle nodded along, Anna¡¯s experiences lining up neatly with her own. ¡°Like a mirror.¡± Anna smiled tightly. ¡°Exactly. Once I realized that, I was able to find a dumpster to hide in. Something kept poking me, and, when I climbed out to see what it was, I found this.¡± Anna lifted the journal, holding the first page open high for Elle to see. ¡°The diary of one Eve Frank.¡± Elle¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she ran her eyes over the unmirrored writing. Catching the movement, Anna said, ¡°That¡¯s right. According to her journal, Eve was from the real world, like us.¡± She ran her fingers over the pages gently, like she was afraid it was going to fall apart if she touched too hard. Her eyes met Elles. ¡°I didn¡¯t¨Cand still haven¡¯t¨Chad enough time to read the whole thing, yet. But it sounds like she was one of the first ones to be brought here by the monster. She lived here for years, keeping under the monster¡¯s radar.¡± Elle scooted closer on the couch, reaching her hand out. She felt like Anna was telling the truth, but¡­ ¡°Can I?¡± Anna¡¯s fingers paused their ministrations, and she nodded. ¡°Be careful.¡± She didn¡¯t need to explain how valuable the information the journal contained was. The information it contained was life or death for them. Elle nodded solemnly. ¡°I will.¡± Anna folded it shut and passed the journal over, the leather pleasantly warm where Anna had been holding it. She continued speaking as Elle flipped through the pages, scanning them to verify Anna¡¯s words. The pages were a dusty yellow, and the ink at in the front was slightly faded, adding veracity to Anna¡¯s words. Its binding was loose, and it smelled of dust¨Cclearly old. The words inside were written in cute-looking cursive, tight, clear, and small. The inside cover was simple, only a name. Eve Frank. ¡°...she wrote about her hideaway, mapping out a tiny cabin in the woods..¡± June 1, 1972 It¡¯s been months since I first arrived, and the cabin is coming along fabulously. I hid some cherry tomatoes and lettuce among the weeds and got the water working¡­. ¡°...and she updated it each time she ran across the monster...¡± ¡°....Like me, the monster doesn¡¯t have a reflection. This makes me suspect that it may be from our world, instead¡­¡± ¡°And each time she ran across someone from our world.¡± ¡°I saw another one today. Running from the monster. I should have helped him. Instead, I hid like a coward and listened as the monster devoured him whole¡­¡± Elle¡¯s breath quickened, and chills ran down her spine. As black blurred the edges of her vision, she interrupted Anna with a horrified question. ¡°It wants to eat us?¡± Her brain tried to create a picture of the monster eating her. Would it eat her like a human ate meat, separating the meat from the bone and cooking it? Or was it like a snake, opening its maw and devouring her whole? Anna gently pried the book from her shaking fingers. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay,¡± she soothed, pressing a hand on Elle¡¯s knee. ¡°You¡¯re just a kid¨CI won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The contact was grounding, and Elle drew strength from their connection. ¡°You promise?¡± If Anna had any doubts, they didn¡¯t show on her face or linger in her voice. ¡°I promise. Have you eaten yet? How about we get some food for you? How does that sound?¡± Elle¡¯s blood drained from her face, the thought of food reminding her of the monster. Realizing her mistake, Anna hastily asked, ¡°There¡¯s some ginger tea? How does that sound?¡± her voice lifted to a near squeak. Recognizing the effort, Elle wrapped her hand in her shirt and nodded. ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°Perfect. Would you like to help me?¡± Elle shook her head, her breathing still too fast. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t you come into the kitchen with me, honey? I can show you where things are.¡± Learn where things are? The hands clasped and trembling on her lap blurred with tears. She wasn¡¯t home, and this was a reminder that she might not make it home for a very, very long time. If ever. Anna tugged on her arm. ¡°C¡¯mon.¡± Elle felt puppet-like as she let herself get dragged around, Anna chattering loudly as she boiled water and pulled out the tea bags, trying to keep her calm. She handed the cup of tea to Elle, and Elle¡¯s hands wrapped around the warm glass, breathing in the powerful scent of ginger. She lifted the mug to take a sip, and Anne gently grabbed her hand. ¡°Not yet. It¡¯s still too hot for you.¡± Shakily, Elle put it down, the walls of her restraint falling with the mug. She burst into tears, quietly letting the fear and stress from the past few hours fall out in heaving shoulders and falling teardrops. Warm arms wrapped around her shoulders as Anna hugged her tight, pulling her close. ¡°I know, sweetie. I know,¡± Anna said, her voice strained. ¡°I know.¡± Her tears dropped onto Elle¡¯s shoulders, and they both broke. ¡°I don¡¯t want to get eaten!¡± ¡°I know; I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°I just want to go home!¡± ¡°Me too. We¡¯ll find a way.¡± When Elle finally pulled away, their faces were red and puffy with tears. Anna laughed, wiping away the last from her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m glad you¡¯re here. At least I¡¯m not alone.¡± Elle wiped her face and replied, ¡°I understand.¡± They pulled out chairs at the table, sipping at their mugs of tea. Neither of them was fully calm, though Anna did an admirable job of pretending to be. Elle resolved to follow her lead, promising herself they¡¯d make it out together. The next question Elle asked was difficult, but she felt like she had to know. ¡°What is it? Why does it want¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t brighten herself to say ¡®to eat us,¡¯ but Anna picked up on the question all the same. ¡°Eve never figured out what it was. I don¡¯t know if you had a chance to notice, but we don¡¯t have a reflection here, and neither does it. She suspected it was from our world, but¡­¡± Elle nodded, having skimmed over that herself. ¡°As to what it wants¡­¡± Anna trailed off, troubled. ¡°It wants to escape to our world. Eve said it got stronger with each person it¡­captured,¡± she said, kindly avoiding saying ¡®ate.¡¯ ¡°Once it¡¯s strong enough, she suspected it¡¯ll be able to do more than stick its hands through the mirror.¡± Elle¡¯s shoulders shook with a whole body shiver. It was bad enough now, but it that thing made it into the real world¡­ ¡°And why us?¡± Anna sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know. If Eve ever figured it out, I didn¡¯t read it yet.¡± ¡°You used past tense when talking about her. Did it get her?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said again. Elle¡¯s hands tightened around her cup, frustrated with the lack of answers. Anna continued speaking. ¡°I found the journal with some clothes in the trash, but I can¡¯t imagine she would have thrown it away.¡± At Elle¡¯s panicked face, she quickly added. ¡°She managed to save a few others later, and she¡¯s lived here since the 70s. She knew how to avoid it, and she was old.¡± Elle fiddled with the handle of her mug, thinking. ¡°So if we do what she did, we¡¯d survive.¡± Anna smiled. ¡°Right. I told you¨CI won¡¯t let anything happen to you.¡± ¡°But we won¡¯t ever get home?¡± Anna¡¯s smile dropped. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe that¡¯s what happened to Eve. She finally found a way out after all these years.¡± Elle could tell even Anna didn¡¯t believe her words. ¡°Maybe.¡± She just wanted to go home. She wished with all her heart she could turn back time and throw that cursed mirror to the ground, shattering it into a billion pieces. Chapter 6 - The Calm and the Storm They fell into a routine over the next few days in the mirror world. In the morning, they¡¯d walk outside and harvest what vegetables and fruit they could manage. During the day, they¡¯d use the light from the windows to scour through the cabin, searching for food and for clues. In the afternoons, they¡¯d cook up whatever meal struck their fancy with what they had and spend time pouring over Eve¡¯s books. To their surprise, in the bedrooms, they found additional journals, written by other kidnappees, verifying Eve¡¯s story. From what evidence Anna and Elle could gather, it seemed a group of 5 or so had lived in that same cabin for years before their journals mysteriously stopped a few months ago. In front of each other, Anna and Elle expressed hope that the group had managed to return to the real world. In their hearts, both were afraid it wasn¡¯t true. By the end of the first week, the two had fallen into a false sense of security, settling into their new life in the mirrored world. Their first hiccup came a week and a day after Elle¡¯s arrival. She woke with a headache and a stuffy nose. At first, she tried to play it off, telling Anna it was her allergies finally acting up. By lunch, however, it was evident to both of them that wasn¡¯t the case. Anna pressed a cool hand against Elle¡¯s head and shuffled her off to bed, worried. The rest of that day, and the next, were hazy in Elle¡¯s head. She remembered Anna telling her, ¡°I heading out to get you some medicine, do you understand?¡± Elle had groaned in return and drifted back into sleep. Still feverish, she wasn¡¯t sure what woke her the next time. She shot out of bed, panting, sick with fright. Elle listened carefully, her heartbeat slowing as she watched the sunlight drift in through the open window. A sudden crack of tree branches nearly made her jump out of her skin. At first, she calmed herself, thinking it was Anna. As the footsteps continued, getting closer to the cabin, however, a great sense of unease stole over her. She crept silently out the window, landing in the mint that grew underneath. The mint pierced through her stuffed nose, sending drainage down her face. She dared not sniffle and suppressed a cough as she slid around the edge of the cabin, stretching her neck and straining her eyes for a glimpse of the stranger. A man knocked on the cabin door, and Elle held her breath as he waited for a response. She watched as he pressed an ear up against the door, listening for footsteps. When he heard nothing, he moved to the windows, peering inside. No reflection stared back, and Elle thought her heart might never start again. ¡°It¡¯s clean¡­¡± the man muttered, looking from the inside to the weed-covered outdoors. Those two simple words were enough to restart Elle¡¯s heart, which switched to beat so fast she worried it might burst. He raked his fingers on the outside of the windows, leaving deep, inhuman groves with his fingers. Perhaps sensing her gaze, his head jerked, and Elle ducked behind the tree, muffling her breath and willing her pounding heart to return to its stopped state. ¡°Elle?¡± her classmate called. ¡°I heard you went missing¨Cwe¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere!¡± Elle didn¡¯t answer; she hardly even breathed. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. The unlocked door creaked open. ¡°Elle?¡± Her mother called. ¡°Honey!¡± ¡°Anna!¡± A young man called. ¡°Are you there?¡± Items clattered to the ground, and Elle racked her brain, thinking of anything and everything that might indicate they lived there. Steeling herself, she¡¯d peeked back around the tree, only to nearly make eye contact with it as it stalked back out the door. ¡°Elle?¡± It questioned, heading her way. Elle squeezed her eyes shut, held her breath against the coughs that threatened to wreck her body and prayed. The footsteps got closer and closer, till the creature stopped and turned around. ¡°When they return,¡± it promised itself, stalking back toward the house. Elle¡¯s stomach flipped. She¡¯d racked her brain. Still within ear and eyeshot of the monster, she crawled forward on her hands and knees, placing her hands and feet as carefully as possible. When she¡¯d felt she was far that it couldn¡¯t reach her, even if it heard her, she leaped to her feet, breathing through her mouth as she sprinted off to search for a path she vaguely recalled from Eve¡¯s diary, without looking back. She ran around a bend in the trail and smacked right into Anna, who tumbled to the ground, spilling the bag of medicine across the forest floor. ¡°Elle?¡± Anna asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Elle stumbled back, coughing and suddenly wondering if she¡¯d outpaced the creature after all. ¡°Tell me something only you¡¯d know!¡± Anna¡¯s hang hung between them, tense with worry. ¡°Elle?¡± ¡°Now!¡± ¡°You nearly chopped your finger off last week when you were dicing the tomatoes for dinner,¡± Anna said calmly. Her demeanor shattered, and she asked fearfully, ¡°Did you see it?¡± Elle nearly burst into tears. ¡°I was out back, and it found the cabin. It was looking for us.¡± She¡¯d already lost one home, and she didn¡¯t want to lose the only place she¡¯d felt safe in this messed-up world. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Anna soothed. ¡°We¡¯ll find somewhere else until it leaves. Then, we can go back home, okay?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Elle answered. She knew she¡¯d never feel safe again. They¡¯d spent the weekend camping in the trees, unable to sleep. Every snapped branch was a wild animal, or monster, ready to eat them, and every rustle of the leaves was its voice, whispering, ¡°I¡¯ll find you.¡± A few days later, they¡¯d returned to their home together in the early morning, watching through the night for any sign of movement. With no sign of the creature, they unknowingly echoed its footsteps as they strode through the door, searching the house. Once they¡¯d confirmed that it had truly left, they locked the doors and coped in their own ways. Their first evening back, over tea in the kitchen, Elle begged, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die alone. Please don¡¯t leave me again.¡± Anna stiffened, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t, I promise.¡± Ashamed, she admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t want to either.¡± That evening, and from then on, they stopped their foolish pretending. They spent the nights back to back, eyes flying open at every sound. The days they spent jumping out of their skin, as they knew daylight wouldn¡¯t keep the true monster away. Chapter 7 - We Need to Talk About Anna The next time Anna went to town, Elle went with her. They took Eve¡¯s advice, using the cover of a cloudy and rainy day to fetch necessary supplies. The walk was tense, and they lobbed sharp, nervous looks over their shoulders as they made their foray into town. With each step they took, the atmosphere grew more ominous, and Elle and Anna walked a little closer together. Soon, Elle was nearly tripping on Anna¡¯s shoes. An unnatural groove in the bricks caught her eye, and Elle looked off to the side. She wished she hadn¡¯t. ¡®I¡¯ll find you.¡¯ the graffiti said. Elle cast a glance at the unyielding and unwavering Anna, who showed no sign of discovering the terrifying message. If Anna didn¡¯t see it, Elle didn¡¯t want to draw her attention to it. Now that she¡¯d seen one instance, however, more threats struck out at her, carved into the brickwork, the glass, and the metal signs that made up their town. Some were worn and older from before their time. Others were new, planted to scare them. It was working. Elle recalled a passage from Eve¡¯s journal and shivered. ¡­Bob returned with news of threatening messages left throughout town. The others were terrified, but I knew this meant it hadn¡¯t found us yet¡­ She took the written words to heart, using them to fortify her resolve. Eve had seemed a pragmatic sort and not the kind to show optimism where it wasn¡¯t warranted. As Anna knew her way around town better than Elle, she led the way to the pharmacy they were targeting, creeping through alleyways and behind buildings. They passed beneath a three-story apartment building, and Anna paused, tilting her head and pointing at a window as she whispered, ¡°That was my apartment.¡± Longing etched itself into her face before it was wiped away by primal fear. Anna tugged on Elle¡¯s arm, yanking her forward. ¡°We should hurry.¡± Elle let Anna drag her as she looked up at Anna¡¯s window. Sitting in the window, staring at her, was a skull. Etched across it were the words ¡®You will die here.¡¯ No one in the town gave any indication they noticed the words, or, indeed, even saw Elle or Anna, unless they instigated the conversation. Eve had mentioned the phenomenon in her journal, documenting that the local ¡®residents¡¯ would only interact if you initiated. To Elle, it felt almost like she was wandering around in a video game filled with NPCs. A horror game, specifically. No one stopped them as they snuck into the pharmacy, blatantly shoving pads, tampons, medicine, toothpaste, and other essentials into their pockets and their bags. Elle happened to glance up as she shoved a bottle of ibuprofen into her pocket, catching a glimpse of the items they carried in the mirror. It was strange, she thought once again, not to have a reflection. She had no idea what she looked like anymore. Was her face thinner? Did her hair look well-kept? A man walked in front of the mirror, and Elle started to turn away. Her hand paused, and her head jerked back up. The man didn¡¯t have a reflection. Her breath caught in her throat, and she reached a hand back, grabbing Anna¡¯s wrist. Anna followed her panicked gaze, tugging Elle around the isle, and they walked unhesitatingly through the isles out of the store. Anna¡¯s face was pinched, tight with worry, and they didn¡¯t speak as they made their way home. They doubled back three times as they walked through the woods, just in case. That evening, after Elle¡¯s shower, Anna was fearful and unwilling to step close until Elle confirmed her identity, despite the impossibility of being replaced in the windowless bathroom. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. That night, as they lay in bed, Elle felt Anna¡¯s shoulders shake against her back as Anna sobbed herself to sleep. Slowly, things started to change. Anna tried to hide it at first. But Elle noticed how Anna¡¯s hands shook when she thought Elle wasn¡¯t looking. How Anna would mumble to herself when Elle was of earshot. How she¡¯d drift off while speaking, her eyes jerking around, following invisible beings. How Anna slowly started to refuse to eat, convinced the monster had done something to the food, even if they hadn¡¯t seen it in a while. How Anna would be fearful of her, suddenly rounding on Elle and accusing her of being the monster. How she refused to leave, convinced the monster was always waiting outside their doorsteps. How Anna would get lost in her thoughts and her paranoia, unable, or unwilling, to stand and move to use the restroom. At least I won¡¯t die alone, Elle thought as she slowly watched Anna go mad. Where Anna had taken care of Elle, Elle took care of Anna. She cleaned up after her, reassuring Anna, ¡°I¡¯m here. You aren¡¯t alone.¡± Sometimes, she¡¯d strike out with an optimistic ¡°We¡¯ll make it out of here, Anna. You¡¯ll see.¡± Still, Elle started keeping a kitchen knife on her, just in case. And, in a way, life got easier. As Anna fell apart, Elle picked up her pieces and fortified her own desire to survive. Elle watched closely as Anna swallowed the last of their painkillers. Anna had claimed her back was killing her, but Elle wasn¡¯t entirely sure Anna was telling the truth. She knew Anna thought she was telling the truth, though, and had given the poor woman the last of the medicine. Anna¡¯s glass clinked against the table as she set it down sharply. ¡°What? Is something wrong? Did something happen to it?¡± Anna asked, already rummaging through the cabinets for something¨Canything¨Cto counteract what she¡¯d just taken. Elle stood up, and gently grabbed Anna¡¯s wrists, stopping the wild woman in her tracks. ¡°It¡¯s safe. It¡¯s from an unopened bottle,¡± she lied, knowing she¡¯d soon have to get more. Her words agitated Anna instead of making her calmer. ¡°He can be anyone. What if it messed with it before it was bottled?¡± Elle kept gentle pressure on Anna¡¯s hands. ¡°I promise, it¡¯s safe. You¡¯ll be okay.¡± Anna yanked her hands away, a sharp gleam in her eye. ¡°What if you¡¯re the creature.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t left your sight all day,¡± Elle protested, used to the routine. It was useless, and Anna went off into another fearful rant as the sun rose higher in the sky, burning daylight. Elle interrupted her curtly, knowing Anna would only freak out worse if she didn¡¯t have pain medicine the text time Anna asked. ¡°I need to get some fresh air.¡± Anna stopped, her face awash with fear as she gripped Elle painfully by the shoulders. ¡°You can¡¯t! I won¡¯t die alone!¡± Elle gently pried her off. ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯ll just be a minute. It doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re here,¡± she soothed. Guilt stabbed at her chest, but she needed to get more pain medicine, and Anna was in no state to go with her. ¡°It won¡¯t be long, I promise. Why don¡¯t you continue reading that book?¡± she prodded, directing Anna to her usual chair. Anna allowed herself to be guided, reaching out one last time for Elle¡¯s wrist as she moved away. ¡°I don¡¯t want to die alone!¡± she cried, throwing Elle¡¯s fears back in her face. Elle closed her eyes as she pulled away, regretting that she¡¯d ever said those words. ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± she promised, ¡°I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Steeling herself against Anna¡¯s fearful cries, she walked out of the cabin, shutting the door behind her. Chapter 8 - Little Red Clouds drew closer overhead as rain pattered against the concrete. Elle paused, closing her eyes and lifting her head to let the raindrops gently caress her face. The moment ended all too soon, broken by the thought of Anna¡¯s tearful cries as she¡¯d walked out the door. Hefting her bag of stolen goods over her shoulder, Elle hid in the shadows as she skirted around the edge of town, disappearing into the woods. Her path that day was winding, adding to the time she¡¯d been gone. She pushed open the door to her ¡®home¡¯ a few hours after she¡¯d left, dropping her bag of goods on the counter. A sharp, metallic scent caught her nose, and the hairs on the pack of her neck rose. ¡°Anna?¡± She called, suddenly very worried. Just in case, she glanced over at the knives, checking to ensure no more were missing. All sat in their place on the block. Anna didn¡¯t answer. Elle swallowed the lump in her throat and hysterically thought I need an adult. ¡°Anna?¡± She tried again. ¡°Elle!¡± Anna called, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. ¡°You¡¯re home!¡± A relieved whoosh of air left Elle¡¯s lungs. ¡°I told you I¡¯d be home soon.¡± The sunlight cascade in through the clouds and the window, landing on Anna as she stepped out of the dark hallway and into the kitchen. It reflected brightly in Anna¡¯s clear eyes, and Elle¡¯s heart lifted. ¡°So you did.¡± The standard, unreversed text on the mirror world shirt caught Elle¡¯s gaze, and she immediately realized her mistake. Her temples hummed as her heart pounded like a drum. The cool metal of the knife met her hand as she slipped it into her pocket, wrapping her fingers around the hilt. Elle smiled, pulled out a package of band-aids with her other hand, and asked, ¡°How¡¯s your arm?¡± ¡®Anna¡¯ looked briefly confused before her face schooled into a more neutral expression. ¡°It¡¯s doing a lot better now,¡± She took a few more steps forward, and Elle tossed the box of bandaids at her. As ¡®Anna¡¯ reached up to catch them, Elle sprinted for the door. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®Anna¡¯s¡¯ hands smacked into the door, splintering it and rattling the wall. Her face twisted, revealing razor-sharp teeth as ¡®she¡¯ smiled. ¡°Not this time.¡± Elle changed direction, heading for one of the bedrooms. The creature¡¯s footsteps followed her leisurely as if to say, ¡®I don¡¯t have to try.¡¯ The metallic smell grew stronger, and tears burned the edges of her eyes. Elle had broken her promise and left Anna to die alone. Her shoes smacked and stuck in a thick, dark liquid that leaked through the door of their shared bedroom, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to open the door. Instead, she darted into the spare bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her as she had done her first night in the mirror world. Unlike last time, however, Elle had practiced for this. She easily slid the window open, landing lightly on her shoe-covered feet onto the mint beneath her window. Knowing what was coming next, she darted to the right, away from any potential broken window debris and towards the creek that twisted through the trees surrounding their cabin. The door splintered through the glass behind her, sending it sprinkling down with the pouring rain. Elle pumped her legs faster, drawing the knife fully from her pocket. Her foot brushed against the weeds at the edge of the treeline, and she thought she just might make it. Something heavy slammed into her back, knocking her to the damp ground. Elle twisted in the creature¡¯s grip, managing to flip herself over. The creature grabbed her hands, pinning her to the ground as she fought. With Anne¡¯s face, it leaned in, eyes flashing red and teeth razor sharp. Sharp claws dug into Elle¡¯s wrists, and she cried out in pain, almost dropping her last line of defense. ¡°Stop fighting. It hasn¡¯t worked before you, and it won¡¯t work for you.¡± Elle stopped kicking, letting her head fall limply to the floor. Tears dripped out of the corners of her eyes, mixing with the rain. ¡°What are you?¡± The monster leaned forward as if to whisper a secret into her ear. ¡°I am your Reflection.¡± ¡°My¡­?!¡± It laughed, letting go of her left hand to run a claw down her face, leaving a bloodied trail. ¡°Humanity¡¯s reflection,¡± it clarified. ¡°For now.¡± It ran the finger back down her arm and gripped her wrists so hard Elle feared her bones would crumble in its grasp. Elle gasped in pain. ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± It asked back. ¡®Anna¡¯s¡¯ head tilted in a considering manner. ¡°Thank you,¡± it continued, with a bladed smile, ¡±for letting me out.¡± Lightning crashed into the forest. The creature loosened its grip just enough, and the knife in Elle¡¯s hands flashed as she stabbed it into the creature¡¯s face. It wailed, rearing back. Elle scuttled out from underneath it, got up, and ran. Chapter 9 - ellE Steam drifted over the edge of the cup, and Mike lifted the bitter coffee to his lips, taking a long sip. His neighbors shot him dark glares as the sound drew on and on. ¡°C¡¯mon Mike, it¡¯s too early for this!¡± his closest neighbor called. Mike took another slurp of his coffee, ensuring this one was louder and longer than the last. He pulled up his email as he did, so, if asked, he could pretend he was doing work. His desk phone rang. He leaned over to read the caller ID, narrowing his eyes. It was the parents of the missing girl, Elle. They were calling about the status of the case again. He stopped his slurping, much to his colleagues¡¯ joy, and sighed, picking up the phone. ¡°Hello?¡± He questioned, without introduction or preamble. ¡°Yes, officer?¡± The mother asked, her voice high-pitched, strangled. Almost hysterical. Mike leaned his elbow on his desk, cradling the coffee against his chest. ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± he questioned, taking a quiet sip of his coffee and letting her speak on her terms. ¡°She¡¯s home! Our baby girl is home!¡± Coffee splattered over his desk and monitor. The remnants burned as Mike choked it down his throat. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Elle¡¯s home!¡± He set the coffee cup to the side, leaning back into his chair and cinching the phone between his neck and head as his fingers rested on the computer keyboard. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Congratulations,¡± he said, meaning it. ¡°Thank you.¡± He quickly switched back to duty mode, scheduling a time to speak with her and her daughter to finalize the report, and disconnected the call. The other officers bustled around him, heralding the beginning of a busy day. Mike twirled a pen in his hands, looking over the little information he¡¯d gotten from the phone call with a frown. He¡¯d suspected she¡¯d gone missing in the same manner of the unsolved missing persons cases sitting at the edge of his desk¨Cthe locked doors, windows, timing, name, and mirror in her room all pointed to that¨Cbut perhaps he¡¯d overlooked something in his initial investigation. He was happy she¡¯d returned, of course. Missing children¡¯s cases were one of the worst. But something about the situation still nagged at him. With another sigh, Mike summoned his partner, Dave, over to discuss the updates to the casein inform him of the good news. The joy that crossed Dave¡¯s face at the news made him look younger than he already was. It faltered when he noticed the frown still lining Mike¡¯s face. ¡°You think there¡¯s something wrong,¡± he stated, already knowing Mike a little too well. ¡°Something just feels off, is all.¡± Elle and her family had been unexpectedly understanding of Mike¡¯s desire to put the case to rest and had offered the opportunity for them to visit at any time in the week. Nagged by Mike¡¯s gut, the two officers headed out immediately after informing their supervisors of the updates to the case. The air was cool, chilled by the wind and moisture thickening beneath the forming clouds above. It smelled like rain, and thunder rumbled in the distance as they stepped out of their issued vehicle. The girl, Elle, looked healthier than they¡¯d expected for a missing person of a few months. Her skin was clear and free of injury, and she didn¡¯t appear to have lost any weight. Wherever she was, she was well taken care of. Dave started recording as they went through routine questions, as Officer Mike noted any suspicious movements or details as he noticed them. Once they¡¯d gotten through the standard questions, Officer Mike went off-script, following his gut. ¡°Did you have any contact with another missing person, Anna Smith, before, during, or after you ran away from home?¡± Elle¡¯s eyes were molten steel, and she didn¡¯t break eye contact as she answered. ¡°No.¡± Officer Mike nodded. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He scribbled her answer in his notebook, along with the observation of her confidence despite the lack of a picture. ¡°Are you aware that there are some in the town who think mirrors are connected to the disappearances of men and women in the area?¡¯ She shook her head. ¡°What are you implying, officer? That mirrors eat people?¡± Mike didn¡¯t give into the taunt and shrugged. ¡°Not at all. Simply that there¡¯s a rumor..¡± Elle shot them a razor-sharp grin and laughed in their face. ¡°Mirrors don¡¯t eat people.¡± Your Reflection does.