The Man in the Mirror

I was running, sprinting even. Running from something, but I didn't know what. It was nearing me as I ran towards a clearing. I stumbled and turned. It was right there…it grabbed my shoulder… I awoke. Shaking and breathing heavily the dream felt so real. When I turned, I saw nothing because I awoke so suddenly. What was it? 

I didn't know. 

I heard a disturbance from the room adjoined to mine. Quickly rising from my queen-sized bed, I grabbed a small dagger I keep in my drawer for protection. Maybe I will need to use it. I hoped not. Moving around the edge of my bed, my heart began to race. It pounded in my chest. The door was cracked. That isn't how it was before I had fallen to sleep. Was it a robbery, or worse?

Just peeking through the crack made the door creak. I darted against the wall hoping if someone was in there they hadn't seen me. I look again. The door had opened more. It seemed that the bed, dresser, and the nightstands were untouched. I slowly opened the door as it creaked every centimeter that it was moved. As I entered the room, I felt as if I had been acting silly. There wasn't anything here in this room or any other room of the house. 

I put my dagger back in the drawer under my jeans and dragged my exhausted body into the bed. I slept restlessly. 

The next day I did what I usually do almost everyday, but that night was different than any other. 

I got dressed into my nightgown and grabbed a book to read. I turned on the lamp next to my bed, but the light bulb blew. I was left in darkness. Searching for the light, I moved gracefully against the wall. My fingers found the light switch and flipped it on. One light bulb above blew and I was left with dim lighting.

It smelled. The room reeked of cologne. A cologne that was very familiar to me, but I didn’t know from where I had smelt it. It was coming from the adjoining room. I turned toward the door and slowly walked to it. I felt something, a presence maybe. I wasn't sure. 

The door was again cracked, but before my lamp’s light bulb blew, it was closed. The second night in a row. I opened the door and entered. I was shocked. Standing there in pure awe, I was staring at the dresser mirror. It was shattered! I hadn't heard a noise to indicate that this had happened. Some urge made me get closer, and closer to the mirror until I could see my shattered reflection. I scanned the mirror, when in the top corner of the mirror reflected a horrific image, I couldn't comprehend! I saw the most gruesome looking thing hanging by it’s hands…or claws… in the corner or the room! 



I whipped my head around so quickly but nothing was there. Nothing. I looked around the entire room, but again saw nothing. 

Where did it go? It was there. I wasn't crazy. I kept telling myself this as I went back into my room and locked the door to the adjoining room. I searched my room, but nothing was there. I crawled into bed. Shaking worse than I had the night before, I kept replaying what happened, and what I had seen. That face. That horrible face was an image I wouldn't soon forget. 

It was a darkly shadowed face with pitch black eyes. The way it was clinging to the ceiling and wall in an all black outfit sent chills up and down my spine. The teeth like it had eaten nothing but meat, were sharp and there were many.  It wasn't real. It couldn't be. 

I had barely slept at all that night, but the following didn't get any better like I had hoped. I had been very cautious all day, but during the day it had been completely fine. Nothing happened in daylight. I locked the door to the adjoining room before getting dressed for the night. I replaced the light bulbs in my lamp and the ceiling fan. Pulling up the covers, I scanned the room. All was calm. 

I was drifting into sleep once again when, all of a sudden, my light flipped on then off again. I sat up in pitch black darkness and heard a demonic and eerie voice speak. It said in a raspy, low tone, “Elizabeth, I have found you. You cannot hide from me. Wherever you go I will be there right behind you, but you’ll never see me. Go ahead Elizabeth. Run…run from me! I’ll always catch you!” All was silent.

It seems as if I had been paralyzed. Unable to move an inch, my mind began to race. The lights came on.  Again, there was nothing. 

I just sat there. No part of my body would move no matter how hard I tried to move. 

I kept the lights on in horror of hearing that voice or seeing that face again.

I couldn't sleep. I stayed in bed in that same position until dawn arrived. I decided to sleep during the day the daylight hours. Thinking this was a mistake on my part. Whoever or whatever wanted to prove my theory wrong.

It was mid-afternoon. Entering my room with a false confidence that nothing would happen, I got into my bed and turned off all of the lights but my lamp. 

As I lay there, I fall asleep. My peaceful dreams are interrupted by something. The same something that had disturbed them before. I thought I knew how to beat this monster. I would sleep during the day and leave at night, but this thing had other plans for me. 

I’m awaken by a feeling, a feeling of something on my ankle. Screaming, I shake the blanket off of my legs. I heard this laugh, this maniacal laugh. Still screaming, this feeling on my foot grew stronger until it felt like a very tight grip. It pulled me.

I looked but didn't see any sign of anything on or around my ankle. It pulled me harder until my ankle was off the bed! What was I going to do? I kicked and screamed hoping that someone would here me! Then I remembered my neighbors were gone on vacation, and all of the other houses were not close to mine.

I was dragged out of my bed and onto the floor! “God help me!” I prayed. I felt some release on my ankle and thought my prayers had been answered. 

“Oh thank goodness! I was going to get up and leave, but then the entire power in the house flickered on and off. On and off. My body was paralyzed once again. “Not now!” I thought. I have to move. U have to run. Then that voice could be heard throughout the house.

“No running way Elizabeth! No running away!” 

I couldn't run away, but I must try. I jumped up and ran down the stairs and into the dining room. The chandelier swayed. Each candle, and each crystal shattered in the air! It came crashing down to the floor barely missing me. 

I could die. I’m going to die!

Running from the dining room and into the kitchen, I saw the creature again! It was slowly crawling down the stairs towards me! Its eyes gazed at me as it opened its mouth to reveal its rows of teeth. The looked like the teeth a shark would possess. I feel in terror. 

As it crawled, not quickly and in rage, but slowly and in an almost playful manner, it slowly dissipated. 

I got up slowly never letting my eyes move from the spot the monster had just been. The lights stopped flickering.

I went upstairs and grabbed some clothes quickly, and ran out the front door. I slept in a motel that night. Nothing disturbed me there. I didn't even sleep that much there. 

I’m going to leave the house. I cannot stay there. 

Why is this happening to me? I haven’t a clue, but I know I need to move. Next time might be worse. 

The fifth night was going to be different I told myself. I planned to stay in a hotel for the night. I will be moving this weekend. I must find a different house to live in. Something cozy and not haunted. This creature didn't follow me, so that means that it is the house that is haunted. 

I worked all day, but I worked later than usual. When I got to my house, I was just going to grab some clothes and essentials and leave. I didn't have a reservation so they were not expecting me. I also hadn't booked the movers yet.

I walked inside. I was speed walking hoping that I could get in and get out.

I took two large steps in the front door when I heard a click. It was the click of the locks on my doors. I turned and ran to the door. Shaking the lock was hopeless. It wouldn't budge. 

I panicked and screamed! Lunging for the window, the creature grasped my legs and dragged me across the floor! Not again! I was leaving to be rid of this thing. 

I could not get up. I could not scream loud enough for anyone to hear me. I could not calm down. 

The one thing I saw in front of me was the dagger, I had kept in my drawer under my jeans, in the monsters large and black hands. 

It laughed at me and smiled. It revealed its large teeth once more, but this time I was closer that I ever wanted to be. 

I was crying and screaming at the same time.

“What have I done? Why are you so angry with me?!” I yelled at it. 

Its head tilted from side to side before speaking. “Don’t you remember me Elizabeth?!”

“No! I don’t! Who are you?!”

“You don’t remember when years ago you let your drunk friend drive.” he glared at me, “They killed me Elizabeth, and you let them! My wife was pregnant when we were ran off the road. I was brutally killed and our child miscarried.  My wife, drowning in sorrow, killed herself!” 

I just stared.

“You thought you left your past behind, but I will continue to remind you of it!” 

I stumbled on my words. Nothing was coming out.

“You have nothing to say?!” He screamed at me. “Fine, I’ll rid you of your past once and for all!”

 He lunged his ill proportioned body towards me. I crawled back as much as I could. This couldn't be it. I was going to fight till I am free. 

I ran and tried every door and every window. All were locked. He slowly followed me. He didn't care that I was screaming and running, he just slowly followed, and watched in amusement as I tried everything in my power to spare my life. All attempts were made in vain and just weakened me. I was in my early twenties. I was too young to die! I had just made it into the bathroom. 

I tripped. It was the same as my dream. The hand grabbed my shoulder, but this time I didn't wake up, and I never would again. 

My throat was slit. I screamed one last time.

As policed investigated my body and my bathroom, they concluded it was suicide. 

He had slit my wrists and placed me in the bathtub. He only moved my body a few inches and it didn't show. The dagger they thought I had used because the monster had left not a single print, not a single hair, or a shred of evidence that he had been here. 

All was calm, or so it seemed. 

In the corner of the adjoining room was the creature. He had a smile from ear to ear. As the police left, he laughed. 

Author's Note

I would love to hear you opinions, and I'd love to hear what you think.

Reviews

[Milady_Alice_Clare]

Hey! You build up the tension really well, delaying the 'reveal' of the monster. It reminds me of Dracula and Phantom of the Opera a bit. Feeling of Gothic horror. But I found the conclusion a little rushed. After building up the suspense to have the explanation in a couple of sentences makes it feel anti-climatic. Perhaps try drawing it out a bit longer. Also you use 'I' a lot, which yeah OK you're writing in first person, but it can read quite repititive. Try finding alternative ways, for example 'I whipped my head around' could be 'my head whipped around'. You switch tenses too, so be careful of that because it will confuse your reader. Also you don't have to tell the reader everything your character does, you can leave it to their imagination. It usually helps the flow better. Hope this helps and I haven't been too critical. I really like the piece, apart from the ending, but you can't please everyone :)

[Chris]

I like the atmosphere of this, it feels a lot like a more classical horror text... sort of a Lovecraft or Poe era thing. More suspense than gore, which is always a plus.

Be sure to check out your tenses though, you switch between past, present and future and it can be distracting at times.

The story is strong though, so if the biggest chore left is cleanup there's nothing wrong with that!

[tiffanyrenee]

Thanks for your opinion! I really don't like the new gore in horror, so that is exactly what i was going for. I will take a look at the tenses. Thanks so much though. :)