man in the mirror :: a short story

Instructions

Elena loved the antique, full-length mirror she found in the dusty corner of a forgotten thrift shop. It was ornately carved with dark, twisted wood, and it fit perfectly in her quiet, lonely hallway. The first few nights, she noticed only minor things. The air near the mirror was colder. Her reflection seemed to lag, just a fraction of a second, when she brushed her hair. She told herself it was just stress, a trick of the dim lighting.  On the third night, she walked past it at midnight. She stopped, her heart seizing. In the reflection, the hallway behind her wasn't empty. A dark, shadowy figure was standing right behind her shoulder. It was tall, bent, and it was whispering.  Elena gasped and spun around. Nothing. Just the empty, dark hallway.  She looked back at the mirror. The figure was closer now, its pale, featureless face inches from her reflection's ear.  Elena tried to run, but her legs felt like lead. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the mirror. In the glass, she saw her reflection’s face change from fear to a slow, terrible smile. The shadowy figure was no longer behind her—it was entering her, merging into her body in the reflection.  “Thank you,” a voice whispered, not from behind her, but from inside her own head.  Elena blinked. She felt fine now. Strange. She turned away from the mirror and walked to her bedroom. But the next morning, when she passed the mirror again, she didn't see her own face. She saw only the dark, bent shadow looking out from the glass, screaming in silence, while her own body, controlled by something else, walked to the front door.  Her hands trembled as they firmly grasped the cool, metal doorknob. She fought the swirling storm inside her head. A smirk played with her lips as she caught a glimpse of herself in the window. Elena forced the corners of her mouth down, shaking her head violently and sending sharp chills down her back “You can’t fight me. You’re useless tries are not enough!” The voice hissed at her. “Please,” she begged. “Don’t do this, I’ll do anything for you!” Her foot ran into a beam, the noise echoing in her ears. “I’m afraid that’s not what I need.” “Wha-what do you need? I ca-can do it I swear.” Elena stammered. Her neighbors stared in confusion and fear. Elena was climbing the tall oak tree in her front yard. Her shaky legs swung onto a branch, and she scooted towards the middle of the weak limb. She was able to gain control for a few seconds, before the voice came back. "What I need, is for you to die. So you will do just that." It said flatly. "But won't you die?" Elena asked cautiously, not wanting to anger the voice farther. "Ha! I /am/ Death." Just as the words were spoken, the branch gave out under her weight, and she fell.