Whispers from the Mirror
Shaina Tranquilino
October 2, 2024
Sara stood in front of the bathroom mirror, the warm steam from her shower fogging the edges of the glass. Her reflection stared back at her, tired eyes and tangled hair. She sighed, reaching for her toothbrush, when somethingāfaint, almost imperceptibleācaught her attention.
The voice was soft, like the barest breath of wind. She froze, her hand gripping the toothbrush. Her eyes flicked to the foggy mirror, heart pounding in her chest. For a moment, all was silent. She shook her head, brushing it off as the remnants of sleep clinging to her mind.
The next morning, the whisper returned.
This time, it was louder, clearer. She whipped her head toward the mirror, scanning her reflection for any sign of the voiceās source. But it was just her, standing in the dull morning light, staring into her own eyes. She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, and hurried out of the bathroom.
Days passed, and each morning, the voice grew stronger. At first, it called her name in that soft, eerie tone, but as the days wore on, it became insistent, demanding.
āSara⦠Look at meā¦ā
Her mornings were now filled with dread. She began avoiding the mirror altogether, brushing her teeth in a hurry, refusing to meet her reflection. But the voice was always there, louder, more desperate. Even in the middle of the night, she swore she could hear it calling her, muffled but present, pulling her from sleep.
One night, after waking drenched in cold sweat, she made a decision. She had to know what it was. She had to face it.
The next morning, she stood before the mirror, hands trembling, her reflection distorted by her fear. The voice was loud now, deafening, an urgent, hoarse whisper.
āSara⦠Look at me. Pleaseā¦ā
She slowly raised her eyes, staring into her own reflection. But as she looked, something strange began to happen. Her reflection didnāt move in sync with her. It stood still, staring at her with a cold, dead-eyed gaze, while Saraās breath hitched in her throat.
āWho are you?ā Sara asked, her voice shaking.
The reflectionās lips curled into a sinister smile. It wasnāt her anymore. It was something else, something wrong. The face in the mirror was twisted, eyes dark and hollow, mouth stretching unnaturally wide as it spoke.
āIāve been waiting,ā it hissed. āSo long, waiting for you to let me inā¦ā
Sara stepped back, her chest tight with panic. Her reflection followed, not in motion, but as if it glided toward her. The air in the bathroom grew colder, thick with a suffocating presence.
āWhat do you want?ā Sara whispered, her back pressing against the door.
The figure in the mirror tilted its head, its grin widening.
āYou,ā it said, voice dripping with malice. āI want you.ā
Without warning, the bathroom lights flickered, and the mirror began to ripple, the surface warping as if the glass were made of liquid. The reflection's hands, once flat against the mirror, began to push through, stretching into Sara's world. The pale fingers reached for her, grasping the air, clawing for her skin.
Sara screamed, stumbling backward, but the hands were faster. Cold, clammy fingers latched onto her wrists, pulling her toward the mirror with an unnatural strength. She fought, thrashing and kicking, but the mirror seemed to drag her closer, its surface swallowing her inch by inch.
As her reflectionās face loomed closer, its empty eyes locked onto hers, Saraās breath hitched. The last thing she heard before the darkness consumed her was its final whisper.
The mirror fell silent. The bathroom returned to its usual stillness, the air warm once more.
A day later, Saraās friend, Emily, knocked on her apartment door. When no one answered, she let herself in. Everything looked normal, except for the bathroom. The door was ajar, the mirror perfectly clean, gleaming in the dim light. Emily stepped closer, calling Saraās name.
When she looked into the mirror, there was no reflection.
But a faint whisper echoed from the glass.