The Dark Figure

The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own. I trembled as I stood facing the unnerving image. I looked behind me several times, but no one else was in the room; however, the image in the mirror appeared to grow closer each time my gaze returned to the oval on the wall. I took a deep breath and swallowed a huge lump in my throat as I slowly forced my shaking hand to touch the mirror. A bloody hand suddenly emerged and grabbed my wrist. I tried to scream, but no sound came. As my feet left the floor, I began to kick violently trying to free myself. The harder I fought, the tighter the grip became on my wrist. Then I remembered the sword hanging on the wall to my left. I desperately groped for the weapon, but it was just beyond my reach. I frantically began to kick the wall harder in hopes that the sound would attract someone's attention. No one came, but the vibration began to loosen the mirror from its hook on the wall. It swiftly fell, crashing violently to the floor. I fell backward, hitting my head on the nearby table. All went black.

Several minutes later, I awoke and slowly sat up. The mirror lay shattered in several pieces at my feet. Five fingers could be seen in one of the fragments. I heard a wicked laugh that sent chills down my spine. I watched the fingers begin to fade until they were no longer visible. Cautiously, I searched the pieces for any remnants of the dark figure that once was there, but all I saw was my own refection staring back at me. I checked my wrist for tell tell signs of what happened. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary except for the throbbing pain from where the bloody hand had held tightly to mine.

I hurried to the kitchen for a broom so I could sweep up the pieces and toss it out of the room and hopefully my mind. When I returned, the broken mirror was gone. I searched the house to see if anyone else had entered and cleaned up the mess, but found no one. Was I imagining things? Did I dream it all when I fell and hit my head?

Something shiny caught my attention. I looked up and almost fell again. Hanging neatly on the wall was the oval mirror that moments before had laid shattered on the floor. I cautiously stepped forward to examine the glass. Not a crack could be found. The mirror looked brand new! I could not believe what I was seeing. It didn't make sense.

Being careful not to touch the glass, I carefully removed the mirror from the wall and carried it outside to the trash can. When I returned to the room, my mouth dropped, The mirror was once again in its original location on the wall. After several attempts to sell the house failed, I had no choice but to resolve to live with whatever was residing on the other side of the reflection.

A year has passed and nothing similar to the eerie event has happened since that day, but each time I pass the mirror, I still have an uneasy feeling that someone or something is watching and waiting for me, so I make sure to keep a safe distance when I walk by. Still, there are times, I think I catch a glimpse of a dark figure as I look into the reflective glass; but instead of checking behind me, I quickly walk away as I hear faint laughter fill the room.