The Shadow in the Mirror

It started on a humid, rain-soaked evening. Ananya was alone in her apartment, nestled on the fourth floor of an aging building in the heart of the city. The dull, flickering light of the streetlamp outside seeped into her living room, casting long shadows that swayed gently with the wind. She was used to solitude, found solace in it even, but tonight felt different. The air was thick, not just with humidity but with something unspoken, something lurking.Ananya had recently moved in after breaking up with her longtime boyfriend, Kunal. She needed space, a fresh start. The apartment was a bit run-down, but it was hers. She had filled it with cozy furniture, books, and soft lights that brought comfort. Yet, since the move, she had been having strange dreams—dreams of a shadowy figure that stood silently in the corner of her room, watching her. She always woke up drenched in sweat, heart pounding, but she could never quite remember the figure’s face. Or if it had one.On this particular night, she tried to shake off the feeling of unease by distracting herself. She stood in front of her large bathroom mirror, brushing her hair. As the brush moved through the strands, she noticed something strange in her reflection—something fleeting, just at the edge of her vision. A shadow, darker than the dim room around her, seemed to shift behind her, near the doorway.Ananya froze. She turned her head to look directly behind her, but there was nothing. Her heart raced, her fingers tightening around the brush. "Just tired," she muttered to herself, forcing a nervous laugh. She had been working long hours and barely sleeping. That had to be it.She took a deep breath and returned her focus to the mirror, but her stomach dropped as she saw the shadow again—this time, closer, standing directly behind her reflection. It was a tall, slender shape, almost blending into the darkness of the room, but unmistakable. Her body turned cold with terror.Slowly, she spun around again. Nothing. No one was there.Her breath came out in short gasps, her chest tight with panic. Her trembling hand reached for her phone on the sink, but when she turned back to the mirror, the figure was gone. The room was empty again, except for her and her reflection.She quickly exited the bathroom, the brush still in her hand, her mind racing. She paced around the living room, trying to calm herself down. "I'm seeing things," she whispered. "It's not real."But she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, as though the shadow had followed her. Every creak of the floor, every whisper of the wind against the windows made her jump. Hours passed, but sleep would not come. She lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her body tense.Around 3 a.m., she heard a sound. It was faint, like someone softly humming, but it was unmistakable. Ananya sat up, straining to hear. The sound was coming from the bathroom. The door was ajar, and beyond it, the darkness seemed alive.Fear gripped her, but something else pulled her toward the sound—a morbid curiosity, a need to confront whatever this was. She stood, legs shaky, and moved toward the bathroom door. The humming grew louder, more distinct, almost melodic. She pushed the door open fully.The bathroom was as she had left it, except for one thing—the mirror. The surface, once clear, now rippled as though it were made of water, and within it, the shadow stood. It was no longer just a vague figure in the background. It was right there, its outline sharp against the swirling, inky depths of the mirror.Ananya's mouth went dry. She wanted to run, to scream, but her legs felt like lead. She was trapped in place, staring at the thing that was now stepping out of the mirror. It moved slowly, deliberately, as if savoring every moment. Its face—or what passed for a face—was featureless, just a smooth, dark void. But its presence was suffocating, filling the room with an unnatural cold.The shadow extended a hand toward her, long fingers curling in the air, and Ananya’s mind screamed for her to move. But she couldn’t. It touched her cheek, and the sensation was ice-cold, like death itself. Her breath hitched in her throat, and as the shadow’s hand slid to her neck, squeezing gently, she gasped.In that moment, something deep inside her snapped. With every ounce of willpower, she pulled away, stumbling backward and knocking over a small table. The shadow recoiled, retreating back into the mirror as though it had been wounded. The surface of the glass rippled again, and then it was still. The humming stopped.Ananya ran out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. She grabbed her phone and called the only person she could think of—Kunal. Her voice trembled as she explained what had happened, and to her surprise, he believed her. He had always known she had a connection to things beyond the ordinary, things she didn’t like to talk about.He promised to come over immediately.When Kunal arrived, the first rays of dawn were creeping through the windows, bathing the apartment in a pale light. Ananya threw herself into his arms, trembling. “It’s in the mirror,” she whispered. “I saw it.”Kunal nodded, his expression grim. He had brought a small bundle with him—items his grandmother had given him, things meant to ward off spirits. They worked together, carefully placing protective charms around the apartment and especially around the bathroom.But as they finished, Kunal glanced at the mirror. For a moment, his face went pale, eyes wide with fear. Ananya followed his gaze, and her heart dropped. There, in the reflection, was not the shadow—but her.Except, the Ananya in the mirror smiled back at them, cold and cruel. And in her hand, she held the same brush Ananya had dropped hours ago.