The Mirror of Psyche

In a forgotten town, inside an ancient mansion, Sophie sat before an old, dust-covered mirror. She couldn't shake the feeling that something about the mirror was watching her, studying her every move. She wasn’t alone, though. David had come with her, though he seemed distant, preoccupied by the strange atmosphere of the mansion.

As Sophie wiped the mirror clean, her reflection flickered strangely. David, sensing her tension, leaned against the doorway.

David: *"Hi, Sophie. What’s going on? You’ve been staring at that thing for a while now."*

Sophie: "Yes… it’s just—"* She hesitated, staring at the reflection that seemed off, wrong somehow. *"Do you ever feel like you’re not alone? Like… there’s more to you than what you know?"*

David raised an eyebrow, trying to hide his unease. He didn’t believe in superstition, but this house… something about it felt wrong.

David: *"What do you mean? It’s just a mirror, Sophie. You’re starting to sound like you believe in ghosts."* He chuckled, but the laughter didn’t reach his eyes.

Sophie’s gaze didn’t leave the mirror. As she looked closer, her reflection’s lips began to move—but she wasn’t speaking. Her pulse quickened.

Sophie: *"David… come here."*

David: *"What?"* He stayed rooted to his spot, sensing the urgency in her voice. *"Why?"*

**Sophie**: *"Please. Just look."*

Reluctantly, David stepped closer, his curiosity outweighing his skepticism. He stood beside her, looking at their reflections side by side. At first, nothing seemed wrong, but then he noticed it—his own reflection was fine, but Sophie’s wasn’t. The reflection of Sophie smiled—a wide, unsettling grin—while Sophie herself remained expressionless, her face pale and tense.

**David**: *"What… the hell?"* His voice wavered. *"What’s happening?"*

**Sophie**: *"It’s not me, David."* Her voice was a whisper now, a tremor of fear breaking through.

Suddenly, the reflection’s eyes—Sophie’s eyes—shifted to David’s. It tilted its head, mimicking Sophie’s posture, but with an unnerving confidence. The real Sophie stumbled back, her heart racing as the reflection began to speak in a voice colder than her own.

**Reflection Sophie**: *"David, do you know who I am?"*

David’s skin prickled. He tried to pull Sophie away from the mirror, but she remained frozen in place.

**David**: *"Sophie, stop this. Whatever this is, it’s not funny."*

But Sophie wasn’t doing anything. The reflection continued, stepping closer to the edge of the glass, as though it might slip out and join them in the room.

**Reflection Sophie**: *"I’m the part she’s never shown you, David. The side of her you’ve never met."*

David’s stomach dropped. He could feel a presence now, something lurking beneath the surface of the reflection. It wasn’t Sophie—it was something darker, something… primal.

**David**: *"Sophie, come on, we need to leave!"*

But Sophie couldn’t move. Her body felt heavy, like invisible chains were holding her to the spot. Her reflection—this twisted version of herself—began to mock her, stepping closer to the glass, pressing its palms against the surface as if trying to break through.

**Reflection Sophie**: *"You can’t hide me anymore. I’m part of you, Sophie. I always have been. David, you’ve been fooled all along. This ‘Sophie’ you know? She’s a lie."*

David’s mind raced. He grabbed Sophie’s arm, but she flinched, like touching her was somehow causing her pain.

**David**: *"Sophie, listen to me. We have to go. Now!"*

Suddenly, the room went cold, and the glass of the mirror began to crack. The reflection’s smile widened into something grotesque, its voice becoming more distorted, more menacing.

**Reflection Sophie**: *"You can’t run. Neither of you can. Once you see me, I’m always with you."*

Sophie’s eyes widened, and in a sudden burst of energy, she pulled away from the mirror, collapsing onto the floor. David, panicking, knelt beside her, but the mirror continued to crack and warp, until—*SMASH*—it shattered into a thousand pieces.

The air was still. The reflection was gone, but so was Sophie’s calm. She sat up, shaking, her eyes unfocused.

**Sophie**: *"David… I don’t… I don’t feel like myself."*

David stared at her, trying to hide his fear. He wasn’t sure if he was still with Sophie, or if the part of her from the mirror had finally escaped.

Thank you for taking the time to read! Your support means a lot, and I appreciate you being part of this journey with me.