Halloween Story: Mirror, Mirror (Part 2)

The question was how did it get there. Why would someone put a hand print on the reverse of a mirror? It made no sense whatsoever. Maybe whoever made the mirror did it, in the same way an artist signed their work.  Libby didn't know. Whatever the reason was, the sunken hand irked her.  Fortunately, her shaking had finally subsided. Clambering to her feet; she grabbed the throw and flung it back over the mirror. When Josh got home she would tell him in no uncertain terms that, the mirror and come to think of it, the rug as well were both going. If she had to take them down to the bottom of the garden and burn them, so be it.

In the kitchen she found that Josh had left some delicious home-made soup in the fridge and he had even baked some fresh bread to dunk into it. Seeing such details, her agitation subsided slightly. She admitted to herself he wasn't a bad man. Placing the bread and piping hot soup on a tray, Libby made her way to the sitting room. With her arms laden down, she couldn't hop across the rug. Gritting her teeth, she crossed it, thankfully it only took four steps before she was off it. Do not fear you won't be here much longer. Whilst her appetite hadn't properly returned her grumbling stomach insisted on being fed.

The soup went down so well, she heated herself another bowl before curling up in her favourite chair with a book. It wasn't long before her eyes started to droop, convincing her to put the book on the coffee table and snuggle down for an afternoon nap. 

Drifting into a sweet slumber she was awoke abruptly by a persistent banging coming from the hall. 

What on earth was going on? 

Then she heard it, humming. Specifically the type of humming Josh did when he was at his most content, up to his neck in antiques. Oh, no this wasn't going to be good.

Libby headed towards the hall, anxiety rising with each step she took. Opening the sitting room door, she was surprised and delighted to see the hall was clear of any new arrivals. Josh was standing with his back to her in the kitchen. On the counter beside him stood a huge brown box out of which he was taking an array of yummy looking ingredients. She also spied two bottles of her favourite wine. Relief swept over her in waves.

"Hello, honey. Did you have a good …" But she was unable to finish her sentence as a glimmer of light caught her eye. Swinging to the right, her breath held in her throat as she faced her reflection and the new mirror which now hung above the sideboard. If it was possible for an inanimate object to emit a feeling the mirror would be radiating smugness right about now.

Her head swung back towards the kitchen door, unable to believe what she was seeing. 

Unable to contain herself she screamed "Noooooo!" from the pit of her stomach, her voice thundered around the room. Clenching her fists at her sides, she roared "Whyyyyy? You just couldn't wait one damn minute could you?"

"I, umm, it was just, you know …" Josh stuttered, his body stiff, a bag of apples swinging from his right hand.

"No I don't know." Sighing slowly, she closed her eyes, shaking her head. When she spoke again, her voice was as cold as the Arctic Sea, its icy waves rolling over Josh. "I take that back. Yes, actually I do see. I see all too clearly. I do not figure into this equation at all. What I want really doesn't matter."

As each word hit its mark Josh's eyes grew wider. His jaw clenched like a tightly sprung coil.

"Before I say something we are both going to regret," placing the apples on the counter and taking his car keys from his jeans pocket, Josh continued, "I think a little space between us would be advisable."

Stalking past Libby careful to avoid any further eye contact, Josh slammed the door behind him as he stepped into the cool night air.

Tears of pure frustration roll down Libby's cheeks as she stumbles towards the kitchen. She doesn't bother to count her steps she takes over on the god damned rug. Slumping onto the nearest stool, she reaches for a wine glass.

"Now you know your place." A chilling voice whispers softly in her ear.

"Shut up!" she yells into the empty room. "Just shut the hell up and leave me alone."

Her hands tremble with a combination of rage and despair. Snatching the glass from the side, it slips from her fingers, like a leaf slowly tumbling from an autumn tree. Libby watches as it falls but rather than attempt to catch it she grabs another glass and throws it against the gleaming splash backs behind the sink. The satisfaction of watching fragments of glass spray over the side and into the bowl was instantaneous.  As small shards hit the porcelain they tinkled softly.

This melody is followed by a deep sinister chuckle which sent icy ripples running through her body. 

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" came a reply.

The scared little girl that still resided in Libby wanted to call Josh, beg him to come back and make her feel safe. The stubborn woman she had grown into refused to back down.

"I would bloody well love that." She snapped as she hopped up off the stool. "You are not welcome here. Go back to wherever the hell you came from."Running into the hall, the hairs on the nape of her neck stood up. Tension weighed on her shoulders making her feel like a female version of Atlas.

"Is poor little Libby scared? Oh my, what should she do?" the voice continued to taunt her.

Take the stairs two at a time, her lungs hammered in her chest as she fled into her bedroom.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Libby said, leaning against the wall and she tried to catch her breath.

A foul breath caressed her ear and the most sinister of voices said, "Because I can."