The Waiting Reflection

The old mansion at the edge of town had been abandoned for decades, but tonight,

Emma couldn’t resist exploring it. The door creaked open, revealing a dusty

hallway lined with portraits whose eyes seemed to follow her. She heard whispers,

soft at first, then urgent, echoing through the dark rooms. Suddenly,

a cold hand touched her shoulder. She spun around—nothing. Heart racing, she ran up the grand

staircase to the attic, where a single mirror stood. In its reflection,

she saw herself… but smiling back was someone else, someone who had been waiting.

She blinked, and the reflection winked. Emma realized she couldn’t move… and