Chapter Two: Mirror Monster

Charles found himself within the realm of dreams, standing in a vast expanse of darkness. The absence of light was suffocating, instilling a deep sense of unease within him.

He strained his eyes, searching for any source of illumination or maybe a path to follow, but there was nothing but impenetrable blackness.

A glimmer of hope sparked in the distance as a faint source of light appeared beckoning to him, calling out from the void. With a mixture of fear and curiosity, he stepped forward to see the nature of the light.

As he approached, the light intensified, growing brighter and more radiant. The darkness seemed to shrink away as if being consumed by the brilliance emanating. It pulsed with an ethereal glow, casting a soft, white light upon the surrounding emptiness.

His heart pounding, Charles stood before the source of light, and to his surprise, it took the form of a mirror the one he had brought to the library from his grandfather.

It had undergone a remarkable transformation, from each of the four corners, where the feather engravings reside, and radiant wings of light materialized.

These luminous and translucent wings expanded gracefully, unfurling like the wings of celestial beings. The mirror defied gravity, suspended in the air, hovering in place.

Moving closer to the mirror, his breath quickened with anticipation mixed with trepidation and a sense of unease began to gnaw at his core.

Instead of his reflection, the mirror revealed a haunting sight. A pair of teeth emerged from the mirror’s surface, sharp and menacing. They lunged towards him with a ferocious hunger, and before he could react, they sank into both of his eyes.

Pain and agony exploded within him, searing through his entire being. His screams echoed through the void, but there was no respite from the torment. The intensity of the pain intensified as if flames were engulfing his eyes burning away his sight.

In a jolt of terror, the young man abruptly woke up from his harrowing nightmare, drenched in a cold sweat. He sat upright, gasping for air, desperately trying to shake off the remnants of the dream that clung to his consciousness.

Trembling, he reached up to touch his eyes, relieved to find them intact and unharmed. It took a few moments for him to collect himself, his rapid heartbeat gradually slowing down to a more regular rhythm.

Just a dream, it was all just a dream. Intent on moving on from the nightmare he looked outside a window to see that the day was still not here. Unable to go back to sleep he headed downstairs where the boxes of books, furniture, and the mirror were by the front door.

Distracting himself from the lingering effects of the nightmare, he focused on some of the tasks at hand. First, he would assemble some more bookshelves and then decide how he wanted to actually begin sorting the books.

Charles set to work assembling the remaining shelves, his hands moving with purpose, determined to keep his mind occupied. The rhythmic clinking of metal and the soft sound of wooden pieces fitting together provided a comforting distraction.

As he worked, he couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that lingered from his nightmare. The image of the mirror and the sharp teeth hauntingly replayed in his mind. He tried to push it aside, attributing it to a mere figment of his imagination, but a sense of unease gnawed at him.

Finishing three shelves, Charles stepped back to admire his handiwork. The newly assembled shelves stood tall and sturdy, ready to hold the weight of countless stories and knowledge. He lined them up against the walls, creating a sense of structure and order within the library.

He decided that once someone entered the library that on their right would be nonfiction and educational with a focus on history, language, and culture in the front and more scientific books in the back. The left side would be filled with fiction, with medieval fantasy genres in the front, modern stories in the center, and science fiction in the back.

With a general layout in mind, he went to the nearest cardboard box and began unpacking it when the mirror caught his attention. Curiosity sparked, and he walked closer to get a good look. Its reflective surface showed Charles as he was, there were no dark areas of himself or monstrous teeth, only his own tired expression.

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Just as he was about to turn away, a flicker of movement caught his attention. A fleeting shadow, a mere glimpse that disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Charles’ heart skipped a beat, his mind racing to rationalize whatever it could be. Was it a trick of the light? Or perhaps his imagination playing tricks on him?

A sudden chill filled the air, causing a shiver to run down his spine. The mirror’s surface seemed to ripple, distorting his reflection for a split second before returning to normal. He stared at the reflective surface, his eyes scanning for any signs of abnormality.

Just as he was about to dismiss it as a trick of the light, his gaze shifted to the main entrance of the library. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a figure standing just outside, peering inside through the glass door. It was a little girl, her face obscured by darkness.

Fear gripped Charles, and his mind raced with questions. How did she get there? What was she doing outside at this hour? His instinct was to retreat, to find safety within the confines of the library, but his curiosity compelled him to stay and observe.

The girl remained motionless, her eyes fixated on Charles. There was something unsettling about her presence, something that sent a shiver down his spine. She appeared to be around seven years old, dressed in a tattered, pale dress that hung loosely on her small frame. Her jet-black hair fell messily around her shoulders, and her skin had an unnatural pallor.

A mixture of fear and concern welled up inside Charles. He cautiously approached the main entrance, his eyes never leaving the little girl. As he got closer, he noticed something peculiar. There was no sign of her breath in the cold night air, and her feet didn't seem to touch the ground.

"Hello?" Charles called out tentatively, his voice quivering slightly. "Are you lost? Do you need help?"

The girl remained silent, her gaze piercing through him. Her eyes, though obscured by darkness, seemed to hold a depth of sorrow and longing.

Charles reached out a hand to open the door, but as his fingers grazed the cold metal handle, an overwhelming sense of dread washed over him. He hesitated, unsure of what awaited him on the other side.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open slowly, the creaking sound echoing through the empty library. The girl's eyes followed his every movement, and as he stepped outside, a gust of wind swept through, causing the girl's dress to billow around her like an ethereal specter.

Charles, sensing the girl's distress despite her silence, mustered his courage and approached her slowly. His own fear subsided as he saw the girl shivering and noticed tears glistening in her eyes.

"Hey there," he said softly, trying to sound as comforting as possible. "It's okay, you don't need to be scared. Are you lost? Do you need help?"

The girl's gaze remained fixed on him, her eyes wide with apprehension. Charles took a step closer, making sure to maintain a gentle and non-threatening presence.

"I have a warm place inside," he continued, gesturing towards the library entrance. "If you want, you can come in and warm up. I can make you a cup of hot chocolate and get you something to eat. I'm sorry I don't have much, but I'll do what I can."

The girl hesitated for a moment, her small frame trembling in the cold. Slowly, she nodded, her expression conveying a mix of gratitude and vulnerability. Charles extended his hand, offering her reassurance as he guided her toward the library's entrance.

Once inside, Charles closed the door behind them, shutting out the eerie darkness and biting wind. He led her to a cozy corner of the library, it had a bay window with soft cushions and a small table.

"Please, have a seat," Charles said gently. He hurried to the nearby kitchenette, filled a kettle with water, and placed it on the stove. As he waited for the water to boil, he rummaged through the cupboards, finding a box of hot chocolate mix and a packet of pretzels.

"I'm sorry it's not much," he apologized, placing the items on the table. "But I hope it helps warm you up a bit."

The girl looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and uncertainty, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. Charles prepared a cup of hot chocolate, carefully stirring in the mix and adding a dollop of warmth and comfort to the steaming beverage. He placed it in front of her, along with a small plate of pretzels.

"I hope you like it," he said, offering her a warm smile. "Take your time, there's no rush." The girl took hesitant sips of the hot chocolate and nibbled on the pretzels and a smile appeared on her face.

Excusing himself to the nearby kitchenette out of sight, he reached for his phone and attempted to call the local police to inform them about the little girl, but he soon found that he didn’t have any cellular service and nothing but static was heard when he tried to call.

Frustrated he decided he would take the little girl down to the police station once the sun rose. Returning to the alcove, Charles paused and picked out a colorful children’s book hoping it would offer a distraction during the wait.

With the book in hand, he approached her and found that she had already consumed all the hot chocolate and finished the pretzels. A mix of surprise and concern washed over him, realizing that the girl must have been famished. He knelt down beside her, his voice filled with gentle warmth.

"Did you enjoy the hot chocolate and pretzels?" he asked softly. The girl looked at him, her eyes now reflecting a glimmer of gratitude and trust. She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

"I'm glad," Charles replied, relief evident in his voice. "You must have been really hungry. I'm sorry I didn't have more to offer."

He placed the children's book on the table in front of her, gently sliding it closer. "I brought you a book. Would you like me to read it to you?"

The girl's eyes widened with curiosity as she glanced at the book, and then she nodded, her expression eager for the story to unfold.

Charles settled down next to her and began reading a tale about a baby bear getting lost from its momma bear in the winter, the tales of adventure it went through trying to find its family, and finally reuniting with its mother.

The little girl fell asleep in the alcove with tears falling down her face. Charles felt a subtle shift as if reality itself was subtly warping around them. The girl began to fade, her form dissolving into a swirl of dark and white particles.

The white particles slowly lifted into the air, sparkling like tiny stars, and Charles could almost sense a weight lifting from the room. They danced and twirled, vanishing into the ceiling, as if drawn towards an invisible force above.

Simultaneously, the dark particles coalesced, swirling around the mirror nearby. They merged with the mirror's surface, creating an intricate pattern of shadows within the glass. Charles watched in awe as the mirror seemed to absorb the darkness, becoming imbued with an eerie aura.