What Lies Beyond | Short Story

Author of Image/Art Unknown

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"Are you sure the only you is you?" - Silent Hills P.T

A dark, fictional psychological short story written and created by me - STEPHEX.

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When you look in the mirror, how do you know the person who’s staring back at you is really you? You move and they move. You smile and they smile. You stare and they stare back. You cry and suddenly they smirk with pleasure as they watch you. It isn’t you.

An imposter in a mirrored world; a reflection of deception. You step closer and so do they. They force you to notice your flaws. The sensitive areas of your body and face you try so hard to accept are shown to you. They make you watch as they remind you of your insecurities, zooming in on each of them—tormenting you. Why are you doing this?

You look away, but they continue staring at you, judging you. Whispering fills your head, followed by spine chilling laughs—your own laugh. Stop! As you turn back to face the mirror of your existing nightmare, your heart sinks deeper inside your chest. Their beady eyes, as black as the darkest night, stare deep into your soul causing your lungs to tighten with fear. But something else is different—the image is different. And like a gust of cold air, it hits you. They’re not on the other side of the mirror anymore…they’re standing right behind you.

You gasp in horror, but their hand instantly covers your trembling lips. You try to break away from their hold, but they know your movements even before you do. They are you, they’ve studied you. They know your weaknesses, your flaws, and your deepest and darkest secrets. You close your eyes, wishing they would leave you alone. Mentally, you push them away, you curse them away—your hands gripping tighter onto the white basin. Finally, you breathe out and open your eyes, relieved to see your nightmare has vanished. It's all in your head.

Hesitant, you look up and face the mirror once more. Your heart returns to an even paced beat as relief sets in. They’re gone and it’s you again. Your reflection moves when you move, it smiles when you smile, it laughs with relief as you do. You let go of the basin and examine the mirror. You notice something is different again this time: the reflection is distorted. Confused, you reach out and touch it—your reflection’s hand pressing against yours. The cold hard glass begins to soften under your hand and fingertips, feeling like a wet metallic liquid. Your eyes widen, and just as you turn to look back into the eyes of your reflection, it’s too late. With a deep sinister smirk, their hand grasps around your wrist and they pull you in—drawing you into their world. You stumble for a moment and take in your surroundings. You’re in the same bathroom, but…everything is reversed—mirrored—and there’s no door.

You turn back to the mirror in a state of horror. You see them staring at you with that same sinister grin. No. You touch the mirror again, but your reflection doesn’t follow. NO! You bang on the glass, screaming, shouting, crying, but nothing happens. You’re trapped.

The other you on the other side of the mirror—your once reality—winks and waves their hand in farewell. You continue shouting at them, telling them to stop, but your cries are mute to them. Their eyes transition to black once again and you realise you gave them what they wanted—freedom. You gave in to your own weakness and now a total stranger who looks exactly like you lurks the halls of your home and world with your secrets, living your life, and there’s nothing you can do except watch—watch like the reflection in the mirror. And before you know it, you feel yourself fade away as it leaves you, leaving you trapped in your own dismay—your nightmare, your new home. You.