Fractured

The silence of the study was oppressive as Vivian left the room where the mirror had once stood in power. The lingering chill in the air clawed at her skin, but it wasn't the cold that made her shiver. It was the reflection. That smile—the one that wasn't hers.

Sebastian trailed behind her, keeping his distance as if sensing her unease. "You should rest," he said softly. "The mirror's pull doesn't just vanish overnight. You've been through—"

"I'm fine," Vivian cut him off, her tone sharper than she intended. She stopped in the middle of the hallway, her fists clenched. "It's gone, right? Tell me it's gone."

Sebastian hesitated, then nodded. "The power's gone, yes. The house… it feels different now. Lighter."

Vivian looked at him, searching for any sign of doubt, but his expression was sincere. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. The mirror was gone, yes. She had won. So why did it still feel like she was being watched?

"Vivian," Sebastian said, stepping closer. "You did what my father couldn't. You severed the mirror's grip. You're free now."

Free. The word echoed in her mind, hollow and unfamiliar. She wanted to believe it, to feel the relief she should have felt. But something inside her whispered that the fight wasn't over.

"I need air," she muttered, brushing past him. "I'll be back."

"Wait—" Sebastian called after her, but she was already halfway down the stairs.

The night was quiet, the estate bathed in pale moonlight. The forest loomed in the distance, its twisted branches casting jagged shadows over the grounds. Vivian stepped onto the lawn, the cool grass brushing against her boots. She inhaled deeply, hoping the fresh air would calm her racing mind.

But the stillness only made her thoughts louder.

She kept seeing the moment she touched the mirror, the way the world had shifted and bent around her. The figure—the reflection—hadn't been destroyed. It had dissolved, yes, but where had it gone?

The faint crunch of footsteps broke her thoughts. She turned sharply, her heart leaping to her throat.

"Sebastian?" she called, her voice barely above a whisper.

No answer.

Her pulse quickened as she scanned the shadows. The forest seemed darker now, the air heavier. She thought she saw movement—a flicker of something just beyond the tree line.

"Get it together," she muttered, shaking her head. "There's nothing there."

But as she turned back toward the house, her breath caught in her throat.

Standing in the middle of the lawn was a figure.

It was her.

Her reflection stood perfectly still, its head tilted slightly to the side. Its eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, and its lips were curled into that same wide, knowing smile.

"No," Vivian whispered, her voice trembling. "You're not real. You're gone."

The reflection didn't move, but its voice echoed in her mind.

"You invited me in, Vivian. Did you think I would just disappear?"

Vivian stumbled back, her chest tightening. "You're lying. I destroyed you."

The reflection laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "You didn't destroy me. You freed me."

"No," Vivian whispered, shaking her head. "I took you back. You're a part of me now. You can't hurt anyone else."

The reflection stepped closer, its movements fluid and unnatural. "Oh, but that's where you're wrong. You didn't take me back, Vivian. You let me out."

Vivian's heart pounded as she backed away. "What do you want from me?"

The reflection's smile widened. "I already have what I want. You."

Before Vivian could respond, the reflection vanished, dissolving into the night like smoke.

She stood there, frozen, her mind racing. The air around her felt heavy, charged with something she couldn't name. She looked back toward the house, half-expecting to see the reflection waiting for her in one of the windows.

But the house was dark and silent.

When she finally returned inside, Sebastian was waiting for her in the library. He stood as she entered, his eyes scanning her face.

"What happened?" he asked. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Maybe I have," Vivian said, her voice hollow.

Sebastian frowned, stepping closer. "What do you mean?"

She hesitated, the words catching in her throat. How could she explain what she had seen? That her reflection had followed her, spoken to her, threatened her?

"I…" She shook her head, forcing a weak smile. "It's nothing. Just the aftereffects of… everything."

Sebastian didn't look convinced, but he didn't press her. "You need to rest. The mirror's world takes more from you than you realize. It's over now, Vivian. You're safe."

Safe. The word felt like a lie.

She nodded numbly, letting him believe her silence was agreement. But as she climbed the stairs to her room, her mind raced with questions.

If the mirror was truly gone, why could she still feel its pull? Why had her reflection followed her?

And what did it mean when it said, You let me out?

Vivian closed her door and leaned against it, her breath unsteady. She looked at the small vanity in the corner of the room, the polished glass of the mirror reflecting her pale face.

For a moment, she thought she saw something move in the reflection—a flicker of motion that didn't match her own. But when she blinked, it was gone.

Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was watching her.

From somewhere deep within, a whisper echoed faintly in her mind.

"It's never really over."

To be continued...