The Reflection That Walks

Aarav ran.

His breath came in ragged gasps, his pulse hammering against his skull. The tunnel was endless, a twisting labyrinth of metal and shadows. But behind him—

Footsteps.

Not his.

Not the girl's.

Something else.

Something that looked like him.

The girl was ahead, sprinting like she knew exactly where to go. "Faster!" she hissed.

Aarav didn't need to be told twice.

The thing behind him wasn't running. It wasn't even walking fast.

It was strolling.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Like it had all the time in the world.

Aarav risked a glance over his shoulder—

And almost tripped.

It was still there. His reflection. But now, its arms were slightly too long. Its fingers curled unnaturally, like claws itching to dig into something.

Its eyes glowed faintly.

And worst of all—

It was still smiling.

The girl grabbed his wrist and pulled him through a sharp turn. The tunnel widened into a larger chamber, its walls covered in mirrors.

Aarav skidded to a stop. "Are you kidding me?!"

The girl didn't answer. She was already scanning the room, eyes sharp and calculating. "There should be a door—"

"Should be?"

Before she could respond, the room shuddered.

A low hum vibrated through the air.

The mirrors rippled.

Aarav turned back to the tunnel entrance—

The reflection was there.

Standing perfectly still. Watching.

The girl stiffened. "Damn it. It's already inside."

Aarav's throat went dry. "Inside what?"

She exhaled sharply. "Inside you."

The reflection tilted its head. "I only want what's mine," it murmured.

Aarav took a shaky step back. "I'm not yours."

The reflection laughed. A low, distorted sound.

It reached out—

And pressed its hand against the mirror closest to it.

The glass rippled like water.

Aarav's breath caught.

Then—

A second Aarav stepped through.

Identical. Same face. Same height. Same clothes.

Except this one had no eyes.

Just empty sockets filled with darkness.

The first reflection stepped to another mirror. Touched it.

Another Aarav crawled out.

This one had no mouth.

The girl cursed. "We need to move. NOW."

Aarav was frozen.

One by one, they emerged.

Aaravs with missing features. Twisted versions of him.

Each one moving closer.

Each one whispering—

"You don't belong here."

"Give it back."

"He's waiting for you."

The first reflection, the original, smiled wider. "You can't run from yourself forever."

The girl grabbed a metal rod from the ground. "Get to the door."

Aarav's voice shook. "What door?!"

She jabbed the rod at one of the mirrors—and it shattered.

Beyond the broken glass, a dark passage stretched into the unknown.

"That door," she said.

Aarav didn't hesitate. He ran.

But as he dived through the opening, he heard the reflection's final whisper:

"Soon, you'll come back on your own."