Ray entered Benet's room and shut the door. After a brief inspection, he saw no mirrors in the room.
He pulled his hoodie off and dropped it on the bed. His jaw still hurt like hell.
After stripping, he wrapped himself in one of the neatly folded towels in the closet.
The doorknob was cold as he gripped it.
Was it just his fear of bathrooms or something else?
As he opened the door, he froze. A huge mirror stared back at him. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except the raised eyebrow.
He touched his brow - it was smooth.
"Sarah!" He yelled turning away from the mirror.
He slipped on his shirt that laid on the floor and crumbled to the floor in a painful heap.
The door bounced open and Sarah rushed in.
She knelt beside him. "What happened?"
He could only point at the door.
She followed where he pointed with her gaze. "What? Is something in there?"
"There's a mirror in there!"
Her eyes widened. "A mirror? How can there be a mirror in there? Mom made sure all the mirrors were discarded."
"Not all, apparently." He murmured, rising to a sitting position.
She stood to her feet. "Let me check it out."
He held her back. "Don't go in there."
She looked down at him. "Hold on."
She scurried out of the room.
He realized he was wearing only a towel.
Sarah returned with a hockey club.
"Let's see who should be more afraid." She said with a wink, inching toward the door.
She kicked the door open. The door bounced on the wall and rebounded. Sarah pushed it open, stepping in with calculated steps.
Ray tried to peer around her.
"There's nothing here." She finally said.
He let out a loud sigh of relief.
Then, she picked out a heavy wooden brush and smashed the mirrors.
It clattered into the sink and on the floor. But, she didn't stop there. She pounded her booted feet into the broken shards until they were fine particles. The sound of her grunts and crunched glass filled the air.
Ray watched her channel all her fury and frustration into the task of grinding the mirror.
She packed the shards that landed in the sink and dropped them on the floor, pounding them like she did the others.
When she was done, she was panting like she just ran a marathon. Her hair fell around her face.
"Woah."
Sarah turned to him, flushing beet red. She ran a hand through her hair.
"I just wanted to make sure it was completely destroyed." She quickly said.
Sarah stepped away from her work of art, her chest heaving furiously.
"I should tidy this up. Don't come in here."
Her gaze fell on him.
Ray followed her gaze. She was staring at his chest.
He climbed to his feet.
"I didn't notice you weren't dressed before. My bad."
Averting her gaze, she left the room.
Her mom walked into the room.
"What was all the commotion about?"
Ray turned towards her.
"There was a mirror in there."
She slapped her palm on her forehead.
"Benet!" She yelled through gritted teeth.
Ray blinked.
"Children never learn." She muttered and left.
"Not true." Ray whispered to himself.
Sarah returned with a brush and dustpan. She gathered the particles to one place and packed it all up.
When she was done, she slid down to the ground, her breathing ragged.
"Do you believe shards are dangerous?" Ray asked, breaking the silence.
She didn't look at him.
"A month ago, I didn't believe mirrors were dangerous."
"What about the shard I have in my bag? Is it a good idea to keep it?"
A long sigh escaped her.
"You can keep it. I don't think people can pass through tiny fragments like that. But… I'm not sure."
He climbed to his feet and went to her room. Fetching the shard from his bag, he studied it.
After a while, she appeared at the doorway.
"Looking at it won't solve any mystery."
He glanced up briefly.
"Maybe."
"Aren't you going to shower? The mirror is gone, Ray."
A shiver ran through him at the mention of the mirror.
"I will. Give me a minute."
She inhaled loudly. "Well, meatballs are ready." As an afterthought, she added, "They're best eaten when hot."
Then she left. He could hear her footsteps as she descended the stairs.
"Why can't I see myself?" He asked the shard - as if the answer would somehow reveal itself.
Sighing, he stuffed it back in his bag and headed for the shower.
Once clean and dressed in Sarah's brother's clothes, he went downstairs.
The smell of spiced meat filled the air. His appetite stirred.
Mrs. Tolen was sitting at the head of the table of six, while Sarah sat at the other end.
He took a seat beside Sarah while her mother muttered a prayer.
"Dig in." She said.
Ray ate like the hungry boy he was. Only when he had finished and others hadn't did he realize that he'd been sprinting.
"You like it?"
He nodded. "It's very good."
Almost as good as his mother's. The thought brought back painful memories. He clenched his fist.
The doorbell chimed.
He and Sarah exchanged glances. The atmosphere of the room suddenly became chilly.
"Relax, children. It's probably the mailman." Sarah's mom said with a laugh.
"I'll get it."
Ray stood up from the table before he finished talking.
Sarah followed him, abandoning her food.
"We're becoming paranoid." She whispered behind him.
His hand hesitated at the knob.
Then, he opened it.
The mailman stood there. His brown uniform was neat, his cap barely covering his long brown hair.
A man of average height.
But, his smile was weird. It faltered as he handed Ray the pile of letters.
Then, the man fell on Ray.
All Ray heard was the sound of metal sliding through flesh. The metallic scent of blood filled the air.
When he looked up, he saw a woman standing there with a knife in her hand. Blood dripped from the sharp blade, splattering onto the pavement.
Sarah screamed louder than the wail of a police siren.
Ray struggled to hold the dead man's weight, but stumbled backwards, crashing into Sarah.
It was no ordinary woman that stood there. It was Mrs.Tolen.
"What's going on…" Sarah's mom asked, freezing at the end of the hall.
A sly grin curved her duplicates features.
"Run, mom! Get away from her!"
Instead of running, she remained there, her mouth wide open.
"What… What do you want from me?"
Sarah snapped back to reality and grabbed a picture frame on her wall.
She swung it forcefully. The wood splintered everywhere as it smashed into the Reflection's head.
Just before the woman fell, she swung her blade at Sarah.
The woman collapsed to the ground with a loud thud.
Blood trickled down Sarah's arm. Ray pushed the man off and ran to her.
"You're hurt."
She looked down at her arm as if just realizing it.
"It's nothing." She was panting so hard. "We have to tie her up. A lot of information could be gotten from her."
Ray didn't move.
"What are you waiting for? She won't remain unconscious forever?"
Together, they dragged the woman to the couch and tied her hands with hair ribbons.
Sarah's knots were as tight as possible.
Mrs. Tolen huddled up at a corner, clutching her phone to her chest.
When they looked at her, she said, "I've called the police."
Ray turned to Sarah.
"What now?"
She shrugged.
The woman began to stir slowly, her eyes opening.
She jerked against her restraints.
"Untie me."
Sarah's mother whimpered.
"The moment I break free, I'll slit her neck," She pointed at Mrs. Tolen. "Then, I'll slit yours."