Looking around blindly, every muscle in my body locks in terror.
I remembered the rule for this situation: If the candle goes out before 4:34, do not move and do not look back.
So I closed my eyes and took in a breath
I wasn't sure how long I'd been down here, but surely... sitting here till 4:34 wouldn't be too long.
One, two, three, I counted mentally to calm myself but the cold from the fan was literally freezing.
I shivered, wrapping my arms about myself in a bid to keep warm, but it didn't really do much; the fan was at the highest speed l.
Soon the cold was sinking into my bones and my teeth were chattering.
At that point I decided to call Jake.
However as I opened my mouth to call him, my chattering teeth bit down on my tongue.
"Mmunmm," I groaned, the pain temporarily driving the cold away as brought my right hand to my mouth.
Lifting the hem on my top up, I began rubbing my bleeding tongue over the cloth's material.
Just then I heard something thud behind me.
I jerked, but I didn't turn.
Staying still and completely forgetting about my bleeding tongue, I let go of the hem of my top and craned my head to the side, straining my ears for any sound.
But I heard nothing.
I sighed, and leaned back in my seat only to hear breathing behind me.
HmmMhmm, HmmMhmm.
It was slow and heavy, and I panicked.
"Jake?"
He didn't answer, but something cold brushed against the back of my neck.
"Jake!" I shouted and the fan behind me stopped turning completely.
Then something grazed the side of my neck, causing me to shudder and tremble as multiple fingers began trailing up my face, dancing along the edges of my quivering cheek.
It rested on shell of my left ear, and my eyes widened as it whispered, "Turn around."
I froze.
That wasn't Jake's voice.
"I said," the voice rasped, sounding as if I had angered it.
"... turn… around."
However I squeezed my eyes shut. "It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, it's not real, it's not real."
"Not real?" The voice screeched against my ears, the three voices from earlier lapsing each other and talking all at the same time.
"Then why do you smell like fear?"
Something touched my shoulder then,...
Fingers!
I felt bony fingers pressing down hard my shoulder, neck and face.
Struggling and jerking wasn't helping; there were about 6 hands on me, spreading their fingers over my body.
I screamed, my voice going so high and my fear so strong that I almost didn't realise that my phone had begun ringing.
The sound must have scared the voices, because immediately they let go of me.
Breathing shakily, I fumbled for my phone, my hand trembling as I pulled it out of my pants' pocket.
I'd never been more delighted to see it was Jake calling.
"Hello!?" I yelled, placing the phone to my ear.
"Dude!" He shouted, although his voice sounded cracked from the phone.
"What's going on down there!? I heard you screaming!"
"Come get me!" I gasped.
"Please!! Get me out of here!!!"
However at that moment I said that, the line began crackling and making cutting static sounds.
"What?" Jake shouted.
"You're breaking up-----"
"JAKE!"
Abruptly the call cut off on its own, and I whimpered.
But then I heard footsteps on the stairs, and my shoulders relaxed.
Relief flooded through me instantly when the sound of the door opening reached my ears and I sat up straight, waiting for Jake to come down.
However I realized something.
The footsteps were slow.
And they didn't sound like Jake's heavy boots at all; these ones sounded light.
"Jake?" I whispered fearfully just as the steps stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
I could sense someone standing there watching me, yet I couldn't turn around to see.
"Who-----?"
My words caught off, and I sputtered, choking and pulling at the hands that were suddenly grabbing my neck.
------------
When Jake finally burst into the basement at 4:35, he found me sitting motionless on the chair, with my eyes wide open.
... And I was whispering to myself over and over again: "Don't turn around."
He told me later that he found the candle out and the two mirrors were cracked and shattered from the inside.
However I don't remember leaving the chair that day.
That was six years ago; I moved out of that house, sold it and burned every mirror I owned.
I haven't had the courage to buy another house, so now I rent a flat with a roommate.
Last week, my new roommate asked why I always sleep with a fan blowing on my back, and I told him it helps me breathe.
... But what I didn't say is that I noticed that the fan keeps them away each time they visit me.
Things are getting out of hand now, although I've made sure to stay away from mirrors and always keep the fan on, I'm still scared.
... Especially since my roommate deals in reselling antique artifacts.
He keeps them to himself in his room though but... I think I'll have to move again.
The number of times I've almost looked into their polished reflections when he's taking them in and out these days is alarming.
I can't let those kings------
My thoughts get interrupted when Steven, my roommate calls me.
"Yo! Are you using the bathroom yet?"
My brows furrows as I answer, "Yes."
"Hurry up then."
Sighing I grab a towel and walk towards the bathroom, ready to have my evening bath.
However on entering inside, I freeze on the spot, all the color on my face draining as I stared in horror at the sight in front of me.
Just then Steven's voice reaches my ears again.
"Hey man I hope you don't mind, but I kept an antique mirror in the bathroom. It's too big for my room."
He pauses then adds, "That's okay right? I mean since it's not in your room."
However I'm not listening to him anymore, I'm frozen I'm fear and horror as three reflections of myself in the large mirror with crowns on their heads reach their hands out the mirror for me.