Morning light broke through sheer curtains, catching the empty bottle by her side. Her head throbbed. The wine bottle rolled from her hand with a hollow clink.
Ellie sat up slowly, groaning.
"I said I'd quit," she muttered.
"I swear I'd quit." But here she was… again… with a bottle.
Dragging herself to the bathroom, she splashed cold water on her face. Her eyes stared back — tired, heavy. She wrapped a towel around her and moved to the wardrobe.
She opened the door and jumped back.
Another mirror. Tucked in between her clothes like it belonged. Her pulse quickened.
"What the hell…" she whispered. That definitely wasn't there yesterday.
She stepped closer, hesitant. Her reflection was…off. Not delayed — faster. It blinked before she did. Her breath caught.
Nope.
She got dressed in silence, threw on her coat, and headed to a nearby café. The buzz of voices and clinking cups calmed her slightly. She called the real estate agent, trying to sound casual.
"About the mirrors… maybe the previous owners forgot them?"
A pause. Then the agent answered, cool and clear.
"There were no mirrors in that house. Ever."
A chill crept down her spine.
Later that evening, she returned home. The sky was already bruised with twilight. On the lawn, an elderly neighbor stood watering plants.
"Are you the new owner?" the woman asked.
"Yes…?"
The old lady stared at her for a long beat, then shook her head and walked away without another word.
Inside, Ellie froze.
The mirror she had set aside yesterday… was back on the wall.
Upright.
Perfectly placed.
Next to it...another mirror.
"I am tired of these stupid pranks!" she snapped, heart racing. Ellie grabbed both mirrors, one under each arm, and stormed outside, dumping them at the curb.
With a deep sigh, she locked the door and retreated to bed, heart pounding beneath her ribs.
At a dark hallway… another mirror glimmers faintly in the shadows.