Lena didn't sleep.
How could she?
The voice from the attic—the cold promise, "You will"—lingered like a burn against her soul.
She sat curled on the edge of the bed, blanket clutched to her chest, every candle in the room burning low. Julian hadn't appeared tonight. Not since the attic.
She didn't blame him.
That other spirit—the one with eyes like endless sorrow and fury—wasn't just a restless ghost. She was something darker. Older. And now, Lena had become her target.
Outside, wind howled through the trees. The pine branches scraped against the windows like claws. Hollow Pines felt alive again. Watching.
Waiting.
Lena rose and walked to the mirror above the old dresser.
Her eyes were heavy, but she barely recognized the woman looking back. Pale skin, dark shadows under her eyes, hair tangled like vines. She looked haunted.
And then—she wasn't alone.
Behind her reflection, in the mirror's surface, stood a figure cloaked in black lace.
The ghost woman.
But this time, her face was clear.
Sunken cheeks. Eyes rimmed with shadow. Her mouth twisted into a smile of broken teeth. Her hands reached forward through the glass.
Lena spun around.
No one was there.
But in the mirror—she was closer now.
Lena screamed and stumbled back, knocking over the candles. The flames burst and went out. She scrambled to her feet, heart racing, and ran to the hallway—down the stairs, barefoot and shaking.
She needed Julian. She needed something real.
---
The parlor was dark, but he was there.
Waiting.
His form was dimmer than before—like even his spirit was weakening.
"I saw her again," Lena gasped. "She was in the mirror."
Julian looked pained. "She's growing stronger. The more you feel for me, the more she feeds on it. She is what's left of heartbreak. She was once a woman betrayed, now she's only a shadow."
"Then what do we do?" Lena whispered. "What if she wins?"
Julian stepped closer. "Then I vanish. Forever."
Lena's breath caught.
"No," she said. "There has to be a way. Some kind of ritual, or…"
Julian shook his head. "The house won't allow it. The curse only breaks when love endures through death. Through fear. Through sacrifice."
Lena clenched her fists. "Then I'll do it. Whatever it takes."
---
The next day, she found Eleanor's hidden prayer book. Inside was a sealed letter.
> To the girl who sees him,
If you are reading this, then Julian has found you. He always said he would.
But know this—she is watching. The spirit that haunts this house is no longer human. She will turn mirrors into doorways, dreams into traps. If you love him, do not run. Do not scream. Say his name, hold his hand, and stay inside your truth.
Love is your sword. Use it.
– Eleanor
Lena pressed the letter to her chest. Tears welled in her eyes.
She wasn't the first to be caught in this story—but maybe she could be the last.
---
That night, she didn't wait for the ghost.
She sought her.
She went to the east wing—where the spirit had once lived. The old bedroom was abandoned, draped in rotting lace, the wallpaper peeling like old skin. A cracked vanity stood against the wall, mirror fogged from within.
Lena stepped up to it and whispered, "I'm not afraid of you."
The mirror cleared.
The spirit stood behind the glass again.
> "He will leave you, like he left me," the ghost hissed. "They always leave."
"No," Lena said, voice trembling. "Julian died loving her. And he lives now loving me. You were betrayed by one man. That doesn't mean all love dies."
> "You're a fool," the ghost snarled. "You will suffer like I did."
"No," Lena said again.
Then, steadying herself, she reached out and touched the mirror.
A jolt of icy pain surged through her arm—but she didn't flinch.
She whispered, "Julian."
And then he was there—his spirit beside her, his hand sliding over hers.
Light burst from their touch, golden and soft.
The mirror cracked—once, twice—and then shattered, the spirit screaming in rage as it was pulled backward into the void.
The room fell silent.
And Julian… was solid.
Breathing.
Real.
---
They stood there in stunned silence.
Lena touched his face. Warm.
Julian smiled. "You brought me back."
"I didn't do anything," she said softly.
"Yes," he whispered, wrapping his arms around her. "You loved me."
---
Author's Thought:
This chapter marks a turning point. Lena chooses courage over fear. Love over escape. The ghost in the mirror was more than a haunting—it was a test. A test of belief, devotion, and trust in the impossible. Lena's act of bravery not only banished the spirit but gave Julian a heartbeat again… even if only for a moment. I hope you felt the tension and the release—because next, they must face what happens after a ghost becomes human again.