The clock struck two past midnight. The entire house was drowned in darkness, except for the silver glow of moonlight spilling through Belle's window.
She lay restless on her bed, twisting and turning, unable to sleep. Last night's memory haunted her—the whispers, the touch, and the confession:
"I am Thomas… and I have been waiting for you for centuries."
Belle had tried convincing herself it was only a dream. But dreams were never this vivid. That voice still echoed in her ears, too real to ignore.
Suddenly, the atmosphere in her room shifted. A cold gust of wind rattled the windowpane. Belle pulled the blanket tighter around herself, but then she froze—she could feel someone's breath against her neck.
Her heart leapt into her throat. She shot up, trembling.
"Who's there?" Her voice cracked in fear.
Silence. Deep, consuming silence.
Then, a whisper—soft but unmistakable:
"Belle…"
Her pulse raced wildly. It was him. The same voice from her dreams.
Slowly, she turned toward the mirror on the far wall. As her reflection stared back, her eyes widened. Behind her own image, a faint face was beginning to take shape. A face she had only glimpsed once before—Thomas.
Belle's body trembled, torn between fear and an inexplicable pull. "What are you? Why are you following me?"
The answer came from the mirror, gentle yet burning with intensity:
"Because you are mine. You have always been mine."
Her lips quivered. "That's impossible… I've never seen you before."
"You haven't seen me, Belle. But your soul has always known me."
The words struck her like fire. Her feet moved on their own, carrying her closer to the mirror. When she reached out, her fingers brushed the glass—only to feel something warm, alive. A touch.
Belle gasped and stumbled back. "No… this can't be real."
But Thomas's eyes glowed through the misty reflection, eyes carrying centuries of sorrow and longing.
"I am bound… trapped in a prison you cannot see. But you, Belle—you are the key. Only you can set me free."
Her breathing grew shallow, panic and curiosity colliding in her chest. "Trapped? What do you mean? What kind of prison?"
Thomas's image began to fade, becoming a blur. But his last words cut through the silence, sharp and haunting:
"I will tell you everything… but only if you dare face me."
The mirror went still. Her reflection returned, alone.
Belle stood frozen, her heart pounding. Fear consumed her, yet something else lingered—a strange, dangerous feeling she couldn't name.
Now she knew. This was no dream, no trick of her mind.
This was real.
And his name was Thomas۔
🖤End of Chapter 5🖤