Short Stories

The Mirrored Maze

It was a new day and Jack yawned as he wondered, slowly, in the direction of the maze. Over head the rolling grey clouds smothering the feeble sun, giving the impression of an early 4 am winter morning. Jack sighed as checked his watch which read 9am, he could still hear his bed calling to him from the warmth of his house, as he proceeded on his journey.

As he reached the maze he grumbled as he saw that the rest of cleaning crew was not there yet. He hated this part of his summer job cleaning the mirrors of the little kids' slime, nose prints and handprints and footprints seemed to litter the glass at the end and beginning of every day.

Jack approached the door and took out his cold clinking keys, they were near invisible in the light as they reflected the darkness of the morning, the silver not quite shining. It was as if a giant black cloud had settled over the mirrored maze.

Jack mumbling to himself in annoyance pushed the gate, wincing at the loud squeal that came from the hinge. He placed his hand onto the first smudged mirror grimacing at the cold which seem to creep from the glass into his fingers, then deeper into his bones chilling his very spirit, as goosebumps crept up his back.

As he moved on using the mirrors to guide him not trusting his eyes, Jack scoffed under his breath complaining how cold the mornings were, especially when it was summer. He finally reached the safety of the supply closet filled with the wonderful invention of vinegar and rubbing alcohol, which could cure the glass of any sludgy-slimy concoction the kids could create, and the mirror could have the unfortune of experiencing. Jack flicked on the light and relished in the warm glow of the yellow light and ability to see what he was working with. He hummed to himself as he began to prepare his solution for a day of cleaning.

Goosebumps began to crawl up his back, but this time not from the bone chilling cold, more like from the stare of unwelcome person. They scamped from his back to his shoulders wrapping around his chest to his arms and legs, whispering in his ears from his neck a message, which seemed to whisper, 'they are behind you.' Jack froze, his heartbeat racing through his chest, his breathing loud in his ears, regrets of accepting this job racing though his mind.

Slowly, Jack turned around. His head swivelled in controlled careful movements, as he stood from his kneeling position. His eyes fixed into the maze, the mirrors creating endless opportunities of dimensions to hide in, the swirling gloom created more. At the end of the corridor a figure draped in shadows appeared to emerge, one with the cold and dark.

Clang.

The keys slipped from Jacks hand, breaking the silence of the shimmering shadows and the silhouette seemed to slip away.

Jack shook his head in disappointment of himself as he rushedly flicked the light on in the maze, to reveal the greasy mirrors and only the greasy mirrors. Of course, there was nothing there, it was probably just the reflection of the dark Jack thought to himself.

It the distance he could now hear the muffled blabbering of the rest of the cleaning crew beginning to arrive. Jack still a little shook from his experience in the shadows decided to meet the others outside of the gleaming glass.

As Jack reached the gate, he saw the others on the other side laughing with each other under the glow of the peach clouds and blue sky, the promise of another stunning summer day appearing dispersing the cold of the morning.

'Hey Jack open the gate will you!' One of the guys called from the other side as they spotted him already there. Jack frowned as pulled the gate open with another bone charring squeak.

'Strange' he thought, 'I never heard the door close.'