MirrorMirror

11 / The Shivers

While speaking, Cassidy watched his brother's expression.

He was hoping, as it moved through concern to amusement to confusion, it didn't settle on the one that indicated his brother was dialling Dr Connors under the table. Thankfully, it didn't. Instead, Ethan seemed to be genuinely interested. He asked questions. He offered his opinions. He didn't once ask Cass what size straitjacket he'd like.

"What do you think?" Cass said, finally.

"Hmmm..." Ethan murmured.

He fell silent, tapping his index finger against his pursed lips. It was an old habit he'd developed in school when concentrating. Cassidy's version was sticking the tip of his tongue out the side of his mouth.

Cass waited. He wanted to continue, searching for some way to make it seem less preposterous, but was there one? Would it make a difference? He doubted it. The facts, as he saw them, had been lain out in the sun, to be picked at by the vultures and predators. Well, his brother, anyway, who was neither of those. If anyone seated at the tables nearby had overheard them, it would be obvious. They'd be moving away or whispering between themselves. There's be pointed fingers or looks.

They were all busy with their own lives, thankfully.

"Do you believe me?"

"Of course I do, ya Muppet," Ethan said. "You don't lie."

This was true. The brothers were brought up to believe lies were the worst thing a person could do. Their parents had, at times, been brutally honest, and any punishment would have been doubled if a lie had been uncovered. The boys, then men, had carried that sensibility through most of their lives, except they were never brutal with it. They would, occasionally, bend the truth to spare someone's feelings or lessen a blow, but that would be the extent of it. They didn't invent falsehoods. Ethan knew Cassidy was telling the truth. His version of it.

"So?"

"So, what do you know about your house?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, has it got any history?"

"History?" Cass frowned. "Like famous people living there?"

"No, not famous people. Like suicides or murders and stuff like that."

"Huh?"

Cassidy hadn't expected such a question. What did that have to do with Elise and mirrors?

"No, not as far as I know, anyway. It wasn't on the brochure."

"I don't suppose it would be," Ethan said. "I was just curious."

"Why?"

"I don't think it's Elise. I can imagine her doing some weird stuff, but nothing more than slashing your tyres. She wouldn't have a clue how to do anything like this. Shit, I don't know how. Do you?"

Cass shook his head. They had a shared interest in technology. If one couldn't figure how it was done, the other probably couldn't either. Ethan was right about Elise, too. It wasn't her style. Besides, technology wasn't her friend. A phone and television remote were her only electronic friends. She never saw the need for much more.

"So what, then?"

"Have a look to see if anyone has died in your house, especially someone called Amy."

"You think it's haunted?"

Ethan shrugged.

"Don't you?"

"Of course not," Cassidy said. "There's no such thing!"

"You're wrong," said Ethan. "There is. It's real."