Echoes in the Glass

Chapter 1: The House of Mirrors

Vivien's eyes fluttered open to a dim, dusty room. The air was thick with the scent of age and decay. Her head throbbed, and her memories were a blur. How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was walking home from work, and then... nothing.

The room was dominated by ornate, old mirrors hanging on the walls. Their frames were intricately designed, but the glass was smeared with grime, making it hard to see her reflection. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant creaking of the house settling.She tried to stand, but her legs felt weak. Using the wall for support, she managed to pull herself up. As she did, a fleeting shadow passed behind her in one of the mirrors. She whipped around, but there was nothing there. Just her own rapid breathing and the pounding of her heart."Hello?" she called out, her voice echoing through the empty halls. "Is anyone there?"No response. The silence seemed to mock her.She began to explore the house, each room more unsettling than the last. Old portraits of people she didn't recognize stared down at her, their eyes seeming to follow her every move. Furniture lay draped in white sheets, like silent ghosts of a time long past.As she wandered, she felt an increasing sense of dread. The house was a maze, and she felt trapped. Every door she opened led to another identical hallway, another room filled with mirrors. The reflections were distorted, and she could see multiple versions of herself, each slightly different, each staring back with hollow eyes.Suddenly, a voice broke the silence. "Why are you here?"Vivien spun around to see a man standing in the doorway. He looked to be in his early thirties, with disheveled dark hair and a look of deep concern on his face. His name, she somehow knew, was Thomas."I... I don't know," she stammered. "I can't remember how I got here."Thomas stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face. "You shouldn't be here," he whispered. "This place... it's not safe."Vivien felt a chill run down her spine. "Why? What is this place?"Thomas hesitated, glancing at the mirrors surrounding them. "This house," he began, "is a bridge between worlds. These mirrors... they're portals. But not all worlds are meant to be visited."Vivien's heart raced. "What do you mean?"Before Thomas could answer, a soft, haunting lullaby began to play from somewhere in the house. The melody was familiar, yet twisted, sending shivers down Vivien's spine.Thomas's face turned pale. "We need to leave. Now."But as they turned to go, the mirrors began to fog over, and dark, shadowy figures began to emerge, their eyes glowing with malevolence. The haunting lullaby grew louder, filling the room with an overwhelming sense of dread.Vivien and Thomas were trapped, surrounded by the encroaching darkness.