On the other side of the mirror

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Prompt-based story for The Fabulous Spec-Fic Smack Down Contest

Round 2, part 1: Speculative fiction story based on three pictures from the original post.

Wattpad word count: 2499

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A box here and another one there, Rivan Zennik had a lot of work to do that day. Tired of the hustle and bustle of the big metropolis, his new life in the suburbs would allow him to enjoy the little moments more. The moving truck left as soon as the last piece of furniture was unloaded, leaving the young man alone with his tasks. Hours passed, and as Rivan put things in their place, he admired how spacious his new house was. The atmosphere felt so different from the suffocating jungle of concrete and metal several kilometers away. The air was clean, and the smell of wet earth gave him a subtle sense of satisfaction.

It was time to decorate the bedroom. Rivan was unpacking an old pendulum clock that he had inherited from his grandmother, one of the many things she had left him after passing away just over a month ago, when he heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Without thinking much, he went to check what it could be, but upon arrival, he saw nothing and no one. Soon after, he noticed a broken glass on the floor. After a long sigh, he grabbed the broom and swept up the pieces of glass. Just before throwing them in the trash, he heard another noise, this time coming from the bedroom. "I think I have a little intruder in the house," he thought as he quietly walked toward his room.

He slowly opened the door and peeked in from the side. A raccoon was curiously sniffing the grandmother's clock, scratching it with its claws. Zennik was enraged to see the animal damaging the cherished object, which held great sentimental value for him. He quickly ran to the kitchen, grabbed the broom, and, with large strides, stormed into the room in a single bound. The raccoon nearly fainted from the fright caused by the sudden commotion.

"What the hell are you doing to grandma's clock?" Rivan exclaimed, frowning and holding the broom threateningly.

The animal, instantly forgetting the clock, tried to sneak under the bed, which didn't have a mattress yet, allowing Rivan to easily spot its position. He lay on the floor and attempted to pull the raccoon out by sticking the broom under the bed. Feeling cornered, the raccoon quickly climbed up one of the wooden edges and tried to flee through the window, but upon realizing it was closed, it made several frantic jumps around the room, clinging to whatever it could. It leaped over Rivan and landed on a picture hanging on the wall, causing it to fall before reaching the door and escaping.

Annoyed, Rivan chased the raccoon to ensure it left the house. Once he succeeded, he made himself some tea and relaxed for a while. He loved the idea of being near the forest again; his garden was just a few meters away from it. His grandmother had lived there when she was young, and Rivan was always fascinated by her descriptions of how peaceful and cozy the place was. However, he had forgotten that the animals who didn't dare venture into the city had the audacity to make mischief in the houses near the wilderness.

After the break, Rivan continued unpacking and organizing. When nearly everything was in place, he decided to call his girlfriend, Victoria, who informed him she would visit him the next morning since she had the day off. Zennik considered checking his work emails before going to sleep, but he was so tired that he didn't even notice when he fell asleep at his desk.

The next day, Rivan woke up to a faint noise, like a small animal rummaging through the room. Still half asleep, he noticed something moving through the reflection in the mirror in front of him. He opened his eyes fully and focused on what he already suspected: the raccoon was next to the half-open door. "How on earth did it get in here?" he wondered, watching the animal without yet having enough energy to get up and shoo it away.

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