Short Stories From Prompts

Mirror

Newly turned sixteen-year-old Irene Woodard had never been to a fair until today. It was only for one night and promised to be the most amazing experience. Most of her friends thought it was childish to go to a fair at their age. Except for Andy.

Half past seven, the pair left the meeting place and headed to the fairgrounds, bursting with excitement. Andy was small for fifteen and had a stutter. Irene had met Andy two years back when she found him crying beside a dead mouse his cat had partially eaten. She had vowed on that day to be his best friend and protector and, so far, had done a damn good job of it if she said so herself. Everyone calls him "troubled" even his parents.

The lights were brilliant against the setting sky and the smells of popcorn, cotton candy, and other treats filled the air. The music was light and frilly, giving Irene a child-like giddy feeling. The two passed by the imposing, dark-purple tent a few times before Irene convinced Andy to explore it.

"Come and see what future awaits you" the sign said. There was a group of rowdy young men leaving the other side, laughing at the imagery. The man in the back, however; was silent.

"It's just a silly tent, Andy, please?" Irene pleaded one last time.

"F-fine, if y-y-you insist," Andy muttered.

Irene gave two tickets to the shadowy figure in the window and hopped giddily through the expansive opening that narrowed the further they went. She trailed her hand across the satin, soft material and sighed. Andy was less impressed.

It started as a whisper of a whisper, a warm caress on their cheeks, a gentle breeze pushing them onward. They came to a stop in front of an ornately designed mirror. The frame was gilded and delicate, small leaves and insects in such detail it was as if they were real. Andy instantly reached out to touch the mirror and a soft pop sounded at the contact.

The sad faces of his parents through glass, three vials. Silence.

Irene had not seen this.

As she touched the mirror, the pop was like the crack from a whip. Terror engulfed her as she stood frozen on the spot. Dark, purple satin, a group of rowdy men, the mirror... and Andy.