Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall.....

Girl vs. Ghost

I was afraid.....

Very afraid.....

But I had to rescue my family from a terrible fate.....

I tiptoed over to the mirror and took it off the wall. I carefully opened my room door and walked down the upstairs hall. I tried to stay as quiet as possible. I didn't need Arista jumping out of anywhere and realizing what I was doing. I was just about to go to our largest window when...

"Arielle?"

I turned and saw my mom, standing in her bathrobe, squinting at me. "Mom!", I say in surprise. "What are you doing out of bed?" My mom scoffs. "I could ask you the same thing. Aren't you supposed to be at Heidi's house for a sleepover?" I nod, trying to think of a good excuse. "Yes but...I got spooked when they started telling scary stories, and I decided to come home early", I say, hoping that was believable. My mom blinked in surprise. "Well, considering the fact that you're going to be eighteen soon, I should think that you wouldn't be afraid of a little ghost story", she says. My lips tightened and I tried to think of yet another good excuse. "Well, you didn't hear the ghost story they were telling. It was super creepy."

My mother's eyes drifted over to the mirror in my hands. "What are you doing with your mirror?", she asks. "Um.....", I say, trying desperately to think. All this lying is really taking a toll on me. But before I could lie to my mother yet again, a shrill cackle echoed throughout the halls. My mom jumped and clutched her robe close to her. Then the lights started acting up.

They sizzled and flickered and I stared at it questioningly. Then it hit me. "Arista", I whispered. "What?", my mother said, looking at me. "Nothing", I say, shaking my head vigorously. Then Judy comes out of her room on her crutches. "Mommy", she says, clinging to her. "What's wrong with the lights?" "I'm not sure honey", Mom says, looking up at the lights, which are still going off. "I'm pretty sure the electrical bill was paid this month."

"I'm scared, Mommy. What if it's a ghost?", Judy says.

You have no idea..... 

"There are no such things as ghosts sweetie, go back to bed, it's late", my mom says, and guides Judy back to her room. "And that includes you, Arielle", my mom says over her shoulder. And like magic, the lights stopped flickering. I couldn't destroy the mirror here. It would arise too much suspicion. I go downstairs quietly carrying the mirror and grab my keys from the counter and reach for the doorknob. 

"Where do you think you're going?"

I squeeze my eyes shut tight and slowly turn around. I open my eyes. Arista was standing right in front me, her black hair a shaggy mess, the look in her eyes deadly, and worst of all, she held a knife in her hand. "I-I was j-just s-stepping out f-for some f-fresh air?", I stammered dumbly. Arista stared at the mirror in my hands. "And what are you doing with that?", she asks, pointing to it with her knife. "Nothing", I say. "You better hand it over", Arista growled. "Or there is going to be trouble." "Never", I say, not ready to give up just yet. Arista puts her hands behind her back. "I see", she says, and floats down to the basement. I don't know why, but I got the disturbing feeling that I should follow her.

I race down the basement steps, and to my horror, Arista had tied Judy up to a chair and gagged her. She was circling around her slowly. "Help me, Arielle!", was Judy's muffled scream. "Shut up you little brat!", Arista shouts at Judy, holding the knife to her throat. And that was it. I snapped. No one hurts my sister and gets away with it. "YOU GET AWAY FROM HER!!!", I scream. "Or this mirror gets it!" Arista holds the blade closer to Judy's neck. "If you even think about damaging that mirror, I'll make sure your sister goes down with me", Arista growls. "Don't let her kill me, Arielle. Please", Judy says, tears streaming down her face. "I'd listen to her if I were you", Arista cooed, gently running the tip of the knife across Judy's neck. I dropped the mirror to the floor and it crashed with a loud bang. I lunged and tackled her. We clawed and bit and scratched and hit. Then I heard my mom. "Kids? What's going on down there? Who is making all that noise?"