Macabre

What Lies Beneath

The night was heavier than usual. I didn't quite notice it until I was in bed, snuggled deep within my covers. The room had grown cold seconds after turning out the lights. I wouldn't have thought much of it, but it was July, and my air conditioning hadn't kicked on.

As I stared into the darkness it began to grow thicker, looming around me, threatening to drink my soul. I'd never experienced anything like this night, and decided the best course of action would be to force myself to sleep. So here I lie, my blankets above my head, eyes squeezed shut, my breathing shallow. It's uncomfortable to say the least. I can't help but feel like something is watching me. Waiting for my lungs to slow and my mind to drift. Posing patiently in the corner, watching for my body to relax into slumber.

I must have fallen asleep because the sound of knocking brought me back to reality. My heartbeat picked up as I remembered my previous fear. The room still felt heavy, the air now too thick to swallow. I forced my eyes open slowly, just barely peeking out through my lashes.

Knock, knock.

Naturally, I looked to the window that faced my bed. The curtains were drawn, the moonlight casting a glow along the wooden frame. I could tell there was nothing on the other side, at least nothing visible to the naked eye. My gaze stayed focused on the glass, waiting for the noise to come again. Maybe I could catch it as it happened.

Knock, knock.

My brows furrowed. There was nothing there. I listened closer, realizing the tapping wasn't coming from the window, but the mirror that stood next to it. I peered into it, watching my own reflection for a moment when the glass flinched.

I glanced at my alarm clock, which read 3AM. Forcing up every ounce of courage I possessed, I jumped from my bed. Grabbing the small blanket that rested on my rocker, I ran for the mirror and threw the fabric over it. As the cloth landed on the object, I swear I saw its surface shudder.

Back under the covers, I clenched my eyes shut and waited for daylight. The room remained silent for a while. I'd nearly fallen back asleep when a long, bone crippling, screech shook through my walls. My eyes shot open and landed on the mirror, the blanket still rested over its surface. I listened wide-eyed as an ear piercing scratching came from the looking glass. It sounded like nails, claws etching something into the crystal surface.

I didn't fall back asleep, instead I spent the remainder of the night hidden in my bed, listening to the ragged breathing that came from my mirror. When dawn finally crept through the window, and the darkness was gone, I slipped out of bed.

Taking small, apprehensive steps, I made my way across the room. My hand reached up, achingly slow, and pulled the blanket away from the glass. A breath caught in my throat as my eyes focused on my reflection. There, engraved into the once smooth surface, was a single sentence.

"Uncover the mirror, we miss watching you."