As time slipped away, darkness enveloped the haunted house. By the time the clock struck one, an eerie sound pierced the silence—a strange, rhythmic sawing echoed through the halls.
In the staff lounge, Chris stirred awake, glancing at his phone: 1:10 AM. He turned over, burying his head under his pillow, but the unsettling noise gnawed at him, relentless.
"This can't be real... What is that sound?"
Every prop in the house had been crafted or modified by Chris himself; he knew none could produce such a distinct sawing noise.
After a restless six hours, his mind still hazy, Chris pinched himself to snap out of it. He dressed quickly, grabbed a hammer from the toolbox, and turned on his flashlight.
Peering out into the darkened halls of the haunted house, Chris hesitated. The place was far more terrifying at night than during the day. Shadows danced along the walls, flickering with the light of his flashlight, creating shapes that seemed to whisper secrets of the past.
"It can't be a thief; who would be foolish enough to rob a haunted house at this hour? And definitely not a rat—those noises are subtle, not like this." After ruling out the obvious, he ventured into the realm of the supernatural: "What if the creatures in the mirrors have come to life?"
Due to a shortage of fabric, the mirrors in the Midnight Escape scene hadn't been completely covered.
With a deep breath, he placed a childhood puppet—one from his parents—close to his heart for comfort and stepped out of the lounge.
The sound was coming from above, drawing Chris up the staircase until he reached the door of the Midnight Escape scene.
"Of course it's coming from in there. But is it the lingering spirit of a victim, or something far more sinister from the mirror?" Chris hesitated, the thought of entering that dark space sending a chill down his spine.
The sawing continued, pushing him closer to the door. "With the title of 'Haunted by the Spirits,' I have a unique connection to this place. Even if I encounter the mirror's monster, I should be able to handle it."
Remembering how the creature had once knocked out Hayden due to an unexpected distraction from Wendy, Chris concluded the monster wasn't as powerful as he feared.
"Let's see what it is. I need to understand my enemy. The more I know, the better prepared I'll be to deal with it."
He opened the door, and a faint, musty odor wafted out, reminding him of the eerie apartment where the hauntings began.
As he entered, the cutting sound grew louder. Chris knew he was getting closer to the truth.
He traversed the third floor, finally halting at a partially ajar door. The noise was definitely coming from inside.
He reached for the door handle, feeling the icy touch of fear wash over him.
With a surge of adrenaline, he pushed the door open. "Who's in there?"
Holding his hammer aloft, Chris rushed into the room, only to see a large, shadowy figure crouching in the bathroom, its outline eerily reminiscent of his friend, Hayden!
Startled, the shadow dropped its tools and leapt into the mirror, vanishing in an instant.
"Stop!" Chris shouted, swinging his hammer but hitting only air.
The bathroom was empty, as if nothing had ever happened.
"That wasn't Hayden! But why did it mimic his height and build?" Standing before the mirror, Chris felt a strange unease. "Is this monster imitating Hayden for a reason?"
The appearance of the shadow raised more questions than answers.
First, it could leave the mirror. Second, it could assume the form of anyone who had looked into it.
"This thing is more dangerous than I thought."
Finally, the sawing noise ceased, leaving a heavy silence in the room. Chris knelt to examine a few items the shadow had dropped: four tattered puppets and some shards of sharp glass.
He picked up the puppets, which represented his family, noticing they were merely dusty. But the puppet for his father was different—its neck was slashed, and it bore several deep cuts.
"Why is only my father's puppet damaged?" Chris realized it was likely a consequence of the puppet's role in helping Hayden escape the mirror monster's grasp.
"The spirits of the victims can't deter the creature; it's clear their power pales in comparison. This creature thrives on fear and confusion. It doesn't seem very strong physically but relies on psychological warfare—preying on insecurities to create illusions that lead its victims astray."
Connecting the dots between Hayden's ordeal and what had just transpired, Chris deduced that while the mirror monster was tricky, it wasn't unbeatable. If he could lure it out of the mirror, confronting it wouldn't be as impossible as it seemed.
"I need to devise a plan to eliminate it tonight so the Midnight Escape can finally open tomorrow." Chris felt a sense of urgency; the monster was growing bolder, and he couldn't live in fear any longer.
Cradling the puppets, he left the Midnight Escape scene and locked the door behind him, entering the toolshed.
As he stitched the puppets back together, thoughts raced through his mind. "The monster seems drawn to the living. The easiest way to lure it out is to use someone as bait."
With deft hands, Chris repaired the puppet's wounds, the fabric feeling comforting against his skin.
"But once I lure it out, how do I kill it? I've heard ghosts fear salt and garlic, but throwing those at it feels juvenile." After contemplating, he decided to consult the paranormal forum for advice.
His laptop flickered to life, illuminating the dark room as he typed. He browsed various threads discussing how to confront supernatural entities, noting common themes—salt, protective symbols, and the power of belief.
"Perhaps if I combine those elements, I can create a ritual to bind it back into the mirror," he mused, feeling a surge of hope.
After gathering various items—salt, garlic, a small mirror, and some candles—he prepared for his encounter. The idea of using the puppets as conduits for the spirits of his family felt right; their presence might just be enough to anchor the creature.
As midnight approached, Chris set the scene in the haunted house. He arranged the puppets around the mirror, creating a protective circle with salt. The candles flickered ominously, casting shadows that danced eerily on the walls.
With a deep breath, he began to chant the words he had found online, feeling both nervous and empowered.
"Spirits of the past, lend me your strength. Bind this creature to its reflection, banish it from this realm."
The atmosphere thickened as a cold wind swept through the room. The mirror rippled, and Chris felt a presence emerging, the air crackling with energy.
"Show yourself!" he demanded, raising the hammer, ready for whatever came next.
The mirror darkened, revealing the shadowy figure. "You think you can control me?" it hissed, its voice echoing like a thousand whispers.
Chris held his ground, "I'm not afraid of you!"
As the figure lunged forward, Chris flung a handful of salt at it. The creature recoiled, shrieking, its form shifting and distorting.
"Why do you resist?" it cried, taking on Hayden's familiar shape, "You are just like me—lost!"
"No!" Chris shouted, pushing back the fear that threatened to overwhelm him. "I know who I am!"
With every ounce of determination, he brandished the hammer and the mirror, focusing on the bond with his family. "You will not take me! I am stronger than you!"
The creature hesitated, its form flickering as if battling between existence and oblivion. Chris took this moment to gather his resolve and thrust the mirror forward, "Go back! You don't belong here!"
With a blinding flash, the mirror absorbed the creature, its screams fading into a chilling silence. The mirror settled, reflecting only Chris's determined expression.
Panting, he stepped back, realizing the weight of what he had just accomplished. The shadows that once loomed felt less threatening, the air lighter.
"I did it," Chris whispered, staring at the now tranquil mirror. "I banished it."
But even as relief washed over him, a nagging thought crept into his mind. "Was it truly gone? Or merely waiting for another opportunity?"
As dawn broke, casting light through the windows of the haunted house, Chris knew one thing for certain: he would never take the power of the supernatural lightly again.
He gathered the puppets, their symbolic importance now a comforting reminder of his family's presence.
"Tonight, the Midnight Escape will finally open," he said to himself, a newfound sense of purpose filling him. "And I will ensure the ghosts stay where they belong—behind the glass."
With a final glance at the mirror, Chris stepped out, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, armed with the knowledge that true strength comes not from fear, but from understanding the shadows of the past.