Don froze, his breath caught in his throat as the figure in the mirror stared back at him. It was tall and unnervingly still, its features obscured by shadow. His instinct screamed to turn around, but fear kept him rooted in place.
"Who… who's there?" Don managed, his voice trembling.
The figure didn't move, yet its presence seemed to grow heavier, suffocating the air in the small room. Don clenched his fists, summoning the courage to turn around, but when he did, the room was empty.
The mirror, however, told a different story.
The figure remained, watching him with hollow, unreadable eyes. Then, it smiled—a slow, deliberate curl of lips that sent a chill down Don's spine.
"I am your friend, Don," a voice whispered, low and resonant, from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Don stumbled backward, his legs colliding with the bed. "What… what are you?"
The figure in the mirror tilted its head, almost playfully. "You know who I am," it said. "I am Adrian."
The name struck like a lightning bolt. His gaze darted to the black book on the desk. It lay closed, yet its presence was as oppressive as the figure in the mirror.
"This isn't real," Don muttered, shaking his head. "I'm losing it."
"Real?" Adrian's voice carried a mocking edge now. "I am as real as your thoughts, as tangible as your fears."
The lights flickered, plunging the room into brief moments of darkness. When the illumination steadied, Adrian was no longer confined to the mirror. He stood in the corner of the room, tall and impossibly still. His features were clearer now—pale skin, sharp eyes, and a presence that seemed to distort reality.
"You wanted a friend," Adrian said softly, stepping forward. "And I came. Isn't this what you've always wanted, Don? To not be alone?"
Don pressed himself against the wall, his heart hammering in his chest. "I didn't ask for this! Whatever this is, I didn't—"
"But you did." Adrian's voice was gentle, but his words carried an undeniable weight. "When you opened the book, you accepted me. You gave me your loneliness, and I gave you companionship."
Don's mind raced. "What do you want from me?"
Adrian smiled again, this time with a hint of something darker. "Nothing—for now. Friendship requires no payment, no debt." He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But know this: those who would harm you will face the consequences of their actions. I will protect you."
"Protect me?" Don repeated, his voice trembling.
Adrian nodded. "You'll see. Very soon."
And just like that, he was gone.
The lights steadied, the oppressive weight lifted, and the room returned to its normal state. Only the black book on the desk remained, cold and silent, as though nothing had happened.
Don sank to the floor, clutching his knees as he tried to steady his breathing. His eyes darted to the book, and despite his fear, a question burned in his mind:
What had he just unleashed?