The morning light filtered into the room, casting soft beams across Aiya's pale face. She had spent the rest of the night sitting on the floor, her knees drawn to her chest, staring at the mirror. The image of her second reflection haunted her, the wicked smile replaying in her mind like a curse.
Her grandmother found her like that, silent and trembling, as if the very life had been drained from her.
"Aiya," her grandmother called softly, kneeling beside her. "What happened, child? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Aiya hesitated, her lips trembling. She didn't want to frighten her grandmother, but the events of the night weighed too heavily on her. "I saw... I saw myself in the mirror, but it wasn't me," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her grandmother's face tightened, a flicker of recognition flashing through her eyes. "You saw a reflection, but it wasn't yours?"
Aiya nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "It smiled at me like it was mocking me. Then it disappeared."
Her grandmother's hand tightened around her charm. She muttered a prayer under her breath before looking Aiya in the eye. "Listen to me carefully, Aiya. What you saw is not you. It is the darkness trying to claim you. But you must not let it."
"But why me, Grandma?" Aiya's voice cracked. "Why am I being tormented like this? What have I done?"
Her grandmother hesitated, her gaze distant as if she were remembering something painful. "It's not about what you've done, child. It's about who you are."
Who am I ? Aiya asked.
With time you will come to understand dear her grandmother said assured her to forget about the incident. But Aiya mind was unsettled.
The night was quiet, the kind of quiet that made every sound louder, every shadow darker. Aiya lay in bed, her body heavy with exhaustion, but her mind refused to rest. The faint glow of the moon seeped through the window, casting soft patterns on the wooden floor.
Her grandmother had checked on her earlier, her worry evident in her eyes. "Rest, child," she had said, brushing a gentle hand over Aiya's hair. "You need your strength."
Aiya wanted to rest, to find peace in sleep, but her mind was filled with the images from the night before—the creature's claws, its sinister smile, the suffocating cold.
Hours passed. The house was still, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards. Just as Aiya's eyelids began to grow heavy, the door to her room burst open.
Perlia, stumbled in, her face pale and her eyes wide with terror. She clutched a small blanket to her chest, her breaths coming in quick, shallow gasps.
"Perlia?" Aiya sat up quickly, concern replacing her tiredness. "What's wrong?"
Perlia didn't speak. She pointed a trembling finger toward the window, her lips quivering as if she wanted to scream but couldn't find her voice.
Aiya followed her gaze, her heart pounding. At first, she saw nothing but the faint glow of the moon. Then, as her eyes adjusted, she saw it.
A dark figure stood just beyond the glass, its outline barely visible against the night. Its long claws tapped against the windowpane, a slow, deliberate rhythm that sent chills down Aiya's spine. The creature's eyes glowed faintly, and its twisted smile revealed sharp, jagged teeth.
Aiya's breath hitched. She felt frozen, unable to move or look away. The creature tilted its head, as if studying her, before it slowly raised a clawed hand and traced a line across the glass.
"No," Aiya whispered, her voice barely audible. "This isn't real. It's another dream."
She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to wake up. When she opened them again, she realized she was alone and Perlia was not in her room so it was a dream she murmured to herself.
She got out of bed and walked to the window, her legs feeling like they could give way at any moment. The glass was cold under her fingertips as she leaned in, peering into the darkness. There was nothing there, but the feeling of being watched crept in her.
Suddenly, a loud knock echoed through the room. Aiya froze. The sound came again, louder this time. It was coming from the window.
Her breath quickened, her pulse racing. She turned on the small lamp beside her bed, but the light flickered and died, plunging the room into darkness once more.
The knocks grew more insistent, almost frantic. Aiya couldn't bring herself to move. Her body felt like it was made of stone, rooted to the spot.
And then, the creature was there for real, its face pressed against the glass, its claws scratching at the surface. Its glowing eyes seemed to bore into her soul, its smile wider than before.
Aiya tried to scream, but no sound came out. Her throat felt tight, her voice stolen by fear. She stumbled backward, her legs giving way as she hit the floor.
The air in the room grew colder, a biting chill that seeped into her bones. Her vision blurred, and she felt her consciousness slipping away. The last thing she saw before everything went dark was the creature's smile.
When Aiya opened her eyes, the sunlight was streaming through the window, warm and comforting. For a moment, she thought it had all been a dream, but the pounding in her head and the ache in her chest told her otherwise.
She was lying on her bed, a blanket draped over her. Her grandmother sat beside her, her face etched with concern.
"Oh, child, you are finally awake," her grandmother said, relief washing over her features.
Aiya tried to sit up, but her body protested. "What happened?" she asked, her voice weak.
"You fainted," her grandmother said, her voice trembling slightly. "I found you on the floor, cold as ice. You scared me, Aiya."
Aiya closed her eyes, the memories of the night flooding back. "It was real, Grandma. The creature… it was here."