The sound of footsteps creaked up the stairs—measured, deliberate, too light to be an adult's, too confident to be afraid. Alex froze, standing in the shards of the shattered Vainglass mirror, Sarah's body still tense from the Mirror Trials.
He knew before he saw her.
The reflection was walking freely now.
[Fear System Alert: Mirror Entity Has Breached Physical Plane]
Designation: "Perfect Sarah"
Possession Phase: 72% Complete
Warning: If Possession Reaches 100%, Host Will Be Permanently Overwritten
She appeared in the doorway.
Perfect Sarah.
Her skin was glass-smooth, untouched by blemish or exhaustion. Her eyes sparkled, lined with exact makeup that never smudged. Her hair curled with effortless elegance.
She looked like Sarah—but acted like a goddess wearing skin.
"I liked you better when you stayed behind the glass," Alex muttered.
She tilted her head, almost pouting.
"You set me free, remember?" she said sweetly, stepping closer. "All you had to do was walk away… but you looked back."
The mirror fragment at Alex's feet twitched, reacting to her presence.
He crouched and snatched it up.
[Item Acquired: Mirror Fragment – Active Residue]
Can sever minor reflection tethers. Can harm mirror-bound entities.
One-time use.
"I don't want to hurt you," Alex said, slowly circling.
She smiled. "Of course not. You don't hurt yourself. That's what I'm here for."
Her eyes began to glow, and suddenly—
Alex's vision blurred.
He blinked—and was no longer in the room.
He was in the mirror again, watching Sarah's parents downstairs. Her mother pouring coffee. Her father tying his shoes. Both smiled warmly.
A perfect morning.
Except… Sarah was gone.
He was gone.
And Perfect Sarah stood in the mirror, watching from behind.
"Isn't this what you wanted?" she said. "A life where you're loved. Where no one questions your worth."
Alex turned toward her.
"This isn't real."
"But it could be," she whispered. "Just let go. You'll drift. I'll live. Everyone wins."
He reached for the mirror's surface—
And stabbed the fragment into it.
Glass screamed.
Reality cracked.
And Alex ripped himself free of the illusion.
Back in the room.
Blood on his palm.
Perfect Sarah stood stunned, her cheek slashed from temple to jaw. Silver ichor leaked down her face—but she still smiled.
"You're going to regret that."
[System Update: Entity Phase Transition – Stage II: Body Swap Begins]
Time Remaining: 54 Minutes
Symptoms: Loss of Motor Control, Memory Bleed, Identity Drift
Objective: Stabilize Core or Sever Remaining Tethers (3 Total)
Alex staggered back as a wave of dizziness hit him. His hands flexed without his consent. Lips twitched. For a second, he grinned—and it wasn't him.
The possession had begun.
Downstairs, the house shifted.
All the mirrors were intact again—but each one showed something different.
Not reflections.
Scenarios.
Each scene contained a younger version of Sarah. Her biggest regrets. Her deepest fears. Moments where she'd chosen to hide behind smiles instead of speaking out.
And in each one?
Perfect Sarah watched silently, arms folded.
Feeding.
[System Objective Update: Sever 3 Mirror Tethers]
Each tether binds Sarah's identity to the reflection.
Break the link to reclaim her. Or risk total replacement.
Tether One – The Bathroom Mirror
Sarah, age 13, stared at her reflection, stomach clenched, holding scissors. She cut her hair to fit in. Her smile was forced. Tears ran down her cheeks.
Alex smashed the mirror with the broken fragment.
The glass screamed.
Tether Two – The Classroom Window
Sarah, 15, sat silent as classmates mocked her drawing. She hid her sketchpad, burned it later. Outside the window, Perfect Sarah applauded.
Alex threw a desk through the window.
The image fractured.
Tether Three – The Dance Rehearsal Mirror
Sarah, 17, practiced relentlessly, chasing the image of someone she thought people wanted. Blood on her feet. Smile still wide. Eyes dull. In the mirror, Perfect Sarah danced perfectly.
Alex stepped in front of the mirror.
And spoke:
"You were never meant to be perfect."
He knelt, opened his palm, and let the last shard fall into the mirror's center.
It dissolved.
So did the dancer.
The room groaned.
Glass shattered behind every wall.
Perfect Sarah's voice howled from above.
"I WAS THE BEST VERSION OF HER!"
Alex stood firm.
"You were a lie she thought she needed."
He turned and faced her.
She was faltering. Her image flickering. Hair unraveling. Skin crackling like ice underfoot.
But her eyes—those perfect, inhuman eyes—burned with hatred.
[Fear System Notice: Final Phase – Core Collapse]
Mirror Entity Stability: 19%
Host Recovery: 84%
Exit Window Unlocking: 00:05:00
"You can't save her," Perfect Sarah hissed.
Alex looked around the house. The mirrors were fading. The house itself returning to a lived-in, imperfect space.
Books on the floor. Makeup smudges. Unfinished sketches taped to the wall.
"She's already saving herself."
The mirror behind her shattered completely.
Perfect Sarah lunged—eyes glowing silver, mouth wide—
Alex caught her by the wrists.
"You're not her."
And as her body splintered into shards—
He let go.
Silence.
Real silence.
The house stood still.
Sunlight peeked through the blinds.
Sarah's reflection in the hallway mirror blinked—then smiled.
This time, a real smile.
[Fear System – Mirror Arc Complete]
Host Identity: Stabilized – Sarah Kim (Recovered)
Possession Averted. Reflection Dissolved.
Arc Completion: 100%
New Ability Unlocked: Mirrorwalk – Briefly Reflect into Parallel Self for Insight
Preparing for System Jump…
Alex felt the familiar pull again.
The Fear System winding him upward, through light and shadow.
Sarah's voice echoed softly as she faded from his awareness.
"Thank you… for letting me see myself."
And with a final pulse—
The Mirror shattered behind him.