A Dark Story about a mirror, a mother and a vanished child.
" It's not that I never looked at her, she was constantly in my face, asking me why this and why that, driving me crazy with all her questions, never letting up, no, not for a moment unless she was asleep. Of Course I looked at her, but did I ever see her? Ah that's what wakes me up in the wee hours of the morning."
"What does she look like? Wait, here is a picture, taken on her fifth birthday that was last May. She's grown a bit since then. I think.
Yes, her hair is naturally curly, a little like Shirley Temple in Curlylocks, except it was strawberry blond. Her eyes? Well they were a little strange, always changing. One day they were sea green, another day bright blue and sometimes, they were this deep silvery gray a bit like the shadows on the moon You never knew exactly what colour they really were Hazel?Yes I think you could say that."
"The last time I saw her? Well I had just got her a glass of water. She had this bad habit of asking for something to drink just after I went to bed. I swear, she always knew when I was falling asleep. I think she did it just to annoy me. Anyway, my husband was away on some kind of business trip, I never knew what he was up too, he isn't the most communicative of types, you know and I had just settled down for a good sleep when she called 'Mommy, mommy, I'm thirsty. Could you get me some water, PLEASSSSE?' She had this really irritating whine when she wanted something. You couldn't ignore it. So I got up and got her some water. No I didn't hear anything else, I'm usually a light sleeper, but I was really tired that night."
"Were any of the doors or windows open? WHAT do you take me for!!! Of COURSE they were! LOCKED and BOLTED. You don't think I'd leave a window open in the middle of November, do you? Yes, yes I know you have to ask these questions. No there was no sign of anything different, except maybe The Mirror."
"The Mirror? Now that was strange. I know this may seem weird to you, but I swear all the troubles started when I found The Mirror and brought it home. I just found it, out in the middle of nowhere, right by hi-way 395. Smack by the side of the road, propped up against a scraggly old pine tree. I must have driven that road a million times and never saw anything of value, just trash, broken pop bottles and the kind of garbage people dump out of their cars. I did see a teddy bear once, but it was all chewed up and moldy, not worth anything. The Mirror?
Well yes, I was on my way home from a bridge party when I was nearly blinded by a flash of light. I think the sun must have reflected off it. Anyway I pulled over to the side of the road, to see what it was and found this mirror. Except for a little dust, it was perfect. About 30" wide and 60" inches high, with this deep mahogany finished frame. I couldn't believe my eyes. It wasn't easy getting it into my car, These modern sedans don't give you much room for storage, but I managed. Funny thing, after I got it home and cleaned it off, I noticed some really strange carvings on the frame. No, I don't think I'm getting off track here, give me a minute and I'll explain."
"On either side of The Mirror there were these two winged snakes wrapped around a staff. A Caduceus? Well, yes now that you mention it they did resemble some kind of a medical symbol. Only they were etched in gold, Yes, real gold at least that's what my husband told me. On the bottom there was another gold etched symbol, it looked like a snake with its tail in its mouth and on top there was a tiny gold sun surrounded by nine 5 pointed stars. They were pretty tarnished to begin with, but once I took some silver polish to them they were as bright and shiny as any star in the sky. Well The Mirrorlooked like it was made for the second floor landing, all my friends were envious, I mean such a find! Yes! Yes! I'll get to the point, just be patient! "
"Claire, fell in love with The Mirror, she would spend hours playing on the stairs and landing, sometimes she even talked to it and acted like it talked back. I really didn't pay any attention, I mean she was out of my hair and seemed to be enjoying herself. Yes, it all started last June, a few weeks after I brought the damn thing home. First it sounded like there were mice inside the walls; a lot of scratching and scurrying sounds. I called the exterminator, but he couldn't find anything. Them the noises got louder, it sounded like whispers and giggling, only at night, it only happened at night.
My husband? No he slept like a log, He would have slept through the sinking of the Titanic! No, I was the one who heard them, every night ,giggling and whispering. I could have sworn they were right outside the door. I'd get up, try to catch em but all I ever saw was shadows. Shadows disappearing into that damn Mirror! Shadows, giggling and whispering. I should have got rid of the damn thing! I nearly did once, but Claire wouldn't stand for it. She started whining and begging and pleading, wouldn't stop until I gave in. NO! It wasn't my IMAGINATION! I know what I saw! I KNOW what I heard!.
I knew you wouldn't believe me. Nobody ever believes me. A drink of water? Thank you. No I'm alright, I can continue. Yes, a few weeks ago the noises stopped. Even Claire stopped asking me all those damn questions. It was nice and quiet for a change. I could even get a good night sleep after I gave Claire, her glass of water.. that is. It really wasn't so bad. She might have been annoying, but I suppose children that age are anyway. No! I've told you already! After I gave her a glass of water that night, I didn't hear anything.
Why did I wait so long to call you? Well I'm not really a morning person and thought Claire was sleeping in. It must have been about 10 when I went up into her bedroom and she was gone. I thought she was playing games, hiding somewhere in the house. No I really didn't think she was gone until 3 o'clock, when her favourite program came on. Claire never missed that show; She really liked the puppets. Well yes, I searched the house from top to bottom, I even went out into the woods behind the house. Not that Claire ever went out there. And then I saw IT. See? Don't you see it? IN THE MIRROR, YOU FOOL, THE MIRROR. LOOK!
At this point Mrs. Berkley broke down and had to be sedated. She is currently in the psychiatric unit of the General hospital. The search for the child is continuing. But no leads have come in yet. The mirror? Well other than the unusual gold and silver etchings on the frame, there seems to be a shadow on the glass about the size of a small child.
Stories For A Winter Night