El primer día que mi compañera de cuarto se mudó conmigo, rompió todos los espejos y cualquier cosa que pudiera reflejar un rostro, incluso mi televisor, que había comprado apenas unos meses antes.
Intenté confrontarla, pero rápidamente me transfirió el dinero de todo lo que acababa de destruir.
Sabía que se mudó conmigo porque sus amigas tenían espejos por todas partes, pero nunca pensé que fuera tan serio.
A veces le hacía bromas diciendo que iba a comprarme un espejo, pero ella solo me miraba con una expresión que parecía una advertencia.

Pero eso no era lo único extraño en ella.

Cada mañana, cuando se despertaba, yo la saludaba—pero ella actuaba como si no me oyera. Incluso cuando levantaba la voz al máximo, no respondía.
Primero abría un extraño libro negro y lo leía en voz baja, como si estuviera rezando. Solo después de terminar de leer comenzaba a hablar y responderme.

Lo que lo hacía aún más aterrador era el idioma que hablaba mientras leía ese libro.
No sonaba como su lengua materna.
Ella es del estado de Akwa Ibom y hablaba efik, idioma que yo entendía en parte—pero esto era distinto.
Era algo completamente diferente.

Una vez intenté grabar su voz con mi teléfono, con la esperanza de usar inteligencia artificial para traducir el idioma. Pero cada vez que reproducía el audio, no se escuchaba bien—sonaba como una radio rota, como si algo—o alguien—no quisiera que se oyera.
Me convencí de que solo era algún tipo de oración. Y como no creía en espíritus, cultos ni en lo sobrenatural, lo dejé pasar.

A pesar de todas estas cosas extrañas, no podía evitar enamorarme de ella. A veces me perdía en pensamientos, preguntándome cómo alguien tan hermosa no quería ver su propio reflejo.

Un día, mientras estaba en el baño, entreabrí la puerta sabiendo que Ariel (mi compañera) se estaba vistiendo para ir a clases.
Desafortunadamente, antes de que pudiera espiar, ya se había vestido, pero estaba a punto de maquillarse, y fue entonces cuando noté algo extraño.
Estaba en el baño, cuando la vi. Ella pensaba que estaba sola.
Se sentó en su cama, tarareando una canción extraña. Luego sacó algo de debajo de la cama.

Era un pequeño espejo ovalado—rojo sangre, con bordes como huesos retorcidos.
Lo miró fijamente y sonrió con entusiasmo, como alguien que acababa de ganarse la lotería.

Episodio 2

Era un pequeño espejo ovalado—rojo sangre, con bordes como huesos retorcidos. Lo miraba fijamente y sonreía con entusiasmo, como alguien que acababa de ganarse la lotería.

No podía seguir escondiéndome en el baño. Tenía que salir—enfrentarla, finalmente.

—“Ariel, ¿qué haces con ese espejo? Pensé que no te gustaba ver tu reflejo,”—le pregunté con la voz temblorosa.

Me miró. Inmediatamente dejó de sonreír, y su rostro se volvió frío mientras clavaba sus ojos en los míos.
No dijo una palabra—solo siguió mirándome. Mi corazón comenzó a latir con fuerza.

¿Qué estaría pensando?

Después de un momento tenso de contacto visual silencioso, me moví un poco, esperando ver mejor el espejo. Pero rápidamente lo apretó contra su pecho, ocultándolo.

Sin embargo, justo antes de cubrirlo, vi algo—
Algo que no era su reflejo.
O tal vez… no lo vi claramente. Pero fuera lo que fuera, no se sentía bien.

—“No te metas en mis asuntos. No deberías estar espiándome,”—dijo con enojo. “Pensé que te estabas bañando. Por favor… déjame en paz.”

Luego se dio la vuelta y salió de la casa, aún sosteniendo el espejo con fuerza.

Ese momento me impulsó. Decidí comprar un espejo para mí—solo uno.
No lo puse a la vista, donde ella pudiera verlo. Lo mantuve escondido, en el fondo de mi armario.

Más tarde ese día, cuando Ariel volvió de clases, entró y vino directo hacia mí—sus pasos eran rápidos y agresivos.

—“¿Por qué intentas hacer que esta casa sea incómoda para las dos?”—gritó. “¡Saca ese espejo de esta casa!”

Me congelé, sorprendido por lo fuerte que me gritó, como si las dos estuviéramos en peligro si mantenía ese espejo en casa.

Estaba seguro de que no lo había visto. Nunca lo mencioné, ni siquiera lo saqué.

¿Cómo lo supo?

—“Ariel… yo también necesito un espejo. Solo para mirarme la cara cada mañana,”—dije con calma. “No lo tengo en un lugar visible—está guardado en mi armario.”

Ella me miró fijamente un rato, luego se giró hacia su habitación. Pero antes de entrar, se volteó de nuevo, con los ojos encendidos.

—“Saca ese espejo de esta casa. No puedes tenerlo aquí,”—advirtió. “No digas que no te lo advertí… por tu propia seguridad.”

Y se fue.

A pesar de su advertencia, seguí decidida a quedármelo. Necesitaba ese espejo… y en el fondo, quería ver qué haría en realidad.

Al día siguiente, después de clases, regresé a casa y me quedé helada.

Había vidrios rotos en el suelo.

Pero no de una manera normal. Los fragmentos estaban dispuestos—casi cuidadosamente—formando algo que parecía un símbolo.

Pero eso no era todo.

Había algo más.

Episode 3

Glass was shattered on the floor.
But not in a normal way.
The fragments were arranged—almost carefully—forming something that looked like a symbol.
But that wasn’t all.

Behind the broken mirror, there was something—an image. And somehow, I could tell it was alive. It wasn’t still; it was… moving.
The mirror no longer reflected anything. It didn’t behave like glass at all. It felt more like a window—as if it had been covering something beneath it.
And that thing… wasn’t supposed to be there.

While I was still trying to make sense of what I was seeing, I suddenly felt it—
That feeling.
Like I wasn’t alone.
Like someone—or something—was in the room with me.

I couldn’t see anyone… but I could feel warm breaths brushing against the back of my neck.

I froze.

My chest tightened. My feet felt glued to the ground. Every part of me wanted to run, but just as I was about to move—
Ariel walked in.

And instantly… the feeling stopped.

I stood there, completely still, staring at her in fear. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t even know how to think.
She stared back at me, visibly confused and maybe a little annoyed by the look on my face.

After what felt like forever, she finally broke the silence.

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you staring at me like that? Why are you acting like a weirdo?” she hissed, dropped her bag, and walked into the bathroom.

I turned back to the mirror—and the image was gone.
The mirror now reflected like normal.
Almost like nothing had happened.

For a second, I began to question myself.
Was it all in my head?
Am I losing it?

But no. I knew what I saw—and more importantly, what I felt. It wasn’t normal.
Still, a part of me didn’t want to believe it…
Maybe it was the way I felt about Ariel. Maybe my emotions were clouding my judgment.

When she came out of the bathroom and walked past the broken mirror, I noticed something—something that chilled me to my core.

Her reflection wasn’t there.

I blinked. Looked again.

Nothing.

I tried to convince myself it was my angle, or the lighting, or just stress.
But deep down, I knew the truth was staring me in the face.

“Could it be that she really doesn’t have a reflection?
Is that why she hates mirrors so much?” I asked myself, shivering.

She stopped, turned to me coldly, and said:

“Richard, pack these mirrors and throw them out. You’re the one who brought them in.”

I wanted to use that moment to get closer—to check again, to confirm what I saw.
But before I could take a step, she backed away—like she knew exactly what I was thinking.

“Remember,” she said, her voice sharp, “bringing mirrors into this house is your risk, not mine.”

I stood there, stunned.

How could a mirror be dangerous to me?
I’ve lived with mirrors my entire life. I had one in my old apartment.
So why is it suddenly a threat—now?

I didn’t know what to believe anymore.
But one thing was clear:

This house—and Ariel—held secrets far darker than I imagined.

“Remember, bringing mirrors into this house is your risk, not mine,” she warned me.

I was stunned—again.
How could a mirror be dangerous to me?
I’d had mirrors in my home for years without any problems.
So why was it suddenly a threat—now?

I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Was she trying to manipulate me?
Trying to make me fear mirrors like she did?
Or was there really something… real behind all of this?

I made up my mind:
I was going to steal her mirror and take a proper look at it.

I needed to understand what made that specific mirror so special—or so dangerous.

That evening, when Ariel went out with one of her female friends, I seized the opportunity.

I sneaked into her room and began searching.

And then… I saw it.

The blood-red mirror with those bone-like edges. Just as I remembered.

The moment I touched it, I felt it again:
That warm breath.
The same sensation I had felt when she shattered my mirror and I saw that unexplainable image.

I stared into her mirror—and this time… I knew.

I believed it.

This wasn’t just a mirror.
It was something spiritual.
Something alive.

It didn’t reflect my image.

Instead… it showed something else.
Dark. Moving. Watching me.

As I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, I suddenly heard the front door slam shut.

Ariel was back.

I panicked.

Quickly, I hid the mirror in a spot I was sure she’d never check. I couldn’t afford to lose it—not before I figured out what it was.

Moments later, she came straight into the room and walked over to the exact spot where the mirror had been.

My heart stopped.

I braced myself—ready for her to scream, to accuse me, to tear the place apart.

But instead…

She slowly turned to me… walked over… and smiled.

Then, without a word, she reached out and gently patted my cheek.

“My baby,” she said sweetly—and blew me a kiss.

My heart dropped.

That was the last thing I expected.

Why would she call me that? Why act so calm—so affectionate?

I stood frozen, unable to respond.
She walked past me and out of the house… without saying another word.

I waited for her to return.

But she never did.

Eventually, I went to bed.

And that…
That was when the real horror began.

I started having terrifying dreams—visions that chilled me to the bone.

I’d wake up gasping for breath, whispering prayers into the darkness.
But the moment I drifted back to sleep…

The dream would continue.

It wasn’t a series of dreams.
It was one long dream, unfolding like a movie.

Every time I woke up and went back to sleep, it picked up exactly where it had left off—like I’d hit pause on something that refused to end.

In the dream, I was in a strange, shadowy world…
A different realm… where the sky was always blood-red.

Grotesque, monstrous creatures roamed freely—watching me with hollow eyes.

And in the center of it all…
Was Ariel.

But not the Ariel I knew.

She was dressed in black.
Holding the red mirror like a crown.
And smiling at me like we belonged there—together.

She wasn’t just in the dream.

She owned it.

She was my bride.

And I…

I didn’t know if I was dreaming anymore.

Episode 5

Each time I woke up and went back to sleep, it picked up exactly where it left off—
as if I had pressed pause on something that refused to stop.

That night, I stayed up—shaky, scared, and completely drained.

I expected Ariel to return in the morning. She had a class. She never missed class.

But she didn’t show up.

At school, I was so exhausted I dozed off during a lecture—
and once again, I found myself trapped in the same dream.

Except now, it didn’t feel like a dream anymore.
It felt real. Too real.

After class, I rushed to her department, desperate to find her.
But she wasn’t there.

Her coursemates said they hadn’t seen her all day.

I tried calling her.

Once.

Twice.

Nothing.

No pickup. No message. No sign.

And that’s when it hit me hard:

I didn’t really know Ariel.
Not fully. Not truly.

She had always been so private, so reserved.
I didn’t even know if she had any family. No siblings. No relatives.
Nothing.

But despite everything…

I knew she was the only one who could help me now.

So I went home and began searching through her belongings—
looking for anything that might lead me to her.
A contact. A name. A clue.

That’s when I found it:

An old photograph of a woman, hidden between two books.
On the back, a handwritten address.

I could only assume it was her mother.

It was already late, and as the clock struck 6 PM, the house changed.

I felt it again—
That creeping sensation that I wasn’t alone.
That something was standing just inches behind me… watching.

But every time I turned around—
Nothing.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

I threw some clothes into a bag and left.
I’d spend the night at a hotel.
I’d visit that address in the morning.

When I arrived at the hotel, everything seemed normal.
The check-in went smoothly.
But as I walked through the hallway toward my room…

I passed a large, decorative mirror hanging on the wall.

I glanced at it casually.

And what I saw made me stop cold.

Nothing.

No reflection.

I stared. Blinking. Confused.

The hotel porter was behind me, so I forced myself to act normal.
I told myself I was probably just tired, maybe dizzy, maybe seeing things.

But later that night, when I returned alone to the same hallway, I looked again—deliberately.

The hallway was empty.
The lights were steady.
The mirror was clean.

But I wasn’t there.

Every object.
Every wall.
Every shadow… reflected perfectly.

Except me.

It was as if I was no longer part of this world.

As if I had become a ghost.

As if…

The mirror couldn’t recognize me anymore.

Episode 6

It was as if I was no longer part of this world.
As if I had become a ghost.
As if… the mirror couldn’t recognize me anymore.

I was so scared I nearly lost control of myself.
I couldn’t keep staring into the hotel mirror—because what was the point?

I still had Ariel’s strange, blood-red mirror with me.
Shaking, I pulled it out and stared into it again, hoping it might somehow reverse whatever was happening to me.

But then something strange happened.

I saw my reflection.

For the first time, that spiritual mirror actually reflected my image.
Unlike the first time I looked into it—when it showed nothing at all—I was clearly there now.

Confused, I carried Ariel’s mirror back to the hotel hallway to compare.

That’s when I knew the terrifying truth:
I was doomed.

In Ariel’s mirror, I could see myself.

But in the hallway mirror…
I was invisible.

As if I no longer existed in this world.

It hit me like a punch to the chest.
Maybe Ariel hated mirrors all along because she couldn’t see herself in any of them either.
Maybe that blood-red mirror she carried was the only one that still showed her reflection.

I looked again into her mirror—closely.

What I saw next nearly stopped my heart.

There were no walls behind me. No hotel. No hallway.

Just a black, empty void.

Like I was standing in a completely different realm—and only this mirror revealed it.

Then—I saw her.

Ariel.

Walking behind me.

Her reflection clear in the mirror.

But when I spun around… no one was there.

I bolted back to my room, crawled under the bedsheet, and cried.

I regretted everything.

Letting her move in. Ignoring all the signs.

Now I was lost.

And I didn’t even know what I was anymore.

I must have dozed off because the next thing I saw, I was standing beside a dark, foggy river.

Across the water, a small boat approached.

An old woman in a white gown was paddling toward me, her face shadowed by the mist.

Everything around us was hazy and slow, like a dream painted in smoke.

As she came closer, I finally saw her face.

It was my aunt—my late mother’s sister.

She had been my favorite relative as a child.

But she’d been dead for years.

She held something in her hands… a green, dusty scroll.

“Auntie?” I whispered, trembling.
“What are you doing here? Please… tell me this isn’t real.”

She didn’t answer.

She only reached out and handed me the scroll.

I was just about to open it—

Knock! Knock! Knock!

I jolted awake.

Someone was at the hotel door.

Still shaken from the dream, I got up slowly and moved toward the door.

But when I opened it… I froze.

Standing there… was Ariel.

Her eyes calm.

Her face unreadable.

“Where have you been?” I stammered.
“What have you done to me? And how—how did you even know I was here?”

She didn’t answer.

She only smiled.

Episodio 8

Se me cayó el estómago.
Mis manos temblaban.
Las lágrimas se acumularon en mis ojos.
Estaba en un problema más profundo de lo que jamás imaginé.

Y entonces—escuché una voz.
Llamó mi nombre.
“Richard…”

Miré hacia arriba—y frente a mí estaba una niña pequeña con un vestido blanco.
Mi corazón casi se detuvo. Las puertas estaban cerradas. ¿Cómo había entrado?

Todavía en el suelo, congelado por el miedo, traté de no acercarme más.

“Levántate,” dijo calmadamente.
“Tenemos que ir ahora. El ritual debe comenzar.”

Sin esperar respuesta, caminó hacia la puerta.

Algo dentro de mí me dijo que no debía resistirme.
Así que, temblando, recogí mis cosas y la seguí.

Mientras caminábamos por el pasillo del hotel, miré los espejos—y me quedé paralizado.

Ninguno de los dos tenía reflejo.

Y eso no era lo peor.

Cuando llegamos a la recepción del hotel, nadie más podía verla.
Yo era el único que reaccionaba a su presencia.

“Señor, tiene sangre en el brazo. ¿Se ha cortado?” preguntó la recepcionista, genuinamente preocupada.

Abrí la boca para responder—pero la niña me lanzó una mirada fulminante, su rostro se torció en algo oscuro y enojado.

“¡Ocúpate de lo tuyo!” le respondí a la recepcionista.

Me odié por decir eso.
Pero era como si ya no tuviera control.
Como si fuera prisionero de algo más grande, algo aterrador.

Finalmente, llegamos a un bosque denso y silencioso.
La niña se detuvo en un camino estrecho y señaló adelante.

“Ve. El pergamino te guiará ahora.
Que nunca nos volvamos a encontrar.”

Esas palabras me impactaron.
“Que nunca nos volvamos a encontrar…”

Las mismas palabras que Ariel me susurró el día que se fue del hotel.

La miré, temblando.

“¿Eres… Ariel?” pregunté.

Ella sonrió brillantemente—demasiado brillantemente.

Y entonces, ante mis ojos, desapareció.

Así de repente—en el aire.

Ahora estaba solo, en medio de la nada, en un camino estrecho rodeado de árboles.

Caminé lo que parecieron horas, el miedo creciendo en mi mente con cada paso.

Finalmente, encontré una antigua casa de cristal polvorienta.

Delante de ella, en un pequeño jardín, estaba una mujer mayor.

Era la mujer de la foto—la que creía era la madre de Ariel.

Cuando me vio, sonrió cálidamente.

“Hijo mío,” dijo suavemente, “bienvenido. Te estábamos esperando.”

Me llevó dentro de la casa.

Y por primera vez desde que miré en el espejo de Ariel… me vi reflejado en otro espejo.

Todos los espejos dentro de su casa reflejaban mi imagen.

Tenía muchas preguntas. Pero no encontraba las palabras.

Ella se volvió hacia mí, su voz calmada pero cargada de significado.

“No necesitas preguntar.
El último deseo de Ariel fue traerte aquí—a salvo.
Pero debes saber esto: ahora eres el portador del espejo.
Debes mirarlo todos los días, o te arrugarás y morirás en 50 días… justo como está marcado en tu muñeca.”

Miré hacia abajo.

El tatuaje luminoso—la fecha—todo cobraba sentido ahora.

“Por favor… dime que hay una manera de deshacer esto. Cualquier cosa.” pregunté desesperadamente.

Ella negó con la cabeza.

“Es una maldición que se ha transmitido por generaciones.
La única forma de escapar es encontrar a alguien que tome voluntariamente tu lugar—
alguien que elija mirar el espejo como tú lo hiciste.”

Mi voz se quebró.
“¿Y si no puedo encontrar a nadie?”

Ella sonrió tristemente.

“Entonces las voces que escuchaste regresarán.
Te atormentarán, susurrando en tu cabeza cada momento…
hasta el último día de tu vida.”

Por favor sigue mi canal de WhatsApp para más actualizaciones—el enlace está en los comentarios o en la biografía.

Con esas palabras, desapareció.

Me quedé allí—solo otra vez.

Saqué el espejo de mi bolsa.

Por primera vez, algo nuevo apareció en su superficie:

Un reloj que hace tic-tac.

Nunca había estado antes.

El tiempo se acaba.

Con lágrimas en los ojos y miedo en el alma, empaqué mis cosas.

Solo me quedaba una misión.

Encontrar a Ariel—
Y acabar con esta maldición de una vez por todas.

Fin ✨✨