Sophie strolled home, her gaze lingering on the mysterious house that had always drawn her curiosity. Something shimmered at her feet—a small, ornate key, its metal surface etched with swirling patterns and worn with time. She knelt and picked it up, feeling a sudden, electric tingle pulse through her fingers.
Sophie[/@ch_1]’s palm feels heavier, almost alive, as she stands at the edge of the property, heart pounding.]
"What are you?" she whispered, studying the key's intricate carvings. She glanced up, startled, as the glow from the door flickered brighter, almost beckoning her forward. Driven by a mix of fear and excitement, she crossed the overgrown yard, each step amplifying the key’s weight.
Sophie slid the key into the brass lock, her hand trembling. With a soft, deliberate click, the door swung open, revealing a dark interior tinged with the same ethereal glow. Every instinct screamed at her to turn back, but her curiosity held firm, pulling her into the house.
Sophie[/@ch_1] takes makes the floorboards groan beneath her feet. The glowing intensifies, guiding her past dust-shrouded furniture and cracked picture frames.]
Her breath quickens as she nears a half-open door. The light seeps from beneath it, painting the floor in shifting patterns. She hesitates, then pushes the door open, heart thundering in her chest.
Sophie steps closer, her reflection staring back with wide, fearful eyes. But then, the image in the mirror shifts—her reflection’s lips curl into a slow, chilling smile, though Sophie herself remains frozen in terror. The reflection lifts a hand and waves, independent of her own trembling limbs.
Sophie[/@ch_1] blur and dissolve, leaving her standing in a cold, endless void with only the mirror and her grinning double for company.]
"Who are you?" she gasps, barely able to speak as the reflection steps forward, closer to the glass. The smile widens, and a voice echoes in her mind—soft, melodic, and hauntingly familiar. "The one you left behind," the reflection whispers, as the key in Sophie’s hand vanishes into mist, and the world unravels into darkness.
