Chapter 24 Mirror Message
The mirror was fogged from steam someone must have showered recently.
But on the glass, written in thick, crimson lipstick, were four words. “He’s watching again.”
For a moment, her brain refused to process it. The letters were large, jagged, still glistening as if freshly drawn.
Her throat went dry. The faint smell of wax and perfume clung to the air. She reached up with shaking fingers and touched the mirror, the red smeared faintly, it felt real, not imagined.
Her reflection stared back, wide-eyed and pale. Behind her, the bathroom looked empty.
She took a slow step backward, heart hammering. Who did this?
Her mind raced. Ruby hadn’t been here when she came in. The lipstick wasn’t hers, she didn’t even own that color.
She turned toward the door just as footsteps echoed in the hallway.
“Lila?” Ruby called. Her voice was light and cheerful. “You here?”
Lila froze. “Ruby,did you..?”
Ruby appeared in the doorway, towel in hand, smiling until she saw the mirror.
Her face changed instantly. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Who did that?”
Lila stared at her. “You tell me.”
“I swear, I didn’t!” Ruby stepped closer, eyes wide. “That’s… that’s sick. Did someone break in?”
Lila’s hands trembled. “I locked the door when I left.”
They both stood staring at the words. The lipstick gleamed under the light brightly,like blood that hadn’t dried.
“Maybe someone came in while I was gone,” Ruby said quickly. “Or maybe it’s a prank. People do weird stuff around here.”
Lila didn’t answer. She was staring at the edge of the sink.
Something dark was floating in the water.
She moved closer, slowly, every nerve in her body alive. The faucet dripped once a soft, hollow sound.
Then she saw it.
A single red rose petal, drifting gently in the clear water.
The color bled faintly around it, like ink spreading through paper.
For a long moment, she just stared.
Then her reflection blinked in the mirror above it, pale, terrified, and small.
Behind her, Ruby whispered, “Lila…?”
But Lila couldn’t speak. She couldn’t even move. Her mind was filled with one thought, loud and hollow that someone had entered their room.
The room seemed to breathe around them the air was thick with perfume, fear, and something else she couldn’t name.
Ruby reached out as if to touch her shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay..”
Lila flinched away.
“It’s not okay,” she said hoarsely. “It’s never okay.”
Her voice broke on the last word. Her reflection in the mirror looked like a total stranger. Maybe she should talk to the police about everything. No, she should call her mother and tell her instead.
Ruby walked towards Lila and hugged her. “Hey, it's fine. Let's go out and eat dinner.”
For a few minutes, Lila felt calmness inside her. She really needed that hug.
“Fine, let's get dinner.” Lila replied finally.
Ruby released Lila and walked towards her wardrobe to dress up.
After dinner, Ruby left for the photography lab. She had a camera bag slung over her shoulder and a red scarf wound around her neck.
“You sure you don’t want to come?” she asked brightly.
Lila shook her head. “I’ve got to catch up on philosophy.”
Ruby shrugged. “Suit yourself. Don’t let the ghosts get you.” She winked playfully and disappeared down the hall, humming that same familiar tune.
The door closed. And everywhere was quiet again. Lila’s eyes drifted to the bathroom mirror, which looked clean again. The faint smell of roses still clung to the air, no matter how many times she’d opened the window.
She sat at her desk, trying to study Beckett’s latest essay prompt something about ethical paradoxes but the words blurred on the page. She couldn’t stop seeing the lipstick writing, the petal in the sink, the way Ruby had reacted shocked, but remained calm.
Outside, dusk settled deep and slow, like ink spilling through water. The hallway lights flickered, turning the dorm corridor into a narrow tunnel of pale gold and shadow.
That’s when she heard it.
A soft thud, not loud. Just enough to make her head lift.
She held still. Then, she heard another sound like a faint shuffle, like something being set down.
Lila pushed her chair back. The wooden legs squealed faintly against the floor. Her heartbeat quickened. She walked to the door, her fingers brushing the metal handle. For a long second, she placed her ear on the door listening to the sound outside.
But, she heard nothing. The sound suddenly stopped.
Then, slowly, she opened the door and peeped at the hallway. It was empty, and quiet except for the low hum of distant conversation, a door slamming far away, and the faint smell of detergent from the janitor’s cart down the hall.
Suddenly, she looked down and saw a box at her feet.
The box was wrapped neatly.ivory paper, tied with a ribbon the color of old wine. Her name was typed on a piece of paper.
Lila stared at the box, her skin prickling. There was no sound of footsteps, no note attached to the box.
She picked it up carefully. It wasn’t heavy, it was light enough to make the contents shift faintly when she moved. She closed the door, her breath shallow.
The ribbon came loose with a soft sigh.
The lid lifted.
Inside lay a single chocolate. Perfectly round, dark and glossy, like something from a luxury shop.
And beneath it, she found a folded photograph.
Lila’s throat tightened. She set the chocolate aside, her hands trembling as she unfolded the photo.
Serena.
Her sister, standing in a classroom, head tilted slightly, smiling that calm, knowing smile she always had. The lighting was soft, probably in one of the photography labs.
Lila’s breath caught. She hadn’t seen this picture before. And behind Serena, she was the faint, blurred, but unmistakable figure of Professor Beckett.
His hand rested on Serena’s shoulder. They were smiling and looking at the camera.
Lila’s fingers went numb. She felt her heart lurch against her ribs. It wasn’t just the picture, it was the way Beckett looked. He didn't look happy, and he didn't even pose. He was watching something else. His eyes were fixed somewhere beyond the lens, focused, and serious.
The image swam in front of her eyes.
She dropped the photo on the desk and stepped back, breathing hard. “What is this?” she whispered.
The air seemed to move. The door behind her creaked faintly.
Lila turned sharply. Her hand went to her chest. “Who’s there?”