Audio Podcast 10 minutes

This is in my next paperback “Tales of TomT2.0 volume five. This volume is all spooky stories. Getting ready for Halloween.

Eli stood in the bathroom, half-asleep, brushing his teeth like he did every night, the bristles of his toothbrush working mechanically against his enamel. The fluorescent light buzzed overhead, casting a pale glow over the cracked tiles and foggy mirror, illuminating the remnants of a long day that clung to him like a heavy blanket. He smiled absently at his reflection—more habit than emotion—and then dropped the smile as he leaned down to spit, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night. The room was filled with the familiar scent of mint toothpaste, mingling with the musty air, while outside, the soft rustle of leaves hinted at the gentle breeze that stirred the quiet neighborhood. Unconsciously, he replayed the events of the day, the laughter shared and the mundane moments that blurred into one another, pausing briefly to wonder how tomorrow might unfold. With a final rinse, Eli reluctantly stepped away from the mirror, feeling the weight of exhaustion tugging at him, but grateful for the small, ordinary ritual that marked the end of his day.

But the reflection didn’t drop it.

Eli froze, toothbrush still in hand, caught in a moment that felt suspended in time. His mirrored self was still smiling, an eerie reflection that sent chills down his spine. Not a friendly grin, but something stretched too wide, too long, like a macabre mask fitted over a face that should show fear or surprise. The kind of smile that didn’t belong on a human face, it was an unsettling distortion that suggested something more sinister lurking beneath the surface. With each passing second, Eli’s heart raced as he wondered what had gone wrong, why the reflection seemed to mock him, and if this strange visage was a harbinger of something darker waiting to reveal itself.

He blinked. The reflection blinked too, still grinning.

“Okay,” he muttered, rubbing his eyes. “Sleep deprivation. That’s all.”

He turned off the light and left the bathroom, feeling a strange sense of relief wash over him. But as he passed the hallway mirror, he caught a glimpse—his reflection, still smiling, an eerie reminder of a joy that felt distant. The dim light flickered, casting shadows that danced along the walls, and he paused for a moment, captivated by the contrast between his inner turmoil and the outward appearance of happiness that stared back at him. It was as if the smile in the mirror was mocking him, teasing him for the facade he maintained.

That night, Eli barely slept. The moon filtered through the curtains, casting eerie shadows that danced across his room. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that grin, sharp and wide, curling menacingly at the corners. It wasn’t just unsettling—it felt wrong, as if it held secrets meant to be buried deep. Like something was watching him from the other side of the glass, its gaze penetrating and relentless, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of dread that wrapped around him like a suffocating blanket. Each sound in the house—a creak, a whisper—seemed amplified in the silence, fueling his growing paranoia and ensuring that sleep remained an elusive, unattainable refuge.

The next morning, he avoided the mirror, feeling as though it was a portal to some unsettling truth, he was not ready to confront. Shaved blind, he moved the razor hesitantly over his stubble, not daring to open his eyes lest he be confronted by the visage he had come to dread. Brushed his teeth with his eyes closed, the minty taste barely reaching his senses as his mind raced with the thoughts of what he might discover. But curiosity gnawed at him, an insistent whisper in the back of his mind urging him to look. With trembling hands, he peeked, heart pounding as he lifted the lid of dread, ready to face whatever awaited him.

The reflection was normal, appearing just as one would expect in a peaceful lake on a calm day, with the surface shimmering gently under the warm sunlight and presenting a clear image of the trees and sky above. The tranquility of the scene offered a moment of serenity, inviting one to pause and appreciate the beauty of nature reflected so perfectly before them.

Relieved, Eli laughed, the sound echoing softly in the quiet room. “I’m losing it,” he said to his reflection, a mixture of exasperation and amusement dancing in his eyes. He leaned closer to the mirror, searching for signs of the sanity he felt slipping away, all while his laughter grew more infectious, as if he were sharing an inside joke with himself that only he could understand.

It didn’t laugh back, as if it understood that laughter was a privilege reserved for moments of genuine joy and connection, instead opting for a silent acknowledgment that hung in the air, weighty with the unspoken truths and emotions we often fail to express.

That night, the smile returned.

This time, Eli stared into the mirror, refusing to look away. His own face stared back, smiling wider and wider until the lips cracked and bled. The eyes grew darker, pupils swallowing the whites. Eli backed away, heart hammering.

The reflection didn’t move.

It stayed there, grinning, even as Eli ran from the room, its sinister smile a chilling reminder of the darkness that lurked within those walls, a presence that seemed to thrive on fear and uncertainty, watching with unblinking eyes as the shadows danced around it, whispering secrets that only Eli could feel creeping into his mind, urging him to look back, to face what he desperately wanted to escape from.

He tried everything—covering the mirror with cloth and tape, smashing it to shards that glittered like cruel stars, even replacing it with a new one that promised to be different. But no matter what he did, the reflection came back, mocking him with its persistence. It was as if the mirror had a will of its own, refusing to be silenced or hidden away. Not always immediately, as if it relished in the torment of anticipation. Sometimes it waited patiently, biding its time until he least expected it. At other moments, it would show itself in the most unexpected places—appearing in windows during twilight, shimmering in puddles after a rain, and even on the black screen of his phone when he least wanted to confront it. Each encounter was a reminder, a haunting echo of what he wished to forget, compelling him to confront the part of himself he had long tried to escape.

And it was changing.

It began to move on its own, a strange, unsettling energy radiating from its form. Tilting its head when Eli didn’t, as if questioning his resolve and challenging him to respond. Raising a hand when his stayed still, the gesture felt deliberate, almost mocking in its insistence. It whispered things he couldn’t hear, mouthing words that made his skin crawl, sending shivers down his spine and igniting a primal fear within him. Each syllable it shaped felt like a dark promise, a hint at secrets that lurked just beyond his understanding, beckoning him closer even as every instinct screamed for him to flee.

One night, Eli woke to find every mirror in his apartment uncovered, reflecting the dim light that filtered in through the curtains. He didn’t remember doing it, but the sight sent a shiver down his spine as he felt an eerie presence in the air. Each mirror seemed to be staring back at him, as if they held secrets he had forgotten. The last few days had been a blur, filled with late-night distractions and fatigue, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched. Uneasy, Eli glanced around, half-expecting to see a shadow lurking just beyond his line of sight, but the apartment remained silent, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator.

In the bathroom, the reflection was waiting, shimmering faintly in the dim light, as if it held secrets untold, urging the viewer to step closer and confront the truths hidden within.

It wasn’t smiling anymore.

It was beckoning.

Eli stepped closer, drawn by something he couldn’t name, as an inexplicable force seemed to pull him towards the shimmering glass. The glass rippled like water, creating a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow that captivated his senses. He reached out, fingertips brushing the surface, feeling a coolness that sent a shiver up his spine, as though the glass were alive and responsive to his touch. Each delicate ripple seemed to whisper secrets, urging him to delve deeper into the mystery before him, while the world around him faded into a distant hum.

And the reflection grabbed him.

Now, when people visit Eli’s apartment, they find the mirrors covered, shrouded in an aura of mystery that piques their curiosity. All but one remain hidden behind draped cloths or opaque film, which creates a peculiar atmosphere that feels both intimate and unsettling. The lone uncovered mirror, however, reflects a glimmer of light and provides a fleeting glimpse into Eli’s world, inviting visitors to wonder what lies behind the concealed reflections and the reasons for their obscuration.

In the bathroom, the mirror shows a man brushing his teeth, his reflection revealing the early morning light filtering through the small window, casting a gentle glow on the pale tiles. As he methodically moves the toothbrush back and forth, the hum of the electric toothbrush fills the air, and he catches a glimpse of his own tired eyes, a reminder of the long night before. The aroma of mint from the toothpaste mingles with the faint scent of soap lingering in the room, creating an oddly comforting atmosphere. Beyond the mirror, the bathroom door is slightly ajar, hinting at the life outside that awaits him, filled with the sounds of a bustling day yet to unfold.

And if you look closely, you’ll see—he’s not alone. In fact, there are several figures lurking in the shadows, each with their own stories, waiting to unfold. The atmosphere is thick with intrigue, and the faint sound of whispers hints at secrets shared among them. It’s a moment frozen in time, where connections are forged and the unspoken bond of companionship is palpable, transforming an ordinary scene into something extraordinary.

For reasons that will never be understood, the apartment was never rented again, becoming a mysterious relic of the past, shrouded in whispers and unanswered questions about its history. Neighbors speculated about the property, sharing stories of strange occurrences and unexplainable sights that had once driven potential tenants away, leaving behind only a lingering sense of unease that seemed to permeate the very walls of the building.

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