The quiet of the night complemented the silent sense of foreboding in Jessica’s bedroom. Her parents were asleep in the other room across the landing leaving the only sound to be the occasional creek of the house settling with the typical chill only darkness could bring. Jessica slept, breathing softly, her subconscious carrying her away from the surreptitious, hollowing silence of the dark.
“Jessica?” called a whispered voice echoing through the abyss of the dark. Something in Jessica’s brain began to kick in wanting her to wake but her subconscious prevented her from doing so, wanting to fold her into the safety of her dreams. “Jessica wake up sweetheart,” urged the voice softly, a soothing feminine voice, motherly and understanding. “Jessica it’s time to wake my darling.” Jessica began to stir, slipping back into consciousness she turned on her side.
“That’s right sleepy head wake up there’s a good girl,” encouraged the caressing whisper. Jessica began to sit up; rubbing her eyes she looked forward and gasped. In front of her was her bedroom mirror screwed to the wall as it always had been only now someone was there, looking back at her from within the mirror smiling at her. “There’s no need to be afraid precious. I’m not going to hurt you,” promised the ghostly figure.
Jessica couldn’t focus her eyes properly, the mirror seemed so bright. She could see a woman, a young woman standing in the mirror but she couldn’t pick out her features. It was as though her eyes didn’t want to conform to what they were seeing. She was sat completely upright but kept herself wrapped in her sheet cover for protection. “Are you a fairy?” she asked with some hesitation but with more hopeful curiosity.
“That’s right princess,” claimed the voice. “And you and me we’re going for a little adventure.”
Jessica wasn’t scared. The more she looked at the spirit in the mirror the more features she seemed to see. Those were wings weren’t they? And she was pretty, as pretty as her Mummy and her Mummy never hurt her. “Should I tell my Mummy?” she asked putting her feet over the edge of the bed.
“Oh no this is our secret adventure,” enticed the spirit. “Come closer to the mirror, that’s it,” it invited. Its voice was so warm and calming and enticing. Jessica slowly began to approach still a little unsettled unsure what the fairy would do. “Don’t be scared. No one’s going to hurt you. That’s it.”
Jessica walked towards the mirror encouraged by the spirits warmly smile. As she got directly in front of it a hand came out and pulled her into the mirror. The room fell silent once again and no one would know where Jessica Clarke had gone.
Something quite sinister. I would have definitely read & enjoyed this as a teenager. Great stuff.