Chapter 5

Mara couldn't move. The little girl stood at the top of the stairs. She looked exactly like the child in the photograph. Pale dress. Long black hair. And that strange smile. Mara blinked. The girl was still there. “Who are you?” Mara whispered. The girl tilted her head. “You already know.” Mara shook her head. “No. I don't.” The girl's smile disappeared. Then she pointed behind Mara. Mara slowly turned. Nothing. The hallway was empty. When she looked back at the stairs— the girl was gone. Mara's heart raced. Then she heard a faint giggle. Not from upstairs. Not from the hallway. It came from inside the wall. Mara backed away. “Stop…” The giggling continued. Then another sound joined it. A whisper. “Mara…” She covered her ears. “Stop!” Suddenly, every door in the hallway opened at the same time. BANG! Mara screamed. The rooms were completely dark. One by one, the doors began closing. Bang. Bang. Bang. Until only one door remained open. The bedroom where Mara had found the photograph. She didn't want to enter. But something inside the room began humming. It was an old lullaby. The same lullaby her mother used to sing when she was little. Mara's eyes filled with tears. “Mom…” She stepped inside. The room was empty. Except for a mirror. Mara looked at her reflection. For a moment, everything seemed normal. Then she noticed something. Her reflection wasn't moving. Mara froze. She slowly raised her hand. The reflection didn't. Instead, it smiled. A cold feeling ran through Mara. The reflection lifted one finger. And pointed toward the mirror. Mara looked closer. Written across the glass were three words: SHE IS BEHIND YOU. Mara's breathing stopped. She didn't turn around. She stared at the reflection. Behind her stood the little girl. But this time, the girl wasn't smiling. She looked terrified. The girl slowly shook her head. Then she mouthed: “Run.” Mara spun around. Nothing. She looked back at the mirror. The little girl was gone. But Mara's reflection was still there. And now it was smiling. Slowly, the reflection raised its hand and knocked on the other side of the glass. Knock. Mara stepped backward. Knock. The mirror began to crack. Knock. A thin black line appeared across the glass. Then a whisper came from inside the mirror. “Mara…” She couldn't move. The reflection leaned closer. Its smile became wider. And then it whispered: “You were never the one who came back.” The mirror shattered. Mara screamed. And from somewhere downstairs came the sound she feared most. Knock. Knock. Knock. The house went completely silent. Then the front door slowly opened by itself. Someone was standing outside. Someone who looked exactly like Mara.