Unnamed Marriage

Shadows Behind the Mirror

Alina sat on the velvet sofa that felt too plush beneath her. Her hands were clenched on her lap, trying to control the tremors that ran through her fingers. Her eyes scanned the room, trying to understand where she was.

This room seemed to be from another era. A crystal chandelier hung low in the center of the high ceiling, adorned with gold carvings. A large fireplace in the corner of the room blazed with licking flames, creating moving shadows on the walls filled with large paintings. The faces in those paintings seemed to stare at her with vacant eyes, as if they were watching her every move.

Darren sat beside her, calm as usual, as if the tense atmosphere in the room was nothing unfamiliar to him.

The old man in front of her let out a long sigh before finally speaking. "So, you truly remember nothing?"

Alina swallowed, trying to calm her irregular heartbeat. "I... I don't remember anything before waking up in that house."

The woman in the emerald green dress narrowed her eyes. "Strange. Considering who you are, losing your memory isn't something to be taken lightly."

Alina's heart sank.

"What do you mean?" she asked carefully.

Darren turned sharply to the woman, but the young man sitting at the end of the room interrupted, his voice full of skepticism. "Don't beat around the bush, Mother. If she doesn't remember, make her remember."

The atmosphere in the room instantly grew colder.

Alina felt tension creeping up her back.

The old man looked at Darren with an unreadable expression. "Are you sure you want to bring her back here? You know this could be a big problem."

Darren remained calm. "She is part of this family, whether you like it or not."

"But she's also a threat," the young man added sharply.

That word made Alina shiver.

She felt something strange—something whispering in her mind, as if there were memories buried deep within her trying to surface. But no matter how hard she tried to remember, there was only emptiness that frustrated her.

She clenched her fists. "I don't understand. Why am I considered a threat? What really happened to me?"

The woman smiled faintly. "Oh, dear... You truly don't know, do you?"

That night, Alina stood on the balcony of her room, gazing at the night sky shrouded in gray clouds. The faint moonlight barely pierced through the gaps in the clouds, creating a dim light that made the garden below look like another world.

The night air felt cold, piercing her skin despite the silk nightgown she was wearing. The wind blew gently, carrying with it whispers that were almost inaudible.

She closed her eyes, trying to piece together the scattered fragments of memory in her head.

Who was she really?

Why did they consider her a threat?

Why was there a feeling of fear that constantly haunted her chest, as if something terrible was waiting for her at the end of a path she couldn't yet see?

That's when she heard something.

"Krrrk..."

The sound of creaking wood.

Alina immediately turned towards the room. The long white curtains near the large mirror fluttered gently, as if someone had just passed through them.

Her heart was pounding.

Slowly, she stepped inside.

She stopped in front of the large mirror standing in the corner of the room. Her reflection was clearly visible, but something was strange.

The shadow in the mirror... looked a little different.

She frowned, trying to see closer.

And that's when she saw it.

The eyes in the shadow blinked.

Alina screamed and recoiled, gasping for breath. The mirror remained in its place, but a coldness spread throughout her body.

She could feel the presence of something... or someone.

At that moment, a knocking sound came from the room door.

Tok... tok... tok...

Alina turned, her body stiffening.

Darren's voice was heard from behind the door. "Alina?"

Her breath was still ragged as she walked slowly towards the door and opened it. Darren stood there, his expression still flat, but his eyes conveyed something difficult to interpret.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Alina wanted to answer "yes," but her voice seemed stuck in her throat. She was still shaken by what she had just seen.

Darren looked at her for a moment, then stepped inside without waiting for an answer. His eyes immediately went to the mirror in the corner of the room.

He was silent for a moment before finally saying, "You saw it, didn't you?"

Alina stared at him with wide eyes. "What do you mean?"

Darren walked closer to the mirror, then looked at his own reflection there.

"This mirror isn't an ordinary mirror," he said softly.

Alina bit her lip. "What do you mean?"

The man turned to her. "There are things in this house that you'd better not know yet... at least not until you're truly ready."

"No," Alina shook her head, her eyes wide. "I've been left in the dark long enough. I want to know what's really happening to me."

Darren was silent for a moment, then sighed. "Alright."

He walked closer, standing directly in front of Alina.

"I'll tell you one thing," he said in a low voice. "This house... isn't just an ordinary house."

"What do you mean?"

Darren looked deeply into her eyes, then said, "In this house, the past never truly dies."

Alina shivered.

Darren turned back to the mirror. "And some memories... choose to stay."

From within the mirror, Alina's shadow smiled faintly.

While the real Alina stood frozen, her breath caught in her throat.

Alina stood frozen. Her breath hitched for a moment as she saw her reflection in the mirror clearly… smiling at her.

But not a normal smile.

Not a natural reflection of her facial movements.

The smile appeared even though her own lips remained still.

Darren seemed to notice the change in Alina's expression. He moved quickly, standing between Alina and the mirror, covering it with his body. "Don't look at it for too long."

Darren's voice sounded deeper, more firm.

Alina's heart was pounding. She looked at Darren with increasing confusion and fear. "What did I just see?"

Darren didn't answer immediately. He turned slightly towards the mirror, then murmured, "This is faster than I expected..."

Alina bit her lip, frustrated. "I'm sick of all these secrets, Darren! I want to know what's happening! What did I just see?!"

Darren closed his eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought. Finally, he turned and looked at Alina with serious eyes.

"You've lived here before, Alina. You might not remember, but this place… has a connection to you more than you realize."

"I don't remember," Alina whispered, her voice barely audible.

Darren nodded. "But she does."

Alina frowned. "Who?"

Darren glanced at the mirror. "Your shadow."

Alina's blood felt like ice.

Before she could process those words, there was a sound of "KRRRAAAKKK"—the sound of shattering glass.

Alina turned to the mirror and saw something that made her blood truly run cold.

The shadow in the mirror began to move on its own.

But not like a normal reflection.

Her reflection… was walking forward.

Step by step.

Approaching the surface of the mirror, as if trying to get out.

Alina recoiled, her body trembling violently. "What's happening?!"

Darren grabbed her arm tightly. "We have to get out of here. Now."

Alina wanted to ask more, wanted to demand an explanation, but before she could open her mouth—

The mirror cracked.

From the cracks, a pair of eyes identical to her own stared directly at her—and this time, they were no longer just shadows. They were real eyes, eyes filled with hatred and vengeance. Eyes that seemed to want to tear her apart alive.