MmIiRrRrOoRr MmAaNn- Mirror Man- FB-FWG- 300 word short story based on the picture below. Horror- Trigger warning: Gore

“Auntie June, tell us the story of the handsome man, pleassseeee.” My nieces always wanted to hear the tale but tonight, I needed to rest. I went back there only in my thoughts. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I spotted his reflection in the circular mirror of the vintage vanity that had been sold at auction three weeks earlier. He wasn’t the highest bidder but was sent by her to pick it up. His greasy, out of place hair stood straight up on his head. The hoodie he wore was wrinkled and smelled of cigar smoke.

“I can see you, too.” His voice strained and raspy. He ran his fingers across his brow and moaned, suffering from a headache, I supposed. “I know who you are.” He speculated; I was sure.

My salon folded; I sold off everything to survive. I struggled to let the vanity go, it had a super-natural history, one that left me crowned winner of many pageants. With its purchase also went my beauty, a conscious choice for me.

“You shouldn’t be here.” I muttered, keeping my forehead placed against the dry-wall. A quick glance was okay but a deep look would violate the code of ownership.

He slid his feet across the dusty hardwood floor. “So, you say.” 

If he knew who I was, he should’ve refused this job, and if she knew the value of her purchase, she should’ve better instructed him. Only but one can transform by the reflector.

“Careful not to stare.” I alerted him.

“Or what?” He stepped to face me. “I knew you were her.”

He sighed and moved away, unwilling to heed my warning. 

He soaked up his own appearance and immediately transformed. He grew taller and polished. His eyes glowed a radiant hazel, his hair magnificently groomed and the manner in which he carried himself, no longer grungy. He was lovely.

“Beauty Queen!” He roared, admiring his metamorphosis. 

“The fairest of them all sold her charm just to live.” His cackle echoed through the room. 

“And…. you stole it from its new owner.” The mirror exploded, launching shards of glass out into the room, puncturing, and embedding it’s spears into his fair face. His eyes filled with blood as he fell three stories to his death. When summoned by those who cherish themselves, he returns to take their souls. If only others believed it to be more than a legend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“MIRROR MAN…MIRROR MAN…MIRROR…..”

“Girls, NO!!!!”