Lorraine walked slowly through the curio shop, the soft glow of antique lamps casting long shadows across the walls. Every surface was crowded with relics, each object humming with the weight of history—and some, she knew, carried more than just memories. Her hand instinctively drifted toward a tall, ornate mirror at the back of the room, its surface gleaming despite the dim light.

She paused, feeling the familiar prickle along her skin that told her something was wrong. The air around the mirror seemed heavier, charged, as though it was aware of her presence.

“Ed…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

He was a few steps behind, his eyes sharp and concerned. The moment she touched the glass, it trembled, a low, resonant crack splitting the quiet of the room. Lorraine gasped, stepping back instinctively.

“Lorraine!” Ed called, rushing forward, his expression a mix of fear and urgency.

She didn’t answer right away, her gaze locked on the mirror. Something—or someone—was moving just beneath the surface, a dark outline shifting unnaturally. Her chest tightened, the energy pressing in on her from every side.

“We need to get out of here,” Ed said firmly, taking her hand. “Whatever that is, it’s too strong in this room.”

Lorraine hesitated for a moment, then allowed him to guide her toward the door. As they stepped into the cool night air, the shop seemed to exhale behind them. The cracked mirror remained inside, its surface now eerily still, yet somehow alive, as if it had been waiting for them all along.