“Jaeden?” Her friend stood frozen like her but within full view. Avry asked again, “What is it?”

“It’s glass.”

“What?”

“Glass. I can see myself. I can…oh, my gods. Am I truly this beautiful?”

“Jaeden, the sheet….” Avry whispered, her fist clenched the stained material, attempting to lift it up instead of her gaze.

“Is this what people are so terrified of; their own reflection…such a stupid…” Jaeden’s words trailed off.

Avry’s heartbeat spiked. “Jaeden?” No response. “Jaeden!”

“This is stupid,” Jaeden laughed. “Is everyone afraid of their reflection?”

“No–”

“Get off the floor, Avry. You look ridiculous.”

Avry scrambled to her feet, clutching the sheet to her chest, but Jaeden ripped it from her and tossed it aside. The rain pounded louder from above. Shadows stretched menacingly before her.

“Let’s get out of here before the rain gets worse,” Jaeden said. “I need to find a certain someone and squeeze fifty dollars out of him.”
 
Jaeden pushed their way past Avry, clipping her shoulder. Avry’s breath caught in her throat. “C’mon, girl, let’s ditch this joint. I’m sick of looking at all of this.”

Avry swallowed thickly and picked up the sheet. Jaeden’s retreating footsteps echoed in her mind. Avry felt the wall with her fingertips and hit something smooth. Swiftly she draped the sheet back in place, breathing out a sigh of relief.

* * * *

“Well, I don’t believe you!” Asan taunted.

They sat around the dinner table, and the storm outside raged on with no end. Their parents were out of town for the weekend. As usual, Jaeden jumped at the opportunity to sleep over. Avry bit her lip at her older brother’s taunt as Jaeden grinned.

“It doesn’t matter if you believe it or not cause you don’t want to admit I won fifty bucks from you!” Jaeden said. They reached across the table and beckoned with a well-manicured hand. “Pay up.”
 
Asan snickered, tossing his college football in his hands. “Yeah, no, I don’t think you actually did it without proof.”

“Avry was with me the whole time; isn’t that right, doll?” Jaeden nudged her best friend.

“Yeah, don’t remind me,” she muttered. “I don’t ever want to go back there again.”

“And she looked?” Asan said.

“Yeah.”

“How long?” he prodded.

“Long enough,” Avry said, wishing the conversation would end.

“I’m not asking again.” Jaeden piped in. For a split second, Avry’s bones shivered as the wind blew straight through her. Thunder cracked overhead. “Pay up.”
 
Asan’s face paled as he dug through his jeans pocket and handed her crumpled up bills. Then, he retracted quickly, “Jeez, no need to get so upset over it.”
 
“Thank you!” The heavy feeling cloaked over Avry lifted.

Jaeden spun off their chair as another clap of thunder accompanied the lights shorting out. Avry’s heart jumped, and she let out a strangled laugh. Gods, what was wrong with her, jumping at every little thing? It was hours ago when Jaeden looked, she rationalized, and nothing’s wrong with them. Cockier than they used to be, but still Jaeden.

“God damn it, not again,” her brother groaned. In the darkness, Avry saw Asan get up and click the light switch. “I’ll be back.”

“The universe is telling you it’s your turn to look in a mirror,” Jaeden laughed.

“Ha-ha, very funny,” came his rebuttal as he left for the basement.     

Avry’s head swiveled toward Jaeden’s silhouette swaying back and forth as if dancing to the rain.

“You know, doll,” Jaeden drawled, pulling out the chair and setting it in front of Avry. They slid onto it backward and leaning their arms on the back. “How terrible you are at keeping secrets?”

“Huh?”

“Your guilt’s all over your face,” Jaeden said, their face getting very close to Avry. “Every time it gets brought up, you pretend you know nothing, but I know you better than that, Avry. I’m your best friend, right?”

“Of course. What’s with the sudden inquisition?”

“You remember my stepfather?”

“Of course I do. How could I not?”

“I never thanked you properly. You know,” Avry’s chest tightened as Jaeden smiled, “For what you did for me.”

 Her heart dropped into her lap. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

“I’m certain you don’t. Either way, doll, thanks.”

Jaeden pulled back, and the lights flicked to life. Asan whooped in delight from somewhere downstairs, accompanied by his heavy footsteps. Avry hoped he’d come back to the dining room. He paused at the base of the steps. Asan recited the same mantra: “All right, you know the drill: don’t set fire to anything, don’t summon the devil, don’t go out without at least telling me, don’t bother me otherwise, blah blah blah.”
 
“Let’s head on upstairs,” Avry suggested, following her brother.

Jaeden clicked off the light switch, and Avry stifled a gasp. She averted her eyes to her destination, hoping Jaeden hadn’t noticed.
 
“I’m beat,” Jaeden said as they flopped onto the air mattress in Avry’s bedroom. They shoved a few stacks of books and clothes away with their legs. “Hey, let’s go downtown tomorrow, meet up with our friends.”
 
“We did that today,” Avry said. She covered herself in her green blankets and held onto her pillow.

 “I know.”

“Marcy and Leo both have work.” Avry lied through her teeth, laying down as if to sleep.

She heard a sigh. “Okay, fine. We’ll figure out something else then, right?” Then: “Hey, Avry? Do you remember that time in fifth grade at the musical?”
 
Avry cringed and faced her. “Don’t remind me.”

They laughed and kept talking. Avry felt sleepiness crawl over her, but her mind remained alert the rest of the night. Each time lightning flashed, it showered the room with light for a few seconds. The light kept confirming her fears.

It moved like Jaeden, talked like them, even acted like them. Avry knew it recalled events that Jaeden had long forgotten. It smiled mockingly, making light of Jaeden’s dark history like it reveled in the misery. But Avry knew it wasn’t her friend. It lacked a shadow, and that exposed its lies.

And the worst part, Avry suspected it was aware that she knew.

Photo from Free-Photos via Pixabay.