The Mirror in the Attic
There was a mirror in the attic his father forbade anyone to see.
It was covered in a white cloth, shoved behind several unused furniture.
He asked one day, what was wrong with that mirror? Why can't I see it?
To which his father replied, Do not disobey me, Tony. It's for your own good. That mirror is dangerous, just do as you're told.
He huffed at the answer, his curiosity aflame. Why would a mirror be dangerous?
He asked the house staff, to anyone who would entertain him. But all of them shook their heads and told him to let it go.
Even Jarvis, his Jarvis, asked him not to seek the item anymore.
But no one could stop him, he needed to know. So he went up the attic and sought the forbidden mirror. It took him awhile, as it was behind several furniture. Hidden away, like a dirty secret. Tony grasped the cloth and pulled it down. And finally, the mirror has shown itself to him.
What stunning craftsmanship! The wooden frame was decorated in ornaments and gold. The mirror itself was free of any stains or cracks.
Such a beautiful mirror, why had it been hidden away?
He was about cover the mirror back up again when he saw the face in the mirror.
It was not his face, it was another little boy. Scrawny and blond, with eyes the color of the sky. He reached out and the boy mirrored his actions. He lifted a brow, the boy did the same. When he tried to talk though, nothing came out of the boy. Tony thought, he must live in the mirror then.
How awful! It must've been lonely in there all alone for such a long time.
And so Tony decided, he was gonna befriend the boy.
He started to go to the attic everyday for several hours, trying to give the boy some company.
But the boy never spoke, never looked sad or happy. He never let any emotion out of his face. Tony decided, he would feel for both of them. Several weeks passed, the rest of the household had noticed Tony disappearing for hours before emerging in a good mood. His parents were curious but Tony wouldn't talk about it and so they let it slide.
One night, it was storming. Tony woke up frightened. He decided to run to the attic. Perhaps his friend would keep him company until the storm subsided.
As he walked up to the attic however, he noticed the darkness that seemed to envelop the room. Shadows were dancing on the walls, the howl of the wind bounced around and created echoes.
He came towards the mirror but the cloth had already been pulled down. Had he forgotten to cover it up the day before?
When he faced the mirror, he saw the boy smiling. That's odd, he's never smiled before. And then the boy spoke.
"Are you scared, Tony?" he said. And Tony could only nod.
"Would you like to come with me?" This time, Tony was filled with apprehension.
"W-where are we going?" Tony asked.
"In the mirror, silly!" The boy giggled. "Then we can play forever and ever" Tony immediately got excited.
"Forever and ever?" He asked again.
"Forever and ever, Tony." The boy repeated.
"You know, I never knew your name."
"I have no name, Tony"
"Well, you look like a Steve." The boy smiled silently before holding out a hand.
"I can be your Steve. All you have to do is hold my hand." The hand passed through the mirror. "And we'll be together forever."
Tony's eyes glazed over. "Together forever." He repeated as he reached out to the mirror.
When they clasped hands, Steve's face changed. His smile turned into a menacing grin and pulled Tony into the mirror with him.
The following morning, when the staff and his parent's could not find the young master, police were immediately called. The search lasted weeks and they could not find anything.
The police chief, an Officer Fury, was explaining to the grief-stricken parents that their little boy seemingly vanished into thin air.
And while the commotion downstairs was happening, childish laughter reverberated around the attic.