Following is a sample chapter from “Mirror Mirror” in which Sandy is shocked by the odd book she discovered in the library — now in her hands — an unexplained voice in her head, and no clue just how bizarre things were about to become.
Chapter 5 – Now What?
As she recovered, Sandy walked down the hall toward the main room and dropped into one of the upholstered wingbacks. Thoughts raced through her mind. What had just happened? What should she do about it? She had learned that Mel’s grandfather was not a good person, and what should she do with that knowledge? Did Mel know? Did Mel even need to know?
As she tossed her options around in her mind, it dawned on her that revealing what she had discovered about Mel’s grandfather would require her divulging the presence of the secret little room in the library; disclosing how he was not a very nice old man; revealing how and why he died of a pierced heart; the presence of the magic mirror; the simultaneous presence of the voice that supposedly only she could hear; and revealing the existence of the book that bound her to a relationship with the voice in her head.
Relationship?
The voice called it a connection. What was it? What could she believe? No, she thought, no one else needed to know about this. As far as Mel was concerned, none of this ever happened if Sandy told her about it.
“Where have you been?” asked an exasperated Mel as she walked back into the living area from the kitchen. “I’ve been calling you, and your phone must be turned off or on silent. I worried that maybe one of our ghosts snatched you away somewhere.”
“Hey, I’m sorry. I guess I got sidetracked looking for clues in the library.” Sandy struggled to wrap her mind around everything that had happened and how much she could or should share.
Mel jumped in, “Oh, so you found it. Did you find the little…?”
“Hang on, slow down. Yes, I found the library, but I did not find any secret little room. It was a dead end.”
Mel was visibly deflated upon hearing the news, but remained preoccupied briefly before launching into her second-floor investigation and accomplishments. “After scouring the second floor, finding nothing remarkable, I returned downstairs and checked out the kitchen and dining areas. While you were MIA, I called my caterer and bar service, and everything is now ordered for the party. It’s a good thing I called when I did because they were starting to book Halloween, and we’d have been out of luck if we had delayed for even a week.”
Sandy smiled thinly and congratulated her friend, “Good job, Mel!” Looking down at the backpack lying at her feet, she said, “I think I’m ready to get out of here now.”
“Sure. Umm, are you okay?” questioned Mel, gently placing a hand on Sandy’s shoulder. You look like you’re running on about 22% or less.
“Yeah, I think I’m okay. Spending so much time in that library was a little spooky, knowing what had happened there years ago. I need to breathe fresh air outside instead of musty old books and stale pipe tobacco.”
Mel laughed, “I hear ya. I’ve breathed plenty of dust on my own; some fresh air would be a welcome change of pace.”
They headed for the front door, leaving behind the scenes of a strange death and a confirmed location for the party of the century when Halloween arrived in three months. When they returned to the car, Sandy buckled in and held the backpack in her lap.
Mel gave her a sideways glance, “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re hugging that backpack like somebody will steal it from you.”
Sandy looked down and realized she had a two-handed grip on her backpack, so she set it down between her legs. “Hah, guess I’m still just a little tense.”
“Library?” questioned Mel.
“Yeah…library. I hope I’m not so freaked out three months from now,” Sandy said.
When they arrived home, the sun was going down. “How about I call out for pizza?” Mel suggested.
Sandy shook her head and said, “No, thanks, not hungry. I think a hot shower to wash off a century of dust and crashing early are on my agenda this evening.” She excused herself as they climbed out of the car and headed for the door to their apartment.
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VIDEO Trailer & Abstract – “Mirror Mirror”
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