Everyone’s eyes were wide with fear as we clutched at each other for consolation in the dimly lit house. However within a couple of seconds, I regained from my shock and stood up slowly attempting to face the mirror again. However, a strong grip tugged at my right arm and pulled me back down.
‘Don’t look at the mirror straight in the eye. It has gone into the mirror. I say again, leave at 6pm no earlier than that.’ Danny spoke monotonously in a deep tone unlike his normal voice. His slightly pudgy face was straight and solemn with his foreign looking glassy eyes boring into mine. All I could do was to stare at him with my mouth slightly ajar.
‘It’s not him! Danny never gives people this suppressing feeling!’ I thought frantically.
Just then, Danny closed his eyes and gave a loud gasp. He began to breathe in and out rapidly as if he had been underwater without air for a long time. His eyes flew open but they no longer looked glassy. He looked around the room in bewilderment before he noticed me half sitting in front of him.
‘Oh god I am back. I was kinda thrown into a tunnel filled with white light right after you fell.. And no matter how I screamed I couldn’t get back here.’ He squeaked.
I didn’t look nor feel shock because nothing more could make me after the ‘way off science and logic’ mirror incident and the possession. Curiosity surged through my veins instead. I was clear minded and began to analyze the situation. I gathered all my thoughts and spoke out loud hoping to hit realization or get some clues and suggestions from the others.
‘Alright. Some phenomenon clung onto me when Rena and I walked through the tunnel. Yesterday something attacked Uncle Ben and his house is totally quiet today so we don’t know if he is still alive or not. We couldn’t help him because the message on the mirror says so. Now the thing is in the mirror and we cannot look into it. Why? What is in the mirror? Who is helping us? How is it able to possess Danny? Why is it 6pm before we can leave?’
Everyone is looking at each other expecting someone else to speak up but no answer came. I look the television-sized square mirror reflecting the white wall it was facing. It sat innocently on top of the cabinet as if nothing has happened.
‘Korin, tell me about Uncle Ben. Anything you know about him.’ I instructed.
‘Uh well…’ She hesitated for a while. ‘He lived alone for over 20 years because his wife died and they don’t have kids. I go to his home occasionally when he phones me because he needs my help in sewing. He do not know how to sew you see. He always complains that his 70 year old eyes are no longer sharp enough to thread the threads into the needle. Um.. And I noticed that he is quite health conscious so maybe thats why he is still quite active at his age. He goes jogging every morning at 9 and cooks simple meals that are less oil, low salt and sugar. Well… And basically he is a happy and cheerful guy. That’s all I know about him.’
I was quietly pondering about the new information sourcing for clues and trying to link things up.
Weiwen, my laboratory partner started, ‘Uncle Ben goes jogging in tunnel or around it I suppose? The phenomenon clings on to him just like it did to you and follows him home! Yes that’s it! But erm.. The attacks happened in the night at 10pm. Why didn’t the attack happen earlier since it has followed him home?'
Hwee Tong, smartest guy in our class wrapped his left arm around his waist and his right hand under his chin walking slowly towards the closed window. That is his signature move when he is thinking deeply into something.
He jolted back which alarmed some of us and exclaimed, ‘Well that’s easy! He must be looking at the mirror at 10pm then! Well he could have happened to look at the mirror when he is erm… I dunno, changing into his pajamas or something?’ Hwee Tong guessed wildly.
‘Uh.. Good thinking. Uncle Ben does sleep at 10pm everyday. I have never seen his lights on after 10pm though.’ Korin replied.
‘Great. We have more clue on whats happening now. But why didnt he have a saviour to warn him while we have a guardian telling us what to do and what not to do? I asked. The others were stunned at the question.
To be continued...
