Microhorror Writing Contest

In the quaint town of Elmwood, nestled between towering pines and whispering winds, stood an ancient manor. It was an architectural marvel, with its gothic spires and creeping ivy, yet it remained shrouded in mystery. The townsfolk spoke in hushed tones about the manor's most peculiar artifact: a large, ornate mirror, said to be haunted by a family of ghosts.

The mirror hung prominently in the grand hallway, its gilded frame tarnished with age. Legend had it that the mirror was a portal, a window into the spectral realm where the spirit family resided. It all began with the tragic story of the Langley family, who lived in the manor more than a century ago. The family met their untimely end under mysterious circumstances, and their souls were trapped within the reflective depths of the mirror.

The Langleys were a loving family—Henry, the wise patriarch; Margaret, the nurturing matriarch; and their two children, Edward and Anne. Together, they lingered in the mirror's realm, eternally bound to the manor they once called home. On moonlit nights, their spectral forms would press against the glass, their anguished faces visible to those brave enough to look.

One autumn evening, a curious young woman named Lily inherited the manor. Fascinated by its history, she moved in, unaware of the mirror's dark secret. Lily had always been drawn to the supernatural, and the manor's eerie ambiance intrigued her.

The first night, as the grandfather clock struck midnight, Lily found herself inexplicably drawn to the mirror. She stood before it, her reflection wavering as though submerged in water. As she gazed deeper, the air grew cold, and the room seemed to darken. From the glass, the shadowy figures of the Langley family emerged, their eyes filled with longing.

"Help us," whispered Anne, her voice a haunting melody. "Release us from this prison."

Lily, though startled, felt a deep sympathy for the trapped souls. She spent the following days researching the family's history, determined to free them. Her investigation led her to discover an old diary hidden within the manor's library. The diary, penned by Margaret Langley, revealed a chilling detail: the family had been cursed by a jealous relative, their souls bound to the mirror until a selfless act of love broke the spell.

Armed with this knowledge, Lily devised a plan. On the night of the full moon, she stood before the mirror once more, clutching Margaret's diary. With heartfelt sincerity, she read aloud a passage of love and forgiveness. The mirror trembled, its glass shimmering with ethereal light.

As Lily spoke the final words, the Langleys began to fade. Their faces softened, their expressions of torment replaced by peace. One by one, they vanished, their spirits finally free. The mirror, now just a mirror, reflected only Lily's smiling face.

The manor, lifted from its curse, felt lighter, as if the very walls sighed with relief. Lily knew she had done a good deed, bringing closure to the family and ending the haunting legacy of the mirror. She stayed in the manor, her heart warmed by the knowledge that she had given the Langleys the release they had long yearned for.