Demon Mirror
Redstones
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Apologies first, It has been a long time since I have written anything, and thus there is no true editor other than MS spell and grammar check This story is fiction, with a touch of non-fiction interlaced. Names have been changed. And everyone in it is over 18. If you have other constructive comments please leave them. Troll's messages will be deleted. I have another story ready for an editor. IF you wish to offer services. Email me. Thank you and hope you enjoy the story.
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The sun had set already by the time Becky pulled into the dinky old style strip motel on county route 17. She was hoping for a name branded hotel, but the sun had gone down. The Appalachian mountains have hundreds of these roads laid out by seemingly drunken road surveyors. True they have to follow the lay of the land, but the mix of hills and sharp curves cut out of rocky mountain goat paths is hard driving. Being able to reach out the car window and touch yourself on the shoulder as you went around a corner is stressful.
Phone service is non-existent and with and no idea how much farther she had to go to get it back. The chance of out driving the mountainous road at every dark curve, the motel was looking a lot better than the road. The motel looked like it has been neglected for years, Becky wondered if it was truly open for business. That is the problem with just driving and taking the roads less traveled so you can lose yourself. There is no planning you just run when you can hoping to get away from yourself.
The fluorescent red vacancy sign flickers in miniature electrical lightning strikes through the failing tube. Parking her vintage 1960's Volkswagen bug in front of the pealing office sign hanging over the door. As she looks around the parking lot there is only an old pickup truck that looks like it was put to pasture untold years ago. For the dozenth time since pulling in she wonders if it is worth getting back on the road. There might be something better further down the road. Between it being night where she can't see beyond her limited headlights, and exhaustion, there is no going further. Sliding out of the car and lifting the handle slightly so the door latches properly, she pats the car and says, "Behave yourself Ladybug, I will be right back."
With that she pulls open the office door. The clattering clang of the bell hanging above the door startles her as the sound pierces the otherwise deathly still night. Stepping inside the first thing she notices is the thick smell of stale cigarette smoke even though the door has a small no smoking sign on it. There is nobody near reception desk that stands just inside the door. A stained empty coffee pot behind the counter, and above it a sits a wooden key rack. Room keys hang from their worn yellow key fobs each fob is numbered, one through eight. Looking out the window she looks at her car, and then beyond to see that there are only eight rooms. The thought of making her way down the road now that she has stretched becomes more appealing.
Turning toward the door to go back out, an inner door creaked open behind the reception desk. A heavy set man steps into the office and looks her over from her stylish hair cut down to her expensive open toed shoes. With a slight smirking nod of appreciation as he stares at the candy apple red toe nails gleam, he says, "Can I help you?" Becky turns and looking at the older bald man standing with a cane, watches him measure her up. Thinking with disgust if she should just leave anyway. Instead she walks back over to the desk. The man looks at her and says, "A hundred a night or seventy fife for the week." Becky looks at him strange, as he lets out a gurgling laugh and without a hint of embarrassment he says, "My cousins own the closest gas station, and most of the stores around here. If you stay I get a kickback from them." Without covering his mouth he does a racking coughs, through rotten yellowed teeth, before continuing, "Makes up for room, and always good to have a car in the parking lot. Makes it look like I am a real motel, and open to customers. Cash only, which will it be?"
Looking at the man she opens her wallet and pulls out some twenties a ten and a five. The mans beady eyes glint as he mimics a bubble head, rocking up and down as the register tings and dings as the drawer pops open. Sliding the money into the till his free hand reaches behind him and hovers near the keys. His hand never actually touches the key rack, but a key seems to jump into his hand. His eyes drift to her breast and lower, as he looks her over more precisely aimed this time. His tongue slithers over those ill fitting teeth as he brings the key around and hands it to her. She tries to take the key, but he hangs on tight for a few moments longer. Letting go his eyes gleam as he announces as if dictating to someone says, "One week in Room three for Becky," and then looking her in the eyes says, "I hope you enjoy the room. You should find the bathroom is magical."
Looking at him for a moment longer wondering if it is safe to stay here with this pervert running the place. She thinks about his last statement and remembers those stories of peep hole hotels. She turns with the clang of the bell over the door and goes to her car. As she climbs in she says, "See Ladybug, that didn't take too long." Moving the couple of spaces over to her room she grabs her overnight bag and climbs out. She looks at the house key dangling from the fob. The dull yellow with a faded black 3 on it. The three has a set of heavy scratches dragged across it like those of a large cat claw. Looking at the outside of the room the sun faded curtains are closed, and even in this bad lighting it is obvious that the whole motel could use a lot of paint.
Sticking the key into the well worn doorknob she unlocks the door she steps inside. The room itself is a lot nicer than the outside at least. Locking the door behind herself she looks around. Furniture from the early 1800's are placed about the room. All antiques in amazing condition considering the age, and that they are in an old distressed strip motel. Placing her overnight bag on the antique, cherry wood, four poster bed, The rails, curtains, which are scrunched to the four uprights with ties, the mattress and linen seem brand new. Instead of the normal store bought duvet covering there is a lovely quilt on top. She runs her hand over the top and she notices the signs that it is hand stitched not the mass produced machine stitches.
Looking around there is a small secretary desk on the one side with a mirror above it. Trained over the years on not trusting hotel owners she looks at the mirror carefully. Placing a finger in the corner she slides her finger about. By checking the distance of the reflection it is possible to see if it is a one or two way mirror. With the way that old lech looked at her, she wouldn't put it past him to have peep holes in the room. Although this mirror seems to be normal a tiny peep hole could be anywhere.
With a yawn she goes into the bathroom to splash her face before getting ready for bed. The guy was right the bathroom truly does look almost magical. All bright white marbled tile with a modern double bowl vanity, toilet and walk in multi head shower. The only oddity is the large wooden framed mirror hanging over the double sink. Two ornamental sconces, one on each side of the frame. It seems out of place for such a modern looking room, but it a beautiful antique piece.
Touching the bottom right corner of the mirror to check to see if it is a two way mirror, and the lights dim in the room. The sconces flame, causing a yellowish glow throughout the bathroom. Becky looks up to the overhead lights and see that they have dimmed to a faint glow. A shadow drifts within the mirror coming closer to the front. Feeling a tingle on her fingertip she glances back to the mirror. Shaking off the feeling she continues checking the mirror for two way sections where the silver is thinned or missing. As her finger slides to the bottom left, and the fingertip is lifted, the sconces go out, and the overhead lights brighten.
Becky's eyes flick back and forth from the mirror to the overhead lights. It is getting late and she is tired, taking off her shirt as she walks out the door. Two dim red orbs glow for a moment as she walks out the door. A gossamer finger on the inside of the mirror follows the path she traced moments before. As it reaches the end it fades to be replaced by two kids sitting beside a barn. A young boy and a girl wasting away a lazy summer day. As this image fades the two red orbs glow a little brighter, than fades to nothing.