A looming mist hung in the air as Carla raced down the twisting road. It wasn't like her to speed, but the tone in the teacher's voice sounded urgent, almost fearful. Carla tried calling Pedro, hoping he could attend to matters at Flavia's school; unsurprisingly, he was busy. Of late, that was his refrain, Carla thought. There always seemed to be something more important keeping him from holding her like he used to.

Pedro's hours at the office seemed to increase by the day, and when he came home, he was "tired" and went straight to bed. If Flavia was lucky, she'd get to wave at him from her bedroom window before he left for work. That day, his text just said: look into it. Carla shook her head, wondering what had him tied up this time. Then, a deer leapt out of the mists. Carla's foot slammed into the brake pedal. The tires screeched as the car slid towards the stag.

When Carla opened her eyes, her Corolla was inches away from the animal. As her heartbeat pulsed in her ears, she couldn't help noticing something off about the stag. It had fur coal-black, and unnaturally large jagged alters. However, most disturbing of all was the human skull it had for a face; a chill shot through her body. Instantly, the beast jumped off the road, disappearing into the fog-laden forest.

Carla took several rapid breaths, steadying herself. Once her hands stopped shaking, she resumed her journey with a more careful watch.

At the school, Mrs. Vasquez stepped out into the hallway to speak with Carla about the drawing Flavia had made. Flavia always had a talent for sketches, which made that particular depiction all the more bloodcurdling. It showed a mother, father and daughter with hollow dark sockets for eyes; the latter two figures had snapped necks.

"Did she say who they were?" Carla asked as her knees started trembling.

Mrs. Vasquez nodded. "The family that lives inside the mirror momma bought at that old shop."

The paper slipped from Carla's hands as she recalled the item in question. She had walked past the antique mirror with the ornate black frame many times, swearing she felt burning gazes from within the glass.

Suddenly, Carla's swaying legs gave out; her head hit the floor with a thud as the hallway turned to shadows. The sound of Mrs. Vasquez's voice grew more distant and muffled...

Carla's eyes shot open. Her feet pushed against the floor until her back hit the padded wall. She could hear the clock chiming on the ground level of the building. Soon, Mrs. Vasquez would come with the syringe that made Flavia and Pedro go back to being dead. Maybe this time, it'll make the black mirror floating in the middle of the room disappear too, she thought. Or maybe it will let me join them.

Carla rocked back and forth, awaiting her shot with the sound of screeching brakes filling her ears.