Mirror in the Forest: Book One (8 page)

“You were alone?”

“Yes, very much so,” she said, getting flustered, her face turning bright crimson. Whether it was from just him or the questions, he didn’t know.

She finally turned to him and looked him straight in the eye. He knew she was finally going to tell him the truth.

“I like to take walks in the woods behind my house, and just prefer to be alone sometimes. I did see the smoke, but nothing else. When I ran out of the woods, I ran into you,” she explained, anxiously.

He could tell she was a little embarrassed about her so-called walks alone in the woods. It was obviously something she liked to keep private.

“And then?”

“I made up the bear story, because I didn’t want you to think I started the fire,” she finished.

She was still keeping something from him, but she was telling the truth about the fire. At least he got that out of her.

“That’s all I needed to know. I never even thought the fire was your fault. Besides, it was reported, but whoever did it, must have put it out anyway. I was just concerned because of our wildfire problems,” he said, accepting her explanation.

That seemed to relax her a little. She turned and smiled slightly.

“Thank you,” she said starting the truck. “I really need to get home.”

Mark took a step back, but wanted to ask her one last question.

“We know about the upcoming homecoming party, so if you’re going then please don’t drink or do any drugs,” he warned.

He had no idea why he needed to say that, but felt compelled to.

She looked at him stunned, and then a realization hit her, and she nodded in understanding.

“Mandy has those every year,” she said thoughtfully.

“Yes, and that’s why I am letting you know ahead of time,” he answered.

She nodded again, and said goodbye after he moved away from the door. She drove away fast, but he didn’t try to stop her.

Sighing, he made his way back to the cruiser. He didn’t know why this girl made him give a shit. He was trying to get out of this town, and that was his main focus. Besides, she was in high school, so what could he possibly have in common with a girl in high school?

He couldn’t understand what he was thinking.  

Jessica calmed her pounding heartbeat while she drove home. She couldn’t help but think of the Sheriff, and how handsome he looked in that uniform. She sighed, and felt kind of relieved she had finally told him the truth….well most of it. She smiled slightly thinking she could get lost in those deep ocean blue eyes of his.

Jessica scolded herself, and tried to calm her thoughts of the Sheriff when she pulled into the driveway of her house. She took the roses from the passenger seat, hiding them behind her back as she walked up the steps onto the porch. She placed them on the patio chair, and went inside so her dad wouldn’t see them and question her about them. She had given him the excuse she had to run over to Tessa’s for a minute about a project they were working on.

Her dad sat in front of the TV with one of those folding tables, eating a frozen dinner.

“I can’t wait till your mother has some time off,” he commented making a face at the food.

Jessica laughed, asking, “She should be off before you leave again right?”

“I hope so. Anyway, did you get what you needed from Tessa sunshine?” Donald asked smiling up at her.

Jessica smiled. “Yes, I did.”

Donald got up and put the plate in the kitchen, and sat back down as Jessica sat on the couch opposite of him.

Donald let out a contented sigh, and Jessica was itching to get out to the woods. She knew she was neglecting her homework, but she wanted to see the Spirit of the Mirror before it got too dark out.

“I hear you’re going to the homecoming party at the Coopers,” Donald suddenly said, as his eyelids grew heavy.

“Yeah, I let Tessa talk me into it,” she answered, not really wanting to talk about partying with her dad.

“Your mother is glad you’re going. Just be careful, all right? Dale and his family can be assholes sometimes.”

“I will, Dad.”

Her dad quickly fell asleep, snoring away in the chair. Jessica quietly got up from the couch and grabbed the roses outside on the porch.

She tiptoed out the back door, and began making her way down the path to the Spirit of the Mirror. She was almost too scared to go back there, but she also wanted proof that this thing was real.

“As promised,” Jessica said, as she approached the mirror several minutes later.

The spirit formed in front of her, and smiled at the roses.

“Beautiful, but you only had to bring one,” he said taking the roses from her. She found his hand to be smooth, hard, and cool to the touch.

“I wanted to make sure,” Jessica said, shrugging.

“You have kept your promise, and I will keep mine,” he said as he admired the flowers.

Jessica closed her eyes in anticipation, making the spirit chuckle.

“It doesn’t work that way Jessica,” he said.

“Well, what do I have to do?” She asked a little annoyed.

“Roses are truly an amazing plant. The color….so much like the blood of humans,” he said softly, and she could have sworn he licked his lips.

Jessica frowned at his comparison, but tried to not think anything of it. It was strange how he talked about the roses, but she dismissed it, because she was anxious to see her changes.  

He looked down at her, and his eyes began to glow softly in the growing darkness.

“Now, tell me what you want,” he said.

“I just want my hair easier to manage, less frizzy, and lighter,” she answered, almost giddy with anticipation.  

The Spirit stepped out of the way, and said, “Please approach the mirror.”

Even though Jessica was excited, she was still reluctant, and afraid of what was going to happen. All these weird thoughts began to run through her mind.

“Keep calm Jessica. Now, look into the mirror. What do you see?”

“I just see my reflection,” she answered as he put a hand on her shoulder making Jessica shiver a little.

“Close your eyes,” he ordered softly.

Jessica looked down and took another deep breath while trying not to shake. She raised her head, and closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she began to sweat and not from warmth, but from cold. She could have sworn she was getting feverish for some reason.

She swayed a little as dizziness began to hit her, and the hand that was on her shoulder steadied her so she would not fall.

Her mind began to swirl with thoughts she never knew she could have. First, there were eyes, then there were voices whispering around her, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Things that she had wished would happen kept creeping to the forefront of her mind after the images and sounds had dissipated. Things like love, revenge, and success. It was all so puzzling, but so exhilarating.  

She began to feel a little faint, and was going to cry out, when suddenly it was over, and she immediately got her bearings together.

“Open your eyes Jessica,” the spirit said softly.

Jessica did so, and the spirits white eyes began to glow brighter in the oncoming darkness.  

Jessica looked in the mirror and gasped.

There was two of her in the reflection now.

One side had Jessica’s reflection with her old hair, and the other side was her current reflection with her new hair.

“What do I do?” She asked.

“Lift your hand,” he answered.

She did as was told, and her reflection with her new hair moved like it should in the mirror, the old one stayed in place. Her old reflection seemed so different now. It was as if the old reflection did not show any life, like a mannequin...just staring back at her in the reflection.

“Why is it doing that?” She asked, turning around to face the spirit.

“This is to always remind you that no matter what you change, the one on the right is who you truly are, and where you will always be. I find it keeps you humble,” the spirit explained.

He then gestured with his hand. “Please, do you like it?”

Jessica nodded in understanding turning towards her reflections again, and then began to touch her hair. It was so soft it was almost unbelievable what she was seeing. No more coarse, frizzy hair. It fell softly past her shoulders as she ran her fingers through it. It was blonder, but not enough to wash out her complexion.

No matter how many hair salons her mother took her to in her life, none of them had been able to do what the spirit just did.

Jessica could not stop smiling as she twirled and admired her new hair.

“Do you like it?” The spirit asked.

Jessica could feel the tears welling in her eyes, and began to sniffle.

“Yes! Oh my God, thank you! I can’t thank you enough,” she said practically sobbing now from happiness.

The spirit smiled and said, “It is getting dark, just remember that whenever you need anything I will be here, but you must remember there will always be something in exchange.”

Jessica nodded enthusiastically. “I will. Thank you so much!”

Jessica couldn’t get home fast enough, but finding her dad still fast asleep in the chair.

She ran up to her room, and stood there for over an hour just admiring her hair in her own mirror. She took a brush to it, and laughed when the brush went right through without getting tangled like it usually did.

She couldn’t wait to show it off to Tessa and Alex tomorrow in school.

Now the other girls couldn’t whisper about her frizzy hair anymore.

With a contented sigh, she got ready for bed. She usually woke up her dad, but she was too tired. Tonight, he was on his own.

“What on earth?” Mary stood there in her nurse’s uniform shocked at her daughter the next morning.

Jessica smiled brightly and asked, “Do you like it?”

Mary came over to Jessica, and began to run her fingers through her hair with a wide-eyed expression.

“How did you do this?”

Jessica hadn’t thought of that, and looked around for a second trying to think fast.

“Tessa called me last night after Dad fell asleep. There is this new conditioner on the market with a new flat iron, and we tried it out. You should see Tessa’s hair,” Jessica said smiling at her lie.

“I need that. Do you remember the brand?” Mary said still touching Jessica’s hair.

“I will find out the brand and let you know,” Jessica said, not having any intention of doing so.

“You look beautiful,” Mary said proudly.

For the first time in years Jessica was wearing her hair down to school, and she felt so much better. She hadn’t cut it in a while, but knew she didn’t need one. It was perfectly soft and healthy on it’s own now.

“Did your father see it?” Mary asked.

“Nah, I didn’t want to wake him up just about my hair,” Jessica said.

Mary laughed a little. “Men don’t notice that stuff anyway.”

Jessica giggled and her father came down for breakfast.

“My two favorite girls. Jessica…..” Donald said, giving his daughter a puzzled look.

Mary smiled widely at her husband’s reaction and said, “I guess I was just proven wrong.”

Jessica began to laugh as her mother explained to her father what Jessica had done to her hair.

“Your daughter went over Tessa’s last night and they did this. Doesn’t she look great?”

Donald shook his head in disbelief. “Yes, she does, but she is always beautiful to me, anyway.”

Jessica blushed, and hugged both of her parents.  

Jessica felt great that morning, and for the first time she felt light and happy in a long time.

Mary fretted over Jessica’s hair as she dropped her off at school that morning, but Jessica actually didn’t mind it this time.

Jessica knew she was turning heads, and was complimented more than she had ever been in her life. She almost sunk into a corner with the attention, because she wasn’t used to having eyes on her, unless someone had something mean to say.

“How did you do that?” Tessa asked in astonishment when they finally met up.

“Oh, just a wish came true for me,” Jessica answered as she got her books out of her locker. She didn’t do her homework, but knew she could easily make it up.

Tessa smiled. “You look great, but I am sure it takes longer to get that way.”

Jessica shook her head, and said, “No, I just dried it, added a new conditioner, and flat ironed it.”

“Nice.”

“I think I will go into hairdressing, if I can make miracles like that,” Alex said jokingly walking up to them.

Jessica punched him in the shoulder, but knew that was his way of complimenting her.

Jessica got some more compliments and thanked those that walked by.

Then she turned and saw Danny Davenport walking with the other baseball players.

Jessica suddenly felt nervous and tried not to shake as Tessa continued to talk to her.