A creepy, dilapidated old manor with its windows and doors barred off, except for an opening large enough for me to squeeze through.

  I was pushed into coming here by that group of girls, their constant teasing seemed endless, this is just part of that.

  They told me to find a 'mirror that distorts your image' because of rumors being passed around school.

  --Of course they wouldn't want to get their clothes dusty or possibly get into trouble themselves so here I am.

  I want to go home.

  My reflection just spoke to me...

  It disappeared and was replaced with a swirling dark void that looks like it could be a portal to Hell.

  I got curious and pressed a hand against the glass---

  --My fingers are getting sucked in...?!

  I-I can't pull away! And now my arm is being sucked into this, uh.

  This mirror. Portal. Thing!

  Feeling reasonably scared I had closed my eyes during all of this and when I opened them again I saw my body was still in one piece, thankfully.

  Then I looked around me.

  I'm in front of the house I went into but it doesn't look broken down anymore.

  There was a statue at the entrance of the manor that looked like a gargoyle I think.

  Not thinking much of it, I just walked past.

  I could hear the sound of stone pavement being grinded across the ground behind me and when I looked, I saw it standing! Then it walked right at me!

  Scared out of my mind, I ran.

  I found some stone wall that looked part of a fence and ducked behind it. I don't think it saw me.

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  Or if it could even see. It didn't have a face for some reason.

  With the moment to collect my thoughts I realize I dropped my flashlight. Aaand the gargoyle my flashlight okay.

  Great.

  A hedge maze. This wasn't here when I came here.

  I think.

  There's a distant noise that sounds like it's coming from deeper inside of the maze; witch-like cackling and the sound of scissor snipping?

  Those must be some huge scissors.

  Or wait, no. There's hedges so maybe somewhere there's a really nice old lady trimming the hedges. I hope I bump into her.

  Or anyone.

  Making my way through the maze, picking whatever direction feels right, a voice calls out to me.

  "Child." A soothing baritone. I stop dead in my tracks.

  "Oh. I hope I didn't frighten you. I won't harm you, I promise. Are you lost?"

  I turn around.

  "I am Noctumbre--master of this domain."

  "Ah. I see

  Judging by your alarm, it was you that Luddiluna brought from the Human Realm."

  The back of my throat feels so dry that even if I wanted to talk back to this tower face-hole man I couldn't.

  I just listened, wide-eyed as words came out of this guy without a mouth.

  "What do they call you, small one?"

  I tried to respond, "Uh, M-Mira. I'm Mira."

  "That's a pretty name, Mira," he replied.

  I don't think he was trying to sound creepy but it sounded that way anyway.

  I politely acted like it wasn't.

  The next thing to come out of my mouth was, "What's going on? Where am I? Why did that mirror talk to me and bring me here? Why did a statue try to attack me???"

  I was reasonably anxious.

  "I'm sincerely sorry," Noctumbre said, sounding anxious himself.

  "But please, I mean what I say. I will not hurt you. I realize my disposition is not what humans are used to but you must trust me."

  I decided to comply.

  "Are you going to tell me what's going on?" I asked.

  "Yes," he replies.

  "Please. Come with me to the meeting room. Audrey, my gardener, is not best with strangers so this isn't a good place to talk."

  Noctumbre reached one of his claw-like hands for me to grab. At first I just stared at it but hesitantly I reached to grab onto it.

  I don't know why, but...

  Holding his large hands made me feel at ease.