After school the five friends walked home together, chatting and laughing till they dispersed till it was just Isa and Campbell on the street. “Sorry for what happened at the cafeteria. I guess this wasn’t the way you wanted your first day to be…”
Duh…
“Don’t apologise because it’s not your fault. It’s just part of everyday life I guess” said Isa. Silence fell between the two; both lost in their own thoughts. A moment later, Campbell asked “there’s this store I need to visit. I have to pick up something for my grandma. She’ll give me an earful if I don’t get it”
“Oh, alright. Lead the way”
Campbell led her to a lone street where the store ended the street.
“Meiller’s mole” Isa read out the name of the store. Then she read it again, and again. “Meiller’s mole?! What kind of name is that?” she asked Campbell who just laughed “c’mon” she gestured towards the place.
Inside the store was chaos.
It looked like quarter antique, quarter junk, quarter art and quarter unnamed items. It had very poor ventilation with just one window and the only source of light were the side lamps which made the room give off a gloomy and depressing feeling.
Walking to the counter, Campbell spoke with the store owner who occasionally grunted and scratched his beard in response, then Campbell followed him to the back not before mouthing ‘be right back’.
Gloomy looking around, Isa observed her surroundings.
The whole place was jam-packed with limited space to move around. The store items were partially covered in dust; a giveaway that the owner clearly neglected the place. Walking between shelves she observed the objects displayed for sale…
Junk and more junk…
She didn’t see how anyone would be interested in buying from here. Squatting down she observed the paintings lined up on the walls. A painting of a whale being eaten by a… dinosaur, a plate of turkey with the head of a pig, a bowl of eyeballs… and one of a clown…
Who paints this stuff? This is horrible… she thought.
‘Ding…’ The bell clinked as the door opened and closed.
“So people actually come here?” She found that hard to believe.
“Mr Meiller? Yo Mr Meiller” a voice called out. Isa heard footsteps walking around for a bit till it reached where she was, still squatting. “Mr Meill…” he stopped as he didn’t find Meiller but someone else.
“Hey, you’re the new girl from school aren’t you?” he asked as he walked up to her. He had black long curly hair, blue eyes and a dazzling smile. “Yeah I guess” she stood up and asked “you go there?”.
As soon as the question left her mouth she mentally face palmed herself
Of course he goes there, idiot!
Laughing he replied “yeah duh. It’s literally the only school in this town. I’m Oliver by the way, Oliver Foxworth”.
“I’m Isabe…”
“I know who you are, Isabella. You’re pretty much famous already after you back talked the ice witch”.
Isa’s face burned from embarrassment as she mentally groaned.
Oliver noticed it and laughed softly “don’t feel weird, that was totally awesome and brave of you to stand up to her. No one’s ever done that and survived you know so you should be happy. Plus the popularity huh”.
“I don’t want to be popular. I don’t want any of that. It’s terrible” Isa sulked. Scratching his head he paused and said “I agree. Popularity’s terrible. We don’t want you turning into someone like the ice witch. Just the thought makes me shudder”. They laughed.
“Anyway, have you seen Mr Meiller, the store owner anywhere?” asked Oliver looking around the store.
“Yeah, he’s at the back with Campbell” replied Isa as she pointed in the direction. Nodding Oliver said “I thought as much. You couldn’t come here alone. This place is scary…”
“Not as scary as these paintings” she gestured towards the paintings she’d seen. Raising his eyebrows he asked “what’s so scary about those paintings?”
Isa scoffed. “These paintings don’t make sense at all. Look at them, a turkey with the head of a pig? I wouldn’t buy this stuff even if I had to. I mean what kind of artist paints like this?”
“This kind of artist,” he replied, flashing her that dazzling smile. That’s when she noticed the painting he had under his arm. She looked from the painting to him then to the painting and back.
“Oh…”
“It’s abstract art so it’s not supposed to make sense to everybody… in a way. You know, bringing two different things and making it one and it makes sense to you but not everyone but that’s the fun part. Making it complex and easy at the same time. You get me?”
No.
“Yeah I get you. Sorry…”
“Nah, I get that sometimes. Don’t apologise. Not everyone can understand art.” he said, waving it off with a smile.
She smiled apologetically. “Can I see the one you’re holding?” she asked, looking at the painting under his arm. He handed it over to her to reveal a painting of a frog in bling bling and shades.
Isa snorted. Oliver smiled widely “I thought I’d fool around a bit”. Shaking her head, “I might actually consider buying this”. He smiled at her which made hers widen. His was very infectious.
“Hold this. I gotta run now. Would you give it to Mr Meiller when he comes out?” he asked. “Sure”
“Thanks a lot. See you around Isabella” he waved as he left the store. “You too Oliver” she waved back.
Isa took the painting and kept it on the counter, that way the store owner would see it easily. She tried to peep into the room those two had gone into but it was too dark in there. Returning to the shelves she looked at the paintings again, closely this time. After a while she shook her head
Art definitely isn’t for me…
Stretching herself she made her way to the window.
What’s taking Campbell so long? she thought.
Then sitting on the window sill, she closed her eyes and thought about today.
Today wasn’t what I expected it to be. Making an enemy wasn’t on my agenda but it turns out luck kicked me in the ass. Now everyone in school probably knows who I am. Ugh!
She got up and walked around trying to distract her thoughts. Moving to a shelf she noticed a silver mirror lodged clumsily in it. She took it and examined the intricate designs on the body that twisted and turned like grape vines and it formed a small knob at the end. She turned it over and almost dropped it from horror.
Instead of seeing her reflection she saw a pair of eyes the color of blood.
She opened her mouth to scream but nothing but a squeak escaped. All she wanted to do was throw that mirror far away and run for her life but her body didn’t listen to her. She was fixed to the spot and her shaky hands clutched the mirror tightly.
The mirror now revealed a complete face. The eyes now dripping blood belonged to something feminine with razor sharp teeth and a mouth that reached the ears with loose strands of hair falling in her face. It looked very angry as it struggled to somehow leave the mirror.
“Grrrrr Aaaa… aaa” a high pitched roar echoed in Isa’s head. At this point Isa trembled all over.
O my God what is this?! Help!
Isa screamed in her head as tears fell from her eyes.
Please someone help…
Suddenly a large masculine hand snatched the mirror from her hands and she fell on the ground like a toy “mom…” she choked.
She trembled all over and was taking in choking breaths of air. Completely covered in sweat and coughing hard. She had her hand to her chest as she tried to calm her beating heart. “What… was that?” she asked in between breaths but no one answered.
Looking up she saw Mr Meiller the store owner turning the mirror in his hands and searching feverishly for something on it. His face resembled that of a man pleading for his life.
“Mr Meiller” Isa gasped “there’s something… in the mirror” but he wasn’t listening and continued his search. She got up on her shaky legs and moved a step towards him “Mr Meiller” but she stumbled and hit the shelves knocking over a few things.
“Mr Meiller you… have to listen to me” she breathed heavily “there’s something… in the mirror. You need to… throw it away. You…”
Mr Meiller turned sharply towards her which made her swallow her next sentence. His face contoured in anger and pain. At this point Isa didn’t know what terrified her more; the demon-thing in the mirror or Mr Meiller.
“I can’t believe you made me search for this alone, big Joe. And you need to clean this pla…” Campbell stopped, looked from a pale looking Isa to a trembling Mr Meiller and quickly accessed the situation.
‘Oh no’
“Well Mr Meiller, thank you for the painting. Isa and I will be on our way thank you” Campbell rushed as she dragged Isa out of the store.
As soon as they were out Campbell asked “what happened? You look really pale”
Isa looked at Campbell, if I tell her will she believe me? Yeah… I think. That THING I saw… it felt so real and I couldn’t move. And the horrible sounds it made… was that all just in my head? But it sounded so real. Gosh, how would she react if I just came and said ‘yeah something happened, I just saw a freaking demon in a mirror. Do you believe me?’ yeah, she’d probably think I’m mental and run away from me as fast as possible…
“Hey, hello? Earth to Isa, can you hear me?” Campbell waved her hands in her face.
Shaking her head Isa said “nothing major happened”
Folding her arms Campbell stated “you can’t possibly expect me to believe that, do you?”
“Seriously, I was just really scared out… by Mr Meiller, yeah him” she lied. Campbell chuckled lightly “yeah big Joe can be really scary sometimes, but only if you break something or do anything that makes him angry and that’s why very few people visit his store. The first time my grandma sent me there I cried and screamed for her to ‘have mercy on me’ but she still made me go… and frequently too. So I got used to him and I call him big Joe and all he does is grumble. Just try not to be on his bad side okay”
But Isa wasn’t paying attention. She was lost in her own thoughts, recalling whatever happened in the store. She sure wasn’t imagining things. It was all real but the question was… why her?
“Are you listening?”
“…”