THE MIRROR GAME
You don’t choose to play the Mirror Game - the Mirror Game chooses you. At the edges of your consciousness you’ll feel a presence, darting just outside your line of sight. You’ll experience a slight darkening around the corners of your vision, forcing you to turn your head in full. You’ll hear a second set of footsteps, just a beat out of time with yours. When you experience these three phenomena on the week of a full moon, you will know that the Mirror Game is nigh.
In order to play the Mirror Game, you will need the following tools:
During the day before the first night of the full moon, find a place to hide your sheet or blanket. You may choose one of the little nooks and crannies in your home, or perhaps a secret spot outside of your house. What is important is that you hide it safely, and hide it well. Once you have done this, forget where you’ve concealed it. Scrub every last thought, every last trace of that place from your memory. No sense in giving your opponent an advantage. When you’ve done this, then prepare to play.
Ensure that you are the only person in your place of residence that evening, and that no one will arrive during the game’s duration. The consequences of involving an outside in the Mirror Game would be dire. Dress in comfortable clothing - things that are easy to wear, well-worn and well-used, whatever provides a measure of comfort and security. Tell no other person the nature of the undertaking you will embark on - THIS IS CRUCIAL. To do so is to invite tragedy into your home.
When the moon finally rises, kill every light in your house and approach the full-length mirror. Shine your light source upon it, and regard the image reflected back at you. You will see yourself, but do not be distracted by the differences, however subtle or drastic they may be. Disregard what actions they take - do not mimic them, or else you may forsake your victory. Wave if you wish, or bow, or clap or cry so long as what you do is done in complete silence. Whatever you do, do not speak to your reflection. Let no words pass between you, lest you forsake your victory.
Instead, turn around and walk backwards through the mirror. It is alright to be afraid, but the glass will not shatter. What was once there will be there no longer, as you press through the mirror’s surface until you find yourself facing your mirror from the opposite end. Look around you. Take in every last inch of the dusty tables, the peeling paint, the smell of mold and rot that permeates the air. This is the Other Side. It is here and now that the game truly begins.
The objective of the game is to search for the twin of the sheet or blanket you hid, bring it back with you through to the other side, and then cover the mirror once again. Should you be able to do this, the game is won and your wish will be granted. Do not, for a second, believe that this will be a simple task. The Other Side is not a place for the foolhardy and gumptious. Keep your weapon at the ready and stay on your guard.
Start by exploring the living space. It will be much different from what you remember - worn, rotting, and filthy despite the best efforts of its residents to keep it clean. You may, if you wish, take the time to reflect on the ways your life has deviated. Peruse the photo albums and scrapbooks you find, go through the shelves and dig up the memories of the life lived here. After all, what is yours is still yours. Search thoroughly, then search twice. While you remain in this house you will be relatively safe.
Should you not find what you seek, brace yourself with the weapon at your side and head into the outside world. Unlike the world that you have just departed, this one is fraught with danger. There are men who look like men from a distance, unless your eyes are keen enough to notice an appendage too many or an eye too few. There are women who look like women, until you catch the way the light filters through their dresses and skin. Then there are… well, it is difficult to call such things children. Skulk in the shadows, keep to the side streets, and always make sure that your trusted light shines before you.
Once you find the sheet, the game has entered its final stage. To win, you must bring the sheet back with you to the mirror. Retrace your steps quickly, quietly, taking care not to alert the residents to your victory. When you find yourself before the looking glass once again, step on through back to your side and cover the mirror. Kneel before it and pray, harder than you have ever prayed before, for the wish you want to come true. It is then and only then, when your prayer has concluded and the sounds of approaching footsteps have stopped, that you have well and truly won. You may now carry on with the rest of your life, provided you never uncover that mirror again.
One final warning, before the game begins. In the case that the light in your hand sputters out and dies, you are a step away from losing. You must trace your way back from whence you came, in order to try and return back to the other side of the mirror. Take heed, because its residents now know that you are not one of them. If you are careful, clever, and quick, you will find yourself back at the mirror. Dive through it and back to your own time, then quickly retrieve the blanket that you hid and cover the mirror.
There have been no recorded cases of what happens should a player fail to make it back from the other side.
In order to play the Mirror Game, you will need the following tools:
- A full-length mirror, perfectly polished, without any cracks or imperfections
- A candle or flashlight, suitable to hold in one hand
- A knife or alternative blade, which you hold in the other
- A sheet or blanket large enough to cover the mirror in its entirety
During the day before the first night of the full moon, find a place to hide your sheet or blanket. You may choose one of the little nooks and crannies in your home, or perhaps a secret spot outside of your house. What is important is that you hide it safely, and hide it well. Once you have done this, forget where you’ve concealed it. Scrub every last thought, every last trace of that place from your memory. No sense in giving your opponent an advantage. When you’ve done this, then prepare to play.
Ensure that you are the only person in your place of residence that evening, and that no one will arrive during the game’s duration. The consequences of involving an outside in the Mirror Game would be dire. Dress in comfortable clothing - things that are easy to wear, well-worn and well-used, whatever provides a measure of comfort and security. Tell no other person the nature of the undertaking you will embark on - THIS IS CRUCIAL. To do so is to invite tragedy into your home.
When the moon finally rises, kill every light in your house and approach the full-length mirror. Shine your light source upon it, and regard the image reflected back at you. You will see yourself, but do not be distracted by the differences, however subtle or drastic they may be. Disregard what actions they take - do not mimic them, or else you may forsake your victory. Wave if you wish, or bow, or clap or cry so long as what you do is done in complete silence. Whatever you do, do not speak to your reflection. Let no words pass between you, lest you forsake your victory.
Instead, turn around and walk backwards through the mirror. It is alright to be afraid, but the glass will not shatter. What was once there will be there no longer, as you press through the mirror’s surface until you find yourself facing your mirror from the opposite end. Look around you. Take in every last inch of the dusty tables, the peeling paint, the smell of mold and rot that permeates the air. This is the Other Side. It is here and now that the game truly begins.
The objective of the game is to search for the twin of the sheet or blanket you hid, bring it back with you through to the other side, and then cover the mirror once again. Should you be able to do this, the game is won and your wish will be granted. Do not, for a second, believe that this will be a simple task. The Other Side is not a place for the foolhardy and gumptious. Keep your weapon at the ready and stay on your guard.
Start by exploring the living space. It will be much different from what you remember - worn, rotting, and filthy despite the best efforts of its residents to keep it clean. You may, if you wish, take the time to reflect on the ways your life has deviated. Peruse the photo albums and scrapbooks you find, go through the shelves and dig up the memories of the life lived here. After all, what is yours is still yours. Search thoroughly, then search twice. While you remain in this house you will be relatively safe.
Should you not find what you seek, brace yourself with the weapon at your side and head into the outside world. Unlike the world that you have just departed, this one is fraught with danger. There are men who look like men from a distance, unless your eyes are keen enough to notice an appendage too many or an eye too few. There are women who look like women, until you catch the way the light filters through their dresses and skin. Then there are… well, it is difficult to call such things children. Skulk in the shadows, keep to the side streets, and always make sure that your trusted light shines before you.
Once you find the sheet, the game has entered its final stage. To win, you must bring the sheet back with you to the mirror. Retrace your steps quickly, quietly, taking care not to alert the residents to your victory. When you find yourself before the looking glass once again, step on through back to your side and cover the mirror. Kneel before it and pray, harder than you have ever prayed before, for the wish you want to come true. It is then and only then, when your prayer has concluded and the sounds of approaching footsteps have stopped, that you have well and truly won. You may now carry on with the rest of your life, provided you never uncover that mirror again.
One final warning, before the game begins. In the case that the light in your hand sputters out and dies, you are a step away from losing. You must trace your way back from whence you came, in order to try and return back to the other side of the mirror. Take heed, because its residents now know that you are not one of them. If you are careful, clever, and quick, you will find yourself back at the mirror. Dive through it and back to your own time, then quickly retrieve the blanket that you hid and cover the mirror.
There have been no recorded cases of what happens should a player fail to make it back from the other side.
THE MIRROR GAMBIT
You don’t choose to play the Mirror Gambit - necessity forces your hand. At the edges of your vision you’ll see glimpses of another life, away from the hellish struggle of the every day. One where you aren’t fighting for survival, barricading your doors and praying for a few hours of fitful sleep. One where you smile, laugh, and love with nary a care in the world. A place of happiness. Once you have gazed into the reality that isn’t your own, that is when you will understand the misery that awaits should you continue to be trapped.
In order to play the Mirror Gambit, you will need the following tools:
During the day before the first night of the full moon, find places to hide your traps. Obvious places, secret places, places that someone nosy would easily find themselves. Ensure that these traps are not able to kill. If your other half is killed before your gambit is complete, both of you will forfeit your lives. Instead, make sure that they will delay them. Keep them rooted, keep them distracted, stuck or disoriented. Not for too long - just long enough.
The sheet or blanket you must hide with great care, as far away from your home as you can possibly risk without jeopardizing your own safety. It is a necessary part of the covenant, one of the prices you pay for the chance to escape. What is important is that you hide it safely, and hide it well. Once you have done this, forget where you’ve concealed it. Scrub every last thought, every last trace of that place from your memory. It is your only hope of success. When you’ve done this, then prepare to play.
Standing before the mirror, gaze deeply and behold the other you. Try not to let your resentment be visible in your face, even if your loathing is at its peak. You must be focused on the task at hand, so ignore whatever inane or ridiculous actions they choose to take. Take your blade and cut your palm, deep enough to draw blood to the surface, and smear it on the surface of the mirror. This weakens the borders between their world and yours, signalling the start of the game. Take hold of your light and turn your back towards the mirror. Walk backwards slowly, carefully. Feel the mirrors surface gently envelope you, but do not stop halfway.
You will find yourself facing the mirror, in a place much cleaner and nicer than the one you’ve just left. Do not dawdle or waste time - enjoying the sights and sounds can come much later. The clock ticks ever onwards, and should your double realise the nature of the gambit you have played then your whole plan will fall apart. Instead, think as they would think. If you were a blanket, an inconspicuous sheet, where would you hide? Call upon your connection, as two halves of the same mind, as two images on different panes of glass. Let the answer come to you.
Allow your feet to walk forward and for your third eye to guide you to the hiding spot. It is almost always somewhere within the house, because your double will not have taken the instructions very seriously. Why would they? Lift your prize out of its hiding spot, taking great care not to tear it. This is, after all, your salvation that you hold. It deserves some reverence. Bring it with you to the mirror, but hurry now. Your double has been alerted, and is probably rushing towards the mirror to stop you.
Once you arrive, wipe the mirror clean and drape the blanket over it. If you have moved fast and done well, you can now rest and relax for just a moment. The deed is done, the dice have been cast. Look around you, and listen to the blessed silence. Do you hear it, that sweet nothingness that wafts over your ears? It is a precious gift, one you must protect with your life. Now that you have rested, you must move to the next stage of the gambit. This is where the real work begins.
Search the house for every last scrap of information you can find about your new life. Every journal entry, every framed picture, every cell phone message or scribbled post-it note. You must give no indication that you are any different when you wake in the morrow. Emulate the mannerisms of your double, correcting yourself as soon as there are discrepancies. You have a few weeks, maybe a few days, to settle into the rhythms of everyday life, and you must do it PERFECTLY. Let no one catch onto the truth of your situation, and maybe you can finally have some semblance of peace.
One word of warning. You cannot destroy the mirror, even if you wish. It is what binds that world and this, but is also what anchors the realities together. Make sure to hide it, and hide it well, before two and two are put together and your gambit is uncovered. Put it somewhere dark and deep, somewhere it cannot be reached by human hands. Lock it up and throw away the key. If you are fortunate it will be forgotten, gathering dust in the place you concealed it, forever relegated to the corners of memory.
There have been no recorded cases of what happens should the blanket be removed and the mirror’s surface revealed.
In order to play the Mirror Gambit, you will need the following tools:
- A full-length mirror, perfectly polished, without any cracks or imperfections
- A candle or flashlight, suitable to hold in one hand
- A knife or other blade, which you hold in the other
- A sheet or blanket large enough to cover the mirror in its entirety
- Nonlethal traps, as many as you can find
During the day before the first night of the full moon, find places to hide your traps. Obvious places, secret places, places that someone nosy would easily find themselves. Ensure that these traps are not able to kill. If your other half is killed before your gambit is complete, both of you will forfeit your lives. Instead, make sure that they will delay them. Keep them rooted, keep them distracted, stuck or disoriented. Not for too long - just long enough.
The sheet or blanket you must hide with great care, as far away from your home as you can possibly risk without jeopardizing your own safety. It is a necessary part of the covenant, one of the prices you pay for the chance to escape. What is important is that you hide it safely, and hide it well. Once you have done this, forget where you’ve concealed it. Scrub every last thought, every last trace of that place from your memory. It is your only hope of success. When you’ve done this, then prepare to play.
Standing before the mirror, gaze deeply and behold the other you. Try not to let your resentment be visible in your face, even if your loathing is at its peak. You must be focused on the task at hand, so ignore whatever inane or ridiculous actions they choose to take. Take your blade and cut your palm, deep enough to draw blood to the surface, and smear it on the surface of the mirror. This weakens the borders between their world and yours, signalling the start of the game. Take hold of your light and turn your back towards the mirror. Walk backwards slowly, carefully. Feel the mirrors surface gently envelope you, but do not stop halfway.
You will find yourself facing the mirror, in a place much cleaner and nicer than the one you’ve just left. Do not dawdle or waste time - enjoying the sights and sounds can come much later. The clock ticks ever onwards, and should your double realise the nature of the gambit you have played then your whole plan will fall apart. Instead, think as they would think. If you were a blanket, an inconspicuous sheet, where would you hide? Call upon your connection, as two halves of the same mind, as two images on different panes of glass. Let the answer come to you.
Allow your feet to walk forward and for your third eye to guide you to the hiding spot. It is almost always somewhere within the house, because your double will not have taken the instructions very seriously. Why would they? Lift your prize out of its hiding spot, taking great care not to tear it. This is, after all, your salvation that you hold. It deserves some reverence. Bring it with you to the mirror, but hurry now. Your double has been alerted, and is probably rushing towards the mirror to stop you.
Once you arrive, wipe the mirror clean and drape the blanket over it. If you have moved fast and done well, you can now rest and relax for just a moment. The deed is done, the dice have been cast. Look around you, and listen to the blessed silence. Do you hear it, that sweet nothingness that wafts over your ears? It is a precious gift, one you must protect with your life. Now that you have rested, you must move to the next stage of the gambit. This is where the real work begins.
Search the house for every last scrap of information you can find about your new life. Every journal entry, every framed picture, every cell phone message or scribbled post-it note. You must give no indication that you are any different when you wake in the morrow. Emulate the mannerisms of your double, correcting yourself as soon as there are discrepancies. You have a few weeks, maybe a few days, to settle into the rhythms of everyday life, and you must do it PERFECTLY. Let no one catch onto the truth of your situation, and maybe you can finally have some semblance of peace.
One word of warning. You cannot destroy the mirror, even if you wish. It is what binds that world and this, but is also what anchors the realities together. Make sure to hide it, and hide it well, before two and two are put together and your gambit is uncovered. Put it somewhere dark and deep, somewhere it cannot be reached by human hands. Lock it up and throw away the key. If you are fortunate it will be forgotten, gathering dust in the place you concealed it, forever relegated to the corners of memory.
There have been no recorded cases of what happens should the blanket be removed and the mirror’s surface revealed.
Kyle is a dreamer, writer, and full-time complainer from the Philippines. Her fiction has been published in Idle Ink, Mineral Lit Mag, and Analogies & Allegories among others. You can find her on Twitter at @PercyPropa, or follow her work at whatkylewrites.carrd.co.