Shawn Sarles - Mary, Will I Die?

To my parents, Linda and Richard, who were my first and biggest fans

She knew she should have been scared. She should have been curled up in a ball, her hands thrown over her head for protection, cowering in a basement, sheltering in place. That was where everyone else would be right now. But for what?

How many times had the sky turned black and the winds blown hard? How often had the clouds steepled into angry, furrowed masses threatening to unleash Armageddon? And yet, the sun always came out fifteen minutes later. The danger never materialized. Never did any damage.

A siren started wailing outside. It cut through the howling wind that rattled every window in the house.

We should go back downstairs, a voice whimpered from behind Elena.

Dont be such a baby, Elena snapped at Grace, her best friend, though sometimes she wondered how much longer shed be able to put up with the girl. Nothings going to happen.

I dont know, another girl spoke up. It sounds pretty bad out there.

I think Stephs right, a boy added, his glasses sliding down his nose so that he had to keep pushing them back up over and over again.

Fine. Go back to your boring lives.

Elena was so over them. All three of them.

Grace. Steph. And Calvin.

Her carpool buddies, though she was only actually friends with Grace. They were all in the same fourth-grade class, and her mom had picked them up early today because of the storm warning.

But if you want to see something cool and prove that youre not a scaredy-cat, then follow me.

At first no one responded to Elenas challenge, but then Grace took the bait, like Elena knew she would.

Cool like what? she asked, her voice a nervous whisper.

Youre about to find out.

Elenas mouth split into a wicked grin and she started down the hallway, glancing over her shoulder, satisfied when Graces surrender dominoed into Stephs and Calvins. All three were following her now, marching up to the closed door in single file.

Whats in there? Grace squeaked.

A ghost.

Elena delighted in the shiver that shook Grace, the shocked O rounding the girls lips. Then, before anyone could recover, she reached up and twisted the handle, swinging the door open and revealing the black cavern of a room. She slipped inside and waited for them to join her.

Lightning flickered beyond the curtained windows, the flash spotlighting the room in black and white. It pulsed again, and this time someone yelped as a shrouded figure lunged out of the shadows. Grace threw herself into Elena as she dove for the door. Before she could bolt, though, Elena reached over and pulled the string on an old lamp. Its golden glow filled the room and revealed the ghostly figure for what it wasa piece of furniture, a sheet thrown over it to keep off the dust.

Its only a bedroom, Steph commented, and a frown wrinkled her forehead.

Its not, Elena said.

The wind howled against the windows as Elena paused, relishing what would come next.

Its my grandmothers room. At leastit was.

An eerie calm settled around them, like theyd suddenly been sucked into the eye of a tornado. Elena could almost feel her ears pop as the air pressure shifted and grew brittle.

When did she die? Calvin asked, his voice hushed.

A few months ago. Elena said.

Im sorry, Steph mumbled.

Dont be, Elena replied before she could check herself. Before she realized how heartless it sounded. I mean, she was pretty old and out of it at the end.

That was true, at least. In those last few weeks of her life, Elenas grandmother had spiraled into a ghoul. Her fingers had narrowed into hooked talons. Her hair stuck straight out from her head in patchy white wisps. Nonsense had rattled from her mouth night and day, a feverish rant, her native German only broken up here and there by a random English word. But even those Elena could hardly understand.

Her mom had tried to explain it to her. Something called dementia. It stole her grandmothers memories. Twisted them. Made her see things that werent there. Made her rant at the very air in front of her face. Invisible enemies hiding in the shadows.

And all this is hers? Grace asked, her question quiet. Reverent. Elena had talked about the woman with Grace, but theyd never actually met. And Elena hadnt told her when her grandmother had passed. She hadnt even invited her to the funeral.

It was, Elena replied. Her grandmother had moved in near the end, bringing with her a few of her most prized possessions. Which reminded Elena

Before anyone could say another word, she flounced across the room and grabbed the edge of the hanging sheet, tugging on the fabric and letting it unfurl. The shroud flowed to the floor and pooled around the wooden legs of the imposing relic, revealing the bogeyman for what it wasa mirror.

That looks really old, Calvin marveled, the first to find his voice.

And expensive, Steph piped up, moving in to get a closer look. Are those real?

Tentatively, the girl reached forward but stopped, her finger hovering less than an inch above one of the pearl-like orbs inset all the way around the mirrors flawless glass.

I dont know, Elena replied. Its been in my grandmothers family for generations or something.

Are these hers, too? Grace asked, her pipsqueak voice interrupting Elena, who spun around and saw the girl fingering the knickknacks on top of the dresser. The antique silver rings and necklaces that could use polishing. A photo album and some old books.

Yeah. It was all hers.

Cool. The word was barely audible as Grace continued to sift through it all. Elena tapped her foot in the middle of the room, crossing her arms as she turned and saw Calvin still mesmerized by the mirror, his nose an inch from the glass.

This wasnt much fun anymore. Not for her. They were supposed to be shocked and scared. They might as well have stayed downstairs.

But then, as Elena was about to suggest that they wrap things up, she caught a movement in the mirror. Her own annoyed face reflected behind Calvins. But there was a twinkle in her eye. A smirk on her lips. And suddenly, an idea struck her.

Lets play a game, Elena said, her voice coaxing everyone to listen. Its called Bloody Mary.

The light in the room dimmed and the wind picked up outside, howling against the side of the house, reminding everyone that there was a storm brewing. Elena pushed Calvin aside and stepped in front of the mirror.

Its simple, as long as you dont scare easy.

And Elena went on to explain the rules.

All you have to do is stare into the mirror. Right at your reflection. And then you say Bloody Mary thirteen times.

She didnt know where this had come from. It was almost like a spirit was standing right behind her, whispering the directions into her ear for her to repeat. But it sounded good. It sounded scary.

What happens then? Steph asked, clearly unimpressed by the game.

Well, you wait. Elena strung it out to buy some time, examining her own reflection as if her mirror version might have the answer. And then Bloody Mary shows you your soulmates face.