SHADOW OF THE HEIRESS

Charlotte woke up the next morning very tired and stressed with the troubles of the previous night haunting her very soul heavily. The memory of the strange mirror and her unmoving reflection haunted her. Her room, bathed in golden sunlight, seemed so ordinary now that it almost made her question what she had seen. Almost.

She hadn't slept well. Every time she closed her eyes, she dreamed of the hidden room, the mirror, and the confusing smile that wasn't hers. Still, she forced herself out of bed. Dwelling on it would solve nothing.

The estate felt different as she made her way down for breakfast. The grand hallways which were once familiar and welcoming, now felt cold and foreign. the silence that existed in the house became suffocating and miserable to her, it was occasionally broken by the sound of a floorboard or the distant rustle of the leaves in the garden.

In the dining room, Mrs. Hargrove and Evelyn sat at the long table. Oliver was absent. Evelyn's presence was imposing, every movement she made, every word she spoke, all demanded attention. Charlotte hesitated in the doorway, unsure whether to join them.

"Good morning, Charlotte," Mrs. Hargrove greeted her warmly.

Evelyn didn't even look up.

Charlotte forced a smile from her face and sat down. The tension at the table was noticeable.

As the day went on, Charlotte found herself drawn back to the events of the previous night. After breakfast, she ventured into the library, hoping to distract herself with a book. But as she checked the shelves, she felt that creeping sensation of being watched.

She turned sharply, but the room was empty.

"Get a grip, Charlotte," she muttered to herself.

Still, the feeling persisted. Every shadow seemed deeper, every sound increased. When she finally selected a book and sat by the window to read, she found it impossible to focus.

Then it happened.

She saw her reflection in the windowpane with the corner of her eye. But instead of copying her movements, it stared back at her, unmoving.

Her breath went off at the sight and slowly, she turned to face the window directly. The reflection was normal again, copying her every move.

"Just my imagination," she whispered, trying to convince herself.

But deep down, she knew better.

That evening, the strangeness increased.

Charlotte was walking down one of the estate's long hallways when she heard a small creak sound, like someone stepping on an old floorboard. She stopped and listened.

Creak.

The sound came again, closer this time.

"Hello?" she called out, her voice echoing off the walls.

No answer.

She increased her pace with the sense of unease growing with every step. When she reached her room, she slammed the door hurriedly and locked it. Her heart kept racing as she leaned against the door, she stood there trying to catch her breathing.

Then came the knock.

It was soft at first, almost tentative.

"Who's there?" she demanded, her voice trembling.

No response.

The knock started again, and this time it became louder. Charlotte's hand hung over the doorknob trying to check who was there, her instincts telling her not to open it.

And then, suddenly the knocking stopped abruptly.

Charlotte sat by her window, Unable to sleep while staring out at the darkened gardens. The estate was fearfully quiet, the usual nighttime sounds were covered as if the world itself was holding its breath.

That's when she saw him.

A figure stood near the edge of the woods, his shape barely visible in the moonlight. He was tall, with wide shoulders and he looked like a quiet person. He didn't move, didn't call out—he just stood there, watching her.

Charlotte's pulse raced. Who was he? A stranger? A servant?

Unable to shake her curiosity, she grabbed a coat and ventured outside.

The air in the night became cold and was biting at her skin as she made her way to the figure she just saw. As she approached, she realized he was even taller than she had thought, with sharp attributes and penetrating eyes that seemed to see right through her.

"Who are you?" she asked, stopping at a few feet away.

The man evaluated her for a moment before speaking. "My name is Jack," he said, his voice was low and steady. "You're in danger, Charlotte."

Her heart skipped instantly. "What are you talking about?"

He looked toward the mansion with a grim expression. "This estate, this family, it's not what it seems. You need to leave before it's too late."

"What do you mean? by before it's too late for what?"

Jack tried to reply her question, but then he shifted his focus, and his expression also became darkened immediately. "I've said too much like this" he uttered.

Before she could press him further, he turned and ran off into the woods, moving so quickly that it was almost unnatural.

Charlotte returned to the mansion shaking profusely at what just happened. Jack's warning echoed in her mind. What did he mean? Why was she in danger?

She barely had time to think before Evelyn confronted her in the hallway.

"Where have you been?" Evelyn demanded, her voice sharp.

"I… I went outside," Charlotte stammered, trying to keep her composure.

Evelyn's eyes narrowed towards Charlotte. "You've been checking around, haven't you?" she asked.

"checking around?" Charlotte repeated with a confused expression.

With anger in her voice, Evelyn shouted at her saying, "Charlotte I won't allow you to take me for a ride".

"I know you've been checking around, and trying to find things that don't concern you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Charlotte said with a frowned face and anger in her voice.

Evelyn stepped closer, and with a whisper of her voice, she said to her again. "You don't belong here, Charlotte. You're not one of us. And if you think you can take what's mine, you're seriously mistaken."

Charlotte's stomach tumbled. "Take what? Evelyn asked with anger growing in her voice, I don't want anything from you."

Evelyn's gaze fixed on her. "You know exactly what I mean," she said before walking off, leaving Charlotte more confused than ever.

Charlotte went back to her room, her mind kept racing. Between the unexplainable situation, Jack's secret warning, and Evelyn's accusations, she felt like she was losing her hold on what was happening.

while sitting on her bed, trying to put everything together, she heard the whisper again.

"Charlotte…"

This time, it was closer, louder, and more serious.

"Charlotte… come back…"

Her blood went cold. The voice was coming from behind the hidden door.

Charlotte looked closely at the tapestry covering the door with her heart pounding. The whisper sounded again, only more urgent now. She tried to get all the courage in her, and she reached for the tapestry, ready to uncover whatever lay behind it.