"Don't wait up, I'll be back late. You can have pasta for dinner and I left a taxi fare for you on your reading table. See you later."
Then, he disappeared through the doorway.
Ray remained by the counter, buttering his toast.
He heard the sound of an engine purring to life outside and the car disappeared into the streets.
It was very quiet. Too quiet. The shard was in his bag - he planned to show Sarah and Kirby.
He feared how his dad might react if he saw a mirror, no matter how little it was.
He ate lazily and left the house.
The weather hadn't improved - it was always gloomy or cloudy, barely sunny and warm.
His dad had offered to get him a car - a way to make up for his absence and make commuting easier - but he had turned the offer down.
Ray walked all the way down, deciding to save up the money. By the time he got to school, he was slightly out of breath.
He had missed two weeks of school but the news would have spread nonetheless.
The fields were overgrown, vines snaking around the wired fences, he noticed.
As he entered, the hallway was empty - classes had started.
He didn't know if anything had changed.
After depositing his books in his locker, he made his way to the Geometry class.
Rubbing his sweaty palms over his sweater, he turned the knob.
All eyes fell on him as he entered. Pity filled most of the faces that stared back at him.
Even Mr. Alan Berth.
Keeping his head down, he navigated his way to his seat, which was in between Sarah and Kirby.
"You look terrible." Kirby muttered.
"Don't mind him. We missed you."
They passed him their notes.
When it was time for lunch, he dragged them to the school bathroom.
"What is it?" Sarah kept asking.
Knowing it was the male bathroom, he handed Sarah his hoodie to wear.
He dropped his back on the floor and rummaged through it for the pretty shard he found.
"Look at this." He showed it to them.
Kirby took it from him.
"It's just a fancy mirror fragment. What's to like?"
Sarah didn't share his lack of enthusiasm. Her eyes were wide with awe.
"It's very pretty, Ray. Where'd you find it?"
He hesitated. "In the basement."
Kirby kept placing it at different angles.
"Why can't I see myself in it?"
Sarah reached for it. "Let me try."
Her reflection was visible in it. "It seems to favour the ladies."
She chuckled. Kirby snorted.
"I couldn't see myself either." Ray admitted.
Sarah did a little dance, wiggling this way and that.
"Told ya! It only displays pretty girls. Go wear a wig or something."
Kirby laughed. "I'm stupid enough to try that."
The door bounced open.
Ray pushed Sarah behind him.
"What do we have here?" Jory, the over-sized bully called out.
He was a class ahead of them.
"A bunch of slackers." Mindy, one of his devoted minions, answered.
Kirby rolled his eyes.
Ray didn't want any problems, he was willing to hand over his taxi fare if it'd solve the problem.
Besides, the mirror smelled like disinfectant and dried urine - and it had mirrors.
"I heard your mama died, Ray. Poor little baby." He rubbed his eyes with his fists, mimicking a crying baby.
Ray's jaw tensed.
"Leave my mom out of this."
"Should I?" He turned to his disciples, "Did you hear him? He said I should leave his mama alone."
All of them burst out laughing.
"We all know you killed her."
The words cut Ray deeper than any knife would.
He staggered back.
Kirby rushed forward and smacked Jory across the face.
"Don't ever say that again!"
Jory smiled and wiped his mouth.
"Remove all his teeth." He commanded his disciples.
They rushed forward, surrounding Kirby.
Ray raised his hands up. "We can talk about this, can't we?"
They all burst into raucous laughter.
He flushed a dark shade of red.
"Leave him alone!" Sarah yelled.
Everyone froze.
"There's a girl here?" Jory turned to her.
She slipped the hood down to her neck.
"If you touch him… I'll… I'll tell the principal." She threatened.
Another round of laughter.
They started surrounding the trio with one flick of Jory's hand.
They backed away until they bumped into a wall. There was nowhere to run.
Both boys put Sarah behind them.
"Leave us alone. We'll give you money."
The bullies cleared a path of Jory to pass through.
He kissed his knuckles before he smacked Ray across the face.
Sarah lunged at him, scratching his face and pulling his hair.
He pushed her away and she slammed into one of the wooden toilet doors with a grunt.
That's when he saw it.
A hand was protruding through the mirror.
"Get away from the mirror!" Ray yelled.
They sneered at him.
Another smack.
Then, Jory gripped his neck.
"Boss, you'll kill him." Mindy cautioned.
Jory tilted his head. "I'll try not to."
Ray's eyes widened. An exact copy of Jory emerged from the mirror.
"Behind you!" He cried as loudly as his strangled voice allowed.
He was losing air.
When Jory turned around, it was too late. His copy stuck him through with a knife.
He sagged against the blade.
Ray slid to the floor, staring up at the copies.
They were dressed the same.
The other Jory removed his blade and wiped it on the dead Jory's shirt. The same grey mark appeared on his arm.
His eyes flicked over everyone gathered, a sly grin stretching his thin lips.
He placed a finger on his lips.
"You saw nothing."
He backed away into the mirror, holding his knife out in case anyone would dare to attack him.
No one moved.
Then, he faded into the mirror.
Jory's minions stared down at him. He was lying in a pool of his own blood. All their faces were pale.
"Is he dead?" One of them asked.
"Don't touch him! They'll think you did it!" Harry cried.
Mindy's eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
He glanced at Ray, then back at Jory.
"We have to get him help." Ray murmured.
Kirby was shaking like a leaf.
Mindy shook his head violently.
The disciples filed out, one by one, leaving them with Jory's body.
Sarah crawled to where they were.
"This is bad."