In the quaint town of Willowbrook, nestled between rolling hills and dense forests, there stood an old, Victorian-style beauty salon. Named "Eternal Elegance," it had been in business for over a century, passed down through generations of the same family. Locals whispered that the original owner, Lillian Harper, was a witch who used dark magic to craft her beauty potions. Despite the rumors, the salon remained the most popular in town, its clients always leaving looking radiant.
One gloomy autumn day, Emily, a young woman new to Willowbrook, decided to visit Eternal Elegance. She had heard wonderful things about the place and hoped to treat herself to a makeover. The moment she stepped inside, a chill ran down her spine. The salon was a peculiar mix of antique charm and eerie ambiance, with old-fashioned hairdryers and ornate mirrors that seemed to be watching her.
The current owner, Vivienne Harper, greeted Emily with a warm smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Vivienne was a striking woman, her beauty seemingly untouched by time. She led Emily to a plush chair in front of a large, gilded mirror. "You're in for a treat," Vivienne purred. "Our treatments are legendary."
As Emily sat down, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The mirror in front of her seemed to shimmer, its surface rippling like water. She chalked it up to her nerves and tried to relax as Vivienne began her work, mixing various potions and elixirs with an expert hand.
As the treatment progressed, Emily found herself growing increasingly drowsy. Her eyelids grew heavy, and soon she was drifting into a strange, dreamlike state. In her haze, she saw fleeting images in the mirror – faces twisted in agony, mouths open in silent screams. She wanted to jump up, to run, but her body felt paralyzed.
Hours passed, or perhaps only minutes – time seemed to blur. When Emily finally came to, she felt different. Lighter. She glanced at her reflection and gasped. Her skin was flawless, her hair lustrous, her features more refined. She looked like a perfect, enhanced version of herself. Vivienne stood behind her, smiling.
"You look stunning, my dear," Vivienne said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. Emily couldn't help but agree, despite the unease gnawing at her.
Over the next few days, Emily reveled in her newfound beauty. People in town couldn't stop complimenting her, and she basked in the attention. But at night, the nightmares began. She would see herself in the mirror, her reflection moving independently, grinning wickedly, whispering dark secrets that she couldn't quite understand. Her dreams were filled with the faces she had seen in the mirror at the salon, their tortured expressions haunting her.
One night, driven by desperation, Emily returned to Eternal Elegance. The salon was closed, but the door creaked open at her touch. Inside, the air was thick with a sense of foreboding. She made her way to the room where she had received her treatment, her heart pounding.
In the dim light, she saw the large mirror again. It was covered with a heavy, velvet cloth. Trembling, Emily pulled the cloth away. The surface shimmered and rippled, and then she saw them – countless faces trapped behind the glass, their eyes pleading for release. Among them, she recognized the beautiful, ageless faces of women who had once visited the salon.
Suddenly, Vivienne appeared, her expression furious. "You shouldn't have come back," she hissed. Emily backed away, but Vivienne grabbed her, dragging her toward the mirror. "Beauty comes at a price, dear. A price you must pay."
With a final, desperate struggle, Emily broke free, but not before Vivienne's hand brushed the mirror's surface. The glass shattered, and a torrent of dark, swirling mist engulfed them both. Emily felt herself being pulled into the mirror, her screams merging with those of the trapped souls.
When the mist cleared, the salon was silent. The mirror, now whole again, stood ominously in the room. And in its reflection, a new face had joined the others – Emily's face, forever trapped, her eyes wide with eternal terror.
The next morning, Eternal Elegance opened as usual. Vivienne, looking as beautiful and ageless as ever, welcomed her clients with a warm smile. The mirror gleamed in the corner, a silent testament to the salon's dark secret. And the townspeople, oblivious to the horrors within, continued to flock to the salon, seeking the eternal beauty they so desperately craved.
But every now and then, a flicker of movement would catch someone's eye, a whisper would be heard from nowhere, and a chill would run down their spine. For those who looked closely, the truth was there, hidden in the mirror's reflection – a beauty that comes at the ultimate price.
No comments:
Post a Comment