My body reacted before my mind did.
I jumped forward, nearly slipping on the wet tiles as I scrambled away from the mirror.
My ankle still felt—
Cold.
Like something had almost grabbed it.
I didn't turn back.
I couldn't.
Because I knew—
If I saw how far it had come out…
I might freeze again.
2:54 AM.
Six minutes left.
My fingers closed tightly around the metal wrench as I forced myself to look over my shoulder.
And my breath stopped.
Its hand was outside now.
Not fully—
But enough.
The fingers were halfway through the glass, stretching outward into the room like they were reaching for something they had been waiting for.
Reaching—
For me.
The mirror's surface rippled violently around its wrist as it forced more of itself through.
The cracks weren't just spreading anymore.
They were connecting.
Forming something like a doorway.
YOU — 2031:
"Do not hesitate."
I stepped forward.
The thing stepped forward too—
Inside the mirror.
Matching my steps.
Matching my breathing.
Matching—
My fear.
I raised the wrench.
It raised its hand.
My wrist burned again.
06:14:10:33
Dropping.
Faster now.
Like time itself wanted this to happen.
"Stop copying me!"
My voice cracked.
But it didn't answer.
It just smiled.
That same wide, broken smile.
And then—
It spoke again.
"I'm not copying you…"
Its voice sounded like mine—
But layered.
Like multiple versions speaking at once.
"I'm remembering."
2:56 AM.
Four minutes.
I swung the wrench.
The moment I moved—
It moved too.
But not the same way.
Its hand shot out faster than mine.
The mirror's surface stretched—
And its fingers wrapped around the head of the wrench.
Stopping it mid-air.
My heart slammed into my ribs.
That wasn't possible.
Nothing should be able to—
The metal began to frost over where it touched.
A thin layer of ice spreading from its fingertips.
Climbing up the wrench.
Toward my hand.
YOU — 2031:
"Let go!"
I released it instantly.
The wrench dropped—
But it didn't hit the floor.
It hung there.
Half inside the mirror.
Half outside.
Like reality couldn't decide where it belonged anymore.
The thing's eyes met mine.
And for the first time—
I saw recognition in them.
Not curiosity.
Not hunger.
Recognition.
"You're earlier than before…"
2:58 AM.
Two minutes.
Its other hand began pushing through the glass.
The cracks widened.
The room felt smaller.
Heavier.
Like the air itself was thickening.
My phone buzzed again.
YOU — 2031:
"Last chance."
I looked around wildly—
Searching.
Anything.
Something.
And then—
I saw the light switch beside the door.
Another message came.
"It needs reflection to stabilize."
My eyes widened.
Reflection.
Mirror.
Light.
2:59 AM.
One minute.
The thing's shoulders were coming through now—
The glass bending around its form like it was alive.
Its smile widened as it reached toward me again.
"This is where you always fail."
My hand slammed against the switch.
And the lights went out.