Chapter 27 — The Boy in the Mirror 🌫️🪞🔥
The cabin shuddered again as the roar rolled through the fog 🌲💥
Not loud.
Not sudden.
Deep.
Patient.
Like something enormous breathing just outside the walls 😨
Everyone froze mid-movement.
The fire popped loudly 🔥
The shadows jumped.
Miko's heart slammed so hard she felt lightheaded 💓😵
Her fingers trembled around the candle.
"I…" she swallowed.
"I–I'll go to the washroom," she whispered 🚪🕯️
Hawk nodded, tense but alert.
"Don't take too long."
Walter immediately added, panicking,
"And if a ghost asks your name, DON'T TELL IT." 😱
Miko didn't reply.
She was already walking down the narrow hallway.
The Hallway 🕯️
The corridor felt longer than before.
The walls creaked softly.
The candle flame flickered like it was afraid to exist 🔥
Miko's footsteps echoed.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Her breath sounded too loud in her own ears 😮💨
She reached the washroom door.
Creeeaaak. 🚪
Cold air brushed her neck ❄️
She stepped inside.
The mirror hung above the sink.
Old.
Cracked at the corners.
Miko raised her eyes—
And froze. 🧊
The Mirror 🪞👁️
A child stood behind her.
Thin.
Pale.
Bare feet on the cold floor.
One side of his face was bruised purple and black 💔
The other looked untouched…
sad…
tired…
His eyes were hollow—but not evil.
Just broken 😔
He wasn't smiling.
He wasn't threatening.
He was watching.
Breathing softly.
Miko's scream ripped through the cabin.
"AAAAAA—!!!" 😱
She spun around—
No one.
She ran.
Tripped.
Slammed into the wall.
She burst into the main room, sobbing and shaking.
"H–HE'S—TH—THERE—!!" 😭
"A CHILD—!! A GHOST—!!"
Panic Explodes 💥
Hawk drew his weapon instantly 🔫
Walter grabbed the nearest object—a frying pan 🥘
Dr. Putin stared toward the hallway, face pale but focused 👓
Before anyone could stop him—
Barfi walked forward.
Calm.
Silent.
Unblinking.
He passed them all.
"Barfi—WAIT—!" Miko cried 🫨
He didn't stop.
He entered the washroom.
Closed the door behind him. 🚪
Five Minutes ⏳
One minute.
Two.
Three.
No sound.
No scream.
No whisper.
No footsteps.
Just the fire crackling 🔥
And the wind outside howling 🌬️
Miko shook violently in Walter's arms 🤍
Walter whispered nonstop prayers to gods he didn't believe in 🙏
Hawk stared at the door like it might explode.
Dr. Putin held his breath.
The Door Opens 🚪
Five minutes later—
Click.
The door opened.
Barfi stepped out.
Completely unharmed.
Completely calm.
Everyone rushed him at once.
Miko grabbed his sleeve with both hands 🤲
"What happened!?"
"What did he say!?"
"Barfi-san—are you okay!?" 😭
Barfi looked at her.
Voice steady.
Emotionless.
"He was the youngest son."
The room froze. 🧊
Hawk whispered,
"…The boy who resurrected the bear demon?"
Barfi nodded once.
"He wanted to warn us."
The Warnings ⚠️
Miko swallowed hard.
"Warn us about… what?"
Barfi raised three fingers ✋
First Warning ☠️
"Do not leave this house," Barfi said quietly.
"Not at night."
"Not in the morning."
Walter screamed,
"IN THE MORNING TOO!?" 😱
"WHAT KIND OF 24-HOUR DEMON SUBSCRIPTION IS THIS!?"
Barfi continued calmly.
"If anyone steps outside… they will be cursed."
Dr. Putin nodded slowly.
"That explains why the demon guards the door."
Miko's grip tightened on Barfi's arm 💔
Second Warning 🧩
Barfi lowered one finger.
"The answers are hidden in pieces."
"A pattern."
"Scattered inside the cabin."
Dr. Putin stepped forward sharply.
"The ritual pattern!"
"The key to reversing the demon!"
Hawk cursed under his breath.
"So we're trapped inside…"
"…doing a scavenger hunt…"
"…while that thing waits outside?"
Barfi nodded once.
Third Warning 🏠
Barfi lowered another finger.
"The demon fears the house."
"The house…?" Miko whispered.
"He said the bear cannot enter," Barfi explained.
"The walls are sealed."
Walter exhaled loudly.
"So we're safe! Safe inside!" 😮💨
THUD 💥
A massive impact hit the outside wall.
The cabin shook violently 🏚️
A low growl rolled around them 🐻❄️
Walter screamed again.
Hawk braced himself.
Miko pressed into Barfi, shaking.
Dr. Putin whispered grimly,
"It can't enter…"
"…so it will try to force us out."
The Final Truth 🩸
Barfi glanced at the window.
Fog moved.
Something huge shifted behind it 👁️🌫️
"The boy said one more thing," Barfi added.
"He knows…"
"…one of us can free him."
Every eye turned to Barfi.
But Barfi didn't react.
Didn't deny.
Didn't fear.
"We must find the pattern pieces," he said quietly.
"Before the demon does."
Outside—
The roar came again.
Longer.
Closer.
The night was far from over. 🌙🔥
The Pages of the Lost Boy 📜
The storm battered the cabin.
The demon's presence pressed against the walls.
Inside—
They searched.
Miko refused to let go of Barfi's hand 🤍
He didn't pull away.
Walter checked under furniture.
"Nothing but dust and emotional damage."
Hawk searched cupboards.
"Empty."
Dr. Putin checked behind paintings.
"These were hidden deliberately."
Barfi moved silently, eyes sharp.
Walter Finds Something 😲
"I FOUND SOMETHING!"
He lifted torn pages from beneath a floor plank.
Dr. Putin spread them out carefully.
"These are his diary pages…"
He read aloud.
Diary Page 1 📖
"Today the demon bear killed my family."
Walter gulped.
Diary Page 2 🏠
"I sealed the demon outside."
Hawk muttered,
"That matches everything."
Diary Page 3 ❄️
"I cannot leave.
He waits day and night."
Miko shivered.
Diary Page 4 ⚠️
"If five enter… the seal weakens."
Everyone froze.
A BOOM struck the wall again 💥
The demon was closer.
Dr. Putin looked at Barfi.
"There must be more pages."
Barfi suddenly spoke.
"Upstairs."
"…Something is moving."
The air went cold.
The next stage had begun.