The Mirror in the Attic
In the heart of an old forgotten city lived Maria, a 10-year-old girl. Maria was a curious child with sparkling green eyes that always held an intense fascination for the unknown. She lived in a crumbling, antique house with a vast, cobweb-filled attic that housed many age-old artifacts, a place Maria viewed as a treasure chest. Each artifact housed a story waiting to be discovered, but none caught her eye more than an ostentatiously ornamental mirror, standing tall amidst the dusty remains.
From the moment Maria had laid her eyes on the mirror, she felt an undefinable connection. The mirror was designed beautifully; a mosaic of colors adorned its edges, symbols and scriptures creating an enchanting whirl of mysterious art. However, it was not its beauty that intrigued Maria, it was the fact that every time she looked into it; she swore she saw a different face.
One day, filled with intrigue and a hint of fear, Maria decided to climb up to the attic and take a closer look at the mirror. As she walked up to the mirror, her heart palpitated as an unexpected rush of cold air brushed past her. Gathering all her courage, she opened her eyes only to see an unfamiliar reflection, a girl of her age but with distinct features, wearing aged clothing made of rich velvet and an accentuated ruff around her neck. Despite this bizarre encounter, Maria felt a strange sense of familiarity and warmth radiating from the mirror girl.
For weeks Maria spoke to the girl through the mirror, who would talk about the extensive forests, lavish castles, and magical creatures from her time. Maria soon discovered that mirror girl was a time-traveler called Sarah who had been trapped in the mirror during a disastrous time leap.
Sarah had one chance to break free – on the night of the Crimson Moon. Maria solemnly promised to help. Meanwhile, Maria grew fascinated with Sarah's tales, and her world grew wider. The two girls from different timelines formed an unprecedented bond, exploring varied cultures, eras, and stories confined within the boundaries of the enchanting mirror.
The night of Crimson Moon arrived, and the stakes were high. According to Sarah, Maria had to recite an ancient incantation exactly at the stroke of midnight. If done right, it would bestow the mirror the power to set Sarah free. The sequence of events filled Maria's heart with a growing anticipation mingled with fear. But the thought of losing her friend to the mirror again pushed Maria to muster all her courage.
As the crimson moon bathed Maria's attic room in its mellow red glow, Maria started the incantation. The mirror began to swirl, its ornamental edges glowed with an intensity Maria had never seen before. With a hopeful heart, she urged the mirror to free her friend.
Braced for the flash of bright light, Maria shut her eyes tight. However, when she opened them, she saw only her own reflection in the mirror. A surge of disappointment washed over her until her eyes landed on a girl standing in the corner of the attic. It was Sarah, in flesh and blood!
The mirror had done its magic, setting Sarah free from its mystical confines. Tears welled up in Maria's eyes as she moved forward to embrace her friend. From then onwards, Maria's life took a different turn. Sarah became a part of Maria's family, and together they formed a bond that transcended age, era, and reality.
As years passed, the old mirror continued to live in the attic, a little forgotten, yet holding a meaningful place in Maria's life, a symbol of an enthralling friendship that echoed across time.