Tales from the Shadows

You checked into Room 33. One night. That’s all you needed.

The receptionist looked confused. “That room isn’t usually…” She stopped.

You didn’t ask. Just needed silence.

The hallway was dim. Lights buzzed like dying flies.

The key turned, but the door was already unlocked.

Inside: untouched sheets, faint smell of ash, a blinking alarm clock stuck at 3:33.

You unpacked. Looked in the mirror. Something was off about your reflection.

The closet door creaked open slightly on its own.

You shut it. Five minutes later, it creaked again.

You heard footsteps above. But you were on the top floor.

You tried calling the front desk. The phone hissed static.

Then: a knock. You opened the door. No one.

A note was taped to the outside: "Don't trust the mirror."

You looked again. Your reflection was smiling.

You weren’t.

You turned the lights off. The mirror stayed lit.

Inside it, the room looked older. Dusty. Worn.

A man was standing behind you in the mirror.

You turned around. Nothing.

You woke up in the same bed. But everything felt... wrong.

The calendar on the wall said “Check-In: June 25, 2023.”

That was a year ago.

You rushed to the mirror. Your eyes were sunken. Older.

You tore open the closet. Inside was a guestbook.

Every page had your name.

Different handwriting. Different dates.

You flipped to the last entry: "Don't trust yourself."

You ran into the hallway. All doors said “Room 33.”

You banged on one. A man answered. It was you.

“You're not supposed to be out,” he said and shut the door.

You sprinted to the stairs. They never ended.

The alarm clock buzzed. It was 3:33. Again.

You smashed it. Blood spilled out of the cracks.

The mirror showed the room collapsing. But outside, it looked normal.

You whispered, “Wake up.” But nothing changed.

You noticed something new in the mirror: a third version of you.

It held a key. And smiled.

You reached out. It pulled you in.

Now you’re in the mirror. Watching.

Someone just checked into Room 33.