Fiction/Short Story/Fantasy
Shadows Of Marshfield—Part 4
A Turner family tale
Before reading Part 4 below, please see:
‘Shadows of Marshfield — Part 1’,
In suburban Utah, a high school party dare took a dark turn.
Chuckie, a timid attendee, was nudged towards an old mirror, the center of a chilling game.
Urged by his peers, he reluctantly chanted “Bloody Mary” three times, his voice a blend of fear and disbelief.
As the final echo of Mary’s name faded, a shadow seemed to flit across the glass. The teens laughed nervously, dismissing it as their imagination.
Several miles away, Ryan and Knox, young adult paranormal investigators, stumbled upon an online mention of the dare. Intrigued, they bookmarked it as another urban legend.
However, the following day’s news of a gruesome, unexplained murder in the same neighborhood caught their attention. The victim, found in front of a broken mirror, bore an expression of sheer terror.
Connecting the dots, they arrived at the crime scene; a palpable sense of dread hung in the air.
After interviewing Chuckie, who was visibly disturbed by the incident, they realized the gravity of the situation. Bloody Mary, a vengeful spirit said to inhabit mirrors, was not just a legend.
Fear gripped the community as more bizarre incidents occurred. Ryan and Knox, amid growing panic, began to piece together the lore surrounding Bloody Mary. They discovered that the spirit could traverse any reflective surface, putting everyone at risk.
Armed with this knowledge, they gathered necessary supplies: old folklore texts, protective talismans, and an array of mirrors. They chose an abandoned warehouse for their confrontation, a place away from innocent bystanders.
The night was charged with tension.
In the warehouse, surrounded by mirrors, Ryan and Knox began their ritual. The air grew thick and heavy with the anticipation of the unknown. As they recited the incantations, a figure emerged in the mirrors, her face contorted with centuries-old rage.
Bloody Mary’s attacks were swift and ferocious, her form flickering between the mirrors.
Ryan and Knox, relying on their wits and research, narrowly evaded her assaults.
In a calculated move, Knox shattered one of the mirrors, causing the spirit to reel in pain. Seizing the moment, Ryan recited a binding spell, his voice clear and authoritative.
The mirrors shattered in unison, releasing a blinding light that engulfed the room. When the light faded, the spirit vanished, leaving behind a deafening silence.
The aftermath was a scene from a battlefield; shattered glass, and echoes of the confrontation. Ryan and Knox, though successful, were profoundly affected. They realized that their journey into the supernatural had just taken a deeper, more perilous turn.
The town slowly started to heal. The teens, including Chuckie, found solace in sharing their experiences. A support group was formed, offering a space to discuss and cope with the events. The story of Bloody Mary, now a part of the town’s lore, served as a grim reminder of the night’s horrors.
Ryan and Knox, whose partnership and brotherhood were strengthened by this experience, continued their investigations. They were more determined than ever to protect the unknowing from the shadows that lurked beyond the realm of understanding.
As they drove away from Utah, a reflective gleam from a shop window caught Ryan’s eye. He pondered the possibility of Bloody Mary’s return, knowing some mysteries refused to stay buried.
The road ahead was long, filled with unknown dangers and dark corners of the world yet to be explored. They ventured into the night, ready to face whatever lay hidden in the uncharted territories of the supernatural …
