Mirror Friend

(After freshening up, Alvi goes to bed to sleep.)

Alvi: Where I was thinking about my new beginning, and where am I now?

I think my luck isn't supporting me.

The biggest mistake of my life is killing me from the inside, day by day.

I regret it.

Why did I do that? Why?

I miss you, buddy. I miss you.

Look, I'm all alone now.

You are not with me.

My guilt is not leaving me alone.

Since you left me, I don't have anyone to share my problems with.

I think my karma has come back.

Are you listening to me?

(Suddenly, a voice comes from somewhere.)

Unknown: Yes, Alvi, my friend.

Alvi: Where is this voice coming from?

Hey, who is this?

Why can't I see you?

Unknown: Alvi, I'm your friend.

Alvi: Come in front of me.

Unknown: Alvi, see here. I'm in the mirror.

I'm your friend, Liam.

Alvi: What?! This can't be true.

Why are you in the mirror?

Mirror: I got trapped here.

Alvi: You are not Liam.

And how do you know my friend's name?

I know, and everyone knows that he's not alive.

So who are you?

Mirror: No, Alvi, I'm Liam.

Alvi: No, no, you're not!

Tell me who you are!

Mirror: Oops, I got caught.

Sorry for playing with your emotions.

But I just want to be your friend.

Alvi: No, you can't be my friend.

Liam was my only friend.

And no one can take his place.

You're not even normal.

How can you be my friend?

Mirror: Why don't you want to be my friend?

Why, why...

(Suddenly, the figure in the mirror gets angry. His face changes, becoming monstrous. His eyes vanish, and his mouth grows wider and wider, almost touching the floor. In an instant, everything in the room begins to be sucked into the monster's mouth. Alvi tries to save himself from being swallowed. His legs are nearly inside the monster's mouth.)

Alvi: Leave me!

I said leave me, please!

Ah! Ah! AAAA!

Okay, okay, I'll be your friend.

Please, leave me!

(Suddenly, Alvi wakes up in bed, drenched in sweat. Everything is normal.)

Alvi: That means it was a dream.

What a horrible dream that was!

I thought it was real.

It's already 3 AM.

Let's go back to sleep.

(Next morning)

Alvi: How long do I have to stay here?

No network, no security, no communication... life is becoming complicated.

I can't even leave this place because I don't know where to go nearby.

Also, the weather isn't helping.

What do I do?

I'm so hungry.

I need breakfast.

Yesterday, after dinner, I didn't go downstairs.

I should check.

What if I go downstairs and see no one except me?

What if a monster or ghost appears in front of me?

Then what will I do?

I'm not scared, but just a little conscious about my life.

Let's go, Alvi. See what's happening.

(Alvi goes downstairs.)

Alvi: Really? I'm not dreaming.

Everything is normal.

Everyone is here, especially the staff members.

One thing I don't understand is, where were they going last night.

Should I ask them?

First, I should eat something.

(He heads to the restaurant.)

Alvi: Excuse me, waiter, my order, please.

Waiter: Yes, sir.

Alvi: One orange juice and two sandwiches, please.

Waiter: Okay, sir. Anything else?

Alvi: No, wait. Can I ask you something?

Waiter: Yes, sir. Please.

Alvi: Where do the hotel staff live?

I mean, do they live in the hotel area or somewhere else?

Waiter: Actually, we live in the hotel.

I mean, here in the hotel, there is a separate section for the staff.

We work here and live here.

Alvi: Wow, good.

And what about the manager?

Waiter: Yes, sir, he also lives here.

But he has a bigger room than us, where he lives alone.

Alvi: Okay, thanks.

Waiter: I'll bring your breakfast now, sir.

Alvi: Hmm.

They live in the hotel.

But I saw last night, all of them were going somewhere.

Everything is very suspicious.

One more thing, what about Mr. Novel?

After breakfast, I'll check on him again.

(After breakfast, Alvi goes to check Mr. Novel's room. He knocks on the door.)

Alvi: Mr. Novel, I'm Alvi.

Mr. Novel...

(Suddenly, the door opens and a young man comes out of the room.)

Alvi: Who is he? (Talking to himself.)

Ah, sorry to disturb you.

I know someone who was staying in this room.

I think he left.

Reo: No, no. It's okay.

Hello, I'm Reo. I mean, I'm Reo Min.

How can I help you?

Alvi: Nice to meet you.

Can you tell me when you checked in?

Reo: Maybe an hour ago.

Alvi: Ah, thanks.

Reo: Welcome.

Is he very important to you?

Don't mind me asking.

Alvi: No, it's not like that.

He was a kind, old man.

We met yesterday.

I wanted to talk to him.

That's why.

Reo: Oh, I see.

It's normal.

Don't worry, man.

Alvi: Hmm, bye then.

Reo: Bye.

(Alvi heads back to his room.)

Alvi: I'm already bored.

Where are my books?

I should read them to kill time.

Wait, why didn't I think of that before?

Reo told me he checked in one hour ago.

(Alvi goes downstairs.)

Alvi: Excuse me, Manager. Could you tell me if there are any vehicles available?

I want to leave.

Manager: Sorry, sir, it is not possible.

You know about the weather, right?

We can't help with that.

Alvi: But I know someone who left today.

How did you manage that time?

Manager: I think, sir, it's a misunderstanding.

No one left this hotel today.

Alvi: Okay, then check your records.

What if someone left but you don't know?

Manager: Please have a look.

No one left this place.

Alvi: So where did he go?

Manager: Sir, who?

Alvi: Mr. Novel. Where is he?

Manager: Sir, can you tell me the room number?

Alvi: Room No. 1003.

Manager: Let me check.

Sorry, sir, no one by that name stayed in that room.

Room No. 1003 has been empty for four days.

No one stayed in that room.

Today, a new guest checked in—Mr. Reo Min, not Mr. Novel.

Alvi: How could this be possible?

Check again.

Manager: If you don't believe me, then have a look.

No one by that name stayed in this hotel.

Alvi: Okay, okay.

Then what about last night's incident?

The dinner incident.

The human leg thumb was found in Mr. Novel's food, remember?

Manager: Sir, what rubbish? Please don't create an issue for us.

First of all, it can harm our hotel's reputation.

Secondly, the man Mr. Novel you are talking about never stayed here.

Alvi: Forget about Mr. Novel.

Yesterday, when I asked you if there were any rooms available,

You told me there was only one left, Room No. 1001.

If Room No. 1003 was empty, why didn't you tell me two rooms were left?

Manager: sir, the last person who stayed in that room broke the mirror and caused other damages.

After he left, my staff didn't clean the room.

That's why I told you only one room was left.

Today, they cleaned the room.

Alvi: Okay.

Manager: When the situation improves, we will inform you.

Then it's up to you when you want to check out.

Thank you, sir.

(Alvi goes back to his room.)

Alvi: I know.

I saw the room myself, and the mirror too.

So the manager is lying.

One more thing—if vehicles are not available, then how did Reo come here?