Lakshmi never believed in ghosts or curses. She moved into the old house thinking it would be the perfect place for a fresh start. The house had its flaws—creaky floors, peeling wallpaper, a musty smell—but nothing unusual. The only thing that bothered her was the old mirror in her bedroom. It was huge, with a dark, ornate frame, and it always seemed to make the room feel colder, like it was watching her.

At first, Lakshmi ignored it. Mirrors are just mirrors, right? But one night, after she had brushed her hair, she stopped and looked into the mirror. Her reflection wasn’t quite right.

Her reflection was smiling. But Lakshmi wasn’t smiling. Her lips were still, but the figure in the mirror wore a grin—too wide, stretching unnaturally,...