She awoke with a start, tossing the sweaty blankets from off her body. They toppled to the floor, her cat Esperanza following with a yelp.

She raced to the bathroom, knowing all too well what had happened.

She scrambled for the light, clicking it once, twice. It flickered three more before revealing her face. Revealing what she’d already known to be true.

She was smiling in the mirror, although her face wasn’t. No, she felt her lips tight, drawn in disgust, but she looked at glee. It was a betrayal, this she knew, but who she felt betrayed by most, she couldn’t say.

She moved to clean the mirror, worried to get too close but even more terrified by the face. Her face. The smile.

She rubbed her pajama shirt against the mirror pane. Once, twice. She still smiled back, with no change. If anything, more pleasure. It was unbearable.

The anger and fear were too much, building in her like a seething kettle.

She lashed out at the mirror, her unsuspecting victim. Her fist contacted the mirror; once, twice.

Blood now stained the mirror, as did several cracks spidering out. But her face was still looking out from behind the shatter. Ever smiling.

She screamed now. Frantic and horrible. What more could be done?

There was one unshakable truth.

The demons had taken her face and they wouldn’t return it.

Unless.

She knew what she had to do.

Once, twice.