Familiar Strangers

By Derek James Blan

Mirror man, mirror man Persuthen

If you don't love me, who then?

Mirror man, mirror man Persuthen

Prove your love for me before the night ends.

Turn off the lights and with this simple chant in the mirror, the Persuthen will come for you. It will come to prove its love for you and it won't stop until it does. The chant and the mirror will bring you darkness, it'll bring your fate, it will bring the Persuthen...

Marvin Barchester, a new age detective, and Adaline Rivertone, a rebellious young lady, along with others, find that the simple chant is real. And not only does the mirror man come, but it deviously shows up as someone you love or know.

The chant, unknowingly brings their own doom, by the hands of someone very familiar to them. They learn fast that it's not easy to tell who is actually who, while running into the arms of the creature, the Persuthen they created.

Find out in this fast-acting thriller what happens when you play with, or try to create out-of-this-world entities, or when a fad or a simple challenge – a mirror man challenge – can actually bring your demise. Let the Persuthen prove his love for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781649795199

Derek James Blan

Born in Clayton, New Mexico, Derek James Blan left home where his travels took him to Hawaii, California, and then further from there. Blan spent six years in Texas, where he honed his writing skills and published his first book, Jersey Darm in 2016. Blan then published his second book, Circadian, four years later.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Dot, short for Dottie, smiles a very pretty smile. She spins around in her pink room, in her blue dress and blue shoes; stares in the standup mirror, admiring her look on this late afternoon. She’s a young lady about to be eighteen, and can’t wait. It’s going to be a new day in her life. She falls on her bright yellow comforter, that covers her bed. She has the phone up to her ear. Dot is in stitches, and swears she’s found her one true love. Her true love, Marvin Barchester.

The way he’s talking to her is something she never thought possible. From the first time she’s seen him, her only wish was to be here in this moment falling faster and faster in love. She lays in a day dream, happy, so happy she almost can’t stand it. The calmness in his voice and confidence in the promise’s he’s making.

Dot has no doubt in him. No reason to not believe his every word. And I promise, I’ll be true to you. Marvin’s voice repeats once again, over the phone.

She smiles and replies, Where did you want me to meet you? It can’t be too far; remember I’ll be on a bicycle.

Marvin on the other end of the phone replies, It’s not far, and we’ll get the chance to be alone. The simple comment has Dot’s cheeks red. He continues on after a slight pause. Do you remember the first time we met?

Yes, Dot replies and continues, You ran into me on fourth street. Which I still think you did on purpose by the way.

I’ll never admit it, if I did. The comment, laugh and tone of his voice totally gives her more belief that he did it on purpose. He did it just to talk to her, she knows it. Deep down she’s the happiest that he did run into her on that day. Because it’s from there that their relationship has been blossoming.

Marvin laughs nervously, Well, from that exact corner, you go down fourth street, it’s a little further up the block. There’s a worn path that leads off into the woods. It goes back a little ways and then leads into a small rut. That’s where I’ll be.

Dot sits up, trying to think. So it’s a little dirt path that cuts through the woods? I think, I think I know where you’re talking about? What time?

A little later, say a few hours, around 8 o’clock.

Okay, is your sister going to be there?

No. Why? Dot rolls her eyes a little embarrassed that she asked. She even physically rolls over on the bed. Then replies to him, Well, I was just making sure, Lydia’s not going to be there. She’s not my biggest fan.

Marvin laughs out loud, then replies, She’s just super protective of me. So I know how you feel. Marvin goes silent. Then with a hint of concern says, Actually my sister hasn’t come home yet. My mom is really worried about her.

Well I know she really doesn’t like me. Like at all.

Why do you think that? Is it because she told you that story? The story of the Persuthen? Marvin makes a ghost sound over the phone, and continues, You know she’s just messing with you, trying to scare you away from me. I assume.

Dot rolls her eyes and takes a deep breath, Well she’s very convincing. Especially the back story with your grandma and all.

I don’t know where that story came from, but it’s not my grandma. That woman was from eighteen hundred-something. I don’t believe a word of it. Deep down Marvin wants to be on her side and calm her, but she’s not buying it. Dot thinks for a second then replies, I’m just saying, it’s scary. Have you ever tried it?

What, the chant? The chant to summon…the Persuthen?

Yeah. Your sister said to look in the mirror and say the chant with the light—

I know how to do it. She gets cut off by Marvin. It’s obvious that the subject makes him uncomfortable.

After a second of silence Dot asks, So you have done it?

No. Because I don’t believe that stuff. Marvin answers with a small pause. They both sit in silence, Marvin curiously asks, You don’t believe in that stuff, do you?

Well I kno— Dot gets cut off by a voice in the back ground of the call. It’s Marvin’s mother.

Dot can’t make out much, but she can tell they’re arguing; she makes out the words of what’s said, Who are you talking to?

Dottie.

You’re meeting her tonight?

Yes, have you been listening to our entire conversation? Mom, really? Marvin pipes off while Dot waits for him to give her all of his attention again, but his next words conclude that, that’s not going to happen. Especially after he says, I got to go. I’ll see you tonight?

Wouldn’t miss it for the world. Dot squeezes the dreamy words in, but the phone clicks and hangs up on the other end. Dot puts the phone down and the cord attached to the receiver pulls the phone back to the base, like a bungy cord across the bed. She just lies there. You can see love in her eyes, as she daydreams for a minute. She stares at her ceiling. Then a small after thought, I need to get ready for our date.

Dot runs out of her pink bright room out into the dark hallway. She makes a quick left turn, right into the upstairs bathroom. She closes the door behind her, and flicks on the light switch. With a small turn and a huge smile spread across her face she does a little spin in the mirror.

She stops and stares at her reflection. Her smile slowly drops. Dot remembers what Marvin’s sister told her. She stares, then swallows hard. She shakes her head, and goes to the toilet.

She sits down and does her business. The Persuthen. I bet Lydia made the whole thing up. I’m sure she told me that junk just to scare me away from Marvin.

She flushes the toilet, and goes to the sink, turns it on. But once again her reflection has her complete attention, staring her straight in the face.

I’ll show her, throw it back in her face. Dot a little hesitant puts her hand on the light switch. She pauses, then click. The light’s off. The dim light from under the door is the only thing that invades the darkness. She looks in the mirror and begins to say the very chant, Marvin’s sister told her to say.

"Mirror man, Mirror man, Persuthen.

If you don’t love me, who then.

Mirror man, Mirror man, Persuthe—"

Dot gets cut off. Her mother yells from downstairs. The yell cuts off her chain of thought and changes the mood entirely. She quickly flicks the lights back on.

The mood gets distorted, as her mother yells for her yet again, Dottie! Get down here! Dot runs out of the bathroom and down the stairs. Where were you girl? Is all you hear from the distance and down the stairwell.

It was Marvin. He called me. Only faded words can be heard in the distance, after she ran out of the bathroom. Leaving the mirror far behind.

A tall man stands in the doorway of an open refrigerator looking at the food. He’s covered with dirt, all over his coverall-jeans. He’s a working man, and it’s clearly obvious in his mannerisms, all the way down to his dirty finger nails. They’re filthy and you can see this first hand as he reaches into the fridge for a stack of grapes.

In the middle of his grasp the only thing he can hear faintly is Dot say, …Marvin. He called me. He grabs the grapes and stands up right in front of the refrigerator door. Dot’s mother comes around the corner to the kitchen. She’s followed by Dot right behind her.

Dot’s dad turns around and lets the refrigerator door slam shut. He stands looking them over as they come in. He takes a grape out of his hand while asking, Who’s Marvin? He looks straight at Dot. She instantly cowers down to him.

Her mother tries to step in, It’s just some boy.

I didn’t ask you. He puts a grape in his mouth after snaping at her and continues, I was talking to Dottie. Now…who is Marvin? He waits for a reply.

Dot not looking up at all, just down. She tries to reply with, He’s just a friend. He walks over and puts his handful of grapes down on the table.

He walks up to Dot. By the reaction of her mother, it’s clear he can over-react. He gets right in front of Dot and puts his hand under her chin and picks her head up. With complete eye contact says, Just a friend?

Dot closes her eyes, and tries to reply, Yes. He’s just a friend.

Her dad watches her every move while he has her in his hands. He stops and smiles, then says, Just a friend. You see, no big deal. He rubs Dot’s cheek with his hand, then grabs his grapes off the table. He walks past Dot, out of the kitchen and into the den.

Dot relaxes a little, looks at her mom. Then from the distance another loud anger filled reply. "Why don’t you invite your friend over sometime? I would really like to meet him."

Yes sir. I’m sure he would like that. Her mom almost can’t look at her daughter out of empathy. She walks up and grabs Dot and gives her a hug. It’s okay. Will you take out the trash for me? You can see in her eyes; she’s only asking to get her out of the house and away from the monster in the den.

Dot attempts to smile at her mom and shakes her head ‘yes.’ She walks away and grabs the trash from the can and makes her way out. She gets to the back door, but is stopped by her father’s voice once again. Dot, once you’re done with that, get back in here and get to work on your homework. You’re in for the night.

***

Dottie sits on her bed with her finished homework rolled up in her hands. It’s dark outside and she keeps looking at the clock. She knows she can’t miss meeting up with Marvin. But the thought of simply going downstairs, and to come into contact with her father again; she doesn’t want to do it, she refuses.

She has no love for him, no love at all. He wears a conflicting vibe around his neck at all times and it seems to have gotten worse as she’s gotten older. Dot stares at her home work in her hand, wondering and thinking of a way out of this house.

A way out without him knowing. She looks to the clock and it’s that time, that time to leave. She stands up and throws her homework on the bed, then walks over to the bed room’s window.

She throws the curtains aside. She does this as if she hasn’t done it before, a hundred times. She’s hoping to see any form of escape, any form of exit. But sadly once the curtains are out of view, all she can see are bars on the other side of the glass.

She needs to go. She paces for a second, then heads for her bedroom door. She puts her hand on the handle and with a deep breath, opens it.

She slowly puts one foot in front of the other heading out into the dark hallway. She closes her door behind her, and the light and warmth of her pink room gets taken away.

The hallway she stands in is dark and the temperature even seems to drop. She walks to the stairs at the end of the hall, takes a few steps down them and it seems like the stairs get longer and darker as she stands.

Dot looks back toward her room, and over the few stairs she’s managed to walk down. She stands still for what seems like forever. Then a creak from the downstairs den gets her attention.

It was the smallest creek, but it seemed like the loudest thing she’s ever heard. Dot has a small panic attack. She backs up the stairs slowly, then backs down the dark hallway, into the door frame of the upstairs bathroom. She stands in complete silence. Then a slight whisper gets her attention she looks around, while listening to these distant whispers.

She has a panic come over her, and with all her might to be as quiet as possible. She sinks deeper into the restroom and closes the door with precision. Dot latches the door and stands in the dark.

She listens and it’s as if the whispers have stopped all together. Silence. Maybe she was just imagining the entire thing. She takes a deep breath in the pitch-black bathroom. Dot waits, but can only hear silence. But there’s one thing that gets her attention as she stands in the darkness. It’s her own reflection.

She stops and looks at herself waiting for the feeling of being alone to arise again. The fears very well could be her own imagination playing tricks on her, simply by her doing something she knows she was told not to.

Dot leans on the sink in silence. She waits and looks at her dark distorted reflection in the mirror. She thinks of Marvin, she really needs to leave. She decides to wait a minute longer, till nothing but silence fills the place.

Dot knows; she’s not alone. Her reflection stands with her. She smiles with a small amount of built-up courage.

She remembers the conversation from earlier and her stomach drops. Dot looks in the mirror smiles, and says, "Mirror man, Mirror man, Persuthen.

If you don’t love me, who then.

Mirror man, Mirror man, Persuthen.

Prove your love for me before the night ends."

With eagerness, she waits for anything to happen. Anything at all. She keeps her eyes on her reflection. She looks around the bathroom and with a small sigh, What a bitch. She gathers herself confidence then puts her hand on the bathroom door and cracks it open.

There’s nothing in the hall, nothing at all, just darkness. Dot takes a deep breath and makes her way back to the stairwell. Now with her dad back on her mind she feels her nerves come back up.

She’s nervous and it shows. She fights herself to go down the staircase. She’s too scared to go any further, but she doesn’t want to go back up to her room.

She’s hearing things that aren’t there. Dot stops. Swears she just heard her dad’s chair squeak. It squeaked like it does when he gets up and out of it. She leans up against the wall in the stairwell, trying her best to become invisible.

She waits for a minute, but nothing. She steps down and looks around the corner and out over the dark den.

She looks over the den, no dad. No one at all. The lamp shines over his empty recliner. The television plays aloud leaving a yellow glow on the walls of the den. Dot looks down and begs her feet to get moving. She sees her opening now and she desperately needs to take it.

She moves toward the front door to the house. She opens the door as if someone was watching her. She slowly creaks the door open as her brain screams, Get out! Go! Go. She opens the screen door and lets herself out of the house.

She slowly and quietly turns the knob and closes the door behind her. How Dot’s acting you would think it was the middle of the night, or 3 A.M. The sun is gone, but the new night is still crisp.

She turns and grabs her bicycle that leans up against the house. She pushes her bike and walks out to the street. So you think you can come and go as you please? The deep voice stops Dot in her tracks.

Dot looks down, then back at her father. He stands on the side of the house with a smoke between his fingers, wearing the same dirty cover-alls. He has a bottle in the other hand and after taking a sip he says, So? Where the hell do you think you’re running off to?

Mom told me to run off to the store real quick before they closed the doors. Dot replies quickly then looks down and starts to walk away. She knows she’s going to get it when she gets back, but she already got caught so might as well try and get away with it.

He takes a drink and laughs a little, Did she now? Dot continues to walk away, but she’s stopped by him walking over to her. He walks up and around her, stops and stands in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. He puts his hand on the bike then says, That’s funny. Because your mom ain’t here right now. Dot looks up at him with fear in her eyes. He gets down to her level and makes eye contact. Tell me where the hell you’re really going?

She thinks hard and fast, but nothing comes to mind. He lets go of the bike and stands back up, tall. He takes another drink, finishing the bottle. He throws the empty bottle in the yard, then flicks away the butt of his cigarette.

He stares at her then says, Well! It’s late and I think you need to get your ass back inside. He points his dirty hands toward the house. Dot looks to the entrance of the house and it’s dark and uncomforting. She looks back up to her dad and tries her best to stand strong.

Didn’t you hear me girl? Get your ass back in the house! He grabs the handle bars of the bike, spins it around and throws it with all his might. The bicycle flies and hits the garage door with an enormous bang and a crash, finishing with the bike hitting the ground.

He stares at it, then turns back to Dot. She stands frozen. He points to the house, Get inside. She looks at him while backing up, and then with no more hesitation, she runs away.

He swings to grab her, but misses only grasping a few strands of hair. Dot sprints as fast as she can, down the street away from the monster behind her.

***

Dottie shivers while she walks down the low-lit block toward the woods. The woods that sit off to the right of this walk way. She heads toward the street corner where Marvin and her first met.

She can’t believe her father acted that way toward her. She honestly thought