Mirror, Mirror

[Orson Hobday]

for the october writing challenge

Orson didn't care for fancy parties or events meant to draw large crowds such as this one, but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to see a ship that sounded as grand as the Jubilation. Following the incident with the bowtruckle, Orson had needed to get away from his all. He'd gone travelling on impulse and went on to develop a bit of wanderlust until his heart began to ache for the familiarity of England again. He'd brought back more trinkets than he knew what to do with, all of which were currently stuffed into the nooks and crannies of his flat. On board Jubilation, he was hoping to win a prize from the scavenger hunt and add something new to his collection. 

He was wandering around the first class quarters looking for one of the items on the list he'd been given. The entire ship had been done up to show it off at the height of its glory to entice potential passengers. Orson was less concerned with all that finery and more with what he was on the lookout for. On his hunt, he popped into one of the open rooms, hoping to find something that would advance his quest. Compared the others down this corridor, the room was fairly plain, bare but for a bed and a mirror on the wall. 

Orson was getting ready to move on when he saw a brief flash of something in the mirror. He thought he was imagining things at first, but after looking at it for a while he could swear he saw a shadowy figure standing right behind him. Already unnerved, Orson whirled around quickly, ready to confront the interloper. 

There was no one there. 

A cold, unpleasant sensation crept up his spine as he peeked out into the hallway. The only person around was many doors down and unless they'd been running back and forth like a lunatic, it couldn't have been them. 

"Y-you there," he called. "Could I-I trouble you f-f-for a moment?" He needed to know that he wasn't losing his mind.

  

[Charlotte Lucas]

Charlotte wasn’t entirely sure why she was here, her boss was here, which was apparently reason enough, but she couldn’t think why on earth she would be required to stand around and make herself look busy at what was turning out to be a very boring party –at least for her. She herself would never be able to afford a cabin in the first class quarters of any ship never mind on this ship. She wasn’t partaking much in the festivities, instead she was popping into and out of rooms looking for somewhere quiet to sit, preferably with a clock so she could watch the time tick away until she could go home.

She stuck her head into one the cabins, only to find it already occupied by a young man who looked rather confused and indeed a little bit frightened. He requested some assistance and Lottie met his eyes, noting how serious his concern was. ’Oh, certainly sure, is everything alright?’ she asked, his voice had trembled and she rather feared that he was ill, or in some way that she would not be able to assist.