Lying in my boyfriend’s bed, I heard a voice behind the mirror calling my name. My coworker Mark had been courting me for a while. He was incredibly attentive, and I felt like I’d finally found true love. One day, Mark invited me over. We spent some time in bed, and then he went out to get us food. I was still in bed, scrolling through my phone, when I suddenly heard my name, “Melissa,” coming from behind the mirror. A woman’s voice kept shouting my name desperately.

Terrified, I ran to the mirror and said, “Who’s there? Where are you?”

The next words knocked me off my feet: “Melissa, my name is Emma, I’m Mark’s wife. This mirror is a two-way mirror. I’ve been trapped here for months!”

My heart raced, and I could feel the blood drain from my face. “W-what do you mean, trapped?” I stammered.

Emma’s voice quivered, “Mark locked me in this hidden room behind the mirror. He’s been keeping me here against my will. Please, you have to help me!”

Panic surged through me as I tried to comprehend what Emma was saying. “Why would he do that? How can I help you?”

“There’s a latch at the bottom of the mirror,” Emma explained quickly. “You need to lift it and push the mirror to the side. Please, hurry before he comes back!”

With trembling hands, I knelt down and searched for the latch. It was well-hidden, but I finally felt it and lifted it. The mirror swung open, revealing a small, dimly lit room. Inside, Emma looked pale and frail, her eyes wide with desperation.

“Oh my God, Emma,” I whispered, helping her out. “What has he done to you?”

Emma clung to me, her voice shaky. “He’s dangerous, Melissa. He puts on this charming facade, but underneath it, he’s a monster. We need to get out of here now.”

I nodded, my mind racing. “We need to call the police.”

As we made our way to the door, I heard the front door of the apartment open. Mark was back. My heart pounded as we scrambled for a place to hide. We slipped into a closet just as Mark entered the room.

“Melissa?” he called out, his voice smooth and deceptively calm. “Where are you?”

I held my breath, praying he wouldn’t find us. Emma clung to me, her fear palpable. Mark moved around the room, and I could hear him getting closer.

Suddenly, his phone rang. “Hello?” he answered. “Yeah, I’ll be right down.”

He left the room, and I let out a sigh of relief. “We need to go now,” I whispered to Emma.

We slipped out of the closet and made our way to the front door. Just as we reached it, Mark reappeared, blocking our path. His face twisted in rage when he saw Emma.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he snarled, stepping towards us.

“Stay back, Mark!” I shouted, trying to sound braver than I felt. “The police are on their way!”

For a moment, he hesitated, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. Then, without warning, he lunged at us. Emma and I bolted out of the apartment, racing down the hallway and out into the street.

We didn’t stop running until we reached a nearby café. I frantically called the police and explained everything. Within minutes, officers arrived and took our statements. They assured us that Mark would be arrested and Emma would be safe.

As we sat there, trembling and exhausted, I looked at Emma. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes.

She shook her head, her own tears falling. “You saved me, Melissa. I don’t know how to thank you.”

In that moment, I realized how close I had come to falling into Mark’s trap. I had been blinded by his charm, but now I saw the truth. As the police led Mark away in handcuffs, I knew that I had narrowly escaped a nightmare.

Emma and I became friends after that ordeal, supporting each other as we healed from the trauma. And I vowed never to ignore the warning signs again, always trusting my instincts and staying vigilant against those who wear masks of deceit.