Chapter Two: The Reflection Moves First

The first anomaly of September 36 occurred at 6:12 a.m. As Lin Mo washed his hands, his reflection turned off the faucet first. Water continued to run in reality for half a second. In the mirror, Su Mi had already entered the doorway and unfolded Chen's paper boat. The real Su had not yet taken that step. “Don't look into mirrors,” Lin said. She retreated. Her reflection did not. It turned and pointed to the wall behind him, where a small vermilion door existed only in glass. The old manuscript offered a new warning: *The mirror moves before the man. Let not the shadow turn around.* By eight, restrained panic gripped Linchuan. A cook saw his reflected hand burn before the oil splashed and injured himself trying to evade it.