Nothing was happening in the town. Liberty Street was empty and Mrs Hania's grocery shop closed at the same time every day. Lena and Kuba knew every nook and cranny here - until one day, when a huge dome of polished mirrors was erected on the market square, so shiny that it even reflected the clouds passing in the sky. On a colourful poster, someone had painted circus performers with bizarrely elongated shadows. The caption proclaimed: "CIRCUS OF MIRRORS - SHOWS LIKE NEVER BEFORE! THIS NIGHT ONLY!" - Do you know what that means? - Lena leaned over to Cuba, staring at the lights twinkling under the dome. - This is the only chance. We have to go in there. The parents only agreed because the show would end before midnight and the whole class would get free tickets. Everyone was making up ideas about what performances at the Circus of Mirrors would be like - some talked about tight-rope walkers walking through the lights, others about magicians who can clone their reflections. Lena and Kuba were the first to appear under the black curtain of the entrance. It was stuffy inside, the smell of candyfloss and dust permeating them. The lights reflected in a thousand mirrors, cluttering the image of the stage. They sat at the front, on red and gold striped cushions. Everyone whispered, and the lights switched off suddenly, as if someone had cut the cable. A stocky man in a shimmering silver tailcoat stepped out into the arena. He had long black hair braided, and when he smiled, the light reflected off his teeth so strongly that Lena had to squint. - 'I welcome you under the dome of mirrors,' he said in a voice that was low but attracted attention like a magnet. - Today you will learn how thin the line is between what we see and what really exists.... The show began. A flexible acrobat flitted gracefully between suspended mirrors that transformed every now and then into a kaleidoscope of colours, while a juggler bounced glowing balls that disappeared into the air without a trace after a while. There were also clowns who seemed to enter their own reflections and disappear for a few seconds - then they returned, but a little different. Kuba poked Lena. - Have you noticed? Those mirrors... There's something there, behind them. - Lena took a closer look. In one of the mirrors something was indeed moving. They were not the reflections of spectators or circus performers. Shadows flashed, as if there was someone walking on the other side, although they had no real body. The show went on and the lights steadily dimmed and flared. At one point, a glance at the row of mirrors on the left made Lena hold her breath. There she saw not only herself and Kuba, but also someone else - a figure in a long coat who was looking straight at her. Lena turned around, but it was empty behind them. The voice of the showrunner rang out from the speakers: - 'The last number tonight is going through the mirror. The mirror stood in the middle of the arena. A man in a silver tailcoat pointed to it with a theatrical movement. - Does anyone in the audience dare to try it? Lena felt Cuba squeeze her hand - they both knew that no one from the audience would come forward. But then the light fell directly on them. - How about you guys? The whole arena turned its gaze to Lena and Kuba. The mirror shone uneasily and the shadow of a hand slowly stretched out from behind the sheet of glass, inviting...