It's was supposed to be a fun day.
Ahaan's school had a weekend fair — games, food, lights, music, laughter. For once, no shadows. No monsters. No creepy voices calling his name.
Just joy.
Until he saw the photo booth.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the school.
No banner. No lights.
Just an old black-and-white booth with rusted corners and a faded sign:
"4 Photos. 4 Seconds. One Truth."
He felt something in his chest.
A pull.
"Don't go in there," said a small voice behind him.
It was a girl from class 6. Shy. Quiet. Always alone.
She whispered, "My cousin went in. Never smiled again."
Ahaan asked, "What did he see?"
She didn't answer.
She just walked away, fast.
But Ahaan?
He couldn't resist.
The booth felt... alive.
The curtain fluttered like it was breathing.
He stepped inside.
It was dark. Cold. Dusty.
There was a seat. A cracked mirror. And a red button.
He sat.
The mirror didn't show his reflection.
It showed smoke.
He took a deep breath and pressed the button.
FLASH.
A bright light.
First photo printed.
He grabbed it.
His heart skipped a beat.
It was a picture of him, yes… but not now.
He was older.
Sitting alone in a hospital room.
Hooked to machines.
Tears in his eyes.
Dying.
He blinked. "What the...?"
Then—
FLASH.
Second photo.
This time, he was standing in a forest.
Back turned.
Something huge and shadowy behind him.
Long arms. Empty eyes.
Its hand was about to touch his shoulder.
He wanted to leave.
He really wanted to leave.
But the booth was locked.
He pulled the curtain.
Wouldn't open.
FLASH.
Third photo.
Now he was sitting in his room.
Candle lit.
But something was behind him in the dark.
Something with a twisted smile.
The photo made his skin crawl.
It wasn't a spirit he'd seen before.
But it looked… like it knew him.
He banged on the walls.
"Let me out!"
No sound outside.
Then—
FLASH.
Final photo.
Ahaan didn't want to look.
But he did.
And what he saw…
Wasn't him.
It was a boy.
Same age. Same face.
But his eyes were gone.
Just two black holes where his eyes should be.
The caption at the bottom?
"THIS IS WHO YOU'LL BECOME… IF YOU STAY TOO CURIOUS."
The booth finally unlocked.
He stumbled out, holding the four photos.
Breathing hard.
The fair sounded far away now.
Muffled. Like underwater.
Everything around him was slightly blurred.
Like the world had changed just a little.
He looked at the first photo again.
The hospital one.
Something had changed.
The calendar in the background now had today's date circled in red.
The photo had updated itself.
The second photo — the shadow in the forest — now had footprints leading toward him.
The third one — the candlelit room — showed his own door slightly open.
The fourth?
The boy without eyes was now smiling.
And his teeth were made of tiny watches.
All ticking.
All counting down.
The book in his bag buzzed.
He pulled it out.
CASE TEN:
"The Photo Booth of Death"
Some cameras steal your soul.
Some take your time.
But this one?
It shows what you fear most.
And sometimes… it makes it real.
Ahaan turned around.
The booth was gone.
Vanished.
As if it had never been there.
Later that night, Ahaan sat in his room.
Candle burning low.
He taped the four photos to the wall — not because he liked them, but because he wanted to watch them.
Make sure they didn't change again.
He tried to sleep.
But something was scratching at the window.
Soft. Slow. Careful.
Like nails on glass.
He pulled the curtain.
No one was there.
Except...
His fourth photo was now missing from the wall.
On his pillow…
A new photo.
Freshly printed.
It was of him.
Right now.
Lying in bed.
Behind him, a figure stood in the shadows.
Long fingers stretched forward.
Eyes like deep, endless holes.
And below it, words were written in black ink:
"Smile. You're next."
Then.....