Now Ahaan didn't know how long he had been running.
His legs were weak.
His breath was short.
But he couldn't stop.
Not after what he had seen in the mirror.
Not after the thing that wore his smile mouthed the words:
"You're almost gone."
He reached the edge of the forest.
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Even the trees seemed frozen, like they were scared to move.
The wind whispered like voices behind leaves:
"He's waiting…"
Ahaan stepped in, heart pounding.
Every shadow looked like a person.
Every branch sounded like bones cracking.
After walking for what felt like hours, he found something.
A small abandoned house deep in the woods.
It was broken and rotten.
But the door was open.
And inside… it was too dark.
Like the shadows were alive.
Still, he stepped in.
Because something was pulling him there.
Or maybe…
something inside him already knew the way.
The moment Ahaan entered, the door slammed shut behind him.
Total darkness.
Then—
A light flickered on.
Ahaan's eyes widened.
There was another him sitting on a chair across the room.
Same face.
Same clothes.
But his eyes were pure black.
Skin pale.
Smiling too wide.
Like a broken doll.
"Who… are you?" Ahaan asked, his voice shaking.
The Other Ahaan tilted his head and laughed softly.
"I'm the part of you you tried to forget.
The part you locked away when you got scared of the dark."
He stood up and walked closer.
Ahaan stepped back.
"You're not real. I'm real."
The Other Ahaan leaned forward.
"Then why do you keep forgetting?
Why do people say they see me and not you?
Why do I remember things… that you don't?"
Ahaan's heart raced. He felt dizzy.
Was it true?
Was he losing his own identity?
The room started to spin.
Walls melted like wax.
The floor was made of eyes, blinking slowly.
The ceiling was covered in mouths, whispering:
"He's already inside…"
"You were just a shell…"
"He wants to keep your face…"
Ahaan dropped to his knees.
He screamed, holding his head.
Then the Other Ahaan whispered:
"You called him with your curiosity.
Now he's giving you what you wanted.
The truth. The horror. The legend."
Suddenly, the walls began to bleed.
Real blood.
Dripping fast. Pooling around Ahaan's feet.
The room filled with screams — his own voice, but twisted.
Crying.
Begging.
Laughing.
Then everything stopped.
Dead silence.
And the Other Ahaan was right in front of him now.
He leaned in close and said:
"You don't have to fight anymore.
Just let go.
Let me drive.
You rest."
Ahaan's hands moved without him controlling them.
He tried to stop, but his fingers reached toward the journal that suddenly appeared in front of him — floating, glowing red.
It flipped open.
The page was black with white ink:
CASE THIRTY-NINE: The Other Ahaan
"When you stare into the void,
it smiles back with your face.
Ahaan is not one.
Ahaan is two.
And only one will survive."
He looked up.
The Other Ahaan opened his arms like he was welcoming him.
"Come now.
You've always wanted to feel powerful.
I can show you fear that makes gods tremble."
Ahaan's feet moved closer.
His mind was spinning.
His thoughts felt like someone else was writing them.
Then…
He heard a whisper.
Not from the Other Ahaan.
From deep inside.
A small voice.
His real voice.
"This is not me.
I am Ahaan.
I am still here."
He screamed and fell to the ground.
The shadows pulled at him.
The Other Ahaan's eyes widened in anger.
"You won't win!
I'm stronger now!"
Ahaan grabbed the journal and held it tight.
The blood ink on the page turned gold.
The house shook.
The Other Ahaan screamed in rage as light burst from the journal, pushing him back into the shadows.
The bleeding walls stopped.
The mouths on the ceiling went silent.
The eyes on the floor closed.
Then—
Darkness.
Silence.
Ahaan woke up on the forest floor, alone.
Breathing hard.
Holding the journal.
His hands were shaking, but he was still him.
For now.
The last page of the journal glowed and a new line appeared:
"The battle for Ahaan has begun.
And the Sleeper is watching.
One soul.
Two minds.
Only one door remains."
and then.....