Aarav didn't go to school that day.
He couldn't.
Something was wrong.
Not just around him.
Inside him.
The house felt normal again.
Too normal.
His mother spoke like always.
The TV played in the background.
Distant traffic hummed outside.
But Aarav couldn't shake the feeling—
That something was watching him.
Not from outside.
From within his own life.
He sat on the edge of his bed.
Phone in his hand.
That message still open.
"It noticed you too."
"What does that even mean…" he whispered.
His voice sounded weak.
Uncertain.
For the first time—
He felt something worse than fear.
He felt… targeted.
A sudden thought hit him.
The mirror.
Slowly, he looked toward it.
It stood across the room.
Silent.
Still.
Waiting.
Aarav hesitated.
Then stood up.
Step by step…
He walked closer.
His heartbeat grew louder.
Each step heavier than the last.
Finally—
He stood in front of it.
And looked.
His reflection stared back.
Normal.
But his eyes…
They looked tired.
Dark.
Almost hollow.
Aarav leaned closer.
"…What are you?" he whispered.
The reflection didn't answer.
Of course it didn't.
He let out a shaky breath.
"Yeah… I'm losing it."
He turned away.
—
The reflection didn't.
Aarav froze.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned his head back.
The mirror.
His reflection—
Was still looking forward.
At him.
Smiling.
Aarav stumbled back.
"No… no, no—"
The reflection's lips moved.
But Aarav didn't speak.
"…found you."
The voice didn't come from the room.
It came from the mirror.
From him.
His chest tightened violently.
"You're not real," Aarav said, his voice shaking.
The reflection tilted its head.
Mocking.
"Then why are you scared?" it replied.
Same voice.
Same tone.
But empty.
Wrong.
Aarav backed away further.
"What do you want?"
The reflection smiled wider.
"I want what you have."
A pause.
"Your place."
The room temperature dropped.
Aarav's breath became visible.
Cold.
Unnatural.
The reflection placed its hand on the mirror.
From the inside.
Aarav stared in horror.
The glass…
Rippled.
Like water.
"No…" Aarav whispered.
The reflection leaned closer.
"Rule 3," it said softly.
Aarav's eyes widened.
"I haven't even seen that rule yet…"
The reflection chuckled.
"I know all the rules."
Its fingers pressed harder.
The surface of the mirror began to bulge outward.
Like something was pushing through.
"Rule 3…" it repeated.
"If you see yourself…"
Its hand started emerging.
Breaking through.
"…don't blink."
Aarav's eyes widened.
His vision burned.
His instincts screamed.
Blink.
Blink now.
But he didn't.
He couldn't.
Because now—
The thing in the mirror—
Was stepping out.
Slowly.
Its face identical to his.
Its smile wider.
Its eyes—
Glowing faintly.
"You're doing good," it said.
"Most people blink by now."
Aarav's eyes watered.
Pain built up.
Sharp.
Unbearable.
His vision trembled.
"I can't—" he whispered.
"Then blink," it said softly.
"Let me help you."
It stepped closer.
Now fully out of the mirror.
Standing in his room.
Wearing his face.
"Just one blink," it whispered.
Aarav's vision blurred.
Tears rolled down.
His control slipping.
His body shaking.
"I… can't…"
The thing leaned closer.
Right in front of him.
Close enough to touch.
To replace.
"To be you… I just need a moment."
Aarav's eyes—
Closed.
For a split second.
Silence.
When they opened again—
The room was normal.
Empty.
The mirror.
Still.
No one there.
Aarav gasped.
Collapsed to his knees.
"…It's gone…"
Relief flooded him.
Too quickly.
Too easily.
Then—
From behind him—
A voice.
His voice.
"Yeah…"
A pause.
Soft laughter.
"…I'm free now."
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 3