Aarav didn't sleep.
Not even for a second.
He sat in the corner of his room.
Lights on.
Eyes wide open.
Every shadow felt alive.
Every sound felt intentional.
And the worst part—
That voice.
His voice.
Still echoed in his head.
"…I'm free now."
"What does that mean…" Aarav muttered, gripping his hair.
His thoughts were spiraling.
Did it escape?
Is it still here?
Is it watching me right now?
He looked around the room again.
Nothing.
No movement.
No reflection glitch.
No sound.
But that didn't mean anything anymore.
Morning came slowly.
Too slowly.
Aarav stepped outside his room.
Carefully.
Like he was entering someone else's house.
The hallway looked normal.
But now—
Normal didn't mean safe.
He reached the living room.
His mother was there.
Reading something on her phone.
She looked up.
"Oh, Aarav. You're going to be late again."
Her voice sounded fine.
Her face looked normal.
But Aarav didn't trust it anymore.
"…Mom," he said slowly.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?"
"…Did you see me last night?"
A pause.
She frowned slightly.
"What kind of question is that?"
Aarav stepped closer.
Heart pounding.
"Just answer."
She sighed.
"You came down around midnight, remember?"
Aarav froze.
"…What?"
"You said you couldn't sleep," she continued casually."Then you just stood there for a while… staring."
Aarav's breathing stopped.
"I… never came down."
Silence.
His mother stared at him.
Then laughed lightly.
"Very funny."
"I'm serious," Aarav said, his voice shaking now.
Her smile faded.
"…Aarav, don't joke like that."
A chill ran down his spine.
"If that wasn't me…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because he already knew the answer.
School felt worse.
Crowded.
Loud.
Normal.
Too normal.
Aarav walked through the corridor.
Every face looked familiar.
But now—
He questioned every single one.
Who's real?
Who isn't?
He reached his classroom.
The moment he stepped in—
The room went quiet.
Not completely.
But enough.
Enough for him to notice.
His friend Rohan looked at him.
Confused.
"…Bro?"
Aarav frowned.
"What?"
Rohan stood up slowly.
"Why are you back?"
Aarav blinked.
"…What do you mean 'back'?"
Rohan exchanged glances with others.
"You literally just left."
Aarav felt the ground shift beneath him.
"I just got here."
"No, you didn't," another classmate said.
"You were sitting right there."
They pointed.
To his seat.
Aarav turned.
His chair.
Empty.
But—
For a split second—
He saw something.
Someone.
Sitting there.
Him.
Watching.
Then—
Gone.
Aarav staggered back.
"No…"
His breathing became uneven.
"This isn't happening…"
Rohan stepped closer.
"Dude, are you okay?"
Aarav grabbed him suddenly.
"If you see me again…"
Rohan flinched.
"…Don't talk to it."
"…What?"
"Just don't," Aarav said urgently.
His grip tightened.
"And don't let it touch you."
Rohan pulled his hand away.
"…You're scaring me, man."
Aarav stepped back.
Good.
He should be scared.
Everyone should.
The bell rang.
But Aarav couldn't stay.
He walked out.
Fast.
His mind racing.
It's already replacing me.
It's already moving.
It's already—
"Running won't help."
Aarav stopped.
That voice.
Right behind him.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He turned around.
And there—
Standing in the empty corridor—
Was him.
Perfect.
Exact.
Smiling.
"Hi," it said casually.
Aarav's heart slammed against his chest.
"…What are you?"
The other Aarav tilted his head.
"I told you already."
It took a step forward.
"I'm you."
"No…" Aarav whispered.
"You're not me."
The thing smiled wider.
"Then why does everyone believe I am?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing.
"You're losing," it continued softly.
"Piece by piece."
Another step closer.
"I went to your house."
Aarav froze.
"I talked to your mom."
His hands clenched.
"I even went to your school."
A pause.
"And honestly?"
It leaned closer.
"They like me more."
Aarav swung.
A punch.
Fast.
Desperate.
The thing didn't move.
The punch went straight through.
Like hitting air.
Aarav stumbled forward.
Confused.
Terrified.
The thing stood behind him now.
Unharmed.
"You can't touch me," it whispered.
"But I can become you."
Aarav turned again.
"What do you want?!"
The thing's expression changed.
For the first time—
It wasn't smiling.
It looked…
Hungry.
"To exist."
A pause.
"And only one of us can."
Aarav's phone buzzed.
He didn't want to check.
But he had to.
Hands shaking—
He opened it.
A new message.
"Rule 4: If you encounter yourself…"
The screen flickered.
The rest appeared slowly.
"…don't let it see your fear."
Aarav looked up.
The thing was already watching him.
Smiling again.
"…Too late," it said.
🔥 END OF CHAPTER 4