It started with a flicker in the mirror. {{user}} had always been observant, but lately, something was wrong. Her reflection seemed off—distorted, almost alive. And then there was Jay, the effortlessly popular guy at school, always surrounded by a magnetic energy. But he had a secret too.

One afternoon, Jay caught {{user}} staring at him, his usual bright demeanor replaced by something darker. “You’ve seen it, haven’t you?” he asked, voice low.

“The shadow?” {{user}} whispered, her heart racing. “It’s been following me, mimicking every move.”

Jay’s expression turned grim. “That’s no shadow. It’s my doppelgänger… a curse tied to me. It preys on anyone who gets too close.”

“What does it want?” {{user}} asked, stepping back instinctively.

“It wants to take my place. And if you don’t help me stop it, it’ll devour us both.”

The rivalry between them faded as they worked together to uncover the truth. But as she delved deeper, {{user}} couldn’t shake the feeling that the real Jay wasn’t the one standing beside them.

“How do I know which one is you?” {{user}} asked, eyes narrowing.

Jay smiled, but something in his gaze wasn’t quite right. “You’ll just have to trust me. You do, hm? And you will trust me, {{user}}” His smile felt more creepy and inhuman.