Episode 3: The Reflection Game

Aarav stepped back from the mirror, his breath heavy and uneven.

“This… this isn’t real…”

But the reflection didn’t match his fear.

It stood there.

Calm.

Smiling.

Watching him.

The room felt colder than before, like the air itself had turned against him.

His phone vibrated.

Aarav looked down with shaking hands.

Round 2: Reflection Game

Rules will be explained.

Aarav looked back at the mirror.

The reflection was now completely still.

No smile.

No movement.

Just staring.

“What do you want from me…?” he whispered.

The phone lit up again.

Rule 1: Do not look away from the mirror.

Aarav frowned.

“What?”

Rule 2: The reflection may not always be you.

Aarav’s heart dropped.

Rule 3: If you lose track… you lose control.

A pause.

Rule 4: Survive for 3 minutes.

Aarav swallowed.

“That’s it…?”

The final line appeared.

Game starts now.

A timer appeared.

02:59… 02:58… 02:57…

Aarav slowly turned back toward the mirror.

His reflection was normal again.

Copying him perfectly.

Same breathing.

Same fear.

“Okay… okay… I just have to stand here…”

02:40…

The silence grew heavier.

Every second felt longer.

His eyes started to strain.

But he didn’t blink.

Didn’t look away.

02:25…

Something felt wrong again.

Aarav noticed it slowly.

The reflection’s breathing…

was slightly off.

A fraction slower.

“No…”

02:10…

He leaned closer.

The reflection leaned too.

But not perfectly.

Just slightly delayed.

His heartbeat increased.

01:58…

“Focus…”

He whispered to himself.

“It’s just a trick…”

01:45…

The reflection suddenly stopped blinking.

Aarav blinked.

But the reflection didn’t.

It just stared.

Unmoving.

Unnatural.

Aarav’s throat went dry.

01:30…

“This is not normal…”

He tried to stay calm.

Tried to ignore it.

But he couldn’t.

01:20…

The reflection slowly tilted its head.

Aarav didn’t move.

“Don’t…”

His voice trembled.

“I didn’t do that…”

01:10…

The reflection smiled again.

Slowly.

Wider than before.

Too wide.

01:00…

Aarav stepped back.

But remembered the rule.

Do not look away.

He forced himself to keep staring.

His eyes were starting to burn.

00:50…

The reflection raised its hand.

Aarav didn’t.

“What…?”

His breath became unstable.

00:45…

The reflection touched the mirror from inside.

Its fingers pressed against the glass.

Aarav stepped back instinctively.

But didn’t look away.

“No… no…”

00:40…

A faint cracking sound appeared.

Not from the floor this time.

From the mirror.

00:35…

A thin crack spread across the surface.

Right where the reflection’s hand was.

00:30…

Aarav’s heart was pounding.

“This can’t happen…”

00:28…

The reflection pushed harder.

The crack grew deeper.

00:25…

The glass slightly bent.

From the inside.

00:22…

Aarav’s breathing became rapid.

“If it comes out…”

00:20…

The reflection’s smile widened.

Almost unnatural.

00:18…

The crack spread further.

00:15…

Aarav’s eyes filled with fear.

“Stay focused…”

00:13…

The reflection suddenly stopped.

Completely still again.

The crack stopped spreading.

00:10…

Silence.

00:09…

Aarav didn’t move.

00:08…

His heartbeat echoed in his ears.

00:07…

The reflection stared at him.

00:06…

No movement.

00:05…

The timer neared its end.

00:04…

Aarav’s legs felt weak.

00:03…

“Almost…”

00:02…

The reflection suddenly spoke.

Without sound.

Its lips moved.

Aarav read them.

“Switch.”

00:01…

Aarav’s eyes widened.

“What"

00:00

The timer stopped.

Everything went silent.

The reflection froze.

The crack disappeared.

The mirror returned to normal.

Aarav gasped and stepped back.

“It’s over…”

He looked at the phone.

Round complete.

He let out a shaky breath.

But something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Slowly

he looked back at the mirror.

His reflection stood there.

Still.

Normal.

But…

it didn’t move when he moved.

Aarav froze.

“No…”

He raised his hand.

The reflection didn’t.

It just stared.

A cold realization hit him.

“That’s not me…”

His breath became shallow.

“Then… where am I?”

The phone vibrated again.

A new message appeared.

Did you really win?

Aarav’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean…?”

Another line appeared.

Check again.

Aarav slowly looked at the mirror.

The reflection smiled.

The same unnatural smile.

And this time

it spoke.

Clearly.

“You looked away.”

Aarav shook his head.

“No… I didn’t…”

“You did.”

The reflection stepped closer to the glass.

“You lost control.”

Aarav stepped back in fear.

“Stay away…”

The phone vibrated again.

Penalty will be applied.

Aarav’s heart dropped.

“Penalty…?”

The lights in the room flickered violently.

The air became heavy.

Hard to breathe.

Then

everything went dark again.

Complete darkness.

Aarav couldn’t see anything.

Only his phone.

Glowing faintly.

Then

a whisper.

Not from behind.

Not from the phone.

From everywhere.

“You’re not alone anymore.”

Aarav turned around in panic.

“Who’s there?!”

No answer.

Then

he felt it.

A presence.

Right next to him.

Breathing.

Cold.

Slow.

Aarav froze.

His body refused to move.

His mind screamed.

Run.

But he couldn’t.

The phone lit up again.

Round 3 loading.

Aarav’s eyes filled with fear.

“This isn’t stopping…”

Another message appeared.

You are adapting well.

A pause.

But not enough.

Aarav clenched his fists.

“What do you want from me?!”

No reply.

Only silence.

Then

the final message appeared.

AOL is watching.

Aarav looked around the darkness.

His fear turned into something deeper.

Something worse.

Understanding.

This wasn’t just a game.

It was control.

It was psychological.

It was personal.

And it was only getting harder.

Somewhere

beyond the darkness

someone was watching him.

Learning.

Waiting.

And enjoying every second of it.

To be continued…

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***