The Face Beneath

Chapter 1: The Reflection

Chad stared at the mirror, tracing the scars that ran along his jawline and neck. His fingers moved over the rough edges of the past, each mark a reminder of the accident that had taken so much from him. The mirror's reflection looked back at him, but it wasn’t a face he recognized. The man he once was—confident, strong, proud—had disappeared long ago, leaving behind someone unrecognizable.

The world outside carried on without him. Chad had grown accustomed to living on the fringes, a ghost in the bustling city, blending into the shadows and avoiding eye contact. His days were predictable, filled with routine—wake up, work at the bookshop, retreat home. It was the only way he knew how to survive.

"Another day," he muttered, pulling on his jacket and running his fingers through his disheveled hair. It wasn’t about looking good. It was about being invisible.

As Chad stepped out into the morning air, the city moved around him in its usual chaotic rhythm. People hurried by, their lives full of meaning, purpose, and connection. Chad kept his head down, weaving through the crowd like a phantom. He had mastered the art of disappearing, a skill he had perfected over the years.

But then there were moments—fleeting, painful moments—when he caught glimpses of others. Couples laughing together at the café on the corner, friends sharing stories in the park, families taking strolls down the tree-lined streets. It was in those moments that Chad felt the sharpest pang of loneliness.

He wasn’t part of that world. Not anymore. Not since the accident.

Chad walked into the small, dusty bookshop where he spent his days shelving books and avoiding conversation. The owner, an old man with kind eyes, never asked too many questions, and Chad appreciated that. He kept to himself, lost in the quiet sanctuary of the books.

But even there, amidst the smell of aged pages and ink, Chad couldn't escape his thoughts. He wondered how he had ended up here, living a life so different from the one he had once envisioned. There had been a time when he had dreams, when he believed in love and happiness. But now, all he could see was the monster staring back at him from the mirror.

As the day passed, Chad’s mind drifted back to the reflection he had seen that morning. Who was that man? Was he still Chad—the one who had once been vibrant and alive? Or had he become something else, something broken beyond repair?

The bell above the shop door jingled, and Chad glanced up. A woman walked in, her eyes scanning the shelves with a quiet curiosity. She moved with a grace that immediately drew his attention, though he quickly looked away. People like her didn’t belong in his world. She was too bright, too beautiful, and too perfect for someone like him.

He kept his distance, but as she approached the counter with a small collection of books, he couldn’t help but steal a glance. She smiled politely as she placed the books down.

“Hi,” she said, her voice soft and warm. “Do you have anything else by this author?”

Chad swallowed, his throat dry. He wasn’t used to conversations, especially with people like her. He nodded, trying to remember where that section was. Without a word, he led her to the shelf.

She followed him, her presence making the small space feel even more claustrophobic. Chad could feel his heart race. Not because of attraction, but because of fear—fear that she might see him, really see him, and recoil like so many had before.

“There,” he muttered, pointing to a row of books.

She smiled again, a smile that seemed genuine, without a trace of judgment or discomfort. “Thank you. I’m Raven, by the way.”

Chad nodded, his response barely a whisper. “Chad.”

For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Chad saw something in her gaze that unsettled him. It wasn’t pity or discomfort. It was something else, something he hadn’t seen in a long time: kindness.

Raven lingered for a moment longer, but when it became clear Chad wasn’t going to say much more, she gave a small nod of gratitude and returned to the counter to make her purchase.

As she left, Chad stood frozen in place, staring at the spot where she had been. His thoughts raced. What had just happened? Why had she spoken to him with such warmth? And why, for the first time in years, did he feel something stir within him—something he had buried deep?

He quickly shook the thought away. It was just a fleeting moment, a blip in the routine. Raven was like everyone else, too perfect, too whole. And he... he was just a reflection of what once was. A broken man, a beast in a world of beauty.

He couldn’t let himself believe otherwise.