Ethan and Marissa moved quickly through the bustling streets, the sounds of the city blending into a chaotic hum that pressed in around them. Every corner turned felt like a step into the unknown, each face in the crowd seemed suspicious, and the air hung thick with a sense of dread.
“We need to find somewhere safe,” Marissa said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Somewhere we can think.”
Ethan nodded, his mind racing. “The old bookstore near the park,” he suggested, remembering the hidden room in the back where they used to hang out. It had always felt like a sanctuary, far away from the chaos of their lives.
They navigated through the throngs of people, each step heavier than the last. Ethan could feel the tension tightening around them, as if the world itself was closing in. His heart raced in rhythm with his thoughts—what if Jamie found them? What if he already was?
As they reached the bookstore, a wave of nostalgia washed over Ethan. The smell of old paper and dust hung in the air, comforting yet haunting. They slipped inside, quickly making their way to the back room where they could talk without being overheard.
The small space was cluttered with shelves, each filled with forgotten stories, and it felt like stepping into a time capsule. As Marissa pushed a few boxes aside, Ethan took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart.
“Okay,” Marissa said, her voice steadying as she leaned against the wall. “What do we know?”
Ethan ran a hand through his hair, struggling to articulate his thoughts. “Jamie’s… different. It’s like he’s not even human anymore. I don’t know how to explain it. The way he talked to me last night, how he just… appeared.” He hesitated, searching for the right words. “It feels like he’s toying with me, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.”
Marissa bit her lip, her brow furrowed in concentration. “Do you think it’s some sort of spirit? Or… some kind of monster?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan admitted, his voice shaking slightly. “But whatever it is, it’s strong. Strong enough to manipulate Jamie’s body, to keep up appearances. It’s been watching us, waiting.”
Marissa nodded, fear creeping into her eyes. “We can’t let him find us. We need to come up with a plan.”
Suddenly, Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. It was an instinctive reaction, a primal urge to be wary. He turned toward the door, a feeling gnawing at him that they were no longer alone.
“Ethan?” Marissa said, her voice soft, but he could see the fear mirrored in her expression. “What is it?”
“Did you hear that?” he whispered.
They stood in silence, the stillness around them amplifying the heartbeat thrumming in their ears. Then, from outside, a familiar voice drifted through the door.
“Ethan? Marissa?”
It was Jamie.
Ethan’s heart sank. Panic surged within him, and he stepped back instinctively, nearly knocking over a stack of old books. “We need to hide,” he whispered urgently.
But Marissa was already peering through the door’s small window, her breath hitching in her throat. “He’s out there,” she said, voice trembling. “Just… standing there.”
Ethan felt a cold knot form in his stomach. “What does he look like?”
“He looks… normal,” Marissa replied, her voice quaking. “But his eyes, Ethan… they’re not right. There’s something behind them.”
Ethan felt the ground shift beneath him, his mind racing. Jamie was out there, but it wasn’t Jamie anymore. Whatever had taken over was no longer pretending to be human. They had to act quickly.
YOU ARE READING
Borrowed Skin
Horreur**"Borrowed Skin"** _"Grief does strange things to the mind, but nothing could prepare him for this."_ Ethan Carter thought he had said goodbye forever when his best friend, Jamie Holloway, died in a tragic accident. The days since have been a blu...
