The Devil In Disguise

The Devil In the Mirror

The morning sun peeked through Gianina's window, casting soft golden light across her bedroom. The warmth felt deceptive, its gentle glow a stark contrast to the heaviness pressing down on her heart. She had barely slept after yesterday's whirlwind of Black Friday shopping, but she was grateful for the brief distraction, a reminder of the life they once had—a life untouched by fear and loss.

She carefully stepped out of bed, hoping not to wake her friends who were still asleep downstairs. After everything they'd been through, she wanted to give them a moment of rest, a reprieve from the nightmare that had gripped them for months. With a soft smile, she tiptoed out of the room, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

But as she reached the top of the stairs, a strange feeling washed over her—a sense of unease, cold and sharp. She shook it off, telling herself it was nothing, just the remnants of a bad dream lingering on the edges of her mind. With a soft hum, she moved into her room to get dressed for the day, ready to finally put a semblance of normalcy back into her life.

As she entered, she moved to the dresser, reaching for a fresh set of clothes. She hardly noticed the subtle creak of the door closing behind her. But when the sound registered, she froze, her heart beating a little faster. The door slowly clicked shut, and a chill ran down her spine as an eerie silence settled over the room.

Turning slowly, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. And that's when she saw him.

He was there—a figure in a red devil mask and black suit, standing just inches behind her, his form tall and menacing. The red of the mask gleamed with an unnatural shine, and those hollow eyes stared back at her, piercing through her defenses.

She let out a sharp gasp, her hands instinctively moving to cover her mouth as she took a step back, her mind racing. How did he get in here? How long has he been watching me?

Before she could scream, he raised a single gloved finger to his lips, signaling for her to be silent. His hand moved slowly, deliberately, a twisted mockery of intimacy.

"Be quiet," he hissed, his voice low, smooth, dripping with an unsettling darkness. "Be quiet, or I'll kill every single one of your friends."

The words struck her like a slap, her heart hammering painfully in her chest. She felt a chill settle over her, a cold terror that twisted her insides as she imagined his threat coming to life. Marcus, Cal, Rufus and Mary... The thought of their lives ending because of her own actions made her stomach churn.

His gloved hand traced the air between them, his index finger pointed at her with deliberate menace as he continued. "And I'll start with your perfect boyfriend."

She felt her breath hitch, her mind reeling as she struggled to process the horror of his words. Marcus... The image of him, asleep and vulnerable, flashed in her mind, and she felt a surge of desperation and anger welling up within her. But she held back, terrified of provoking the man before her, of giving him any reason to carry out his threat.

The figure in the mask chuckled softly, a low, sinister sound that sent a fresh wave of chills down her spine. "Good," he purred, sensing her fear. "Stay quiet, GG. We wouldn't want to wake your friends."

Her mouth went dry as she stared back at him, trying to keep her voice steady despite the terror clawing at her insides. "Why are you doing this?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "You killed my friends. You destroyed everything. I'll never... I'll never be yours."

He tilted his head, his mask catching the light, casting an eerie red glow across his face. "Oh, Gianina," he cooed, his tone soft, almost affectionate. "Do you really think you have a choice?"