moving in with a new roommate was supposed to be a fresh start after a messy breakup in the end of my lease finding Megan's ad for a room felt like a stroke of luck the apartment was Charming a vintage two-bedroom and hardwood floors and a small balcony overlooking the city Megan was quiet and a little weird looking she had big dark circles and red eyes on the first night as I unpacked boxes in my new room I heard faint scraping noises coming from the walls it was a rhythmic sound like nails dragging across plaster I
pressed my ear against the cold surface is someone there silence at breakfast the next morning I mentioned it casually hey do you ever hear weird noises at night like scratching Megan looked up from her tea her expression unreadable it's an old building it makes sounds she sipped slowly her gaze lingering on me just a moment too long days passed and the unsettling noises continued one evening I noticed tiny holes in the walls of my bedroom almost imperceptible they were strategically placed one facing my bed another the bathroom peering through one I saw only Darkness I
grabbed some tape and paper covering them up but the next morning the coverings were gone the holes seemed wider a sense of violation washed over me I confronted Megan did you remove the paper I put on my wall she glanced at me eyes reflecting the dim kitchen light why would I go into your room maybe you imagine putting them up that night sleep eluded me every Creek of the apartment Amplified my paranoia around 2:00 a.m. I heard the scraping again louder this time almost agitated it seemed to move along the wall stopping right behind my
headboard I whispered into the darkness who are you what do you want a faint giggle echoed in response the following day I found my closet door a jar clothes I hadn't worn were missing hours later they reappeared folded neatly on my bed a scent clung to them a mix of damp Earth and something sweet almost rotten I decided to stay out late avoiding the apartment at a coffee shop I opened my lap laptop to distract myself but the webcam light flickered on in the middle I frowned clicking to disable it moments later an anonymous message
popped up on my screen why don't you want me to see you my heart raced who is this no response I slammed the laptop shut and headed home in my room I locked the door and pushed a chair against it exhausted I collapsed onto the bed clutching a kitchen knife under my pillow sometime during the night I felt a presence my eyes fluttered open to see Megan standing at the foot of my bed her silhouette illuminated by The Faint glow of the street lights outside Megan what are you doing she tilted her head you were
screaming I wanted to make sure you're okay I hadn't screamed please get out she lingered for a moment before slipping out of the room the next morning morning I decided I couldn't stay there any longer I began packing determined to leave by Nightfall as I gathered my things a small flash drive fell out of one of my boxes I didn't recognize it curiosity overrode caution plugging it into the laptop I opened the only folder on it labeled for Claire dozens of video files appeared each marked with a date clicking on the most recent one my
screen filled with a grainy night vision recording my bedroom I watched in horror as footage played of me sleeping tossing and turning the Tim stamp was from the night before my breath caught as the camera panned revealing Megan standing in the corner watching me her eyes gleamed unnaturally in the infrared light I clicked on another file it showed me in the bathroom undressing for a shower tears blurred my vision as I realized the extent of the invasion a fin file sat at the bottom of the list titled tonight with a shaking hand I opened it
it was Al live feet of my room from the angle it was clear the camera was inside the wall suddenly the video shook and a message flashed across the screen I'm coming a loud thud resonated from the hallway Panic surged through me I grabbed my phone to call the police but there was no signal the lights flickered and then went out plunging the apartment Into Darkness footsteps approached the door knob rattled there let me in her voice was distorted I backed away clutching the knife the door creaked open it shouldn't have I had locked it
she stood there but something was wrong her limbs were too long joints bending and unnatural angles her face was dark eyes sunken deep you shouldn't have time to leave I screamed stting past her and into the hallway from behind I heard the scraping the same I'd heard in the walls now Amplified chasing me bursting into the living room I found the front door but it wouldn't budge Megan's laughter echoed desperate I smashed a window at the nearby chair and crawled out cutting myself on the shards I ran into the night not stopping until I reached
a brightly lit gas station the attendant stared as I stumbled in disheveled and bleeding this are you okay I tried to explain words tumbling incoherently they called the police who arrived swiftly I told them everything about Megan the cameras the flash drive an officer frowned ma'am that building's been abandoned for years my blood turned to ice no I moved in last week Megan is my roommate they exchanged glances we'll take a look but the Last Tenant in that apartment was a woman named Margaret who died decades ago they escorted me back the buildings stood ahead
Windows boarded up graffiti covering the walls inside dust coated every surface my belongings were nowhere to be seen in the apartment where I'd lived only Decay remained but in the center of the living room sat a single item a vintage camcorder on a tripod pointing towards the door attached was a note and familiar your handwriting thank you for the performance I stared in disbelief the officers guided me outside as I trembled uncontrollably it's strange how close someone can come to your heart without you ever realizing they're slowly squeezing it draining Life Away With Every Beat
claudy and I were sisters in every sense of the word except blood ever since I met her 20 years back at a charity event she'd been been there through everything my marriage Jake's birth my divorce when Mike left it was Claudia who stood by my side mopping my tears and helping me piece together my shattered life Jake loved her too so when I had my hip surgery I didn't think twice about letting her practically move in to help I trusted her with everything she cooked cleaned and took care of Jake she was my rock always
smiling that warm understanding smile but then the cracks began to show tiny things almost invisible at first the sickness had started shortly after Jake's 17th birthday a simple cold at first nothing to be concerned about then it grew and kept growing until the fatigue became unbearable creeping into my bones no matter how much I rested it only deteriorated I was in and out of the doctor's office subjecting myself to tests that gave no answers no matter what I tried no matter how many pills they shoved down my throat my body was failing me it wasn't
until later I got to know that it wasn't just my body failing Claudia began acting strange she was quieter around Jake visibly more nervous at first I ignored it what was there to doubt she was a mother figure for Jake right and the stress of caring for me and Jake couldn't have been easy I asked her about it once we were sitting in my dimly lit living room the cold Shadows pressing against the walls like silent spectators Claudia giggled nervously Jake ain't our tiny boy anymore lla he's growing up and learning things that he wants
to experience Claudia avoided my eyes but I had seen it the wave of disgust had almost knocked me over I needed to have a chat with Jake that afternoon Claudia was out shopping when I brought it up with Jake we were alone and the house was Heavy with the kind of Silence that bruises deep into your skin Jake I started my voice shaking what is Claudia to you he looked at me confused at first then his nostrils flared my son was furious at the accusation he suggested I'd interrogate her friend instead she had been suggesting
me things mom the way he said it his voice strained almost panicked sent a shiver down my spine I kept quiet because I didn't want to stress you out I dismissed his claims of Innocence a growing teen fueled by hormones seeing things that weren't there Claudia had always treated him like her own son it had to be him you don't understand Mom he snapped his face flushed with frustration I'll prove it to you I should have listened but instead I brushed him off that night my Mala worsened my skin felt cold and clammy my breath
came in Shallow gasps I was trapped in my body helpless as it collapsed under the weight of an illness I could not understand I laboriously dragged my sweaty body towards Claudia's room hoping to get help little did I know I was in for the biggest shock of my life I overheard Claudia she was on the phone to someone her voice was a low Eerie whisper I'm going to take him away forever she said him her words clawed my mind sending a wave of nausea through me who was she talking to what did she mean before
I could confront her Jake stormed in and Dr dragged me out to the hospital pale and frantic in his hands he held vials small glass containers and Petri dishes he'd found hidden in Claudia's room earlier he showed me the labels words I didn't understand but they ReRe of a lethal scheme my mind spun I didn't want to believe it not Claudia not her but deep down I knew I immediately rang Dr Maya an old colleague from my nursing days begging her to help me she ran the tests and when the results came back they shattered
what little remained of my world the infections weren't natural they were induced someone had been slowly poisoning me introducing resistant bacteria into my system that someone was Claudia the realization hit me like a freight train the woman I trusted with my life my son's life had been killing me slowly methodically for months all to take Jake away I couldn't breathe Dr Maya called the authorities detective oara an investigator took over and soon the FBI got involved they set a trap Claudia had been expecting another shipment of the bacteria this time they intercepted it the night
they arrested her I watched from the window as they pulled her away in handcuffs she fought screamed and denied everything but under the weight of the evidence she had to crack Claudia confessed how she believed I wasn't fit to raise Jak and didn't deserve Mike she thought I was a failure and everyone involved in my life deserved better removing her was necessary she screamed I shuddered when the police car's red and blue lights faded into the night Claudia was gone but her Shadow lingered a stain I'd never be able to wash away Claudia was everything
Jake and I talked about for days to come we had survived but the world felt colder now darker there was no more Illusions left just the terrifying truth that the truth might be what the eyes couldn't see and everything that we see isn't always the truth moving into a new apartment in the city was supposed to be a fresh start after months of searching I finally found a place that fit my budget and came with a roommate named Rachel she was quiet and had her quirks the first night after unpacking I took a long shower
to walk wash away the stress the bathroom was small but clean with a claw foot tub and a shower curtain adorned with abstract patterns I closed the curtain fully before stepping in enjoying the hot water cascading over me when I finished I noticed the curtain was slightly a jar shrugging it off I dried myself and headed to bed in the morning as I made my way to the kitchen I noticed wet Footprints leading from the bathroom to Rachel's room they were small like mine but I hadn't been in the bathroom since the night before hey
Rachel did you take a shower last night she looked up from her cereal a hint of confusion on her face no I went to bed early why I hesitated no reason must have been my imagination over the next few days the unsettling incidents continued my toothbrush disappeared from its holder only to reappear in my room damp and with a strange metallic taste when I used it one evening I returned home to find the shower running Steam billowed from under the bathroom door knocking softly I called out Rachel you in there no response I opened the
door cautiously the room was empty the mirror fogged over written in the condensation was my name scrolled repeatedly my heart pounded Rachel this isn't funny she appeared behind me startling me what's wrong I pointed to the mirror did you do this she glanced at the mirror her face unreadable I don't see anything I blinked and when I looked back the writing was gone sleep became difficult every Creek in the apartment set my nerves on edge one night a soft Whispering pulled me from sleep I strained to listen throwing off the covers I crept toward the
sound it led me to the bathroom the door was slightly open a sliver of light cutting through the darkness peering inside I saw Rachel standing in front of the mirror her hands tracing circles on its surface Rachel she didn't turn she doesn't see she doesn't know a chill ran down my spine no what her head snapped toward me eyes wide and lips curled into a grin that didn't reach her eyes eyes you're up late I backed away couldn't sleep she stepped closer you should rest big day tomorrow I fled to my room locking the door
behind me determined to uncover what was happening I decided to search Rachel's room while she was out her room was sparse a neatly made bed a dresser and an odd number of mirrors lining the walls but as I opened her closet my missing items tumbled out clothes towels even my hairbrush all arranged meticulously at the back of the closet I found a notebook filled with Pages upon pages of handwriting it was my name written over and over interspersed with bizarre sketches of faces some mine others distorted versions a floorboard creaked behind me looking for something
I spun around the notebook clutched to my chest why do you have my things she tilted her head eyes glinting borrowed them you have such good taste I tried to steady my voice this isn't normal you're invading my privacy she took a step forward privacy we're roommates we share everything I edged toward the door I think I need to find a new place her smile faded you can't leave not when we're so close I didn't wait to hear more pushing past her I ran to my room to grab my phone as I dialed 911 the
line went dead no signal Rachel's voice echoed from the hallway you won't get away that easily desperate I tried the front door but it was bolted shut the lock jammed Panic surged rushing back to the bathroom I thought of escaping through the window as I entered something caught caught my eye a small red light blinking in the mirror leaning in I realized it wasn't a mirror at all but a two-way window with a camera embedded behind it a video feed played on Rachel's tablet propped discreetly on the counter it was me in various states of
undress showering brushing my teeth even sleeping horror washed over me what have you done Rachel stood in the doorway blocking my exit I've been documenting us our lives together I glared at her her features seemed to blur for a moment shifting subtly to resemble mine what are you talking about she stepped closer her voice eerily calm I've always admired you Lisa your life your friends her smile I want it all I realized then that her clothes were mine fitting her perfectly her hair once Brown now had streaks matching my own blonde highlights you're insane she
lunged at me and we grappled knocking over the table the screen shattered and a distorted video played showing her practicing my mannerisms mimicking my voice with a surge of adrenaline I pushed her away and raced toward the kitchen grabbing a knife I faced her stay back she laughed a sound devoid of any warmth you can't hurt me we're the same now Sirens wailed in the distance as I would learn later a neighbor had heard the commotion and called the police Rachel's expression Twisted into rage you ruined everything she charged at me but before she could
reach me the door burst open an officer stormed in drop the weapon I realized they were shouting at me I dropped the knife hands raised help me she's trying to steal my identity they glanced at Rachel who now stood cowering tears streaming down her face I don't know what's happening she just attacked me confusion flooded me no she's lying she's been spying on me an officer gently restrained me no ask her what happened in Geneva and then call my mom to confirm her smile faded she made up a story about how a burglar had stolen
her purse but then the cops dialed my mother who confirmed with the fact that I have never been to Geneva she was arrested I had to present my passport is the truth that I had never indeed been there I don't know why she did that but I convinced myself that she must have been a psycho to try to become someone else
