His mom did. That’s why they moved to Riverside—a quiet town where no one caused trouble, where every street looked the same, and where neighbors greeted you with stiff smiles but never asked real questions.

Lucas stood in his new bedroom, staring at the blank walls. The room felt unfamiliar, but something about it made his skin crawl, like he’d been here before. That was impossible, of course.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Maybe a walk would clear his head.

---

The air was cool as Lucas walked through town, the streetlights humming softly. The roads were empty—too empty. No stray cats darting through alleys, no voices from open windows, no music playing from passing cars. Just… silence.

Then he saw it.

An old church sat at the edge of town, nearly swallowed by overgrown trees. The wood was cracked, the glass windows smeared with dust. But inside, candles burned.

Lucas stopped. He knew abandoned buildings didn’t light themselves. His pulse quickened as he took a step closer.

He shouldn’t go in.

But he did.

---

The door creaked open under his touch, revealing rows of empty pews. The air smelled like dust and old paper, yet the flames of the candles didn’t flicker, didn’t melt. They stood frozen in time.

Lucas stepped forward, his footfalls echoing. At the front of the church, a journal lay open on the altar, its pages yellowed and brittle. Someone had scrawled in large, uneven letters:

If you’re reading this, you’re in danger.

Lucas’s breath caught.

And then, from the corner of his eye, he saw something move.

His own reflection.

The dusty glass of an old picture frame stood beside the altar, reflecting his face. But the Lucas in the reflection was still staring at the journal.

Not at him.

Lucas turned cold. His real body had already moved—why hadn’t his reflection?

Then it did. But too late.

And before it caught up, it smirked.

---

Author note:
Hi darlings. I'd really appreciate your likes and comments on the book, and also your support cause this is my first book here on Wattpad.

Love ya muah 💋^_^^_^.