Riya moved into the old rented house at the edge of town. The landlord had given her only one before handing over the keys:“Don’t look into the mirror at midnight.”Riya had laughed at the superstition. She was a modern girl, practical and stubborn, and old wives’ tales didn’t scare her. But as she unpacked her bags that evening, she noticed the antique mirror in the bedroom. It stood tall in the corner, its surface covered in dust, its golden frame carved with grotesque faces — mouths wide open as if frozen in a scream.She shivered for a moment, then ...Read More

Morning sunlight streamed into the room, warming the wooden floor. “Riya” sat at the edge of her bed, combing hair in long, careful strokes. Her smile never faltered.To anyone else, she looked exactly the same. But there was something off. Her movements were too precise, too stiff — as if she were imitating a human she had only recently studied.Later that day, her best friend Meera visited.“Riya! Finally settled in?” Meera laughed, hugging her. But the hug was cold, unreturned. Riya’s arms hung at her sides for a second too long before she slowly, awkwardly patted Meera’s back. Her ...Read More