After her encounter in the library basement, Joy tries to distance herself from Maya's group entirely. But Maya confronts her one night, appearing suddenly outside her dorm.
Maya: (smiling darkly) You're still one of us, Joy. You can't run from the pact. The shadows will always find you.
Joy's face pales as she realizes Maya's power over her hasn't weakened—it's only grown stronger. Maya reveals a strange mark on her wrist, a black, twisting symbol that seems to pulse with a life of its own.
Maya: (softly) This mark binds us. You'll wear one too soon enough, whether you like it or not.
Joy recoils, realizing that her connection to the darkness isn't just psychological—it's physical, branded onto her soul by Maya's influence. As Maya walks away, Joy feels an aching sensation on her own wrist, as if the mark is already beginning to take shape.
Over the next few weeks, Joy's grip on reality starts to slip. She sees shadows flitting at the edge of her vision, hears faint, mocking laughter even in crowded places. Her friend Alex begin to notice her strange behavior, but whenever she tries to explain, they think she's losing her mind.
One evening, she's in her room, exhausted and desperate. She stares at her reflection in the mirror, feeling a strange, dark presence watching her from within.
Joy: (to herself) This isn't me… I'm stronger than this. I'll find a way to break free.
But as she watches, her reflection begins to change, morphing into a twisted version of herself with hollow eyes and a haunting smile. The reflection leans forward, its voice a distorted echo of her own.
Reflection: (whispering) You belong to the shadows now, Joy. There's no escape.
With a scream, Joy shatters the mirror, but the laughter echoes in her mind, relentless and consuming.
Driven to desperation, Joy decides to confront Maya one last time, hoping to end this nightmare. She tracks her down to an old, abandoned building on the edge of campus, where Maya's group has gathered for yet another ritual.
The building is dark and decrepit, filled with an overpowering sense of dread. Joy steps inside, the faint glow of candles illuminating her path as she approaches the group.
Joy: (yelling) Maya! This ends tonight. I won't let you control me anymore!
Maya turns to face her, smirking, the symbol on her wrist glowing with a sickly light.
Maya: (calmly) You think you can break free, Joy? You're part of this darkness now. You were the perfect vessel, the one who allowed us to summon what we needed.
Joy's heart races as she realizes the truth—she wasn't just a friend to them. She was the sacrifice, the key that allowed them to open the gateway to something far darker.
But instead of giving in, Joy draws on all her strength, the memories of her family and the life she wants flashing through her mind. With a scream, she reaches forward, grabbing Maya's wrist and willing the mark to fade.
A burst of light explodes between them, throwing the group back and shattering the candles. As Maya writhes in pain, the shadows retreat, dissolving into nothingness. Joy watches as the dark influence lifts, freeing her at last.
The next day, Joy wakes up in the infirmary, exhausted but free. Johnny her cousin is by her side, relief evident on his face.
Johnny: (softly) It's over, Joy. They're gone. Maya and her group vanished after last night.
Joy feels a weight lifted from her, but she knows the scars will remain. She's changed, haunted by the darkness she faced, but also stronger for having survived it.
As she looks out the window, she sees her own reflection faintly superimposed over the bright campus beyond. Though shadows of light will always be a part of her, she knows now that she has the strength to control shadow of darkness.