The coffee and snacks shop is lively with warmth and chatter.
Joy sat at a corner table, her chair angled towards the wall, as she if she could shield herself from the world.
Her hands wrapped tightly around her mug, not for warm but to stop them from shaking.
She gaze at the door every second waiting for Samuel and Emily. It takes weeks for her to agree to this meeting .
The walls feels too close, the air too heavy.
She haven't sleep properly for days, her dreams is now filled with whispers, voices, mirrors and dark corridors.
She feels like an imposter, wrapped in layers of clothes that she hopes will hide the weariness in her bones, the haunted look that's taken up permanent residence in her eyes.
The tables around her are filled with the usual chatter, groups of students laughing over gaze jokes or buried in their laptops.*
But Joy can't focus on any of it. She's too aware of the weight in her chest, a heavy, inescapable ache that hasn't let go since her encounter with Maya.
This place, with its warmth and the smell of roasted different snacks and coffee beans, feels like a relic from another life.
When the door swings open, Samuel steps in, her heart skips a beat.
He looks around, scanning the tables until his eyes land on her.
The sight of him, a smile on his face that doesn't quite mask the concern in their eyes, brings a lump to her throat.
Samuel: (smiling but clearly worried) "There she is. You've been hard to find, Joy. You doing okay?"
She forces a smile, but it feels thin, stretched. When he slides into the seats across from her, she feels herself shrinking under his gaze.
Joy: (whispering) "Yeah… yeah, I've just been, you know, busy with school and everything."
Samuel: (leaning forward, his brow furrowing) You look tired, are you okay?
Joy: (forcing a laugh) Thanks. That's everything girls thing.
Samuel expression shows, he doesn't believe her. He raises an eyebrow, a silent indication that he's not buying it.
He reaches across the table, his fingers brushing against hers, and she flinches, pulling her hand back before she can stop herself.
The hurt flickers in his eyes, and she curses herself internally.
Samuel: (softly) "Hey, it's me your favorite person, Joy. You can talk to me, remember?"
Before she can respond, the door opens again, and Ellie walks in, her face lighting up as she spots them.
Joy's heart tightens at the sight of her—Ellie's always been her rock, a constant presence through late-night study sessions, prayer sessions and weekend road trips.
But lately, even Ellie's reassuring presence has felt like a distant memory.
Ellie: (grinning but with a concerned undertone)* "Finally! I thought you were avoiding us, girl. We've missed you."
Joy forces herself to smile, nodding as Ellie pulls up a chair next to her and reach for Joy's hand. Joy finch pulling away her hand away instantly. A frown across Emily face but she is quite about it instead busy herself with the menu.
Their casual banter, their warmth, it all feels so familiar, but somehow unreachable.
She wants to tell them everything, but the words feel trapped, lodged in her throat.
They order coffee, and for a few minutes, they chat about the usual topics, classes, annoying professors, weekend plans and parties.
But Joy is quiet trying to focus but her gaze keep darting to the window to the dark street beyond. Every time the wind blow the trees, her heart skips, half expecting a face to appear in the glass.
It's both comforting and terrifying, knowing they're here, that they care.
She feels a pang of guilt, thinking of the secrets she's been keeping.
Finally, Emily put down her cup with loud clink.
Emily: Okay, enough. Joy? What's going on with you? You've been… different lately."
Joy's heart races. She looks down at her coffee, tracing the rim of the cup with her finger as she tries to find the words.
She knows they'll might not believe her, but the loneliness is crushing.
She can't keep pretending everything's normal.
Joy: (voice barely above a whisper) "I… I've been going through something. Something I don't really understand. And I know it sounds crazy, but… I feel like I'm being haunted."
The words hang in the air, fragile and uncertain.
She doesn't look up, afraid of what she'll see on their faces.
She waits for laughter, for disbelief, but the silence stretches on and when she finally risks a glance, they are watching her intently.
Emily: (frowning) "Haunted? By… who?"
Samuel: Okay. Tell us everything.
Joy hesitates, feeling the weight of Emily attention, the urge to laugh it off and tell her it's nothing.
But there's something in their faces—a softness, an openness—that makes her think maybe, just maybe, she can trust them with the truth.
Joy: (quietly) "There's… this girl. Maya. She… she's into these rituals, these dark… things. I thought it was all a joke, you know? Just college fun. But it's not, and now… I feel like something followed me home."
Her voice cracks, and she quickly looks down, focusing on the swirl of foam in her cup.
Saying it out loud feels like opening a wound, exposing something raw and painful that she's been hiding.
She expects them to laugh, to tell her she's being paranoid, but Samuel reaches out, squeezing her hand gently.
Emily: Joy that's.....
Samuel: ( interrupt ) It's insane. I mean not you. But this Maya girl, if she's messing with your head, we need to stop her.
Emily: Have you talk to anyone about it? The counselor? The police?
Joy: (shaking her head) They will not believe me. Honestly I don't even know...if I believe myself.
She look down, her voice trembling. But I'm scared. I feel like I'm losing my mind.
Samuel: Is she hurting you? Are you okay?
The question catches her off guard, and a strange warmth floods her chest.
She shakes her head, though even she's not sure if it's true.
Joy: (strained) "It's not like that. Not exactly. It's just… these things keep happening. I see things that aren't there, hear voices that don't make sense. I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my mind."
Samuel shifts, his expression darkening, and Joy sees a hint of anger in his eyes.
Samuel: ( feel rage ) Is she still hanging around you? This Maya?
Joy hesitates. Maya's presence feels like a shadow she can't escape, but she hasn't seen her since the night in the mirror room.
Even so, the thought of her brings a chill, a reminder of the cold, mocking voice that haunts her dreams.
Joy: (whispering) "No… but it doesn't matter. She's already… done something to me. I don't know what, but I feel it. It's like there's a shadow following me everywhere I go."
Samuel's jaw tightens, and he reaches for her hand, his grip warm and steady. She feels a strange comfort in his touch, something grounding and real.
Samuel: "Listen, Joy, whatever's going on, deal with it together . We're here for you. We'll figure this out together, okay?"
His words bring a swell of emotion to her chest, and she feels tears prickling at the corners of her eyes.
She's been so alone, so convinced that no one would understand, but here they are, listening, they even have ideas of what is going on, believe her even though she thought wouldn't make sense to them.
Emily: (nodding) "Samuel's right. You're not losing your mind. You're just… going through something really tough. And I know it's hard, but talking about it, letting us in, it helps, doesn't it?"
Joy nods, unable to speak.
The weight of their compassion is almost too much, and for the first time in weeks, she feels a glimmer of hope.
Maybe she's not beyond saving.
Maybe, with their help, she can find her way back to herself.
But the sense of relief is short-lived.
She glances up, and out of the corner of her eye, she sees a figure standing just outside the coffee shop, partially hidden in the shadows.
Her heart stops, and a shiver runs down her spine. It's Maya or something that looks like her.
The figure's face is obscured, but Joy feels its eyes on her, cold and relentless.
She grips the edge of the table, her pulse hammering as fear twists in her stomach.
Joy: (voice shaking)* "She's… she's outside. She's watching me."
Samuel exchange a concerned glance and Samuel stands up glancing toward the door but the figure is gone.
Samuel: (firmly) "Stay here. I'll go see."
Wait Samuel, joy reaching out to stop him but his already heading to the door.
Emily move joy's side, her arms around her shoulder. It's okay.
But Joy could not relax. Her heart pounding, her pulse echoing in her ears.
He strides toward the door, pushing it open, and steps outside, his breath visible in the chilly air. He scand the street with his eyes, his eyes narrowing as he move towards the corner.
Inside Joy clutch Emily arm. He shouldn't have gone out there.
Emily: It's fine. It's Samuel. He'll be back in few minutes.
Two minutes passed. Then there.
Samuel finally return, his face pale, his jaw tight.
Samuel: (gently) "There's no one there."
Joy's stared him, feels her stomach sinking. She knows what she saw.
Maya was there, she felt her presence, the icy stare, the unmistakable feeling of being hunted.
But trying to explain it to them, to make them understand… it feels impossible for her to flew because of him.
Joy: (whispering) "She was there, Samuel. I swear… I saw her. Is it possible you don't see her? You don't.... feel anything?
Samuel: Nothing just an empty street.
He sit down, running his hand through his hair. Joy are you sure...
Joy: (snapping) Don't. Don't just say that.
The table fall into uneasy silent.
Emily looks like she want to say something but Samuel shook his head subtly, warning her off.
Joy close her eyes trying to steady her breathing.
But when she opens them, her reflection in the shop glass catch her attention and her blood run cold.
Her reflection is wrong.
She stare back at it her with empty eyes, her face pale and dread. As if something have drain the life from it. And it will smiles.
A smile that is not made by her.
Joy gasp, stumbling back with her chair, the sound draws Emily and Samuel attention.
Emily: Joy? What is it?
She point at the glass, her hand trembling. The reflection. It...
But when they look it is normal again. Just a pale, tired face staring back.
Samuel: (gently) Joy? There's nothing there.
She shake her head with anger. No. No it was there. It smile at me.
Ellie reaches over, resting a hand on her shoulder, her gaze sympathetic but uncertain.
Joy can feel the tension between them, the unspoken question lingering in the air.
Ellie: (soothingly) Joy…maybe it the stress or the lighting. Your mind can play tricks...
The words cut deep, and Joy bites her lip, fighting back tears.
She knows Ellie means well, that she's trying to help, but feel like she's losing it .*
She's torn, caught between the need to hold on to her friends and the fear that they will never truly understand her because they are not seeing it nor heard it.
Joy: (scramming) I'm not crazy.
Her voice echos through the shop, drawing stares from the patron. Samuel and Emily froze, face with a mix of shock and concerns.
Joy bury her face in her hands, her hands trembling.
She wants to run and hide but there is nowhere safe.
Nowhere she goes that the shadows will not follow.
They sit in silence, the warmth of the coffee shop suddenly feeling suffocating.
Emily reaches out cautiously, resting a hand on hers, and she clings to it, desperate for something solid, something real.
Emily: (softly) "Joy...we believe you. We just don't know how to help. But we'll figure it out. I have promise. Just… don't shut us out, okay?
Joy lift her head, tears streaming down here face. Before she could respond, her phone buzz on the table.
She grap it immediately, her heart sinking as she see the notification. A message from an unknown number.
"Do you miss me?"
Her blood turn to ice
The phone slip from her hand, clatter the floor. Emily pick it up, glance at the screen.
Emily: Who's this?
Joy shake her head, her voice barely a whisper. "It's her."
Samuel Lean closer. Maya? How does she get your contact number?
Joy feel too weak to answer. Her mind is racing with different thought, panic clawing at her throat.
Another message appear on her phone.
" Check under the table."
For a moment her breath stop, she glance down.
Something is there, a folded piece of paper, tucked against the base of the table leg. With trembling hands, she reach out for it, unfolding it with caution.
Inside is a written word with jagged handwriting.
"They can't save you from us nor anybody."
Joy's hand get cold. She drop the paper as if it burns her, pushing her chair back violently.
Samuel: What is it? Joy talk to us?
But she can't. Her vision blurred with tears, her chest tightening as the wall seems to close in.
She stagger towards the door, ignoring their calling.
The cold air hit her like a clap but it's not enough to put her mind at ease. She run her footsteps echoes the empty street.
Behind her, she thought she heard low laughter, haunting and very familiar.
Finally she stop running, gasping for air, she realizes she's standing at the front of her apartment building. The light inside is off and windows dark.
She hesitate, glancing back over her shoulder. The street is empty but the shadows seem thicker, alive every with moment.
Gathering her courage, she step inside, closing the door behind her.
The silent is defeating. She reach for the light switch, but it not working.
And then, from the darkness, a voice whisper:
"Welcome home, Joy."