Chapter Four: Shadows Behind Smiles
300 Words
Celestine stood in front of mirror, barely recognizing her own reflection. Dark circles under her eyes, tension in her jaw, and that constant flicker of paranoia made her feel like a stranger in her own skin. Her fingers traced outline of rose pendant—unwanted reminder of presence she couldn’t escape.
"You okay, Cel?" Jasmine leaned against locker next to hers, sipping on iced tea.
Celestine nodded. "Yeah. Just tired."
"Still thinking about secret admirer? Maybe he’s harmless—just bad at expressing himself."
Celestine wanted to believe that. But instinct screamed otherwise.
Later that afternoon, she returned home to find another envelope. This time, it was taped inside her bedroom closet. Inside, a photo.
A close-up.
Of her.
Sleeping.
She ran outside, breath catching.
Next day, Celestine marched straight up to Tyler after class.
"Stop leaving me things."
He blinked slowly. "I haven’t given you anything."
"Stop lying."
He tilted his head. "Do you lie to yourself too, Celestine? About liking mystery? Attention?"
Her voice dropped. "I will call police again."
"Do it," he whispered. "They’ll never catch ghost."
After school, she decided to search his house.
She waited until lights were off.
Breaking in was terrifying. But she had to know.
What she found chilled her.
Walls plastered with photos.
Of her.
Candid shots: brushing hair, laughing, sleeping. Dozens of them. Drawings too—twisted, exaggerated versions of her face, sometimes crying, sometimes smiling with eyes blacked out.
Then she heard it.
"You came."
Tyler stood in doorway.
"Get out of my way."
"You came into my world. That means something."
Celestine bolted past him.
Back home, she locked every door, every window.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Message: “We belong in same frame.”
Attached: a photo.
Photoshopped image of them together. Smiling. Hugging. Like lovers.
- Writer
