My skin prickled with a chill as I ventured through the vast forest, shrouded in an eerie fog that swallowed everything in sight.
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"Hello!" I called out, my voice echoing into the dense silence, but receiving no reply, just the eerie silence.
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Questions swirled in my mind like leaves in the wind—how did I get here, where was I, and why on earth was I stark naked?
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Taking a tentative step forward, my legs felt like they might give way beneath me, weak and unsteady.
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Clutching onto a nearby tree for support, a shiver ran down my spine as the forest came alive with the sound of rustling leaves, snapping twigs, and hurried footsteps, signaling I wasn't alone.
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"Whose there?" I blurted out, whipping my head around to catch whoever was lurking nearby.
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The fear crept in as the noises alternated between ominously close and eerily distant, like a game of hide-and-seek gone terribly wrong.
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I couldn't decipher if I was a player in some twisted game or moments away from becoming the latest victim of this creepy forest.
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"Ah, crap!" I exclaimed, legs pumping as I sprinted through the foliage, heart pounding louder than the sounds trailing me.
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Ignoring the unsettling symphony echoing behind me, I focused on one thing, getting the heck out of here.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8n3klpwFK
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Gasping for breath, I ducked behind a tree, hoping against hope that I was effectively concealed, although I couldn't pinpoint the source of those haunting noises.
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"Can't you just leave me alone?" I pleaded, knowing full well my hiding spot was compromised the moment the words left my lips.
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And then, silence fell like a heavy blanket, leaving me to wonder if I was truly alone or if something sinister lurked just beyond my sight.
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I took cautious steps forward, every nerve on high alert, my senses heightened to the max. The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting for something to happen.
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Turning in every direction, I scanned the surroundings, but there was nothing but trees and shadows. "Maybe I lost them," I muttered to myself, trying to reassure my frazzled nerves.
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Just as I turned back around, I came face to face with my creepy doppelgänger. "You?" I gasped, my jaw dropping in disbelief. "You look like me."
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Staring back at me with closed eyes, the doppelgänger stood there unabashedly naked, a mirror image of myself, albeit without a shred of modesty.
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"How is this possible?" I stammered, racking my brain for any logical explanation that didn't involve me having an identical twin.
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The doppelgänger remained silent, instead lifting his face slightly, sniffing the air like a curious animal. Then, with an unsettling smile, he spoke, "We finally meet," his voice sending shivers down my spine.
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"Tell me," the doppelgänger said, advancing towards me with an unsettling confidence. "Is it I that look like you, or is it you that look like me?" His voice boomed, echoing through the silent forest, while his eyes glowed a menacing yellow.
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Frozen in terror, I struggled to even breathe, let alone formulate a response, as those glowing eyes bore into my soul.
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"Which one of us is real, and which one is the fake?" the clone taunted, his smile stretching unnaturally wide, revealing rows of pointed, sharp teeth.134Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0w4YpxrM45
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"Shit," I gasped, panic coursing through my veins as I stumbled over my own feet, crashing to the ground in a tangled mess.
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With a chilling nonchalance, the clone turned his back on me, sauntering away into the darkness. "Well, I guess such things don't matter," he mused, his voice fading into the night. "All that matters is that you enjoy your life, make the most out of every moment."
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My heart hammered in my chest as his final words echoed in my ears. "Because one day, your body will be mine."
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"What do you mean?" I managed to choke out, my vision blurring as dizziness overwhelmed me. With one last desperate effort, I reached out, but it was too late. Darkness consumed me, and I surrendered to unconsciousness, unsure if I would ever awaken again.
***
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I opened my eyes to the sterile surroundings of a hospital room, the harsh light filtering through the window stinging my eyes. Slowly, I pushed myself upright, taking in my surroundings with a mix of confusion and grogginess.
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"You're up," came a familiar voice, and I turned to see my mother sitting beside me, her face a mix of relief and worry.
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"What happened?" I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.
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"You collapsed on the street," my mom replied, her voice trembling with emotion. "You've been unconscious for three days. Thank God you're awake."
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I let her pull me into a hug, feeling a sense of safety and warmth wash over me despite the confusion swirling in my mind.
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As I rested in her embrace, my gaze drifted to my right hand, which was swathed in bandages. Memories of the small vial and the person who collided with me on the street flashed through my mind.
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At least my hand didn't hurt, I thought, trying to find a silver lining in the midst of the chaos.
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After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally made his appearance, clipboard in hand, ready to assess my condition.
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To be honest, I felt perfectly fine, better than fine even. In fact, before the doctor arrived, I sneaked a peek in the bathroom mirror and was astounded to find my body transformed, muscles rippling and abs chiseled like never before. Talk about the perks of beauty sleep!
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"So," the doctor began, scanning through my chart, "it would appear that everything looks to be in order."
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My mom, ever the concerned parent, wasted no time in pressing for answers. "What about my son's loss of consciousness? Do you have any idea why that happened?"
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Setting aside his clipboard, the doctor met my mom's gaze with a thoughtful expression. "Well, we believe it was caused by the cut on Leyton's hand. Probably some kind of infection that required your son's body to divert all its resources to fight it off. Essentially, his body went into hibernation mode to conserve energy and focus on healing."
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After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally made his appearance, clipboard in hand, ready to assess my condition.
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To be honest, I felt perfectly fine, better than fine even. In fact, before the doctor arrived, I sneaked a peek in the bathroom mirror and was astounded to find my body transformed, muscles rippling and abs chiseled like never before. Talk about the perks of beauty sleep!
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"So," the doctor began, scanning through my chart, "it would appear that everything looks to be in order."
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My mom, ever the concerned parent, wasted no time in pressing for answers. "What about my son's loss of consciousness? Do you have any idea why that happened?"
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Setting aside his clipboard, the doctor met my mom's gaze with a thoughtful expression. "Well, we believe it was caused by the cut on Leyton's hand. Probably some kind of infection that required your son's body to divert all its resources to fight it off. Essentially, his body went into hibernation mode to conserve energy and focus on healing."
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My mom's expression softened with understanding, and she reached out to squeeze my hand reassuringly. It was a relief to finally have some answers, even if the explanation seemed a bit surreal.
***
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Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
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