Influencer of the Dead
By R.N. Sims
You know that feeling when you're in a crowded room, but you might as well be invisible? That's my everyday life at Ridgewood High. I'm Mia Thompson, the girl who blends into the background so well that even the wallpaper notices me more than my classmates do.
This morning was no different. I shuffled down the bustling hallway, clutching my biology textbook to my chest like a shield. Students swirled around me, laughing and chatting as if I didn't exist. Well, to them, I didn't.
"Watch it!" snapped Jessica Miller as she brushed past me, her designer bag nearly knocking the books out of my hands.
"Sorry," I mumbled, but she was already gone, absorbed back into her glittering social circle.
I sighed and headed to my locker, which was conveniently located between the trash can and a flickering light that no one bothered to fix. As I fumbled with the combination, I couldn't help glancing down the hall where Ethan Walker stood with his friends.
Ethan. Just thinking his name made my heart do a little flip. He was everything I wasn't popular, outgoing, and effortlessly cool. Today, he was wearing a blue hoodie that matched his eyes, and his laughter echoed down the hallway like music.
Not that he'd ever notice me. To him, I was probably just "Locker Girl Number Three" or something equally insignificant.
Then it happened. As I shut my locker, Ethan strolled past me, laughing at something his friend Jake said. I caught his eye and opened my mouth to say hi, but the words died on my tongue when I saw Jessica slide up beside him. Ethan barely glanced my way as they laughed together and disappeared into the crowd.
I stuffed my bag into the locker and grabbed my notebook, trying not to drop everything in the process. Just then, my best friend Lily Evans appeared beside me, her red curls bouncing.
"Hey, Mia! Did you finish the math homework?" she asked, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses.
"Yeah, barely," I replied. "Mr. Daniels really knows how to ruin an evening."
"Tell me about it," she groaned. "Oh, have you heard about that new app everyone's talking about?"
I shook my head. "What app?"
"It's called Echo. Supposedly, it's the next big thing in social media. Jessica and her crew are already on it, bragging about how many followers they have."
"Great," I said sarcastically. "Another platform where no one will follow me."
Lily nudged me playfully. "Don't be like that. Maybe this is your chance to shine!"
I laughed. "Yeah, right. The only way I'd get followers is if I paid them."
The first bell rang, signaling five minutes until class. "I gotta run to my locker," Lily said. "See you in bio!"
"See you," I replied, watching her disappear into the crowd.
I took a deep breath and headed toward Biology class. As I entered the room, the familiar scent of formaldehyde greeted me. Lovely. I took my usual seat at the back, hoping to remain as inconspicuous as possible.
Students trickled in, filling up the seats. Ethan strolled through the door, laughing at something his friend Jake said. He glanced around the room, and for a split second, I thought our eyes met. But he looked past me, settling into his seat near the window.
"Alright, class, settle down," Mr. Harris announced, tapping the board. "Today we'll be dissecting the anatomy of "
His words faded as I doodled aimlessly in my notebook. My thoughts drifted back to Echo. Maybe Lily was right. Maybe joining the app could be a fresh start a way to step out of the shadows.
After what felt like an eternity, the bell finally rang. I gathered my things and headed out, nearly colliding with Ethan in the doorway.
"Sorry," I stammered, my cheeks burning.
"No worries," he said casually, not even looking at me as he walked away.
I let out a sigh. Typical.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and ignored attempts to participate in group discussions. By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the sheer effort of existing unnoticed.
"How was your day, honey?" Mom called from the kitchen as I kicked off my shoes.
"Fine," I replied, the usual response.
I headed upstairs to my room, my sanctuary. Posters of bands no one else liked adorned the walls, and my sketchpad lay open on the bed, filled with half-finished drawings that no one would ever see
I flopped onto the bed and pulled out my phone. Curiosity got the better of me. I opened the app store and typed "Echo" into the search bar. There it was a sleek icon with a ripple effect, like a stone dropped into water.
"Why not?" I muttered, tapping 'Download.'
Within seconds, the app was installed. I opened it, and a minimalist interface greeted me, asking for a username.
I hesitated, then typed "MiaEcho," feeling unoriginal but too tired to think of anything better.
"Welcome to Echo, MiaEcho!" the screen flashed. That was easy enough.
I spent the next hour setting up my profile, choosing a picture where I didn't look completely awkward, and browsing through the app's features. It seemed...different. There were countless profiles, but something about them felt off like they were just out of focus.
"Probably just my imagination," I said to myself.
Feeling a bit braver, I decided to make my first post. I snapped a selfie, added a filter to hide the mess that was my hair, and typed, "Just another day in the life of an ordinary girl."
I hit 'Post' and watched as it uploaded. There. My first step into the digital social scene.
Yawning, I set my phone down and stretched. Maybe this would lead to something new. Or maybe it would be another platform where I'd be just as invisible.
As I was about to close the app, a notification popped up.
"First like received!"
I clicked on it, surprised. The username was "ShadowSeeker," and their profile picture was a blurred silhouette.
"Well, that's not creepy at all," I chuckled.
Another notification appeared. Then another. My profile was gaining followers rapidly 50 by the end of the hour.
But the usernames were strange: "NightWhisper," "EchoingSilence," "WatcherInShadows." None of them had profile pictures, and their bios were blank.
"Who are these people?" I muttered, a shiver running down my spine.
In disbelief, I watched as my likes increased before my very eyes.
"This can't be real," I whispered, my heart pounding.
Just then, my phone screen flickered, and a message popped up.
"Welcome, Mia. We've been waiting for you."
I felt a chill run down my spine.
Suddenly, a shadow moved in the corner of my room.
I spun around, heart in my throat.
But there was nothing there.
At first, I couldn’t help but feel thrilled. Overnight, I’d gone from invisible to the center of attention. Even Ethan noticed me or at least, I thought he might. The eerie feeling from last night, however, lingered beneath the surface. As I got ready for school, my mind replayed that strange message: “Welcome, Mia. We’ve been waiting for you.” And the shadow in my room… probably just my imagination.
“Get a grip, Mia,” I muttered, trying to smooth down a rebellious strand of hair in the mirror. “It’s just an app.”
Downstairs, Mom was humming as she flipped pancakes. The smell of maple syrup filled the kitchen.
“Morning, sweetie! Pancakes?” she offered, smiling cheerfully.
“Sure, thanks,” I said, sliding into a chair. Maybe breakfast would help me feel normal.
As I poured syrup over my stack, my phone buzzed. And buzzed. And kept buzzing. I pulled it out to see notifications from Echo flooding my screen.
“Whoa,” I whispered. Overnight, my post had hit 1,000 likes. No 1,500. The usernames all blurred together: MidnightMurmur, DuskWalker, ShatteredWhisper. None of them had photos or bios, which struck me as… off. But the surge of attention made my heart race.
“Everything okay?” Mom asked, peering over.
“Yeah, just… something on my phone,” I said, brushing it off.
“Well, don’t let it distract you. You’ll miss the bus,” she reminded me.
As I scarfed down the last of my pancakes, I tried to shake the unease, but the constant pings of my phone didn’t help. By the time I got on the bus, my notifications had tripled.
“Hey,” I nudged Lily, sliding into the seat next to her. She looked up from her book.
“Remember Echo?”
“Yeah,” she said, frowning. “I checked it out last night, but, as soon as I made my profile, some creeper started following me. ShadowSomething. Like instantly. Super weird.”
“Really?” I asked, glancing down at my phone. My latest selfie had over 2,000 likes now. “Because… look at this.”
Lily’s eyes widened. “Mia! You’re blowing up! That’s incredible.”
“Is it?” I muttered. “Because I have no idea who these people are.”
“Maybe it’s just a glitch,” she said. “Or bots?”
I didn’t respond. The usernames felt anything but random, and something about them made my skin crawl. Lily had it right. Super weird.
As we walked into school, I immediately felt the change. Whispers followed me. People turned to look as I passed. Some even waved.
“Mia! Love your post!” someone called from across the hall.
“What is going on?” I muttered to Lily, who just shrugged.
Then I saw Ethan standing by the lockers. My heart jumped as he gave me a half-smile, but before I could say anything, Jessica and her crew swept in, laughing loudly. They whispered something to Ethan, and he grinned, falling in step with them as they walked off together.
I sighed. Typical.
But the rest of the day was anything but. People who usually ignored me were suddenly saying hi. A girl from my math class asked me to sit with her at lunch. Even Jessica threw me a glance as I passed her table, though her expression was hard to read.
By the time I got home, my head was spinning. Could this be real? Was I finally… visible?
I dropped my bag and headed upstairs to unwind, but something on the porch caught my eye a package. I picked it up, my name scrawled neatly across the top. Inside was a pair of headphones, the exact ones I’d been eyeing online but hadn’t told anyone about.
“Mom?” I called, stepping into the kitchen. “Did you order these?”
She looked at the box. “No. Did you win a contest or something?”
“Not that I know of,” I said, examining the note tucked inside. It was handwritten and simple: From your biggest fans.
My stomach flipped. Who would send this? And how did they know?
Before I could dwell on it, my phone buzzed. Another notification from Echo. I opened it to find a message: “Do you like the gift? There’s more to come.”
I stared at the screen, chills prickling my skin. But when another text came through this time from an actual number I almost dropped my phone.
Hey Mia, it’s Jessica. Want to come over tomorrow? We’re going to be hanging out by the pool.
Jessica Miller? Inviting me over?
I hesitated for a moment, but then the allure of finally fitting in took over.
Sure. What time? I typed back.
As I hit send, I glanced at the package again. My heart was still racing, though I wasn’t sure if it was from excitement, fear, or both.
The next day passed in a blur of whispers and stares. By lunch, I was ready to hide in the library, but Jessica’s invitation lingered in my mind. A part of me was too curious to ignore it.
After school, I found Lily at our lockers. “Jessica invited me over to her house. Want to come?”
Her eyes widened. “Jessica Miller? Seriously? What did she say?”
“She texted me earlier. Said they’re hanging out by the pool.”
Lily adjusted her glasses. “So, does this mean you’re, like, part of their group now?”
I hesitated. “Not exactly. But it could be fun, right? You should come with me.”
Lily frowned. “I don’t know. I’m not even on Echo anymore, much less an influencer on the rise.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. Jessica.
“On your way yet? Just you, though no plus ones. See you soon! ”
Lily caught a glimpse of the message and shrugged. “Figures. I’ll catch you later. Text me if you survive the Mean Girls remake.”
I gave her an apologetic smile. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”
As I walked to Jessica’s house, I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. But when I arrived and saw the sprawling mansion and sparkling pool surrounded by laughing students, guilt gave way to nerves. Was I really supposed to be here?
“Mia!” Jessica’s voice cut through the chatter. She waved from a poolside lounge chair, her designer sunglasses perched on her head.
“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile as I approached.
Jessica grinned, her teeth unnervingly perfect. “So glad you could make it! Love your outfit very… understated.”
I glanced down at my simple jeans and T-shirt, suddenly self-conscious. “Thanks.”
She leaned closer, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “So, tell me, how did you get so many followers? Did you, like, buy them or something? No judgment. Just curious.”
I blinked. “What? No, of course not.”
Jessica tilted her head. “Hmm. Must be nice, though. All that attention out of nowhere. I bet Ethan’s noticed, huh?”
My cheeks burned as I stammered, “I guess so.”
Jessica smirked, clearly pleased with herself, and waved a perfectly manicured hand toward the pool. “Well, enjoy yourself! Ethan’s over there, by the way.”
As she sauntered off, I spotted Ethan near the edge of the pool, chatting with Jake. Summoning my courage, I walked over.
“Hey, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual.
He turned, a grin spreading across his face. “Mia, hey! Didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Yeah, Jessica invited me,” I said, glancing at the water. “I almost didn’t come.”
“Well, glad you did,” he said, his tone warm. “I was just telling Jake about your Echo account. You’re, like, famous now.”
“Hardly,” I laughed nervously. “It’s all happened so fast.”
He nodded. “That app is weird, though. Be careful with it.”
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
Ethan hesitated, glancing around as if to make sure no one was listening. “I don’t know. Just… something about it feels off. Like it’s more than just an app.”
Before I could ask more, Jessica appeared at my side, her smile sharp. “Ethan! Stop hogging Mia. We were just about to take some pictures for Echo.”
Ethan looked at me, his brow furrowing slightly, but he stepped back. “Catch you later, Mia.”
Jessica draped an arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s show off your new celebrity status.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of photos, laughter, and subtle digs from Jessica. By the time I left, my phone was flooded with new likes and comments, but the high of popularity felt hollow.
Walking home, I opened Echo again. My latest post had over 1,700 likes. The comments were just as strange as before:
“Do you hear them yet?”
“Come closer.”
“Welcome to the family.”
I shivered, my earlier excitement giving way to unease. For the first time, I wondered if all this attention was worth it.
The sun was setting as I walked home, a dreamy haze clouding my mind. I couldn’t stop thinking about Ethan how his smile lit up the pool, the way he’d seemed genuinely interested in talking to me. It was surreal.
For once, I felt like I belonged, like I was seen. The strange usernames and unsettling comments on Echo were just quirks of the app, I told myself. Nothing to worry about. Everyone had trolls, right?
Still, a tiny voice nagged at the back of my mind. The attention felt too perfect, too… curated.
I was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice Mr. Grayson until I nearly walked into him.
“Whoa! Easy there,” he said, steadying me with a firm hand.
“Oh! Mr. Grayson, sorry,” I stammered, stepping back. His gray eyes studied me with an intensity that made me squirm.
Mr. Grayson was… well, weird. He owned the dusty antique store on Main Street, the one no one ever seemed to go into unless they were hopelessly lost or needed a prop for a haunted house. No one knew much about him, but he somehow knew everything about everyone else. He always seemed to appear out of nowhere, his gray eyes sharp and a little too observant, like he could see straight into your soul. Definitely a creeper.
“No worries, child,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with something I couldn’t quite place. “You seem distracted. Everything all right?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I said quickly, trying to brush it off. “Just… heading home.”
He nodded slowly, his gaze lingering. “Be careful. Shadows are longer than they seem these days.”
Before I could ask what he meant, he tipped his hat and continued down the street. I watched him for a moment, a chill creeping up my spine, before turning toward home.
The front porch light was already on when I arrived, and sitting neatly in front of the door was a package. My heart sank.
Another gift.
I picked it up, my hands trembling as I tore it open. Inside was a sleek swimsuit and a flowy sundress the kind of outfit that Jessica wouldn’t be able to call “understated” in her mocking tone.
“What the…” I whispered, pulling out a note tucked into the box. It was the same handwriting as before: From your biggest fans
A chill ran through me. How could anyone know about Jessica’s comment? How could this package even be here so soon?
“Mia? Is that you?” Mom called from inside.
“Yeah,” I replied, shoving the package under my arm and heading upstairs as fast as I could. My room felt like the only safe place right now, though even that was starting to feel less true.
I dropped the box onto my bed and stared at it, my mind racing. This wasn’t normal. None of this was normal. My phone buzzed from the bedside table, pulling me back to reality.
I picked it up and opened Echo. Notifications flooded the screen likes, comments, follows. My latest post had skyrocketed past 3,000 likes and was verging on 4,000
But it was the comments that froze me:
“Perfect fit.”
“Looking good, Mia.”
“We’re always watching.”
I backed away from the phone, my chest tightening. This had to stop.
I grabbed my phone, my fingers hovering over the Echo icon. I’d delete it. That would end this madness. But as I stared at the screen, hesitation crept in. Did I really want to give it all up? The attention, the followers, Ethan noticing me?
“It’s just an app,” I whispered to myself. “Delete it.”
My thumb hovered over the icon. Just press it. Do it. But I couldn’t move. My mind reeled with conflicting thoughts. Deleting it would make all of this go away, but what if…
“What if it’s all real?” I whispered.
Taking a deep breath, I finally pressed down on the icon. The ‘Uninstall’ option appeared. I tapped it.
Nothing happened.
I tried again, pushing on the screen more forcefully this time. Still nothing.
“What the heck?” I muttered, tapping furiously.
Suddenly, the screen went black. Then, white words appeared, one by one: “Why leave so soon?”
My heart raced as more words scrolled across the screen: “We’ve only just begun.”
I dropped the phone as if it had burned me, backing away from it until I hit the edge of my bed.
“This isn’t happening,” I whispered.
Desperate for answers, I grabbed my laptop and opened a search engine. My fingers flew over the keyboard as I typed in everything I could think of: Echo app, weird app gaining followers, app won’t delete.
The results were useless. Blog posts about influencer strategies, articles on “safe apps for kids,” and a few forum posts about glitches. But nothing nothing about Echo itself.
I tried again, narrowing my search: creepy apps, mysterious social media platforms.
This time, a few hits caught my eye. Headlines like “Teen Goes Missing After Overnight Rise to Fame” and “Parents Say App Changed Their Son Before Disappearance” sent chills down my spine.
I clicked on one article. It was about a boy in another state who had vanished two weeks ago. His parents were quoted, saying he’d started acting strange after becoming “weirdly popular” on some new app. His friends mentioned how he’d suddenly gained thousands of followers seemingly overnight. They didn’t name the app, but the description was eerily familiar.
Another article talked about a girl in a different town. She had been a nobody at her school until a mysterious app helped her gain “instant fame.” Then, without warning, she disappeared. Her parents mentioned cryptic messages on her phone and strange packages arriving at their house in the days before she vanished.
My stomach churned.
A notification popped up on my laptop screen, interrupting my thoughts. It was from an unknown sender: “Can’t escape us, Mia.”
I slammed the laptop shut, my breath coming in short gasps. The walls of my room seemed to close in around me as my pulse pounded in my ears.
“This isn’t real. It can’t be real,” I whispered, but deep down, I knew it was.
Sleep didn’t come easily that night. Every creak of the house and rustle of the wind outside made me jump. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to convince myself that all the weirdness was just in my head.
“Just stress,” I murmured. “You’re overreacting.”
Eventually, exhaustion overtook my anxiety, and I drifted into a restless sleep filled with strange, fragmented dreams. Shadowy figures reached out to me, their faces blurred and their voices distant. They seemed to be saying something important, but I couldn’t make out the words.
When morning light filtered through my curtains, I woke up feeling more tired than when I’d gone to bed. Rubbing my eyes, I reached for my phone on the nightstand. Part of me dreaded what I might find, but curiosity won out.
The screen lit up, revealing another avalanche of notifications from Echo.
“Five hundred new followers?” I whispered. “This is insane.”
I scrolled through my follower list, half expecting to see familiar names from school, maybe even Ethan. But as I scanned the profiles, my stomach sank. Almost every account was a stranger FlickeringFat, NightLurker, NightmareWeaver. None of them had profile pictures. None of them had bios.
I searched for Ethan’s profile. Nothing. I tried Jessica’s. Gone.
My fingers trembled as I checked more names: Jake, Ashley Moser from Bio none of them were on the app anymore. It was like my classmates were vanishing from Echo entirely. And yet, my follower count kept climbing.
“This can’t be normal,” I muttered.
A new message popped up from a user named VeiledEyes: “Did you sleep well?”
I froze. My heart pounded as I stared at the message. How could they know about my restless night? It had to be a coincidence. It had to be.
“Get a grip,” I told myself, my voice shaky. I shook my head and scrolled back to my profile, forcing a smile as I skimmed the comments:
“Welcome to the family.”
“We’ve been waiting for someone like you.”
“Share more, Mia. We want to see.”
A shiver ran down my spine. These weren’t typical social media comments. They felt… weird. Too personal, too soon.
But then I glanced at my follower count again. Over two-thousand. Strangers or not, that many people were paying attention to me. Watching me. Noticing me.
“Maybe this is just how it works when you blow up,” I said to myself. “It’s probably weird for everyone at first.”
I tried to ignore the uneasy feeling growing in my chest. I was popular now. I was seen. Who cared if most of my followers weren’t people I knew? Wasn’t this what I wanted?
Pulling myself out of bed, I got dressed and headed downstairs. Mom had already left for work, leaving a note on the kitchen counter: “Have a great day! Breakfast is in the fridge. Love, Mom.”
Still groggy, I decided I’d walk to school and use the fresh air to try and collect my thoughts and piece all this weirdness together.
As I grabbed a piece of toast, something caught my eye on the porch a small package. My stomach twisted as I opened the door and picked it up.
Inside was a pair of sleek, designer sunglasses. The same style Jessica had been wearing at the pool yesterday.
There was no note this time, but I didn’t need one. My hands trembled as I pulled out the sunglasses and stared at them. It was impossible. How could anyone know about Jessica’s sunglasses? About her biting comments? How could they have gotten here so fast?
Before I could stop myself, I slipped them on and turned to the hall mirror. They fit perfectly.
A wave of confidence washed over me. I pulled out my phone, snapped a quick selfie, and posted it to Echo with the caption: “Thanks, guys! Love these!”
As I walked out the door and toward school, I felt a little lighter. Maybe I was overthinking all of this. It was just an app. People sent influencers gifts all the time, right?
Today, I’d talk to Lily. She’d help me figure this out.
The walk to school was brisk, the crisp morning air helping to clear my head. As I approached the school gates, I noticed clusters of students huddled together, whispering and glancing in my direction.
"Here we go again," I muttered.
Lily was waiting by my locker, her arms crossed and her expression less than enthusiastic.
“Mia, can we talk?” she asked, not even bothering with a greeting.
“Sure,” I said cautiously, opening my locker.
She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I’m worried about you. This app… it’s weird. You’re acting like it’s normal to have all these strangers following you overnight. I mean, come on Mia. A few hundred, maybe, but your numbers are insane!”
I sighed. “It’s just the internet, Lily. Isn’t that how it works? People blow up out of nowhere all the time.”
“But do you even know who’s following you?” she pressed. “They’re not from school, Mia. They’re strangers. And what about Jessica and Ethan? Have you noticed they’re not even on Echo anymore?”
I hesitated. She wasn’t wrong. My follower list was a sea of faceless profiles with cryptic usernames. Almost no one from school was on there anymore. Even Ethan and Jessica’s accounts had vanished.
Before I could respond, Jessica’s voice cut through the noise. “Mia! There you are!”
Jessica strode toward us, her high heels clicking against the linoleum floor. She was all smiles, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Hey, Jessica,” I said, forcing a smile.
“I just have to say, your latest post is amazing. And those sunglasses? Fabulous.” She gestured dramatically at my face. “I’m so glad some of my taste is rubbing off on you.”
“Uh, thanks?” I replied, unsure if that was a compliment or an insult.
Jessica laughed, looping her arm through mine. “Come on, let’s take a selfie. You’re trending, and I need to be in on this!”
I glanced back at Lily, whose face had turned into a stony mask. Before I could say anything, Jessica dragged me a few steps away and pulled out her phone.
“Okay, ready?” she said, opening the camera app. Then she froze, frowning at the screen. “What the…?”
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Jessica jabbed at her phone. “It’s gone. The app’s gone! It was here yesterday!”
“What do you mean?” I asked, my stomach twisting.
“I mean it’s not on my phone anymore,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. “I can’t even find it in the app store.” She turned her gaze on me, suspicious. “You still have it, don’t you?”
I nodded slowly, holding up my phone. “Yeah… I guess I do.”
Jessica’s smile flickered and then disappeared entirely. “Well, I guess we won’t bother with a selfie then.” She tucked her phone back into her bag, clearly annoyed. “See you around, Mia.”
Without waiting for a response, she stalked off, leaving me standing there, feeling oddly hollow.
As I turned back to Lily, I almost bumped into Ethan.
“Whoa, hey,” he said, flashing me a grin. “Mia!”
“Yeah,” I said, a little breathless. I couldn’t believe how happy Ethan was to see me. Me!
“I saw your new post yesterday,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, I did before the app vanished. It’s weird Echo’s gone from my phone, too.”
“Really?” I asked, feigning surprise. “That’s… strange.”
“Yeah, I can’t even find it in the app store,” he said, shaking his head. “I guess I won’t be able to see your new pics anymore. Shame, though. You’ve got great style.”
My cheeks flushed. “Oh, thanks. That means a lot.”
He smiled again, softer this time. “Just remember what I said, okay? Something about that app is kinda weird. Did you see some of the usernames on there?”
Before I could respond, the warning bell rang. “See you later?” he said, stepping back.
“Yeah, see you,” I replied, watching him disappear into the crowd.
For a moment, I felt lighter, almost giddy. But as I looked down at my phone, the notification icon on Echo flashed insistently, and the unease crept back in.
The rest of the day dragged on. I couldn’t focus on my classes, my mind racing with questions and fears. By the time the final bell rang, I felt drained.
Lily met me at my locker, her expression somewhere between concern and determination.
“Mia, we need to talk,” she said, glancing around as if someone might overhear us.
“About what?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.
She sighed, lowering her voice. “This app. It’s not normal. I tried searching for it during lunch. Not only is it gone from the app store, but the website itself won’t even load. And yet, somehow, you’re still getting notifications and followers? How is that even possible?”
I bit my lip, unsure how to respond. She wasn’t wrong, but admitting that felt like giving up on everything I’d gained.
“I don’t know, okay?” I said finally. “It’s weird, sure, but maybe it’s just some exclusive thing. Who cares if it’s a little different? It’s working for me.”
Lily shook her head. “Mia, come on. Do you even know any of the accounts following you anymore? This app is practically haunting you, and you’re letting it.”
I opened my mouth to argue but stopped when I saw the worry in her eyes. She wasn’t just being nosy she was scared for me.
“Okay,” I said softly. “What do you suggest?”
Lily hesitated, then said, “Mr. Grayson’s shop. He knows about… strange things. Maybe he can help.”
My stomach twisted at the thought of going there. Grayson’s Books & Curiosities was infamous in our town less of a bookstore and more of a creepy antique shop. It looked like a costume store married a magic shop and had a very unsettling baby I’d walked past it a hundred times but had never dared to go inside.
“Fine,” I agreed reluctantly. “Let’s go.”
Grayson’s Books & Curiosities looked even creepier up close. The faded sign hung at an odd angle, and the display window was cluttered with old books, porcelain dolls, and what I could only describe as potion bottles. The door creaked as Lily pushed it open, and a tiny bell jingled overhead.
The air inside was thick with the scent of old paper, incense, and something vaguely herbal. The place was crammed with shelves and display cases, each overflowing with strange trinkets. A mannequin dressed in a Victorian gown stood in one corner, its glassy eyes staring blankly ahead.
“This place is…” I trailed off, struggling to find the right word.
“Exactly what I expected,” Lily finished.
“Ah, welcome,” came a voice from behind a stack of books. Mr. Grayson appeared, adjusting his spectacles. He was tall and thin, with a shock of gray hair that looked like it hadn’t been combed in days. His eyes were sharp, taking in every detail of the room and of us.
“Mia Thompson and Lily Evans, isn’t it?” he said, smiling faintly.
I blinked. “How do you know our names?”
“Small town,” he replied with a shrug. “News travels fast. Especially about a rising star like yourself, Mia. I hear you’re quite the rising star.”
My stomach flipped. “How… how do you know that?”
He chuckled softly. “Oh, I hear things. Now, what brings you to my humble shop?”
Lily shot me a look, silently telling me to explain. I hesitated, then took a deep breath.
“It’s… going to sound crazy,” I began. “But I think I’m being haunted by an app.”
To my surprise, Mr. Grayson didn’t flinch. “Go on,” he said, gesturing for us to sit at a small table near the back.
I told him everything the followers, the disappearing app, the unsettling messages. He listened intently, nodding occasionally. When I finished, he leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful.
“This app of yours,” he said slowly. “It offers popularity, connections, perhaps even power?”
I nodded. “Yeah. But it’s… wrong. I’ve got all these strangers following me. Comments and messages from people I don’t know. It’s like it’s not even real.”
“Not real,” he murmured. “Or perhaps more real than you’d like to believe.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.
He stood and walked over to a shelf filled with dusty tomes. “Sometimes, the veil between our world and the next grows thin. Technology, like anything else, can become a conduit.”
“You’re saying it’s supernatural?” Lily asked, leaning forward.
“Perhaps,” he said, flipping through a leather-bound book. “Or perhaps it’s simply a tool for those who are no longer with us to reach out.”
I swallowed hard. “I just want it to stop.”
Mr. Grayson paused, then turned to us with a slip of paper. “There is a way, but it requires courage. Tonight, at midnight, open the app and speak these words. It should allow you to confront whatever is reaching out to you and, hopefully, sever the connection.”
I stared at the strange symbols on the paper. “And if it doesn’t work?”
He smiled enigmatically. “Then you’ll have your answer, won’t you?”
I exchanged a glance with Lily, who gave me an encouraging nod.
“Okay,” I said reluctantly. “I’ll do it.”
“Be careful, Mia,” Mr. Grayson warned. “The unseen world is full of wonders and dangers.”
As we left the shop, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the sidewalk. The note felt heavy in my pocket, as if it were more than just a piece of paper.
Outside, Lily turned to me. “You okay?”
I hesitated, my thoughts swirling. “I don’t know. I’m not sure I want to do this.”
“Mia,” she said gently. “This app isn’t worth it. You know that.”
I nodded, but the knot in my stomach tightened. She was right. But walking away from all the attention, all the validation… Could I really do it?
That night, after dinner, I told Mom I wasn’t feeling well and headed up to my room early.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she said, her voice full of concern.
“I will,” I promised, though I doubted I’d be able to explain what I really needed.
Upstairs, I sat on my bed, clutching my phone like it was both a lifeline and a curse. The Echo app icon glowed faintly on the screen. Was that my imagination? I set the phone aside and tried to distract myself, pulling out my sketchpad.
After a while, I gave in and snapped a picture of my latest sketch a half-finished drawing of a girl surrounded by twisting shadows. I hesitated for a moment before posting it to Echo with the caption: "Work in progress. What do you think?"
Almost immediately, the likes began pouring in. The comments followed:
"Beautiful as always."
"Such talent!"
"We see you, Mia. Keep sharing."
I bit my lip, my heart pounding. It felt good too good. All my life, I’d been invisible, but now people saw me. They appreciated me. Sure, they were strangers, but wasn’t this what fame was like? Didn’t every influencer start out like this?
Before I knew it, I was taking selfies, experimenting with angles and lighting, and posting those too. Each picture got hundreds of likes.
As midnight approached, I sat back on my bed, scrolling through the flood of praise. The little voice in my head the one that told me this wasn’t normal was almost drowned out by the rush of validation.
How could I delete this?
But then my eyes fell on the note Mr. Grayson had given me. The strange symbols stared back at me, as if daring me to go through with it. My stomach churned. What if I didn’t delete it? What if I just… ignored the weirdness and kept going?
I glanced at the clock: 11:58 p.m.
My phone buzzed with another notification:
"Almost time, Mia."
My heart dropped. Taking a deep breath, I picked up the phone and tapped the Echo icon.
The app opened, but instead of the usual feed, a live video filled the screen. It was my room, exactly as it was now.
“What the…” I looked around, but of course, I was alone.
The screen flickered. For a moment, I thought it was just static until I saw them. Shadowy figures, dozens of them, amassed behind me on the feed.
I spun around, my breath catching in my throat. Nothing. The room was empty. But when I looked back at the phone, the figures were still there, growing clearer with every second.
My hands shook as I grabbed the note. “Audite me, qui transierunt,” I whispered, stumbling over the unfamiliar words.
The screen flickered violently, and the shadows shifted, coalescing into a face. It was still blurry, but it felt like it was staring straight at me.
“Mia,” a voice whispered from the phone, though it echoed around the room as if it were coming from the walls themselves.
“Who are you?” I stammered.
“We are the forgotten,” the voice said. “The unseen. You can help us.”
“Help you?” I repeated, panic rising in my chest.
“By sharing our stories. Through you, we can be remembered.”
The figures on the screen began to stretch toward me, tendrils of shadow reaching out.
“No!” I shouted. “Leave me alone!”
I tried to close the app, but the screen froze. The tendrils stretched closer, the air in the room turning icy.
Desperate, I shouted the words again, louder this time: “Audite me, qui transierunt!”
The room filled with a piercing sound, like a scream that wasn’t quite human. The shadows recoiled, and the screen went dark. My phone dropped from my hands as I collapsed onto the bed, trembling.
“It’s over,” I whispered, tears streaming down my face. “It has to be.”
But then, from the darkness of the screen, a single message appeared:
"That won’t hold us for long."
My breath caught. Suddenly, the lights in my room flickered and went out, plunging me into darkness.
I wasn’t alone.
Darkness enveloped my room, the kind that swallows you whole. My heart pounded like a drum in my ears. I fumbled for the lamp on my nightstand, but flicking the switch did nothing. Great power outage.
"Calm down, Mia," I whispered to myself. "It's just a coincidence."
I grabbed my phone the only source of light and tapped the screen. It illuminated, but instead of my home screen, a swirling vortex filled the display. The Echo app icon was gone.
"What is going on?" I muttered, a knot forming in my stomach.
A sudden tapping noise came from the window. I froze. The tapping grew more insistent.
"Probably just a tree branch," I told myself, though I knew there were no trees close enough to my window.
Gathering every ounce of courage, I approached the window and slowly pulled back the curtain. Nothing. Just the empty street lit by a solitary flickering streetlamp.
I exhaled sharply, relief washing over me. "Get a grip, Mia."
Just then, my phone buzzed violently in my hand. I looked down to see a notification from an app I didn't recognize a black icon with a white silhouette.
"New message from VoidedRealm."
I tapped the notification, and a chat window opened.
"Did you enjoy the darkness?" the message read.
My breath caught in my throat. Hands trembling, I typed back, "Who are you? What do you want?"
Almost immediately, a reply appeared. "We want you to see."
"See what?" I typed.
The typing indicator flickered, then stopped. No response.
Suddenly, the power surged back on, and my room was flooded with light. I blinked, my eyes adjusting. The app and the conversation had vanished from my phone, as if it never existed.
I sank onto my bed, trying to steady my breathing. "This can't be happening."
The morning light streamed through my window, soft and golden, coaxing me awake earlier than usual. I groaned and rolled over, rubbing my eyes. For a moment, I lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything that had happened the night before.
The app was gone. Completely gone. I had checked my phone again before falling asleep or had I? The memory was hazy now, tangled with the strange dreams of shadows and whispers. The flickering lights, the chilling messages… they couldn’t have been real. It must have been my imagination running wild. I’d done the ritual, probably drifted off afterward, and dreamed the rest.
But if that was true, why did I feel like something was missing?
I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. No notifications. No Echo. The swirling vortex was gone, replaced by my boring, normal home screen. I stared at it, torn between relief and disappointment.
Had I made the right choice? Cutting off Echo, abandoning the validation, the connection it felt like ripping out a piece of myself.
With a sigh, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. Mom wasn’t up yet; the house was still and quiet. Too restless to sit still, I grabbed my sketchpad and pencil from the desk and plopped onto the floor by the window, letting the morning light wash over the page.
For a while, I sketched aimlessly lines and shapes that didn’t mean anything. But soon, my hand found its rhythm, and a new idea began to take shape. A figure emerged on the page: a girl standing in the center of a swirling thunderstorm, surrounded by shadowy tendrils reaching for her. Her face was defiant, her stance strong, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt.
I sat back, studying the drawing. It was raw and messy, but it felt… honest.
I pulled out my phone instinctively, my thumb hovering over the screen. But there was nothing to do. No app to open, no followers to share this with. The absence hit me like a weight in my chest. No one was waiting to see my sketches, to comment, to tell me I was talented and special.
I thought about the comments I’d gotten before: Beautiful work! You’re so talented! Keep sharing, Mia.
No one had ever cared about my art like that before. About me like that before. Echo had given me something I’d never had an audience, approval, belonging.
And now, it was gone.
I ran my fingers over the edge of the sketchpad, a hollow ache settling in my chest. “Maybe I was wrong,” I whispered to myself. “Maybe I shouldn’t have done the ritual.”
Then it happened.
The familiar ping of a notification broke the stillness. My heart jumped as I snatched up my phone. There, at the top of the screen, was a message:
“New notification from Echo.”
My breath caught. The app’s icon had returned, as if it had never left. I hesitated for a long moment before opening it. The feed loaded instantly, vibrant and alive.
There it was the sketch I’d posted last night. Shared and reshared by several art-centric accounts, the captions gushing with praise:
“Incredible detail! Check out this up-and-coming artist!”
“A unique voice in the art world. Follow MiaEcho for more!”
The post had hundreds of likes already, the numbers climbing by the second.
I stared at the screen, equal parts bewildered and exhilarated. How? How was the app back? How was this happening?
I didn’t understand it. But as the likes and comments poured in, the hollow ache in my chest began to fade. The warmth of validation washed over me, familiar and comforting.
Maybe I didn’t need to understand.
Maybe I didn’t want to.
By the time I got dressed and went downstairs, Mom still wasn’t up. She’d worked a late shift the night before. I grabbed a piece of toast and sat by the window with my sketchpad, flipping through my unfinished drawings. The one from this morning the girl standing in the storm stared back at me, raw and striking.
It was good. Maybe even my best work.
I snapped a picture of the sketch, tilting the page toward the morning light. My thumb hovered over the Echo app. I hesitated for only a moment before posting it. “Rough morning sketch. Thoughts?” I typed.
The likes and comments poured in almost immediately. “Incredible!” “Your talent is unmatched!” “Keep sharing, Mia.”
The warmth of validation spread through me like a drug. I didn’t understand how the app was back, but maybe I didn’t need to. Maybe this was just… how it was supposed to be.
“Mia!”
I jumped at the sound of Lily’s voice. She was standing in the doorway, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight of me holding up my phone.
“Were you just posting on Echo?” she asked, her tone sharp.
I fumbled for an answer. “I… I was just ”
“Are you kidding me?” she hissed, storming over. “I thought you did the ritual! You told me you wanted to get rid of this thing!”
“I did the ritual!” I protested. “But the app came back this morning. I don’t know how!”
Lily folded her arms, her expression a mix of exasperation and concern. “Mia, don’t you think that means the ritual didn’t work? This isn’t normal. None of this is normal.”
I glanced at my phone, the latest comments still lighting up the screen. “It’s just an app, Lily. Maybe it’s glitchy, but it’s harmless.”
“Harmless?” she repeated incredulously. “Mia, the app disappeared from the store and from everyone else’s phones. How are you still getting followers and likes on a dead app, and why do you even care?”
Before I could respond, the sound of the bus pulling up outside interrupted us.
The bus ride to school was filled with whispers and stolen glances. As Lily and I walked down the aisle, I caught snippets of conversations.
“Did you see her artwork?”
“Those sunglasses in her post yesterday were amazing.”
“Wait, how is she still on Echo? Mine disappeared!”
I felt my cheeks flush, unsure whether it was from embarrassment or pride. Lily, on the other hand, looked like she was ready to scream.
“You can’t ignore this, Mia,” she muttered under her breath as we found seats near the back. “We need to go back to Mr. Grayson. He’ll know what to do.”
I sighed. “Fine. After school.”
As soon as we stepped off the bus, Ethan appeared, making a beeline for me in the crowded hallway.
“Hey, Mia,” he said, flashing that easy smile.
“Oh, hey, Ethan,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Jake showed me your sketch on Echo this morning,” he said. “It’s amazing. I had no idea you were an artist.”
My heart did a little flip. “You think so? Thanks. It’s just something I do to pass the time.”
“No, seriously,” he said, his voice sincere. “You’ve got real talent. You should post more of your stuff. People need to see it.”
I smiled, the rush of his approval blending with the buzz of my phone as new notifications rolled in. “Maybe I will.”
“I just wish I could get the app back. Jake’s one of the only people I know who’s still on it,” he shrugged.
As Ethan walked away, I pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture of another drawing in my sketchpad. Within seconds, it was up on Echo, and the likes began climbing.
“Seriously?” Lily’s voice cut through the noise as she reappeared at my side.
“What?” I said defensively.
She rolled her eyes. “We’re going back to Grayson’s after school. No excuses.”
“Fine,” I said, slipping my phone into my bag. “Let’s just get through the day first.”
When classes finally ended, Lily practically dragged me back to Grayson’s Books & Curiosities. The little bell above the door jingled as we stepped inside, the familiar scent of old books and incense wrapping around us.
“Back so soon?” Mr. Grayson greeted, his sharp eyes flicking between us. There was no mistaking the knowing glint in his gaze. “I take it the ritual didn’t go as planned.”
“It didn’t work,” Lily said bluntly. “The app came back this morning, and things are getting worse.”
I shifted uncomfortably, clutching my bag. “I mean… it’s not that bad.”
Lily spun to face me. “Not that bad? Mia, the app is literally haunting you, and you’re acting like it’s a normal social media glitch!”
Grayson’s expression darkened. “The app returned?” He turned his full attention to me, his eyes narrowing. “Have you continued to use it?”
I hesitated. “Well, I… I posted a couple of things. It’s not like I ”
“You engaged with it?” Grayson’s voice sharpened, and he stood abruptly, pacing to a shelf filled with ancient tomes. “And accepted gifts?”
I faltered. “I didn’t think ”
“That’s exactly the problem,” Lily interrupted, crossing her arms. “She’s been soaking up the attention and pretending this isn’t a big deal.”
Grayson stopped pacing, his face grim. “You don’t understand what you’ve done. By continuing to use the app, you’ve invited the spirits back. The ritual wasn’t just reversed it strengthened their connection to you.”
My stomach sank, but I couldn’t deny the truth of his words. “So… what does that mean?”
Lily chimed in, her voice hushed. “I’ve noticed something, too. The app it’s disappearing again. Other people’s profiles are steadily vanishing.”
Grayson turned to her, his expression grim. “Then it’s clear. Mia, you are the one they want now. The spirits have decided to focus their attention solely on you.”
The weight of his words hit me like a punch to the gut. “Why me?”
“Because you’ve embraced them,” Grayson said. “Every post, every gift you’ve accepted it’s a declaration. You’ve welcomed their presence, and now they’ve chosen you.”
Lily looked horrified. “Mr. Grayson, there has to be a way to stop this.”
Grayson nodded, though his expression remained grim. “There is one possibility.” He gestured for us to sit at the small table in the corner, already cluttered with books and scrolls. From a nearby shelf, he pulled a thick leather-bound tome and flipped it open, stopping at a page filled with intricate symbols.
“There’s a legend of an artifact,” he began, “a mirror said to act as a portal between worlds. It’s called the Veilglass. Through it, one can confront the spirits directly and sever their connection but it’s dangerous. The mirror is a tool, but also a trap. Many who sought to use it were lost to it.”
I stared at the book, the symbols swimming before my eyes. “Where is it?”
Grayson hesitated before answering. “The mirror is in my possession at Oakwood Mansion.”
My heart sank. Of course it was. Everyone in town knew about Oakwood Mansion. Perched on the edge of the forest, it was the house no one dared approach, the one kids whispered about on Halloween but never visited.
“You own the mansion?” Lily asked, wide-eyed.
Grayson nodded, his expression unreadable. “It was left to me by my great-grandfather, a man deeply involved in the occult. He believed the mansion to be a nexus point a place where the barriers between worlds were thin. The mirror has been kept there ever since, contained to prevent its influence from spreading.”
“But it’s already spreading,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Grayson’s gaze softened slightly. “Yes. Its power is reaching beyond its bounds, likely drawn by your connection to the spirits.”
“This just keeps getting better and better,” I muttered.
Grayson ignored my sarcasm. “The Veilglass is your only chance. If you confront the spirits directly and sever the bond, you may free yourself from their influence. But time is of the essence. The longer you wait, the stronger their hold will become.”
I glanced at Lily, who looked as uneasy as I felt. “So we just… go to the mansion and face this mirror?” I asked.
“It won’t be easy,” Grayson warned. “The spirits may not relinquish their claim without a fight.”
Lily turned to me, her voice firm. “We have to do this, Mia. You can’t keep living like this.”
I nodded reluctantly, my stomach twisting into knots. “Fine. When do we go?”
Grayson’s gaze held mine, unflinching. “Tonight.”
Mr. Grayson handed me a small leather pouch with something inside. It felt heavy and cool against my palm.
“This pouch,” he said, his voice low and serious, “contains a crystal shard I obtained decades ago. You must take it out and hold it as you offer something meaningful something that ties you to the spirits to sever the connection.”
I swallowed hard. “Offer what?”
“Only you can determine that,” he replied cryptically.
I slipped the pouch into my bag and left the shop with Lily as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the streets in shadow.
“Are you sure about this?” Lily asked, her voice uneasy as we walked.
“No,” I admitted. “But I don’t think I have a choice.”
We approached Oakwood Mansion, the legendary house that loomed over the edge of the town like a ghost. Its windows glinted darkly in the moonlight, and the weathered wood groaned softly in the breeze.
The gate creaked as we pushed it open, and weeds scraped against our legs as we followed the overgrown path. The mansion itself was massive, its Gothic architecture draped in ivy and shadow.
“This place is straight out of a nightmare,” Lily whispered.
“Let’s just find the mirror and get this over with,” I said, though my voice was trembling.
Inside, the air was thick and musty, heavy with the scent of decay. Dust swirled in the beams of our flashlights as we moved through the mansion. Each room was filled with strange, unsettling relics: porcelain dolls with cracked faces, furniture draped in stained sheets, paintings of eyes that seemed to follow us.
“Who even owns this place now?” Lily asked.
“Grayson,” I muttered. “Of course.”
We moved deeper into the house, the floorboards creaking under our feet. Finally, we came to a grand hall dominated by a massive, ornate mirror. Its gilded frame was covered in carvings of twisting vines and faces, their expressions caught between agony and ecstasy.
“That’s it,” I said, my heart pounding.
The mirror looked perfectly normal at first just a reflection of two scared girls in a dusty mansion. Lily approached it cautiously, running her hand over its cool, smooth surface.
“Nothing,” she said, her voice laced with relief.
But when I stepped closer, the glass began to ripple like water. I froze, my breath catching in my throat.
“Mia…”
The voice was soft, faint, but unmistakable. It was calling my name.
“What was that?” Lily asked, backing away.
I reached out hesitantly, my fingers trembling as they brushed the surface. The mirror rippled again, and voices spilled out, louder now, overlapping one another in a haunting chorus.
“Miaaaa… You’re the one we want.”
Lily grabbed my arm. “Mia, stop. Don’t listen to them.”
The voices hissed in response. “Don’t let her ruin this for you. She’s jealous. You’re special, Mia. We’ve chosen you.”
I turned to Lily, my heart splitting in two. The attention, the validation, the importance it was everything I’d ever wanted.
Lily shook me, snapping me out of my daze. “Mia, please! Use the tool Grayson gave you! Break the connection!”
I fumbled with the leather pouch, my hands shaking. The spirits’ voices grew louder, their tone pleading.
“Don’t listen to her! You belong with us, Mia! We’ll make you great. Famous. Loved.”
Tears stung my eyes. I wanted to believe them.
Then, without warning, Lily was yanked backward, her feet scraping against the floor as if pulled by an invisible force. She screamed, her arms flailing as she was dragged closer to the mirror.
“Lily!” I cried, panic surging through me.
She clung to a piece of furniture, her fingers whitening as she fought against the pull. “Mia, do something!”
My mind raced. The pouch. The crystal. I pulled it out and held it toward the mirror, but nothing happened. The spirits laughed, their voices mocking.
“It’s useless, Mia. You’re ours now.”
Desperate, I looked at Lily my best friend, my real friend her face pale with fear.
I grabbed my phone and stared at the Echo app icon. “You want me?” I screamed at the mirror. “Then take this!”
With all my strength, I hurled the phone at the mirror. It struck the glass and sank into it, as though plunging into water.
The mirror rippled violently, then solidified. Cracks shot through its surface, spiderwebbing outward.
“Noooo!” the spirits howled.
With a deafening crash, the mirror shattered, sending shards flying across the room. The force of it threw me and Lily to the ground.
When the dust settled, the room was silent. The mirror was gone only its empty frame remained, its carvings lifeless and dull.
“Mia?” Lily’s voice was shaky as she sat up, brushing dust from her clothes.
“I’m here,” I said, crawling over to her.
We looked at the shattered glass scattered across the floor. The room felt lighter, emptier. Whatever had been in the mirror was gone.
“Is it over?” Lily asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure.
As we stepped out of the mansion into the cool night air, I felt the weight of my phone’s absence in my pocket. For the first time in days, the silence was comforting.
The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Sunlight streamed through my window, and for once, I felt calm. I stretched, reaching instinctively for my phone before remembering I didn’t have one anymore.
A small smile tugged at my lips as I pulled my hand back. No buzzing notifications, no cryptic messages, no app pulling me into a nightmare. It was… peaceful.
I got dressed slowly, savoring the quiet. When I headed downstairs, the smell of pancakes greeted me.
“Morning, honey,” Mom called from the kitchen, flipping a golden disk onto a plate. “You seem chipper. Sleep well?”
“Actually, yeah,” I said, grabbing a plate and sitting at the table. “It’s nice not having a phone to worry about.”
Mom’s head whipped around so fast I thought she’d get whiplash. “Wait, what happened to your phone?”
“Oh,” I stammered, realizing I’d said too much. “I, uh… I think I left it at school.”
She raised an eyebrow, giving me the patented Mom Glare. “You just left it? You’re not worried about it getting stolen?”
“Not really,” I said with a shrug. “Honestly, it’s been kind of relaxing not staring at a screen all the time.”
She blinked, clearly not expecting that answer. “Well… okay, I guess. But you better find it soon. Phones don’t grow on trees, you know.”
“Got it,” I said, focusing on my pancakes and hoping she’d let it go.
At school, things felt surprisingly normal. Lily and I walked down the hallway together, laughing about some joke she’d heard in English class. It was nice like old times.
“See?” Lily said, nudging me. “No haunted apps, no creepy messages. We’re finally back to normal.”
I grinned. “Yeah, maybe we are.”
Jessica passed us in the hall, her clique trailing behind her. She didn’t bother to insult me this time, just shot me a dismissive glare.
“Yup,” Lily said cheerfully. “Completely back to normal.”
But my sense of calm didn’t last long.
As I was rummaging through my locker, Ethan appeared out of nowhere, nearly making me jump.
“Hey, Mia,” he said, his face lighting up with a grin.
“Oh, hey, Ethan,” I said, trying to sound casual.
“I’ve got to say, last night’s ghost hunting stream was insane,” he said. “The effects with the mirror? Next-level. And Lily was so convincing!”
I froze, my mind scrambling. “What… what are you talking about?”
“Your livestream,” Ethan said, looking confused. “You know, on the Echo app? Me and Jake were watching it at his place last night.”
“Echo?” Lily interjected, her voice sharp. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah,” Ethan said, glancing between us. “Your followers sure got into it, too. The comments were going wild with people trying to stay in character.”
My stomach dropped. “I don’t have my phone,” I said, my voice weak.
Ethan frowned. “Well, someone was using it. Anyway, killer stream. You guys nailed the creepy vibe.”
He walked off, leaving me and Lily staring after him.
“That’s not possible,” I whispered.
Lily grabbed my arm. “Mia, check your locker.”
“What?”
“Just check it!” she insisted.
Reluctantly, I turned back to my locker and flung it open. There, sitting neatly on top of my books, was my phone.
“Oh, no,” I whispered.
Lily looked over my shoulder, her face pale. “Mia, didn’t you throw that into the mirror?”
I nodded slowly, my hands trembling as I reached for it. The screen lit up immediately, and a flood of notifications spilled across the display:
"New likes on last night’s stream!"
"Amazing content, Mia!"
"More mirror rituals, please!"
I stared at the screen, my chest tightening.
“They livestreamed it,” Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The app livestreamed the whole thing.”
My knees buckled, and I leaned against the locker for support. The phone buzzed in my hand, another notification appearing at the top of the screen:
"They’re watching, Mia. Keep going."
"No," I whispered, staring at my phone in disbelief.
“What is it?” Lily asked, her voice edged with panic as she saw my expression.
“It’s back,” I said, turning the screen to show her the Echo app icon glowing brightly, as if it had never disappeared.
“That’s impossible!” Lily snapped. “We destroyed the connection. I was there!”
“Apparently, the app didn’t get the memo,” I muttered.
I hesitated for a moment before tapping the icon. A message popped up:
“Did you think you could escape us so easily?”
My stomach twisted.
Lily’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and froze. “Mia… I have it too.”
“What?” I turned to look, my pulse quickening. The same icon stared back at us from her screen.
All around the cafeteria, phones buzzed and chimed. Confused murmurs rose as students began pulling out their devices.
“What’s going on?” someone asked, holding up their phone.
“It’s that app Echo,” another student said, their voice tinged with confusion.
Ethan rushed over to us, his phone in hand. “Hey! Echo just came back. What’s happening?”
The buzz grew louder as more notifications flooded in. Students whispered to one another, some laughing nervously, others frowning in confusion.
Then it got worse.
My pictures my sketches, selfies, and my videos began appearing on everyone’s screens. Each phone seemed to light up with a different piece of my content, spreading like wildfire.
“Is this some kind of joke?” Jessica’s sharp voice cut through the noise. She was staring at her phone, her lips curled into a sneer. “Nice try, Mia. Desperate for attention much?”
Before I could respond, the lights in the hall flickered. A cold breeze swept through, causing locker doors to slam open
The phones went dark, and a deep, unnatural silence settled over the room.
Then, in unison, every phone lit up with the same message:
“We are here.”
Screams erupted as shadowy figures materialized at the edges of every corner, their forms twisting like smoke caught in a violent storm.
“Everyone, out! Now!” a teacher shouted, her voice cracking with fear.
Chaos broke loose. Students stumbled over backpacks and each other as they bolted for the exits, their shrieks blending into the sinister whispers of the shadows.
Lily grabbed my arm, her fingers digging into my skin. “Mia, what is this?! What’s happening?”
“It’s them,” I whispered. “They’re back.”
“Then we need to go!”
We shoved through the fleeing crowd, Ethan joining us as we headed for the hallway. “The gym!” he yelled. “It’s got reinforced doors!”
The shadows seemed to corral us, slamming doors shut along the way, funneling us toward the gymnasium.
“This is definitely a trap,” Lily panted.
“Yeah,” I muttered, pushing open the heavy doors.
Inside, we slammed the doors shut behind us, but the uneasy silence didn’t last long. A faint glow spread from the center of the gym floor. A figure began to emerge tall, shifting, its ember-like eyes burning with intent.
“Miaaa…” The voice reverberated through the room, sharp and chilling.
“Mia, what do they want?” Ethan asked, his voice shaking.
“Me,” I said. “They think I belong to them because of the app.”
“Why would they think that?” Lily asked.
The figure’s voice hissed, cutting through the room. “You connected with us. You accepted our gifts, and in doing so… you accepted the terms.”
I froze. “The… terms?”
“Yesssss,” the figure hissed, its burning eyes narrowing. “The terms and conditions. ”
I blinked, suddenly realizing something I hadn’t considered before. “Wait… I didn’t. I never agreed to anything!”
The figure’s towering form faltered slightly, like a flicker in a bad signal. “What?”
“I never accepted the terms,” I repeated. “There was no terms and conditions screen when I installed the app.”
“Impossible,” the figure growled. “You cannot install without accepting the terms and conditions.”
“Well, I did,” I said, crossing my arms. “And it’s not just me. None of us got the prompt, did we?”
I glanced around. Hesitant murmurs rippled through the students who had made it into the gym.
“I didn’t,” one kid said.
“Me neither!” another piped up.
The whispers grew louder, and Jessica’s voice rang out, sharp and incredulous. “Wait you mean that’s why the app was free? They didn’t even make us sign anything?”
The shadow figure reeled, its form wavering violently. “No… this cannot be. You are lying!”
“She’s not lying,” Lily said firmly. “None of us got your terms and conditions.”
The figure let out an enraged shriek, the gym filling with swirling tendrils of shadow. “It is null! You are all null!”
“Guess that means your little deal is off,” I said, my voice steady despite my racing heart. “I don’t owe you anything. None of us do.”
The shadows hissed, retreating slightly before surging forward again. “You cannot reject us! We own you!”
I stepped forward, my voice rising. “No, you don’t! I don’t want your gifts, your followers, your fame none of it. I’m not your bridge, and I’m not your host. Go find someone else to haunt because my channel is closed.”
The ember-eyed figure lunged toward me, its form a vortex of rage, but just as it reached me, the gym’s lights blazed to life. The shadows shrieked, recoiling violently.
One by one, the shadows dissipated, fading into nothing. Around the room, phones fell silent. The Echo app vanished from every screen, leaving behind nothing but the regular home menus.
Ethan glanced around, his face pale. “Is it… over?”
Lily put a hand on my shoulder, her expression both relieved and wary. “It has to be.”
I nodded slowly, though a shiver ran down my spine as I glanced at the now-empty gym.
“Maybe,” I said. “But I’m not taking any chances. ”
I pressed the power button on my phone and watched with satisfaction as it shut down.
Life settled into its old, predictable rhythm. Invisible Mia Thompson was back in action.
The hallways of Ridgewood High bustled as usual, with students buzzing about tests, crushes, and the latest gossip all of which no longer involved me.
My month-long detention had sealed my social exile. Most people assumed my “big spooky influencer stunt” was some desperate bid for attention. Jessica, of course, took every opportunity to remind me of how “pathetic” I was, her sneering remarks punctuated by the exaggerated laughs of her friends.
Ethan? Well, he didn’t avoid me exactly, but he definitely wasn’t going out of his way to talk to me anymore. Except…
As I passed him in the hallway, I could’ve sworn he glanced my way and smiled.
No. Couldn’t be. Probably just a coincidence.
And honestly? I was okay with being invisible again.
Without Echo, things were quieter, simpler. I didn’t miss the notifications, the likes, or even the weird validation. At least now, when I sketched or worked on a project, I knew it was for me and not for the approval of strangers.
After school, I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed toward the lockers, looking for Lily. We’d made it a habit to walk to home together after school. It’s amazing how nice a walk can be when you’re not staring at a screen the whole time.
I spotted her near the end of the hall, laughing with someone.
Jake.
He leaned casually against the lockers, his easy grin on full display.
“Nice filter work, Evans,” he said, nodding toward Lily’s phone. “You’ve got an eye for this stuff. Can’t wait to see the post!”
With that, he gave her a playful salute and jogged off.
I stopped in my tracks.
Lily turned to me, practically beaming. “Mia! You’re not going to believe this!”
“What… was that?” I asked slowly, nodding toward her phone.
“Oh! Jake’s been helping me test out this amazing new app,” she said, holding up her screen.
The glowing icon was impossible to miss.
A sleek ripple effect.
A simple name in bold, minimalist font: Pulse.
My stomach sank as Lily grinned at me, completely oblivious.
“It’s the next big thing!” she gushed.
I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out.
The hallway suddenly felt colder.