BEHIND THE MASK

Yanna hummed softly to herself as she stirred a pot on the stove, the scent of garlic and herbs filling her cozy condo. She’d been looking forward to a quiet night in, a rare break from the chaotic days spent juggling cheer practices and classes. She reached for her phone to check the recipe again when the voice of a newscaster caught her attention. She glanced over at the small TV on her kitchen counter, noticing the words scrolling across the bottom of the screen: Breaking News: Young Woman Found Dead in Neighboring Village Yanna’s hand froze, and she turned up the volume, a chill running through her. The newscaster’s somber voice filled the room, describing how a young woman, around her own age, had been found in a nearby village under mysterious circumstances. Her stomach twisted as she listened, an uncomfortable feeling settling over her. Though she didn’t know the girl, the village they mentioned was just a short drive away. It hit close to home, too close. Swallowing hard, she turned back to her pot, but her focus was gone. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of the girl’s family, wondering what kind of nightmare they must be going through. The quiet of her apartment felt heavier now, the warmth of her meal unable to chase away the unease that had settled in her bones. She made a mental note to remind her friends to be extra cautious, the idea of anyone she cared about in harm's way making her stomach turn. Yanna’s eyes were glued to the screen, her heart racing as the newscaster continued. They described the last known whereabouts of the girl, mentioning that she had been seen just hours before in a lively part of town. Suddenly, her phone rang, cutting through the tense silence in her condo. Yanna jumped, her hand flying to her chest as she exhaled, realizing it was just her phone. She picked it up and saw “Trishia” flashing on the screen. “Hey, Yanna!” Trishia’s familiar, cheerful voice came through the line. “Sorry for disturbing you! I just realized I don’t have any notes for tomorrow’s exam, and I figured you’d be my saving grace.” Yanna forced a small laugh, trying to shake off the chill from the news. “You scared me, Trish. I was watching something intense.” “Oh, sorry!” Trishia said, sounding genuinely apologetic. “Wait, what are you watching?” Yanna glanced back at the TV, where the newscaster was now showing a photo of the missing girl, a pretty young woman with a bright smile. “Just… the news. It’s about a girl who was found dead in the next village over. It’s kind of freaking me out.” “Oh my god,” Trishia breathed, the lightness in her tone replaced by concern. “That’s so creepy. I was just there last weekend! Okay, now you’ve got me paranoid.” Yanna sighed, looking away from the TV and focusing on Trishia’s voice to calm herself down. “Yeah, it’s scary. Anyway, about the notes – don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I’ll send you the pictures tonight.” “Oh, thank you, thank you!” Trishia sighed with relief. “And hey… stay safe, okay?” “You too, Trish,” Yanna replied, managing a small smile. They said their goodbyes, and as Yanna hung up, she took a deep breath, glancing one last time at the TV before finally turning it off. With her dinner ready, Yanna took her bowl, letting the warmth from the dish soothe her hands as she made her way to the living room. She settled into the sofa, tucking her legs up beside her, and took a bite, savoring the comforting flavors. As she ate, she unlocked her phone and started scrolling absentmindedly. Her feed was filled with the usual mix—friends posting pictures, motivational quotes, funny videos, and updates from classmates stressing over tomorrow’s exam. A few friends had even posted eerie warnings, urging everyone to stay safe after hearing about the incident in the nearby village. Yanna felt a shiver again, reminded of the news report she'd just watched. She scrolled faster, looking for something lighter, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the girl in the news. She tried to shake it off, telling herself it was just paranoia creeping in. A meme popped up on her screen, and she chuckled softly, feeling herself relax a bit. Trishia had shared it, tagging her with the caption, “For all the late-night cramming tonight!” Yanna smiled, tapping a quick like and responding with a laughing emoji. As she took another bite, she thought about texting Trishia again, maybe even inviting her over just to have some company. But as she debated, her gaze drifted to the door, and she realized how quiet her apartment felt. She took a slow breath, deciding she’d feel better once she double-checked her locks—just in case. After finishing her dinner, Yanna carried her bowl to the sink and rinsed it out, her mind still buzzing with thoughts from the news. She tried to shake off the lingering tension as she headed to the bathroom, deciding a hot shower might help her relax. She turned on the water and waited for it to warm up, then stepped in, letting the heat wash over her. Closing her eyes, she tried to lose herself in the comfort of the shower, the steady sound of water drowning out her thoughts. For a moment, it worked, and she began to unwind, the stress of the day melting away. But then, a prickling sensation ran down her spine. It was subtle at first, just a slight awareness creeping in, but it grew until it felt almost tangible—a strange, unsettling feeling, as if someone were watching her. Her eyes snapped open, and she froze, her heart pounding as she looked toward the small window across from the shower. The window was fogged from the steam, but she could still make out the faint outlines beyond it. She held her breath, staring, trying to convince herself that she was just imagining things. After all, it wasn’t even possible for someone to be out there—her apartment was on the second floor, and the window overlooked an empty alleyway. Still, the sensation didn’t leave. She quickly turned her back to the window, hurrying through the rest of her shower, her senses on high alert. Every tiny sound seemed magnified, echoing in her mind. Finally, she shut off the water and grabbed her towel, stepping out and wrapping it tightly around herself. She cast a final wary glance at the window before heading back to her room, heart still racing. As Yanna stepped into her room, she instinctively locked the door behind her, her fingers fumbling a bit on the latch. Her heart was still racing from that strange moment in the shower, but she took a deep breath, telling herself it was just her imagination. —