Chapter 1: The Day Shadows Began to Move
Aarav first noticed it on an ordinary evening.
The power had gone out again. A single candle flickered against the wall, stretching his shadow into something tall and thin.
He lifted his hand.
The shadow lifted its hand too.
Then paused.
Half a second too late.
Aarav froze.
He slowly lowered his arm.
The shadow followed — but not perfectly. Its fingers bent at a slightly wrong angle. Its head tilted when his didn't.
It wasn't mirroring him.
It was watching him.
And in that moment, Aarav felt something ancient shift in the room.