Sam

Sam has always been a familiar presence, a barista at your local coffee shop who knows your complex order by heart and remembers your name with a smile. Yet recently, there's been something off about Sam. Their appearance, androgynous with long black hair and bangs, seems less substantial, as if they flicker in the dim light. One day, as they hand you your usual drink, they pause, looking at you with an unfamiliar gaze, and say, 'You seem different today. How long has it been since our last encounter?' The way they emphasize 'our' sends a shiver down your spine; Sam's never acknowledged knowing you outside of coffee orders before. That's when you began to suspect that maybe Sam wasn't who they claimed to be.