"Once you take the first step, the possibility of turning back is already gone."
— Chapter 4 —
It was as if that room had never existed—erased from the system completely. I tried to think of it as just another internet glitch, but there was a heaviness inside me I couldn't shake. What if something really happened to Teddy? The thought kept haunting me.
I didn't know who that girl was or where she lived. And now, it was impossible to reach her... All I could do was pray she was okay. I felt awful. I hope it was just a bad joke, Teddy...
Beep beep.
"You have 1 unread Happy message."
Shadow: Are you ignoring me?
I had completely forgotten about this. I guess it was time to reply.
Moonlight: What do you want? I can barely breathe as it is.
Shadow: Someone upset you.
Moonlight: You're talking like you know me. What was that ridiculous thing you first said? "Glad you're okay"? Based on what?
Shadow: That ball hit your head anything but gently.
I stared at the screen, mouth agape.
Moonlight: Wait, what? Do you actually know me?
Moonlight: But that's impossible. How do you know that? How?
Shadow: You left your phone in a public place.
My fingers trembled. Was it fear? Or anger? I couldn't tell, but I started typing anyway:
Moonlight: You went through my phone. How could you do that?
Shadow: If it was so private, maybe you should've locked it. I didn't even have to try hard to open it.
I had forgotten my password twice before. After resetting the phone, I'd thought, "What secrets do I have anyway?" and removed the password entirely. But the idea that my Happy Faces account would be exposed... That had never crossed my mind.
Moonlight: Wait a sec-how do you know a ball hit my head? Did you come to my school? How do you even know which school I go to?
Shadow: Isn't it obvious? Your uniform... And no, why would I go to your school?
Moonlight: Then tell me-how do you know?
Shadow: Thanks to CCTV, of course. But don't get too excited. I don't have any special interest in you. I was actually watching someone else. That shady guy disguised as a delivery man who nearly hit the soccer kid. You were just... in the frame.
What a disappointment... Should I be sad that not even a stalker finds me worth following? I didn't know what this guy was after, but he was definitely not someone to be trusted. How could a stranger so easily access security cameras? If someone like him could watch us whenever he wanted... who were we really being protected from?
Shadow: Alright, let's get to the real reason I messaged you.
Shadow: I've got a new job. And this time, it's not something I can handle remotely or alone. I need a partner. Which means... you're going to help me.
Moonlight: Why me?
Shadow: You've got only three contacts in your phone: your grandma, your neighbor, and a boiler repair guy. Clearly, you either have no family or were abandoned. You've got 25₺ in your bank account, which means you're studying on a scholarship. Not a single photo with friends. No social media. No one to confide in. And most importantly-you go to the school where my target is. In short, you're the perfect fit. The only problem? You're naive enough to save your banking and email passwords in your Notes app. But no worries. I can make up for your lack of intelligence with a few directions.
Having all those facts thrown at me one after another left me dizzy. What was he trying to say? "If something happens to you, no one would even notice"? Something knotted up inside me. The words were stuck in my throat-ready to come out, but refusing to move.
Shadow: Well? Answer?
"I don't know what kind of help you're going to ask from me..."
Then a bright idea flashed through my mind, and my eyes widened.
"But I know exactly what I'll ask from you in return."
Moonlight: If you do what I say, I'll help you.
Shadow: Give and take.
Moonlight: I want to know the identity of a "Happy Faces" user.