My New Coworker and My Missing Outfit

My heart hammered against my ribs when I heard the low hum of the washing machine running late at the office.

I crept closer, the bright fluorescent lights buzzing overhead, casting stark shadows on the sterile white tiles. It was Mr. Harrison, the new guy, hunched over a pile of clothes. A strange, floral scent, not ours, hung heavy in the damp air.

Then I saw it. My favorite striped sweater. He was meticulously smoothing it out, his fingers tracing the exact pattern. A cold dread seeped into my veins, chilling my skin. “Mr. Harrison?” I managed, my voice barely a whisper.

He didn’t flinch, just slowly straightened, his eyes unnervingly calm. “Is something wrong, Sarah?” he asked, his voice soft, almost soothing. That’s when I noticed the dark green scarf around his neck, the one I’d left in the breakroom just an hour ago.

Before I could speak, my phone vibrated in my pocket, nearly making me jump out of my skin. My manager, David, was calling.

As I turned, I saw a small, dark stain on the scarf, exactly where mine had been.

👇 Full story continued in the comments…My hand trembled as I answered. “David? What’s up?”

“Sarah, are you around? We need to talk. And… are you wearing that new scarf you got?” His voice was tight, laced with a concern I hadn’t heard before.

I glanced back at Mr. Harrison. He was watching me, his expression unreadable. The floral scent intensified, cloying and unnatural. “Yes, I… I think so. Why?”

“Just… get over here. Quickly. Don’t let anyone leave the building.” His words were sharp, urgent. The call cut off.

Panic seized me. I looked back at the pile of clothes, seeing now the exact same jeans I’d worn yesterday, the same black boots. They were all folded, perfectly mirroring my own. This wasn’t a coincidence. This was… deliberate.

“Mr. Harrison,” I said, my voice cracking. “What is going on?”

He tilted his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. “Don’t you remember, Sarah? We’re a team. We do everything together.” His hand drifted to the scarf, his fingers tracing the spot where the stain had been. “And we always look the same.”

Suddenly, the laundry room door slammed shut, the lock clicking with a decisive thud. Mr. Harrison turned, his eyes now glowing with a strange, internal light. He took a step towards me, his hand outstretched.

I backed away, stumbling over a laundry basket. My eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape, a weapon, anything. Then, I saw it. A small, metallic glint on the floor beneath the dryer. A discarded safety pin. It was my only chance.

I lunged, grabbing the pin and holding it out in front of me, a pathetic defense against the encroaching threat. “Stay back!” I croaked, my voice barely a whisper.

Mr. Harrison chuckled, a sound that sent chills down my spine. “Don’t be afraid, Sarah. We’ll be together forever.” He took another step.

I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for the inevitable. But instead of feeling his touch, I heard a crash. The door burst open, and David, along with two security guards, stormed in.

Mr. Harrison froze, his expression shifting from calm to something akin to fury. He turned, his eyes locking with David’s. “You shouldn’t have interfered,” he hissed, his voice no longer soft, but a guttural growl.

The guards moved in, tackling Mr. Harrison. He fought them, his strength unnerving. But they subdued him, cuffing his hands behind his back. As they led him away, he looked back at me, his eyes still burning with that unnatural light. “We’ll be back, Sarah. We always are.”

David rushed to my side, his face pale. “Are you okay? Did he… hurt you?”

I shook my head, my breath ragged. My gaze dropped to the floor, where I saw another discarded object, this time, a duplicate of my necklace. On it was a very familiar stain, too. The same one as the scarf, and in the same place. As the authorities took him away and began taking statements, I looked at the security guard’s face, remembering how one had a scar identical to mine. I looked at David, who was sweating. I looked at the laundry pile and the exact clothes that I was wearing. And I knew that this story was far from over.