Sometimes the most terrifying predators aren't monsters—they're people who want to become you. This is my true story about Melissa, the new girl who joined our friend group and slowly began stealing our identities, one memory at a time.

It started innocently enough when Sarah invited her to trivia night. Melissa seemed perfectly normal—funny, smart, maybe a little too eager to fit in. But then came the little things that made my skin crawl. She remembered tiny details from conversations weeks ago, took notes on her phone during hangouts, and gave eerily personal gifts that felt like she'd been studying us.

The coincidences piled up. She'd appear at the same places we shopped, always with logical explanations. Then she started absorbing our stories, our mannerisms, even our clothing styles. But the real horror began when she started telling our experiences as her own—word for word, detail for detail.

The night she told Sarah's breakup story as if it were her own, we knew something was deeply wrong. She wasn't just befriending us—she was collecting us, building a personality from the pieces of our lives.

When I caught her claiming my most embarrassing college story as her own memory, the mask finally slipped. The conviction in her voice was terrifying: she genuinely believed she'd lived my experiences.

This spine-chilling episode explores what happens when friendship becomes identity theft. From social media stalking to breaking into apartments, this is a story about a woman who didn't just want to join our friend group—she wanted to replace us entirely.

If you've ever had a friend who seemed to mirror you a little too closely, this 12-minute true story will make you question everyone in your social circle. Because sometimes the scariest monsters are the ones who want to wear your life like a costume.

We needed restraining orders to escape her. But the real terror? She's still out there, probably wearing someone else's identity, and they have no idea yet.

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Beth's Spooky Story Time is your new favourite horror podcast, best enjoyed alone with headphones. All stories are suggested or submitted by listeners. Have you had a spooky experience? Email your story to [email protected] now.

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