The Man Who Borrowed My Face

A few months ago, I downloaded this face-filter app called TrueFace AI.

It wasn’t like TikTok filters. This one was supposed to be “hyper-real” — for people who want to look slightly better in Zoom calls, or on stream. I thought I’d try it once, maybe for a laugh.

The app asked me to scan my face in 3D. I did.

Then it asked:

“Would you like to improve your appearance?”

Sure.

“Would you like to generate a new face based on you?”

Why not?

It processed for a few minutes.

When it finished, it showed me a new face. It looked like me… but older. Not old in a wrinkly way, just… more polished. Like a version of me that had lived more. Strong jaw. Calm eyes. Clean haircut.

But the weird thing?

The smile was too perfect. And the eyes didn’t blink.

At first, I used it while live-streaming games at night. I didn’t tell anyone. The reactions were actually good. People said I looked more confident. That I seemed more “in control.”

But then one night, while I was live, something glitched.

The face on the screen moved before I did.

It smirked. Just for a second. I hadn’t done anything.

I even checked the VOD — the movement was real.

I stopped using the app. Deleted it. Or tried to.

It wouldn’t uninstall.

Then my phone rang.

FaceTime.

From my own number.

I answered. I shouldn’t have.

The screen showed me. But not exactly.

It was that AI-generated version. Same face. Just… more aware. More alive.

He looked at me calmly and said:

“You gave me your face. Now I’m giving you time to say goodbye.”

Then the call ended.

Things got worse.

My mom called the next day.

She said, “You called me last night… and told me not to contact you again.”

I didn’t. I was offline the whole night.

Then I started getting texts:

“Your account was accessed.”

“Password changed successfully.”

“Welcome back, Mr. Hale.”

My name.

My accounts.

But not me.

Final straw?

My bank called.

“Hi, Mr. Hale. Confirming the $100,000 transfer to your Monaco account.”

I told them it wasn’t me.

They said:

“We used voice verification. It was definitely you.”

I moved to a new phone. New laptop. Reset everything.

It didn’t matter.

Emails kept coming. My Instagram changed. My YouTube banner got updated.

He was still me.

Just doing it better.

I know how this sounds. You probably think I’m crazy. Or trolling. But this is my last attempt to make a record. A breadcrumb.

Because I can feel it — like a shadow over me.

He’s not just pretending anymore.

He’s erasing me.

If this post disappears…

It wasn’t me.

He took it down.

And if you ever get a FaceTime call…

from your own number…

Don’t answer.

Written by Huzaifa khan.