Realistic Character Confrontation Art

I need a realistic art piece depicting a character facing a different version of herself locked in a cage. The character outside should be expressing startled fear, and the character inside the cage should be expressing smug confidence.
Outside character:
Brown, oversized cardigan sweater, loose jeans, oversized glasses (so large it appears she's trying to hide behind them), hair in a tight bun on the top of her head, very plain makeup

Inside character:
Midriff exposing torn tee shirt, tight, torn jeans, large leather belt with big buckle, hair loose and teased, black eye makeup

Requirements:
- Realistic art style
- Emotion: Fear
- Background: Dark (meant to represent the character's inner thoughts battling each other)

Shared traits:
blonde hair, blue-gray eyes, petite features both in body and face

Ideal Skills:
- Expertise in realistic character illustrations
- Ability to convey complex emotions
- Experience with dark, atmospheric settings

Ultimately meant to be a novel cover for a book titled "The Girl in the Cage"
About a nearly terminally shy girl coming to grips with what she envisions as her 'bad' side, a version of herself that inside her own mind she keeps trapped inside a cage to keep her from taking over as she begins to see a man that she cares deeply about.

This project does not require cover design work itself. Just looking for the initial art at the moment. Would like the background to be dark enough to easily blend / fade to black for the final cover when the time comes.