The door stood half open.
Darkness spilled out like something alive, crawling into the corridor.
Aarav's heart pounded in his chest.
Every instinct inside him screamed—
Don't go in.
But the whisper…
"You came…"
It pulled him closer.
For a moment, he stood frozen at the entrance.
His hand slowly tightened into a fist.
"If she needs help…"
He took a step forward.
The moment Aarav crossed the doorway—
A sharp chill ran through his entire body.
The air inside was freezing.
Unnaturally cold.
The door creaked behind him.
Thak…
It shut on its own.
Aarav spun around instantly.
"Hello?!"
No response.
The darkness inside the room was thick.
Almost suffocating.
The faint light from the corridor barely reached inside.
Aarav fumbled for his phone.
His hands trembling.
He turned on the flashlight.
The beam of light cut through the darkness—
And revealed the room.
Dust.
Everywhere.
The furniture was covered in it.
A bed in the corner.
A broken chair.
And near the wall—
A piano.
Aarav's breath slowed.
"That's where the sound comes from…"
He stepped closer.
Each step echoing unnaturally loud.
The piano looked old.
Neglected.
But something felt wrong.
The keys—
They weren't dusty.
Aarav froze.
"How…?"
Slowly, he reached out his hand.
His fingers hovered above the keys.
And then—
A key pressed on its own.
Aarav jerked his hand back.
His heart racing wildly.
Another key.
Then another.
The piano started playing.
On its own.
The same melody.
Slow.
Broken.
Desperate.
Aarav stumbled back.
"This… this isn't possible…"
🎶 The voice followed.
Closer than ever.
Right beside him.
"Help me…"
Aarav turned sharply.
"Where are you?!"
Silence.
Then—
A faint red glow appeared in the corner of the room.
Aarav's breath caught.
The light flickered slightly.
Like something breathing.
He stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
The glow grew stronger.
And then—
He saw it.
On the wall—
Scratches.
Deep.
Chaotic.
Words.
Aarav moved his flashlight over them.
"OPEN THE DOOR"
"PLEASE HELP ME"
"I CAN'T BREATHE"
His hands started shaking.
"She was… trapped here…" he whispered.
The voice came again.
Right behind him.
"Too late…"
Aarav turned instantly.
But no one was there.
The room felt heavier now.
As if something was closing in.
The piano suddenly stopped.
Complete silence.
Aarav's breathing became loud.
Uneven.
And then—
The red glow appeared again.
Closer.
This time—
Right in front of him.
Aarav's body froze.
He couldn't move.
The glow slowly shaped itself.
A face.
Pale.
Distorted.
Hair covering most of it.
And then—
One eye opened.
Red.
Bright.
Unnatural.
Aarav gasped.
His legs felt weak.
The eye stared directly at him.
Unblinking.
"Help…" the voice whispered again.
But now—
It didn't sound human.
Aarav took a step back.
Then another.
"No… no…" he muttered.
The figure didn't move.
Only the eye followed him.
Watching.
Tracking.
Aarav turned and ran toward the door.
He grabbed the handle—
It didn't open.
"Open! Open!" he shouted.
Behind him—
A loud note slammed on the piano.
Aarav flinched.
The whisper returned.
Closer.
Much closer.
"You saw me…"
Aarav slowly turned.
The red eye was closer now.
Much closer.
And for the first time—
He realized something terrifying.
It wasn't coming toward him.
It was already there.
Right behind him.
Aarav's breath stopped.
The whisper touched his ear—
"Now… don't leave me…"
Aarav screamed and pulled the door handle with all his strength—
The door burst open.
He stumbled out into the corridor.
Falling to the ground.
He crawled back, away from the door.
His entire body shaking.
The door slowly creaked shut again.
Silence returned.
But Aarav knew—
Nothing was the same anymore.
Because now—
He had seen her.
And she had seen him.