The room felt smaller.
Not physically—
But in a way Aarav couldn't explain.
The walls seemed closer. The air heavier. The silence… sharper.
As if the room itself had closed in on him.
Aarav stood frozen against the wall.
The red eye was still fixed on him.
Unmoving.
Unblinking.
"You won't leave me."
The words echoed again in his head.
"No…" Aarav whispered, shaking his head. "This isn't right. You don't want this."
The figure didn't respond immediately.
It only stood there.
Watching.
Aarav forced himself to breathe.
Slowly.
Thinking.
"You wanted help," he said carefully. "You were trapped. You were alone. I understand that."
A faint movement.
The head tilted slightly.
Encouraged, Aarav continued.
"I know what he did to you. I know you suffered. But this… this isn't the way."
For a brief second—
The red glow dimmed.
And in that moment—
Aarav saw something else.
Not anger.
Not darkness.
Pain.
Deep.
Endless.
"You heard me," the voice said again.
Aarav nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"Others heard too."
Aarav's breath stopped.
"What…?"
"They heard."
The words came slowly.
Broken.
"But they didn't come."
The air grew colder.
Aarav felt it again—
That shift.
"She called for help…" he whispered.
"And no one answered."
The red glow flickered violently.
"I called," the voice repeated.
A pause.
"I waited."
Another pause.
"No one came."
The last words came out sharper.
Heavier.
Aarav felt his chest tighten.
"I'm here now," he said quickly. "I came. I didn't ignore you."
Silence.
The figure didn't move.
Then—
"You're late."
The same words.
Again.
Aarav clenched his fists.
"I didn't know before!"
His voice echoed in the room.
"If I had known, I would've helped you," he continued. "I'm trying to help you now."
The red eye remained fixed on him.
"How?"
Aarav hesitated.
He didn't have a plan.
Not really.
But he couldn't stop now.
"I'll expose him," he said. "I'll tell everyone what he did. You'll get justice."
The word hung in the air.
"Justice…"
The voice repeated it slowly.
As if testing it.
As if it had forgotten what it meant.
For a moment—
The room grew still.
And then—
The piano began to play again.
But this time—
The melody was different.
Slower.
Softer.
Sad.
Aarav watched as the figure slowly moved toward the piano.
Each step was unnatural.
As if her body wasn't used to movement anymore.
She sat down.
Her fingers hovered above the keys.
Then—
They pressed.
🎹
The sound echoed gently.
Aarav stood still.
Listening.
This melody…
It felt familiar.
Not desperate.
Not angry.
Just…
Lonely.
"She used to play this," Aarav whispered.
The voice answered.
"Yes."
Aarav took a step forward.
Carefully.
"You don't have to stay here," he said softly. "You don't have to be like this."
The music didn't stop.
"I can help you leave," he continued. "You don't have to trap anyone else."
The piano slowed.
One note.
Then another.
And then—
It stopped.
Silence.
Aarav's heart pounded.
The figure didn't turn around.
But the voice came again.
"I can't leave."
Aarav frowned.
"Why?"
A pause.
Then—
"Door."
Aarav's eyes shifted toward the door.
The same door.
The one that had trapped her.
"The lock?" he asked.
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
Aarav's mind raced.
"If the door opens… you can leave?"
No answer.
But the air changed.
As if the room itself reacted.
Aarav turned fully toward the door.
"If I open it… this ends?"
Behind him—
The red glow flickered.
A pause.
Then—
"Yes."
Aarav swallowed.
Something felt wrong.
But he ignored it.
Because this was his chance.
He moved toward the door.
His hand reached for the handle.
Cold.
Too cold.
He hesitated.
Behind him—
Silence.
Too quiet.
Aarav turned slightly.
The figure was gone.
His breath stopped.
"Where—"
Before he could finish—
A whisper.
Right behind him.
"Open it."
Aarav froze.
The voice was closer than ever.
Not from across the room.
From right next to his ear.
His hand tightened around the handle.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
But now—
It was too late to stop.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He began to turn it.