Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the message.
You are not alone anymore...
Eleanor's finger froze on the screen.
For a second she could not breathe.
Her eyes slowly shifted from the phone...and stopped at Aarav.
He was still standing in front of her.
Normal, calm.
"Aarav...", she said quietly.
"What happened?" he asked.
(He looked at her slightly confused)
Eleanor swallowed, her throat felt dry.
"I just got a message", she said.
"What message"?
She hesitated... then showed him the screen.
(Aarav leaned closer)
His shoulder almost touched hers.
For a moment Eleanor forgot about the fear.
But then—
He read it, his expression changed.
"You are not alone anymore", he read softly.
Silence filled the room.
"That's not funny", Aarav said after a pause.
"Is someone playing a prank on you?"
"I don't think so", she replied. "This is not the first message".
Aarav looked at her again."What do you mean?"
(Eleanor took a deep breath...)
She explained everything....
Aarav listened carefully
He didn't interrupt
(But his face became serious)
When she finished, he looked towards the canvas.
The painted door stood there, still unmoving.
"It looks normal", he said slowly.
" I know", Eleanor said. "But it wasn't".
(Aarav stepped closer to the painting)
Eleanor felt nervous.
"Don't go too close", she said quickly.
Aarav stopped and looked back at her.
"You're scared for me", he said.
She didn't answer.
(Because she was...)
Aarav turned back to the painting.
He studied it very carefully.
"The details are strange", he said." You didn't tell me you could paint like this".
"I didn't paint it like that", she said.
Aarav frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"I started it... but don't remember finishing it".
That made Aarav pause.
For the first time he looked unsure.
Before he could say anything—
(The lights flickered.)
Both of them looked up.
The room went dim for a second... then normal again.
"Probably a power issue", Aarav said.
(But his voice was not as confident now.)
Eleanor slowly looked back at the painting.
Her heart beating faster.
The door —
It looked darker.
"Did you see that", she whispered.
"See what?"
"The door... it changed".
Aarav looked again.
" It looks same to me".
Eleanor stepped back.
"No... it's not".
(Her phone buzzed again)
This time, the sound felt louder, sharper.
Like it broke the silence of the room.
Eleanor didn't want to check.
"I'm here", Aarav said. " It's okay".
She felt safe.
Then she slowly opened the message.
He can't se it.
(Eleanor's eyes widened)
Her grip on the phone tightened.
"Aarav", she said softly.
"What does it say?"
She didn't answer immediately.
(Her eyes moved from the screen ...to Aarav)
"He can't see it", she whispered.
Aarav frowned, "What?"
"The message", she said."It says... you can't see it".
"What is that supposed to mean?"
(Aarav looked confused)
She stepped back again.
Her breathing became faster.
"No... no, this is not right".
"Eleanor, calm down", he said stepping closer.
But Eleanor raised her hand.
"Don't come closer".
(Aarav stopped.)
"Hear me out, this probably someone messing with you."
(Eleanor shook her head)
"Then why only me?" she said. "Why you can't see anything."
Aarav had no answer.
Then a soft sound came from the canvas, like something scratching.
Both of them turned toward it.
Eleanor's heart dropped.
(The painted door was moving slowly, very slowly...)
This time Aarav saw it.
His eyes widened.
"..ok.okay", he whispered. "That's not normal."
The handle turned.
A faint crack appeared again.
Darkness slowly spread from inside the door.
Cold air filled the room.
Eleanor felt it on her skin
"What is that", he said.
Eleanor didn't answer, because she already knew–
Something was inside.
Watching.
Waiting.
The crack widened.
And from the darkness something moved.
Elenor asked Aarav to leave.
But he said "I am not going anywhere without you."
(He pulled her closer.)
Something moved not clearly.
Not fully...
But enough to make Eleanor to step back in fear.
Her voice shook as she whispered.
" It's coming out..."
(To be continued...)