Ara locked the door of her room with shaking hands.
Three turns. She checked it twice.
Kael's words echoed in her head like a curse that refused to fade.
I'm the one who kills you.
She slid down against the door, pulling her knees to her chest. The room felt smaller than before, as if the walls were inching closer, listening.
Her phone buzzed.
Ara flinched and nearly dropped it.
Unknown Number: You're alive. Good.
Her breath caught.
She typed back with trembling fingers.
Ara: How did you get my number?
The reply came instantly.
Unknown Number: You gave it to me. In a version of you that cried a lot.
Ara stared at the screen until her vision blurred.
Ara: Stop playing games.
Unknown Number: Then listen carefully. Midnight has rules.
A chill crawled up her spine.
Ara: What rules?
The typing bubble appeared… disappeared… then returned.
Unknown Number: Rule one: You cannot survive past 12:01 AM. Unknown Number: Rule two: Each death costs you something you won't notice until it's gone. Unknown Number: Rule three: If you ever see the Watchers clearly—run.
Ara swallowed.
Ara: What happens if I break the rules?
This time, the reply took longer.
Unknown Number: You already did.
Her phone went dark.
The lights flickered.
Ara's heart slammed against her ribs.
She looked up at the clock on her wall.
11:58 PM
"No," she whispered.
The air grew heavy, thick like drowning without water. Shadows stretched unnaturally across the floor, twisting toward her feet.
From the corner of the ceiling, something blinked.
An eye.
Fully open.
Ara screamed.