Ayan didn't move.
His body felt frozen, as if something invisible was holding him in place.
"Don't open it…"
The whisper echoed again—this time clearer… closer.
He slowly turned around.
Nothing.
The room was empty.
The dim light from the lamp flickered slightly, casting strange shadows on the walls. His heartbeat grew louder in his ears.
Thump… Thump… Thump…
"This isn't real…" he whispered to himself.
But deep inside, he knew—
Something was very wrong.
Ayan forced himself to look back at the door.
It was still slightly open.
A cold air was coming from the other side.
Not normal air… it felt heavy. Unnatural.
He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Creeeeak…
The hallway outside was dark.
Too dark.
Usually, the hallway light stayed on all night.
But tonight… it was completely off.
"Ammu?" Ayan called softly.
No answer.
He stepped outside.
The floor felt colder than usual.
Each step echoed strangely, like the house was… empty.
"Ammu?" he called again, a bit louder this time.
Still nothing.
Suddenly—
Click.
A light turned on at the far end of the hallway.
Ayan's eyes narrowed.
Someone… or something… had turned it on.
He didn't remember leaving any light on.
Slowly, he started walking toward it.
One step…
Two steps…
Three—
Tap… Tap… Tap…
A sound came from behind him.
Footsteps.
Ayan stopped.
The footsteps stopped too.
His throat went dry.
He didn't want to turn around.
But he had to.
Very slowly… he looked back.
Empty.
No one there.
But this time, something was different.
The door to his room…
It was now fully open.
And inside the room—
The shadow near the window…
Moved.
Ayan's eyes widened.
"That's… not possible…"
Because he was sure—
There was no one else in the house.
And yet…
Something was inside his room.
Watching him.