Meera's message stayed on my screen.
"I was never in a hospital…"
But the dream said otherwise.
"You're sure?" I typed.
"Yes," she replied quickly.
"My parents never told me anything like that."
Something felt wrong.
Dreams don't lie.
At least… mine never did.
The next morning, Meera looked more nervous than before.
"You really saw my name?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"Patient: Meera Sharma."
Her hands trembled.
"There must be some mistake," she whispered.
"But why would the shadow show us that?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
That day, we decided to search.
"City Care Hospital," I said.
Meera nodded.
We checked online.
The hospital appeared in old articles.
Closed ten years ago.
Reason: fire accident.
My heart skipped.
"Fire?" Meera whispered.
I opened one article.
It said:
Several patients were rescued…
But some records were lost.
"That's strange," I murmured.
Then—
Another line caught my eye.
"Children's ward affected the most."
Meera froze.
"I… was hospitalized once," she said slowly.
My eyes widened.
"When?" I asked.
"I don't remember… I was very young."
Everything started connecting.
"Maybe your parents hid it," I suggested.
She looked scared.
"Why would they hide something like that?"
Before I could answer—
Her phone rang.
It was her mother.
She picked up.
"Hello, mom?"
Her expression changed.
"Yes… I'm at college."
Silence.
Then—
Her face turned pale.
"Mom… was I ever in City Care Hospital?" she asked.
I held my breath.
She listened quietly.
Then tears filled her eyes.
"You never told me…" she whispered.
The call ended.
She looked at me.
"I was there," she said softly.
My heart dropped.
"When I was six… there was a fire."
The dream.
The corridor.
The shadow.
"It's connected," I said.
She nodded slowly.
"My mom said… I was unconscious for days."
Cold chills ran through me.
"What if…" I started.
"What if something happened there?"
She looked terrified.
"That shadow…" she whispered.
"Maybe it was there too."
That night—
We slept again.
The corridor returned.
But now—
The shadow stood closer.
Not chasing.
Just watching.
And for the first time—
It spoke clearly.
"You left…"
My heart pounded.
Then it pointed at Meera.
"And she stayed."
I woke up instantly.
Message from Meera came.
"It spoke… didn't it?"
I replied.
"Yes."
She typed slowly.
"I think… it's not after you."
My breath stopped.
"It's after me."