Meera's last message kept repeating in my mind.
"I broke my promise…"
The guilt in her voice felt real.
Heavy.
The next day, she looked pale.
"I keep seeing her," she whispered.
"Even when I'm awake."
That scared me.
"What do you see?" I asked.
"She's just… standing far away."
"Does she say anything?"
Meera shook her head.
"No… she just looks at me."
That night—
We knew the dream would return.
The corridor appeared again.
But now—
There was no smoke.
Only silence.
The child stood in the middle.
Clearer than before.
Meera walked toward her slowly.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
The child didn't move.
"You left me," she replied softly.
Meera's eyes filled with tears.
"I was scared… I didn't know," she said.
The child looked down.
"I waited."
The words echoed.
"For a long time."
The corridor lights flickered.
The shadow appeared behind her again.
But weaker now.
Meera stepped closer.
"I came back," she said.
The child looked at her.
"Why now?" she asked.
Meera didn't answer immediately.
"Because I remembered," she whispered.
Silence filled the space.
The child slowly extended her hand again.
My heart raced.
"Take it," I whispered.
Meera reached forward.
Their hands almost touched—
Suddenly—
The shadow moved violently.
"No!"
The corridor shook.
The lights went dark again.
The child disappeared.
Meera screamed.
"I'm not leaving!" she shouted.
But everything faded.
I woke up.
Message from Meera came.
"She's still trapped."
Another message followed.
"And I think… she won't leave until I bring her out.