The door was open.
I stood there—
Frozen.
I didn't remember opening it.
The hallway beyond was dark.
Too dark.
Not the normal kind of darkness.
This felt—
Heavy.
Like it was waiting.
"…No."
My fingers twitched.
Then—
They moved.
Not because I wanted to.
Slowly…
My hand lifted.
Reaching.
Toward the door.
"Stop…"
My voice came out weak.
It didn't listen.
My arm stretched forward.
Closer.
Closer.
"…Stop!"
Nothing.
My body felt distant.
Like I was watching it from somewhere else.
A strange pressure built inside my chest.
Then—
A thought.
Not mine.
Go.
"…No."
I clenched my teeth.
"I'm not—"
My foot stepped forward.
The floor creaked.
Loud.
Too loud.
Each movement felt… precise.
Controlled.
But not by me.
"…This isn't funny…"
Another step.
The darkness in the hallway didn't move.
But it felt closer.
Like it was pulling me in.
My breathing became uneven.
"System—"
No response.
No panel.
No help.
"…Now you disappear?"
My fingers curled slightly.
Then straightened.
Like something was testing control.
I could feel it.
Inside me.
Not moving fully—
But present.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…Get out…"
My voice trembled.
I tried to stop again.
For a moment—
It worked.
My body froze mid-step.
"…I—"
Then—
It moved again.
Faster this time.
My foot crossed the doorway.
The moment it did—
The temperature dropped.
Cold.
Sharp.
Like stepping into a different space.
"…What the hell…"
The darkness ahead felt deeper now.
Not empty.
Full.
My heart pounded.
Then—
"Ujjwal?"
A voice.
From behind.
Everything stopped.
Instantly.
My body froze completely.
The pressure—
Gone.
I turned slowly.
James stood there.
Leaning slightly against the wall.
"…Bro."
He frowned.
"What are you doing standing like a ghost?"
My throat felt dry.
"…I—"
I didn't have an answer.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"You've been acting weird since yesterday."
He stepped closer.
Each step grounded the space.
The darkness behind me felt… less intense.
"…Nothing."
I forced a weak smile.
"Just… tired."
"Yeah?"
James didn't look convinced.
"You look like you're about to walk into a horror movie."
"…Funny."
He glanced toward the hallway.
"…Why is it so dark?"
My chest tightened.
"…It wasn't like that before."
"…Huh."
James scratched his head.
"Your house always this creepy at night?"
"…No."
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
A soft voice.
"Ujjwal?"
Both of us turned.
Seara stood a few steps behind James.
I hadn't even noticed when she arrived.
"…You okay?"
Her voice was calm.
But her eyes—
Focused.
Observing.
Too observant.
"I'm fine."
The answer came too quickly.
She didn't react immediately.
Just… looked at me.
And for a second—
Something shifted.
Inside me.
The presence—
Went quiet.
Completely.
"…You don't look fine."
She stepped slightly closer.
Not much.
But enough.
The pressure in my chest eased.
My fingers stopped twitching.
"…I said I'm fine."
My voice was sharper this time.
James raised an eyebrow.
"…Relax."
Seara didn't argue.
But she didn't look away either.
"…Okay."
A pause.
Then—
"…Just don't stand in the dark like that."
Simple words.
But something about them felt… heavier.
Like she knew more than she should.
I turned back toward the hallway.
The darkness was still there.
But weaker.
Less… alive.
"…Weird…"
James stretched slightly.
"Anyway, come out. We were heading downstairs."
"…Yeah."
I stepped back.
Away from the door.
The moment I did—
The feeling returned.
Faint.
But there.
Watching.
Waiting.
I glanced back one last time.
The hallway looked normal now.
Empty.
Silent.
"…Let's go."
James walked ahead.
Seara followed.
For a moment—
I stayed behind.
Something didn't feel right.
Then—
My hand moved.
Just slightly.
Not by me.
A small twitch.
Toward the hallway.
"…No…"
My breath hitched.
It was still there.
Still inside.
And this time—
It wasn't quiet.
A faint whisper brushed against my thoughts.
Next time…
My vision flickered.
And for a split second—
The hallway wasn't empty.
Something stood there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Chapter Ends
⭐ If you want to know what happens next… add this to your library 👀