Areeba hesitated before unlocking the door to her apartment. Her fingers trembled, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. The air outside was thick with tension—as if something unseen was breathing right beside her.
She exhaled sharply and turned the key.
Click.
The door creaked open, revealing the dimly lit interior of her home. Everything seemed normal. But something felt... off.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket. A message.
Unknown Number: Welcome back.
Her stomach twisted.
The room felt colder.
Areeba's breath came out in shaky gasps. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to the hallway mirror.
And froze.
A shadowy figure stood behind her.
Not just a shadow—a man.
Grinning.
His smile stretched too wide.
Areeba spun around.
Nothing.
She swallowed hard. Was she imagining things? Was the trauma messing with her mind?
Her phone buzzed again.
Another message.
"See you soon."
Her blood turned to ice.
The darkness wasn't gone.
It had simply taken a new form.