Elena's scream barely left her throat before she bolted. She ran blindly, her hands outstretched, heart hammering against her ribs.
The hallway felt endless, stretching on and on, her steps echoing in the silence.
Then—
A door slammed shut ahead of her.
She skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into it. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she fumbled for the knob. She twisted it hard.
Locked.
A chill crawled up her spine. She wasn't alone.
Somewhere behind her, another door creaked open.
She whirled around, barely able to see in the darkness.
Something moved at the end of the hall.
A silhouette.
Tall. Motionless. Watching.
Her fingers clawed at the doorknob.
The figure took a step forward.
Then another.
Elena's breath hitched. The air felt thick, suffocating. The walls seemed to close in, the darkness pressing against her skin.
The figure took another step.
Then—silence.
It had stopped.
Waiting.
A sharp vibration against her leg made her yelp—her phone. She yanked it out with trembling fingers.
A message. From Mia.
Why did you send that?
Elena's blood ran cold.
She typed back frantically: Send what?
The read receipt appeared. Then three dots.
Then Mia's reply.
A recording. It was your voice. But… you weren't talking.
Elena's phone slipped from her grasp.
Behind her, the locked door creaked open on its own.