They didn't slow down until they reached the treehouse.
Aarav pushed the door open. "Inside."
Riya guided Meera in, making her sit on the bed. She didn't let go of her hand.
Her voice came out in a rush, trembling, uneven.
"She didn't dry herself... she didn't even look at me properly. And then—she broke his arm. Just like that. No effort. Blank face. And all those girls..."
She swallowed hard, her eyes wide.
"They were just standing there. Watching. Not leaving. Like they were waiting for something. It didn't feel human. None of it did."
Kabir didn't respond immediately. For once, there was no sarcasm. Aarav's jaw tightened.
A faint creak echoed through the room.
All three of them froze.
No one had moved.
The sound didn't repeat.
But it didn't feel like it had stopped either.
Aarav touched Kabir's shoulder. "Come."
They stepped toward the far corner of the room, lowering their voices so Riya and Meera couldn't hear.
Kabir whispered harshly. "This is insane. She's not herself. You saw her eyes."
Aarav's gaze flicked once toward Meera before returning. "It's not just her. That place... it doesn't let people leave. The girls weren't staying because they wanted to. They were already part of it."
Kabir shook his head. "So what? We drag her back there? That's suicide."
Aarav's voice stayed calm. Too calm. "If we leave now, she won't make it back. You saw her. She's already looking for it."
Kabir exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. "Then what's the plan?"
Aarav's eyes shifted—toward the window. Darkness had settled outside. The forest stood still. Too still.
"We go back," he said finally. "To the Steam House."
Kabir let out a hollow laugh. "You're out of your mind."
A pause.
"...But you're not wrong."
Across the room, Riya brushed Meera's damp hair back gently.
"You didn't even dry it."
Meera raised her hand slowly, touching her hair.
"It feels... better."
Riya frowned. "Better how?"
Meera tilted her head slightly.
"Like it belongs there."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Riya's grip tightened. "Belongs where?"
Meera didn't answer. Her gaze had shifted—slightly past Riya. Toward the corner of the room.
Riya followed her line of sight.
There was nothing there.
When she looked back—Meera was still staring.
Kabir noticed it too.
"Why is she looking there?"
No one answered.
After a few seconds, Meera blinked. And looked away. Like nothing had happened.
The evening passed slowly. Too slowly.
Time stretched in a way none of them could explain.
Kabir checked his phone out of habit. No signal.
He opened his browser anyway. Blank.
Scrolled through old tabs. Nothing loaded.
Then paused.
"Wait."
Aarav looked at him. "What?"
"I think I had something... saved."
Kabir opened his gallery. Scrolled. Stopped at a screenshot.
Half-loaded. Blurry.
A forum page.
The title cut off at the edge:
"Don't use the Steam House near—"
The rest was missing.
Riya stood up immediately. "What does it say?"
"That's it," Kabir said. "That's all I have."
There was a line below. Partially visible.
"...they come back different..."
Silence filled the room again.
No one said it out loud.
But all of them thought the same thing.
By night, they lay down. Not because they were sleepy. Because there was nothing else to do.
Riya stayed beside Meera, one hand resting on her arm.
Kabir lay on the other bed, staring at the ceiling.
Aarav sat near the window for a long time. Watching the forest.
At one point—he thought he saw something move.
But when he focused—there was nothing there.
Just darkness.
And trees that didn't seem to move with the wind.
Riya woke suddenly.
She didn't know why.
Her heart was already racing.
She turned. The space beside her was empty.
"Di?"
No answer.
She sat up quickly.
Meera was sitting near the window. Still. Facing outside.
"Di... what are you doing?"
No response.
Aarav's voice came quietly from the dark.
"She's been like that."
Riya turned sharply. "Since when?"
A pause.
"I don't know."
Kabir sat up slowly. "What do you mean you don't know?"
Aarav didn't look at him.
"I woke up... and she was already there."
Meera didn't move. Not even slightly.
Her silhouette against the window looked wrong. Too straight. Too still.
Like she hadn't shifted position in a long time.
Riya stepped closer. Slowly.
"Di..."
No response.
Then she noticed it.
Meera's lips were moving.
Slowly. Silently.
Riya leaned in, her breath catching.
"Di... who are you talking to?"
Meera didn't stop. Didn't react.
Her lips kept moving. Repeating something. Over and over.
Kabir whispered, "Can you hear it?"
Riya shook her head.
Aarav stepped closer. Listening.
For a second—he thought he heard something.
Not a voice.
More like... an echo.
Meera's lips parted slightly wider this time.
And for a brief moment—
It didn't look like her voice anymore.
The forest outside remained completely silent.
And this time—
the silence didn't feel empty.