Chapter 1: The Listing
Arjun Mehta wasn't desperate.
At least, that's what he told himself.
But desperation has a quiet way of creeping in—disguised as practicality.
The rent in the city had gone up again. His salary hadn't.
Every apartment he visited was either too small, too expensive, or too suffocating. He needed space. Silence. Control.
That's when he saw it.
A listing.
No ratings. No reviews. No agent profile.
Just a single image of a large, old house standing alone.
And a price that made no sense.
Arjun stared at the screen.
"This has to be fake."
But he clicked anyway.
The contact number was active.
And the meeting was set for the same day.
Too fast.
Too easy.
He didn't question it.
That was his first mistake.
Chapter 2: The Warning
The road to the house felt wrong.
Not broken. Not difficult.
Just… wrong.
Google Maps stopped working halfway. The signal dropped to zero. Even the air felt heavier the further he drove.
When he finally reached, the house stood there like it had been waiting.
Tall.
Silent.
Still.
The broker stood outside the gate, fidgeting nervously.
"You're Arjun, right?" he asked quickly.
"Yes."
The broker handed him the keys almost immediately.
"You can check everything yourself."
Arjun frowned. "You're not coming in?"
The broker shook his head. Too fast.
"No need."
That wasn't normal.
"Anything I should know?" Arjun asked.
The broker hesitated. His eyes flicked toward the house… then back.
And then he said—
"After 2 AM… don't open any door."
Arjun let out a small laugh.
"You're serious?"
The broker didn't smile.
Chapter 3: The First Night
The house was bigger inside than it looked outside.
Wooden floors.
Long corridors.
Old paintings that felt like they were watching.
Arjun unpacked slowly, trying to ignore the silence.
It wasn't peaceful silence.
It was… aware.
That night, he slept early.
Or tried to.
At exactly 1:47 AM—
He woke up.
No dream.
No noise.
Just… awake.
He sat up, confused.
And then—
Knock.
Soft.
From the bedroom door.
Arjun frowned. "Who's there?"
Silence.
Then again—
Knock… knock… knock…
Slower this time.
More deliberate.
He checked his phone.
1:59 AM
His heart started racing.
His hand slowly moved toward the handle.
And suddenly—
The knocking stopped.
At exactly 2:00.
Like someone had decided their time was over.
Arjun didn't open the door.
But he didn't sleep either.
Chapter 4: The Camera
The next morning, Arjun convinced himself it was nothing.
Old house.
Wood expanding.
Wind pressure.
Simple.
Still—
He installed cameras.
Just to be sure.
That night, he didn't sleep.
He waited.
1:58 AM.
Nothing.
1:59 AM.
Still nothing.
2:00 AM.
The lights flickered.
His phone buzzed.
Motion detected – Living Room
Arjun opened the app instantly.
The room was empty.
Completely still.
And then—
The camera moved.
Slowly.
Not a glitch.
Not a flicker.
A smooth, controlled turn.
As if someone was holding it.
Arjun's breath caught.
The camera pointed toward the mirror.
And that's when he saw it.
Someone was standing behind him.
Chapter 5: The Woman
Arjun didn't turn immediately.
Something inside him said—
Don't.
But fear is stronger than instinct.
Slowly… he turned around.
Nothing.
The room was empty.
But on the screen—
The reflection was still there.
A figure.
Standing behind him.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
Watching.
Arjun's hands started shaking.
"What the hell…"
The figure stepped closer.
Now he could see her clearly.
A woman.
Pale skin.
Wide eyes.
Too wide.
And a smile that didn't belong on a human face.
Her lips moved.
But the sound came from everywhere.
From the walls.
From the floor.
From inside his head.
"You shouldn't have stayed…"
The phone slipped from his hand.
The screen cracked.
The reflection disappeared.
But the feeling didn't.
Because now—
He wasn't alone anymore.
PART 1 END