Chapter 1: The Door Was Open

Vihaan didn’t believe in ghosts.

Not because he was brave—but because he had never seen anything worth believing in.

That changed on the third night.

He woke up suddenly, his heart pounding for no reason he could explain. The room was completely dark, except for the faint light coming from his phone screen.

2:17 AM.

He stared at it for a few seconds, his thoughts slow and unclear, then let out a quiet sigh and turned to the other side.

That’s when he noticed it.

The door.

It was open.

Vihaan frowned. He was sure he had locked it before going to sleep.

Slowly, he pushed himself up, his eyes fixed on the narrow gap. The hallway outside was darker than his room—almost like the light refused to enter it.

“Main bhool gaya tha… shayad,” he muttered under his breath.

But something felt… wrong.

The air in the room had changed. It felt heavier. Colder.

Vihaan reached for his phone and turned on the flashlight. The beam cut through the darkness, landing on the door.

It creaked.

Not because he touched it.

Because it moved.

Just slightly.

Vihaan froze.

For a moment, he tried to reason with himself. Old buildings made noises. Doors shifted.

That’s normal.

That’s explainable.

Still, he stood up.

Each step toward the door felt slower than the last. The wooden floor made a soft sound under his feet—louder than it should have been in the silence.

Step.

Step.

Step.

He reached the door and held it.

The wood was cold.

Too cold.

Taking a slow breath, Vihaan pulled it open.

The hallway was empty.

A long, narrow stretch of darkness, with a flickering tube light at the far end. It buzzed faintly, like it was struggling to stay alive.

Vihaan stepped out.

The air outside was even colder.

He looked around carefully. No movement. No sound.

Just silence.

Then—

A noise.

Behind him.

Vihaan turned instantly.

His room.

The faint light from his phone still glowed on the bed.

But that wasn’t what made his chest tighten.

The cupboard door was open.

He was sure it had been closed.

Slowly… very slowly… Vihaan stepped back into the room.

“Maine ise band kiya tha…” he whispered.

He walked toward the cupboard, trying to ignore the strange feeling crawling up his spine.

Halfway there—

His phone screen flickered.

Once.

Twice.

Then it went black.

The room was swallowed by darkness.

Vihaan stopped moving.

His breath grew louder.

In the silence—

He heard it.

A soft sound.

From inside the cupboard.

Not loud.

Not clear.

But enough.

It sounded like…

Breathing.

Vihaan’s fingers tightened into fists.

He wanted to turn on the light.

He wanted to leave the room.

But instead—

He took another step forward.

And reached for the cupboard door.

The sound stopped.

Complete silence.

Vihaan stood there for a few seconds, his hand hovering in the air.

Then—

Something inside the cupboard shifted.

A faint scraping sound.

Vihaan didn’t pull the door open.

He couldn’t.

Because slowly… very slowly…

From the darkness inside—

Something moved.

And it wasn’t trying to come out.

It was waiting.

For him.

To open it.

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