Aryan couldn't breathe.
The knock had come from inside.
Not the door.
Not outside.
But somewhere… behind him.
Slowly, very slowly, he turned around.
The hallway stretched into darkness. The faint yellow light flickered once… then steadied.
"Who's there?" Aryan shouted, his voice breaking.
No answer.
But he could feel something.
A presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
The phone was still in his hand.
The voice outside whispered urgently,
"Do not turn your back on the hallway."
Too late.
Aryan's eyes were already locked into the darkness.
Then—
A shadow moved.
Just for a second.
At the far end.
Not walking.
Not running.
Sliding.
Like it wasn't touching the ground.
Aryan staggered back, hitting the door.
"What is that?" he whispered.
The voice outside didn't reply immediately.
When it did… it sounded broken.
"That's… what happens when you open the door."