The knock came just after midnight.
Three slow knocks.
Heavy.
Deliberate.
Arman froze.
Samantha looked up instantly from where she stood near the staircase.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
Another knock echoed through the house.
Not impatient.
Not aggressive.
Just… certain.
Arman walked toward the door slowly.
Samantha followed.
"Well," he muttered, "either that's a very confident burglar…"
"…or the dock worker," she finished.
Arman reached the door and looked through the peephole.
His stomach dropped.
It was him.
The same man from the docks.
Same truck parked outside.
Same tired eyes.
Watching the door like he already knew Arman was there.
Arman opened the door halfway.
"What do you want?"
The dock worker didn't answer immediately.
Instead…
His eyes shifted.
Past Arman.
Into the house.
And then....
They stopped.
Directly on Samantha.
Not through her.
Not around her.
At her.
Samantha's breath caught.
Arman saw it happen.
The man's gaze locked onto her like she was standing there in flesh and blood.
For several seconds no one spoke.
Then the man said quietly....
"…so I wasn't imagining it."
Samantha stepped back slightly.
"You can see me."
The dock worker nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Arman stared at him.
"How?"
The man rubbed the back of his neck and let out a tired sigh.
"Long story."
"Start talking."
The man looked past him again.
Still staring at Samantha.
"You died recently."
It wasn't a question.
Samantha nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The dock worker looked down briefly, then back up.
"That explains it."
Arman crossed his arms.
"Explains what?"
The man looked at him.
"Why she's still strong."
Arman frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The dock worker leaned against the doorframe.
"Most ghosts fade fast."
"Days."
"Sometimes hours."
Samantha blinked.
"I didn't know that."
"Most don't."
Arman felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"Then why is she still here?"
The man's eyes moved between them.
"Because she's attached to you."
Arman sighed.
"Yeah, we figured that part out."
The man shook his head.
"No."
"You don't understand."
His voice lowered slightly.
"Attached ghosts don't stay this clear unless something is unfinished."
Samantha spoke quietly.
"My murder."
The dock worker nodded.
"Yes."
Arman rubbed his temple.
"We're working on that."
The man studied Samantha carefully.
Then something in his expression changed.
Concern.
Real concern.
"That's not the disturbing part."
Arman's head lifted.
"What do you mean?"
The dock worker looked directly at Samantha.
"You're getting stronger."
She frowned.
"I don't feel stronger."
"You will."
Arman stepped forward.
"Okay, you keep saying that. What does it mean?"
The man hesitated.
Then he said the one thing neither of them wanted to hear.
"It means she's getting close."
"Close to what?" Arman asked.
The dock worker's voice dropped.
"Remembering."
The room went very still.
Samantha's stomach tightened.
"The moment I died."
"Yes."
The man nodded.
"And when that happens…"
He paused.
Arman's patience snapped.
"When WHAT happens?"
The dock worker's eyes darkened.
"Ghosts change."
Samantha's voice was barely a whisper.
"How?"
The man looked at her carefully.
"The closer you get to remembering the person who killed you…"
"…the closer they get to you."
Arman frowned.
"That doesn't make sense."
The dock worker met his eyes.
"Trust me."
"It will."
Samantha felt a cold shiver run through her.
"You're saying the killer will come back."
"No."
The man said quietly.
"I'm saying the killer might already be closer than you think."
Silence swallowed the room.
Arman looked at Samantha.
Then back at the man.
"You're not the killer, right?"
The dock worker snorted.
"If I was the killer, kid…"
"…I wouldn't knock."
Arman exhaled slowly.
Fair point.
Samantha studied the man.
"You've seen ghosts before."
"Yes."
"How?"
The dock worker shrugged.
"Bad luck."
Then he looked back at her again.
"But I've never seen one like you."
Arman frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The man's voice lowered slightly.
"Your connection to him…"
"…is stronger than it should be."
Samantha looked at Arman.
Arman looked back at her.
Something quiet passed between them again.
Something deeper than coincidence.
The dock worker straightened.
"You should be careful."
"Why?" Arman asked.
"Because if the killer realizes she's still here…"
"…he might come back to finish what he started."
The room went cold.
Outside, the wind moved softly through the trees.
Inside, the truth was becoming clearer.
And the danger was getting closer.