The city never truly slept, but at midnight, it changed.
Arin knew this better than anyone.
Every night, exactly at 11:59 PM, his phone would light up with a message from an unknown number. The first time it happened, he thought it was a prank.
"Don't go outside tomorrow."
He ignored it.
The next day, a terrible accident happened right in front of his apartment building—a car crash that took three lives. Arin had planned to go out at that exact time, but something made him stay back.
That was the beginning.
The messages kept coming.
"Avoid the red bus."
"Take the longer road."
"Don't trust him."
At first, they sounded random. But every time Arin followed them, something bad was avoided. Something dangerous never reached him.
It felt like someone was watching his future… and saving him.
Days turned into weeks, and Arin became dependent on those messages. He stopped making decisions on his own. Every step, every choice—he waited for the message.
But one night, things changed.
11:59 PM.
The phone buzzed.
His hands trembled as he opened the message.
"Tonight, do not open the door."
Arin froze.
A minute later, there was a knock.
Soft. Slow. Almost… polite.
"Arin… it's me," a voice called from outside.
It was his best friend, Rafi.
Arin's heart raced. Rafi had been his closest friend for years. There was no way the message could be right this time… right?
Another knock.
"Hey, why aren't you opening? I need to talk."
Arin stared at the door, then at his phone.
For the first time, doubt entered his mind.
What if the messages were wrong?
Or worse… what if they were controlling him?
The knocking grew louder.
"Arin! Open the door!"
He took a step forward.
Then his phone buzzed again.
A second message.
"If you open it, you will die."
His breath stopped.
Silence filled the room.
Outside, the knocking suddenly stopped.
No footsteps. No voice. Just… silence.
Arin slowly walked toward the door and looked through the peephole.
Nothing.
The hallway was empty.
His chest tightened.
"Rafi?" he whispered.
No answer.
Suddenly—
BANG!
Something hit the door violently from the outside.
Arin jumped back in fear.
Another hit.
And another.
The door began to shake.
Whatever was outside… it wasn't Rafi anymore.
Arin stumbled back, his heart pounding like it would explode.
His phone lit up one last time.
"Now you understand."
The door burst open.
And everything went dark.....😔👌