Arjun stayed anyway.
The villagers locked their doors before sunset.
Not one light remained outside. Even the dogs vanished.
At exactly midnight, the forest began to breathe.
A long, chilling howl echoed through the valley.
Not like a wolf.
Something… deeper. Hungrier.
Arjun froze. His phone had no signal. The silence between the howls felt alive—like something circling his house.
Then—
Scratch. Scratch.
From the door.
Slow. Deliberate.
As if something outside knew he was inside.