Angelina tried to stay silent.
She didn't speak.
She didn't even breathe too loudly.
She sat on her bed, eyes wide open, listening.
The fan made a soft sound above her, but it didn't matter.
She was terrified.
She stared at her door.
Waiting.
Hoping the night would end.
But it didn't.
At exactly 12:17 a.m., the whimper returned.
Soft. Weak. Shaking.
This time it was louder.
It sounded like the girl was standing closer.
Angelina's heart beat so hard she could feel it in her throat.
She stayed still.
She didn't answer.
The whimper moved around her room like a wind.
Then the voice spoke again.
This time it wasn't outside the door.
It was inside the room.
Angelina's eyes widened.
She looked around.
Nothing.
Then the voice whispered:
"Don't move."
Angelina froze.
She didn't move.
The voice whispered again:
"Don't breathe."
Angelina felt like she was going to pass out.
But she didn't move.
She stayed still like a statue.
The whimper got closer.
It came from behind her bed.
Angelina slowly turned her head.
Her eyes widened in horror.
A shadow was on the floor.
A shape like a girl, standing behind her bed.
The shadow was dark, but its outline was clear.
Long hair.
Small hands.
A small body.
It didn't move.
It only stood there, staring.
The whimper turned into a whisper.
The girl spoke, softly:
"You broke the rule."
Angelina's voice was trapped in her throat.
She tried to scream, but nothing came out.
She tried to speak, but her lips didn't move.
The girl moved closer.
Her shadow covered the floor like darkness spreading.
Angelina's body shook.
She tried to stand up, but she couldn't move.
She was frozen.
The girl's whisper grew louder:
"Now you must listen."
Angelina's eyes filled with tears.
She couldn't breathe.
She couldn't move.
She couldn't speak.
She could only listen.
The girl whispered:
"Every night…
I will come closer."
Angelina's heart raced.
The girl continued:
"Every night…
you will feel my presence."
Angelina tried to blink, but her eyes felt stuck.
The girl whispered again:
"And if you ever speak again…
I will enter."
Angelina's eyes widened.
The shadow moved closer.
It was now standing right beside her bed.
The girl's voice was right next to her ear.
Angelina could feel the cold.
The girl whispered:
"Do you understand?"
Angelina nodded.
She couldn't speak, but she nodded.
The girl laughed softly.
A tiny laugh like a broken toy.
Then the shadow disappeared.
The room returned to normal.
Angelina fell to the floor, trembling.
She cried silently.
She didn't make a sound.
She was too scared to even breathe.
She stayed on the floor until morning.
When the sun finally rose, the air felt lighter.
The fear went away for a moment.
Angelina stood up slowly and walked to her door.
She opened it.
The hallway was normal.
The house was normal.
Everything looked normal.
But when she looked at the wall, she saw something she didn't notice before.
A new handprint.
Smaller than the first.
It was on the wall near the staircase.
Fresh.
Like it was made last night.
Angelina stared at it.
Her body went cold.
She realized then:
The girl wasn't just coming closer.
She was entering the house.
And every night, she would come closer to the real world.
Angelina understood the rule now.
She must stay silent.
She must stay calm.
Because if she spoke again…
The girl would enter.
And she would never leave.