Aarav ran.
He didn't think.
Didn't stop.
Didn't look back.
The journal.
The voice.
His father.
That thing.
"…This place is not real…"
His breath came in broken gasps as he stumbled through the hallway.
"This is some kind of nightmare…"
But the burning on his hand said otherwise.
The mark pulsed under his skin.
Alive.
He reached the main entrance.
Pushed the door open—
And froze.
The outside…
Was gone.
No road.
No trees.
No sky.
Just fog.
Endless.
Thick.
Swallowing everything beyond the gate.
"…No…"
Aarav stepped outside slowly.
"NO—this wasn't here yesterday!"
He turned back.
The hostel stood behind him.
Silent.
Watching.
And then—
A voice.
"Running won't help."
Aarav spun around.
Someone was sitting on the broken gate.
A girl.
She looked… normal.
Too normal.
Long black hair tied loosely. Simple clothes. No blood. No wounds.
Just sitting there.
Calm.
Like she had been waiting.
Aarav stepped back instantly.
"…Who are you?"
The girl tilted her head slightly.
"You came late."
A chill ran down his spine.
"…What?"
She jumped down from the gate effortlessly.
Walked toward him.
Slow.
Unafraid.
"You opened it faster than he did."
Aarav's heart stopped.
"…You… knew my father?"
She smiled faintly.
Not creepy.
Not twisted.
But not warm either.
"I know everyone who opens that door."
Aarav's voice hardened.
"Stay where you are."
But she didn't stop.
Instead—
She walked past him.
Straight into the hostel.
"…Hey!"
Aarav hesitated—
Then followed.
🚪
Inside, the air changed again.
The fog didn't enter.
It stayed outside.
Like it was afraid.
The girl walked calmly through the corridor.
As if she knew the place.
Every corner.
Every shadow.
Aarav kept his distance.
"…You still haven't answered me."
She stopped.
Turned slowly.
"Do you really want the answer?"
Something about her tone made his chest tighten.
"…Yes."
For a moment—
She just stared at him.
Then—
She said it.
"I died here."
Silence.
Aarav blinked.
"…What?"
She shrugged lightly.
"Long time ago."
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
Her eyes met his.
Calm.
Steady.
Too steady.
Aarav felt it again.
That same feeling from the night.
Wrong.
"…If you're a ghost," he said carefully, "then why do you look normal?"
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Because you're already connected."
Aarav's hand burned again.
"…What does that mean?"
She stepped closer.
Now only a few feet away.
"It means you can see what others can't."
"…And you?"
She tilted her head again.
"I'm not like the others."
"…Others?"
For the first time—
Her expression changed.
Slightly.
"Those things behind the Seventh Door."
Aarav's throat went dry.
"They're not ghosts," she continued softly."They're what's left… after the door takes everything else."
Aarav took a step back.
"…Stop."
"You need to understand."
"I said STOP!"
The hallway lights flickered.
Even though there was no electricity.
For a second—
Her face changed.
Not completely.
Just a flicker.
Her eyes—
Gone.
Black.
Empty.
Then—
Normal again.
Aarav froze.
"…I saw that."
She didn't deny it.
"Good."
That answer hit harder than fear.
"…What are you?"
Silence.
Then—
She smiled again.
"I'm the one trying to keep you alive."
Aarav let out a shaky breath.
"…Why?"
Her eyes locked onto his.
Deep.
Serious.
"Because your father failed."
The words hit like a punch.
"And if you fail too…"
The temperature dropped.
"…this place won't stay closed anymore."
A distant sound echoed through the hostel.
A door.
Opening.
Not one.
Not two.
Multiple.
Aarav turned toward the corridor.
The six doors.
All of them…
Slowly creaking open.
Darkness spilling out.
The girl grabbed his wrist suddenly.
"Run."
Aarav didn't argue this time.
As they ran—
He looked back one last time.
And in the shadows of the hallway—
He saw them.
Figures.
Dozens.
Standing.
Watching.
And one of them—
Stepped forward.
Wearing his father's face.
To Be Continued…