Ronan thought it was just a normal night.
But something felt… off.
Not obvious.
Not loud.
Just a quiet discomfort… sitting in the back of his mind.
The next night—
1:43 AM.
No message.
Ronan kept staring at his phone.
1:50 AM…
2:00 AM…
2:10 AM…
Nothing.
He typed first.
"Elara?"
No reply.
"Are you okay?"
Still nothing.
2:16 AM.
For some reason, his heartbeat started rising.
That number again.
2:17.
He didn't know why…
but it felt important.
Too important.
2:17 AM
His phone vibrated.
A message.
From Elara.
"Why did you text me so early?"
Ronan froze.
Early?
He checked the time.
2:17 AM.
"It's not early… I've been waiting for you."
There was a pause.
Longer than ever before.
Then—
"Waiting…?"
"You shouldn't wait at this hour."
A cold feeling ran down his spine.
Something was wrong.
This wasn't how she usually talked.
"What do you mean?"
Seen.
No reply.
Ronan felt irritated.
Or maybe… uneasy.
He opened her profile.
Still no picture.
No info.
Just the same blank silence.
Then suddenly—
A new message popped up.
"You weren't here yesterday."
Ronan blinked.
Confused.
"What? I was here. You went offline."
Typing…
Stopped.
Typing again…
Stopped.
Then—
"No… you weren't."
His fingers went cold.
"Elara, what are you saying?"
This time, the reply came instantly—
"I waited for you."
Ronan's chest tightened.
That didn't make sense.
He was the one waiting.
Every second.
Every minute.
"You left at 2:17."
Seen.
No reply.
A few seconds later—
Another message.
But this time…
It wasn't a reply.
It was something else.
"Look outside."
Ronan's breath stopped for a moment.
Slowly… he turned his head towards the window.
The room was silent.
Too silent.
He hesitated.
Then stood up.
Step by step… he walked closer.
The curtain moved slightly with the wind.
His phone vibrated again.
"Do you see me?"
Ronan's hand froze mid-air.
Right before touching the curtain.
"Elara… what are you talking about?"
No reply.
For a few seconds…
nothing happened.
Then suddenly—
TAP… TAP… TAP…
Something hit the window.
Soft.
Slow.
But deliberate.
Ronan's heart started pounding violently.
His breathing became uneven.
Again—
TAP… TAP… TAP…
He slowly… pulled the curtain aside.
Nothing.
Just darkness.
Empty street.
No one there.
He stepped back immediately.
Hands slightly shaking.
His phone buzzed again.
"You're late again."
Ronan stared at the message.
Fear creeping in…
Slowly.
Silently.
"I was right there…"
And then—
Last seen: 2:17 AM
This time…
Ronan didn't try to text again.
Because deep down—
He felt it.
Something wasn't right.
And whatever Elara was…
She wasn't just on the other side of the screen anymore.