Chapter 4: When Time Broke
Her hands trembled as she stared at him.
Standing there.
Under the streetlight.
Not moving.
Not blinking.
Just… watching her.
"This isn't real…" she whispered, stepping back.
Her heart was pounding so loud it felt like it would break out of her chest.
Her phone buzzed again.
"Open the door."
"No…" she shook her head instantly.
There was no way she was doing that.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She looked back at the window—
He was still there.
Exactly the same.
Like he hadn't moved even a single inch.
Suddenly—
The lights in her room went out.
Darkness.
Complete silence.
Her breath quickened.
"Hello…?" her voice came out weak.
No response.
Then—
Tick.
The sound of the clock echoed loudly.
Too loudly.
She turned toward it slowly.
Her eyes widened.
The clock…
It wasn't moving.
12:00 AM.
Frozen.
"That's not possible…" she whispered.
Tick.
The sound came again.
But the clock still didn't move.
Tick.
Louder this time.
Not from the clock.
From behind her.
Her body went still.
Every nerve in her screamed not to turn around.
But she couldn't stop herself.
Slowly…
She turned.
Her breath stopped.
He was standing inside her room.
Right behind her.
Her mind went blank.
"How did you—"
"Time doesn't move the same for everyone," he said calmly.
His voice was closer now.
Too close.
She stumbled back, her hands shaking.
"You were outside… I saw you!"
"I was," he replied.
"And I still am."
Her heart dropped.
"That doesn't make any sense!"
He stepped closer.
And for the first time—
She noticed something terrifying.
His reflection—
Wasn't in the mirror behind him.
Her eyes filled with fear.
"You're… not normal…"
He didn't deny it.
Instead, he looked at her like he already knew everything about her.
"Neither are you."
The words hit her harder than anything else.
Before she could speak—
The clock suddenly started ticking normally again.
12:01 AM.
The lights came back.
And he was gone.
Like he was never there.
Her room was empty.
Silent.
Normal.
Except—
Her phone buzzed one last time.
She slowly looked at the screen.
"Now you can't ignore it anymore."
To be continued… ⚡🔥