Part 1
Somewhere on Earth đ, there was a market with shops at the bottom and houses on top. It looked like a tourist spot, bustling with foreigners strolling through the market, buying souvenirs, and enjoying the street food. Children were on the road, happily munching on candy.
A man entered the market wearing white pants and a blue shirt, his body wrapped in a grey woolen cloth. He walked with full confidence, taking deliberate turns through the market. It didn't seem like he was a touristâhe appeared to belong to the place, moving purposefully as if he knew exactly where he wanted to go.
As he walked, he suddenly stopped and glanced to his left. There was a shop selling knives. He went in and bought a big, hefty knife meant for chopping meat. Concealing the knife in his grey woolen cloth, he stepped out of the shop and continued walking through the market.
Part 2
In Calleri City, a girl named Maya was in her house, brimming with happiness as she rushed to get ready to go out. Her makeup was done, and now she was busy deciding what to wear. Opening her cupboard, she rummaged through her clothes until she finally picked out a violet dress. Holding it, she walked towards the changing room, stepped inside, and changed into it. The dress suited her perfectlyâshe looked stunning.
Maya then moved towards her bag, picked it up, and began searching for her phone. She looked for it on the table, on the bed, and finally found it in the bathroom, sitting on the sink. Satisfied, she moved towards the exit door but suddenly stopped, realizing she had forgotten to pack a photo frame.
She went back inside and grabbed the photo frame from the table. It was a group photo of her college friends, a picture filled with fond memories.
Today, Maya was heading to a meetup with her college friends at her friend Ava's house. After carefully placing the photo frame in her bag, she stepped out, locked the main door, and made her way to the lift đ.
While walking towards the lift, her phone rangâit was the cab driver. She picked up the call, and the driver said, "I'm downstairs waiting for you." Maya replied, "I'm coming, please wait," and ended the call.
Entering the lift đ, she pressed "G" for the ground floor, and the lift descended. Once she reached the ground floor, she stepped out of the building and spotted the cab waiting for her. Walking up to the driver's door, she knocked on the car's windshield.
The cab driver lowered the window, and Maya glanced at him. Pulling out her phone, she opened the cab app and checked the driver's profile picture. The face matched perfectly. With a nod of assurance, she opened the door, got in, and the cab drove off.
It was late evening, and the sun was setting. After about an hour, Maya arrived at Ava's houseâa large, single-story home that looked both beautiful and cozy. Maya walked up to the door and rang the bell. The door opened to reveal Ujjwal, who greeted her with a warm welcome.
Ujjwal was Ava's husband. Back in college, Ujjwal and Ava had been dating. After landing jobs, they decided to tell their parents about their relationship and asked for permission to live together for a year. However, their parents denied the request for a live-in relationship, and instead, they had to marry directly after being together for two years. After two years of married life, they got a divorce, though no one knew the real reason behind it.
I entered the house and saw all my college classmates gathered there. We spent the next couple of hours reminiscing about our fun memories from college. After a while, we enjoyed a delicious meal that Ava had preparedâit was absolutely tasty đ.
As the evening wore on, it started getting late, and one by one, everyone decided to leave. In the end, we all agreed to take a two-minute silence to remember Emma, who had tragically passed away from a heart attack. After the silence, everyone left, and it was around 2 AM.
Maya stayed behind to help Ava clear the dining table. Ava picked up all the drinking glasses and went to the kitchen to wash them, while Maya gathered the plates. As she walked toward the kitchen, carrying the plates, she suddenly heard something...
Maya could hear footsteps on the rooftop. The sudden sound sent a chill of fear through her, causing the plates to slip from her hands and shatter into pieces. The sound of the plates breaking echoed into the kitchen.
Ava, who was in the kitchen at the time, heard the crash and, startled, accidentally dropped a glass she was holding. In a split second, she managed to catch it mid-air, carefully placing it on the kitchen slab. She washed her hands, then began walking toward the drawing room.
Meanwhile, Maya felt as if someone was behind her in the room. Panicked, she quickly ran and hid behind the sofa just as the door to the room began to open. Ava entered the drawing room but couldn't find Maya. She called out, "Maya? Maya? MAYA..."
When there was no response, Ava heard someone breathing heavily, as if they were taking long, continuous breaths. The sound seemed to be coming from behind the sofa. Ava cautiously moved toward the sofa and looked behind it, but there was no one there.
Suddenly, a soft, almost inaudible voice whispered, "Ava..."
Ava turned around, and to her surprise, she saw Maya hiding behind a chair. Ava quickly went over to Maya, gently picking her up and helping her sit on the chair. Maya was visibly shaken, too scared to speak. Maya tried to say something, but Ava, sensing her distress, went into the kitchen to get a glass of water.
Ava walked toward the kitchen and entered, reaching for a glass đ·. Suddenly, she felt someone grab her hand from behind. Startled, she tried to glance back and saw a dark, shadowy hand gripping hers. Fear rushed through her, but she gathered her courage and turned around completely. To her relief, it was her grandmother.
Seeing her grandmother calmed Ava instantly. Her grandmother had just arrived from their hometown. Ava lived on the ground floor, while her grandmother and grandfather lived on the first floor. Ava greeted her warmly, and her grandmother asked, "Why are you awake so late?"
Ava explained that she had invited her college friends over for a small get-together and that her friend Maya would be staying the night. She mentioned that Maya had a phobia and suffered from hallucinations, which had been disturbing her. Ava added that she knew a doctor who could help, and she planned to take Maya there soon.
Her grandmother smiled and said, "I was planning to surprise you in the morning, but when I saw your house lights on, I decided to come up, put my bag away, and then came back down." She and Ava walked into the drawing room. Ava introduced her grandmother to her friend Maya. Maya greeted her warmly.
Ava's grandmother walked over to a door that led to a staircase and a lift đ. When Maya noticed there was no one else in the room, she began to feel a little more at ease. Ava handed Maya the glass of water, and Maya drank it quickly, trying to calm herself.
Ava noticed Maya's nervousness and asked, "What happened? Why are you so scared?"
Maya took a deep breath and began to explain everything. She told Ava that she had heard footsteps on the rooftop, which terrified her. In her panic, the plates slipped from her hands and broke. She went on to say that she had felt someone approaching the door behind her, where Ava's grandmother had just gone.
After hearing Maya's explanation, Ava reassured her, saying, "My grandmother and grandfather live on the first floor. She came down just now to surprise me, which is why you felt like someone was walking on the rooftop."
Ava continued to explain that her grandmother had just gone upstairs, which was the source of the noise Maya had heard. After clearing up the confusion, Ava asked, "But what's the real reason you're so upset? You mentioned an appointment earlier."
Maya hesitated for a moment, then quietly replied, "It's because of Emma's death. I feel like I'm the reason she's gone."
Maya took a deep breath and began to tell her story, sharing the events that had led her to feel this way.
Part 3
On 21st May 2019, it was Maya's first day at Blue House Engineering College. She entered the campus, filled with excitement and nerves. Her room number was 213. She asked a guard at the gate for directions, and he told her it was on the second floor, the third room.
Maya walked toward the lift, but noticing there were many people waiting, she decided to take the stairs instead. She climbed up and reached the second floor. She looked at the room numbers on the doorwaysâ211, 212, 213âand then entered room 213.
The room was full of students. Maya climbed up and sat on the fourth-last bench, which was empty. After a while, the girl sitting in front of her turned around and greeted Maya. Maya greeted her back. After exchanging names, addresses, and where they were from, the girl's name was Alisha.
After their conversation, Alisha turned forward again and started chatting with her friends. It seemed like they were all from the same school.
It was time for the class to begin. Some students were late, and five students walked in. One of the girls sat next to Maya. As soon as she sat down, the teacher entered. The teacher welcomed them to a new beginning in their lives and explained her subject.
After the class ended, Maya said hello to the girl sitting next to her. The girl smiled and replied, "Hi." She was very beautiful with fair skin. Her name was Emma.
The next teacher arrived and began teaching mathematics. After the math lecture, it was time for a break. Emma headed to the canteen. Maya stayed in the classroom, watching everyone leave for the break. After a moment, she decided to go to the canteen to find Emma. Maya bought her meal, but she couldn't find Emma. Suddenly, she heard someone calling her name: "Maya! MAYA!"
It was Alisha sitting with her friends, and she invited Maya to join them. Maya had no choice but to sit with them. After eating, they went back to class, but they were late, so the teacher had already arrived. They quickly found a seat wherever they could. The day ended.
Every day, Emma, Alisha, her group, and Maya were enjoying their time together. The first semester came to an end, and during this time, two things happened. First, Alisha began drifting away from her original group, and second, Maya and the others started forming their own friend group, which included two boys named Ryan and Dev.
One day during the second semester, Emma was sad and wasn't talking to anyone. I asked her what had happened, and she told me she was upset because of her mom, who was always angry and would beat her.
Emma said that her mother was angry because of her grades in the first semester. I tried to motivate her and cheer her up, but every day, she seemed more depressed and sad. She told me that her mother was always mad at her. Emma also confided in me, saying that her mother had been angry with her ever since childhood.
Time passed, and there was only one month left until our final exams. Emma became very focused on her studiesâattending class regularly, going to every lecture, and spending hours in the library. It seemed like she was determined not to give her mother any reason to be angry. One day, Emma didn't come to college. She was absent, and when I messaged her, she didn't respond for four days. After those four days, she finally came back to college, but her face was dark and sad. I asked her why she hadn't been coming to college or responding to my messages. Emma told me that her mother had died in an accident. She said that both she and her mother had been in the car when her mother told Emma that if she didn't get good grades in this semester, she would be taken out of college.
After the argument in the car, they stopped at a market. Emma's mother told her to get some things from the market. As Emma walked away, a truck, coming down the slope at high speed, took a sharp right turn, swerved into the parking lot, and crashed into three cars, one of which was theirs. Emma's mother didn't survive the crash because the truck's brakes had failed.
A few days later, I received a call from Emma at 1 AM. She was in a panic, telling me that she felt scared and alone in her room. Emma explained that she could feel something on the other side of the wall behind her bed, as if there was something there. I tried to calm her down and suggested that it might be her neighbor, but Emma insisted that there was no house behind her wall. I reassured her that it was probably just her imagination and that there was nothing to fear. I told her to try to relax and get some sleep.
The next day at college, Emma told me she was terrified. She said it felt like her mother was coming to kill her, and it seemed like she was becoming increasingly traumatized. I was really worried about her, so I decided to visit her house. I spoke to her father and expressed my condolences for the loss of his wife. He explained that Emma's fear and anxiety were natural, considering what had happened, and that it would take some time for her to process and heal from her mother's death.
Despite everything, the exams were approaching. After each exam, Emma seemed to feel the same dread. She would confide in me about the persistent feeling of being haunted by her mother's spirit, and it was becoming more difficult for her to focus on her studies.
On the last day of the exams, we all gathered together â Ryan, Dev, Alisha, Emma, and I â to discuss plans for a trip. It had been a stressful period with all the studying and exams, and we needed something fun to look forward to. Dev suggested an adventure park, Thornhill Village, and showed us some pictures.
Thornhill Village was a beautiful island, complete with a small village at the center. Behind the village was a huge beach, lined with big Airbnb beach houses, perfect for a relaxing stay. On the other side of the village was a water park, making it the perfect combination of adventure and relaxation.
We all agreed that it sounded like the perfect place to unwind. We decided to meet on March 12th for a final discussion and to get permission from our parents. It felt like the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Everyone talked to their parents about the trip. Ryan's and Dev's parents gave their permission without hesitation. However, Maya's parents initially refused. After an hour of Maya pleading and convincing them, they finally agreed. On the other hand, Alisha's parents denied permission because there was an important family wedding that she and her family had to attend.
Emma told her father about the trip, but he didn't respond. Confused and disappointed, she returned to her room. Meanwhile, downstairs, her father's mind wandered back to a night he could never forget.
That night, Emma had been sleeping peacefully in her room when she was suddenly woken by an eerie noise. The sound seemed to come from the other side of the wall, growing louder and more unsettling by the second. Fear gripped her as she sat up in bed. Suddenly, a loud cracking noise echoed through the room, and a crack appeared on the wall near the ceiling. From the crack, thick black-brown smoke began pouring out, filling the air with an unnatural heaviness.
Frozen in terror, Emma couldn't move. Her wide eyes stayed fixed on the smoke as it began to take shape. Before her, the dark haze morphed into the figure of a monstrous creatureâone that eerily resembled her mother. The monstrous figure lunged at her, and Emma screamed, falling out of bed in sheer panic. Her cries echoed through the house, a chilling reminder of the nightmare she would never forget.
Hearing his daughter's terrified screams, Emma's father woke up with a start and ran to her room. He found Emma on the floor, trembling and staring at the wall, shouting loudly. He quickly picked her up and helped her back onto the bed. But as he sat her down, her screams suddenly stopped. Her wide, fearful eyes shifted from the wall to the window.
The monster had disappearedâleaving through the window.
Emma's father, still trying to understand what was happening, gently asked, "What happened?" Emma, her voice shaky, explained everythingâthe crack in the wall, the smoke, and the monster that looked like her mother.
Her father turned to inspect the wall. To his shock, there was indeed a crack, just as Emma had described. He stood there in silence, staring at the ominous mark, unsure of what to believe or do next.
The next day, Emma and her father visited the doctor for a check-up. Her father explained everything that had been happening over the past few daysâthe nightmares, the fear, and the strange events. After listening carefully, the doctor advised them to give Emma a change of scenery and distract her from these thoughts.
Taking the doctor's advice to heart, her father spent some time considering the best way to help her. Finally, he went to Emma, sat beside her, and said with a gentle smile, "You can go on the trip."
On March 12, everyone gathered at the café to discuss their plans. They each shared whether they had managed to get permission to join the trip. Sadly, Alisha revealed that she hadn't been allowed to go. Everyone felt disappointed for her, but they decided to move forward with the trip and planned to leave on March 17 for a four-day adventure.
The plan was to take a private, small ship that would sail them to a nearby village. The sailor would also serve as their tour guide in the village. With the plan finalized, Ryan took on the responsibility of booking the Airbnb and arranging for the sailor. However, he soon realized that most sailors were charging an exorbitant fee. Determined to stick to their budget, Ryan found a private sailor who charged much less and booked him for the trip.
Part 4
On the morning of March 17, at 7 a.m., Emma and Maya arrived at the dockyard. They spotted Ryan standing near a small ship labeled with the number 372. Walking up to him, they asked, "Where's Dev?"
Ryan explained, "His father called him for an emergency, so he said he'll join us later tonight."
Ryan then called out to the sailor, who was inside the ship. However, the sailor didn't come out. Instead, he shouted back, instructing them to board the ship themselves.
Feeling a bit annoyed, Ryan, Maya, and Emma climbed aboard, struggling with their luggage. As they settled in, Maya grumbled, "What kind of sailor is this? He didn't even bother to help us get on the ship, and we're carrying so many bags!"
After sailing for a while, the sailor finally came out and greeted them with a casual "Hello." He then began explaining the rules and what they could look forward to during the trip.
The sailor first asked, "Which Airbnb are you staying in?"
Ryan replied, "The one at number 34."
The sailor nodded and continued, "Alright, listen up. There are a few rules you need to follow. Don't damage or destroy anything at the Airbnb. Keep it cleanâno leaving trash behind. And most importantly, don't litter on the beach. Respect the place, and you'll have a great time."
After explaining the rules, the sailor went on to share the plan for their trip.
"Today," he began, "you'll have the day to yourselves to explore and get familiar with the area. Feel free to roam around and take it all in."
"On the second day," he continued, "you'll visit the village festival in the afternoon. It's a big event, and you'll get to experience the local culture."
"Day three will be all about funâyou'll head to the water park for the day, so get ready to make a splash!"
"And for the last day," the sailor added, "I won't be your guide. It'll be up to you what you want to doâexplore more, relax, or whatever you like."
The sailor mentioned, "At the entrance of the village, there are plenty of restaurants where you can grab some food. You'll have no trouble finding something to eat."
Ryan then spoke up, "By the way, I need you to pick up my friend Dev later tonight. He'll be joining us after some business with his father."
The sailor nodded. "Got it," he replied.
With that, the sailor turned and went back to the ship to continue sailing.
Finally, after about half an hour, they arrived at the island. It was lush and full of vibrant greenery, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The sailor, as promised, came over to help them with their bags. When Emma nearly lost her balance while stepping off the ship, the sailor quickly caught her, ensuring she didn't fall.
He then took their bags and led the way to the Airbnb at number 34.
The Airbnb turned out to be a spacious two-story beach house. After setting their bags outside the entrance, the sailor waved goodbye, saying, "See you tomorrow," before heading back to the ship.
Ryan quickly messaged the owner to let them know they had arrived and asked for the keys. The reply came with instructions: there was a mini lockbox, and the password was 3562.
Maya entered the numbers and turned the dial. The lockbox clicked open, revealing a key inside. She grabbed it, unlocked the door, and they all entered the house.
The interior was charming and cozy. On the ground floor, there was a drawing room and a fully equipped kitchen. Upstairs, there were three rooms and two washrooms. Each room had a cupboard for storage.
It was around 10 p.m., so they decided to rest for a few hours. They each grabbed their bags, headed to their respective rooms, and settled in to sleep, planning to rest until 1 a.m.
After a little while, Emma heard a knock at her room door. She opened it to find Ryan standing there. "Hey, it's time to get ready for lunch," he said.
Emma quickly freshened up and got dressed. Once she was ready, she went downstairs to find Maya and Ryan waiting for her.
The three of them headed out for lunch, walking towards the village. The village was quiet and less crowded, with only a few people around.
As they entered the village, they found two lanes lined with fast food stalls and restaurants. Feeling hungry, they quickly decided to find a place to eat. After looking around for a bit, they spotted a nice vegetarian restaurant called Raza Veg Restaurant. It looked inviting, so they went inside and sat at a table.
A friendly waiter approached them and handed over two menus. Everyone around seemed pleasant, and the atmosphere in the village was warm and welcoming.
The three of them browsed through the menu, discussing their options while chatting about how lovely the village was. Ryan, noticing their conversation, added, "By the way, the crime rate in this area is just 1%âit's a pretty safe place to be."
After a few minutes, the waiter returned to take their order. They decided on two starters, two gravies, three naans, and three dessertsâeach. The meal was absolutely delicious đ€€, and they all enjoyed it thoroughly.
When the waiter brought the bill, it came to $30. They paid and left a generous tip. It felt rewarding to see the waiter's smile as he accepted it.
Afterward, they stepped out and began exploring the village. The shops and villagers were all dressed in traditional attire, adding to the charm of the place.
As evening approached, Maya and Emma bought some dresses and artificial jewelry, while Ryan picked up a black hat and two beach shirtsâone for himself and one for Dev.
After making their purchases, they ended up getting lost. Thankfully, the friendly villagers came to their aid and guided them back to their Airbnb. As they were asking for directions, one man was joined by two others, and together they safely escorted them back to the house.
They quickly dropped off their things and headed back out, excited to catch the sunset. Ryan, camera in hand, was ready to capture the moment. As the sun began to dip, he started taking pictures.
Maya and Emma, eager to have some photos of themselves, asked Ryan to take a few shots of them. Ryan turned toward them, smiled, and began clicking their pictures, capturing the beautiful moment of the sunset.
They all sat on the sand, enjoying the serene scenery. As Emma gazed to her right, she noticed a man standing at a distance, seemingly watching them. She quietly mentioned it to Maya, who looked over and confirmed that there was indeed a man standing far away, spying on them.
Maya quickly told Ryan about the man, and when he looked in the same direction, there was no one to be seen. Ryan, trying to ease their concerns, suggested, "It must just be another tourist or a villager."
But deep down, Ryan had a nagging feeling. He knew there were no tourists around the area, as when he had booked the Airbnb, all the others were vacant. Still, he tried to brush off the unease, telling himself it could be just a villager to calm his own growing suspicion.
Ryan didn't mention his thoughts to Emma, knowing she would get frightened. It had grown dark by then, so they decided to head back inside the Airbnb. To pass the time, they decided to play a game. There were several board games available, including a carom board.
Ryan and Emma wanted to play carom, but Maya was more in the mood for Monopoly. However, as the majority voted, they all ended up playing carom together.
It was 9 PM when they decided to head out for dinner. The village looked enchanting with the lights glowing in the shops and illuminating the lanes. Now, there was a bit more crowd, mostly tourists. Ryan, curious, went into a shop and asked where all the tourists were staying, as all the Airbnb properties were still empty.
The shopkeeper informed him that a new ten-story hotel had opened near the water park.
Finally, Ryan understood why the area had seemed so empty in the morningâmost tourists had opted for the new hotel, leaving the Airbnb properties vacant.
They went to a restaurant named Alpaza and sat down. Emma mentioned that she wasn't very hungry and would eat lightly, and Maya agreed, so they decided to order smaller portions. While they were eating, a young man sitting at the table next to theirs, who seemed to be a tourist, started a conversation with Emma. He asked where they were from, how long they had been planning to stay, and where they were staying. Emma and her friends answered his questions politely.
The man then shared a little about himself, saying he was there to enjoy the place and that his father ran a business in New York.
As the man started to flirt with Emma, she began to feel uncomfortable. The conversation quickly crossed the line, and Emma finished her meal quickly. Excusing herself, she went to wash her hands. Afterward, she stepped outside the restaurant, waiting for Maya and Ryan. A few moments later, they joined her, but Emma was upset with both of them for not standing up for her. She felt they had remained quiet and hadn't defended her.
Maya and Ryan tried to explain that the man's comments were just compliments and reassured her they hadn't meant any harm. They both apologized, but Emma still felt frustrated. After the tension eased, they headed back to the Airbnb. It was around 10:30 PM, and they were all exhausted. They made sure all the windows were closed, locked both the front and back doors, and left one light on downstairs. Feeling safe and tired, they each went to their rooms and went to sleep.
Part 5
Around 2 AM, Maya was suddenly woken up by her phone ringing. It was Dev calling. Groggily, she picked up the phone.
"Where is that sailor?" Dev's voice came through, sounding a bit worried.
Maya rubbed her eyes and replied, "Maybe he forgot about you. Don't worry, Ryan will call him, and we'll come to pick you up."
After reassuring him, she ended the call and lay back down, hoping everything would be fine.
Maya went to Ryan's room and knocked softly. Ryan, half asleep, opened the door.
"Maya, what's wrong?" he asked groggily.
Maya quickly told him about Dev's call and how the sailor had not shown up yet. Ryan rubbed his eyes and grabbed his phone. He saw there were five missed calls from Dev.
Without wasting a moment, Ryan dialed the sailor's number, but there was no signal. He frowned, then turned to Maya. "Do you have signal on your phone?"
Maya checked her phone and nodded. "Yes, I do."
Ryan handed her his phone. "Here, call him with my number."
Maya took the number and dialed the sailor's number, hoping he would answer this time.
Since the sailor's phone was still out of coverage area, Maya and Ryan decided they couldn't wait any longer. They made the decision to go find him. They left Emma alone in the house, knowing she was asleep, and headed out into the village.
The night was quiet as they made their way toward the docks, where all the boats and ships were anchored. They figured the sailor might have been sleeping in the small room on the ship, the same one they had passed when they arrived earlier.
But when they arrived at the ship, they found it empty. The sailor's room was deserted, and there were no signs of him being there.
Meanwhile, back at the house, Emma was jolted awake by a knocking sound. She groggily got out of bed and stepped into the hallway, noticing that Maya's and Ryan's doors were wide open. The knocking continued, along with shouting from the outside.
When Emma looked through the spyglass of the door, her heart skipped a beat. It was the man from the restaurant â the one who had been flirting with her and making her uncomfortable. He was clearly drunk, yelling for the door to be opened.
Terrified, Emma's voice trembled as she called out from behind the door, "Go away! This isn't your house!" She hoped her words would send him away.
The man outside continued shouting, his words slurred and aggressive. Emma, feeling a rush of fear, decided to open the door just slightly to confront him. He was using foul language, banging on the door as if trying to force it open.
Panicking, Emma stood firm and said, "I'll call the cops and have you arrested!" Her voice shook, but she tried to sound confident.
Hearing the mention of the authorities, the drunk man seemed to hesitate. His face shifted to one of uncertainty, and with a final grumbled threat, he slurred, "I'll come back..." Then, he turned and staggered away, walking in a zig-zag pattern as he stumbled into the darkness of the night.
Emma quickly ran upstairs to call Maya, but the phone showed that it was out of the coverage area. Panicking, she sent a message to both Maya and Ryan, her fingers trembling as she typed: "There's a drunk man outside, and I'm scared." After sending the message, she noticed there was only one tickâmeaning it hadn't been delivered yet.
Emma went over to the window to keep an eye on the man. She saw him stumbling away, clearly intoxicated, walking farther into the distance until he was barely visible. Only then did she feel a bit of relief.
With a deep sigh, Emma went back to her bed. She thought for a moment about messaging the sailor to warn him about the incident. But exhaustion weighed on her, and after sending the message, she finally drifted off to sleep.
Half an hour later, the bell rang, jolting Emma awake. Her heart raced, and she immediately thought the drunk man had returned. This time, she grabbed her phone, ready to call the cops if needed.
She cautiously walked downstairs, her mind filled with dread. Peering through the spyglass, she was relieved to see it was the sailor. Emma assumed he had seen her message and had come to help.
She hurriedly opened the door, and the sailor stepped inside. She started explaining everything that had happenedâthe man, his behavior, and how she felt scared. But as Emma was speaking, she noticed the sailor's hand moving behind him.
Before she could react, the sailor pulled a knife from his back pocket and lunged toward her, attempting to attack. In a panic, Emma barely managed to dodge the strike. Adrenaline coursing through her, she turned and ran upstairs, quickly locking herself in Ryan's room to escape.
Emma quickly locked herself in Ryan's room, her heart pounding in her chest. Downstairs, she could hear the sailor locking the front door, ensuring that no one could escape. He then made his way upstairs, searching for Emma, his footsteps echoing through the house.
Emma's breath quickened as she heard him moving closer. Then, she heard him find the door to Ryan's roomâhe started to forcefully break it open. Fear gripped Emma, and in a desperate move, she opened the door to the room next to hers. To her relief, it was a small storeroom.
Inside the storeroom, Emma saw a ladder leading up to the attic. Without wasting a second, she climbed the ladder, pulled it up behind her, and closed the attic entrance, sealing off her escape route.
The house grew eerily silent, save for the sound of her rapid breathing, as she crouched in the attic, hoping the sailor wouldn't find her.
The sailor managed to break through the door to Ryan's room, but when he entered, he found it empty. His frustration mounted as he scanned the room, his eyes landing on the open door to the storeroom. He quickly moved towards it and entered, but once again, the room was void of Emma.
Suddenly, he heard a loud crashâsomeone was breaking the front door. The sailor froze, listening intently. Through the window, he saw a group of three villagers and two cops approaching the house. Realizing that his time was running out, he quickly dashed down the stairs and made his way to the back gate.
He heard the sound of the villagers and cops entering the front door as he bolted out of the back gate, disappearing into the darkness. Emma's heart raced in the attic, still unsure of what was happening, but grateful for the unexpected help that had arrived just in time.
The tension in the air was thick as Ryan and Maya desperately worked to break down the door. Maya's voice echoed through the house, "Emma! Emma!" With one final push, Ryan managed to break the door open, and they rushed inside.
"Emma!" Maya shouted again, her voice filled with concern.
Upstairs, Emma, trembling with fear, heard the sound of the door crashing open. Her heart raced as she quickly pushed the ladder back down into the attic. The sound of something heavy falling reverberated through the house. The footsteps of Ryan, Maya, and the villagers followed shortly.
As they entered the room, Emma descended the stairs shakily. Her eyes were wide, and her hands were trembling. The sight of her friends and the villagers' concern for her gave her some relief, but the terror still lingered in her chest.
The villagers and cops immediately asked, "Where is that sailor? What happened?"
Emma, still shaken, shook her head. "I... I don't know... he... he attacked me," she whispered, her voice faltering.
At that moment, Dev rushed in, worry etched across his face. "Emma!" he exclaimed, his eyes scanning her for any visible injuries. "What happened? Are you okay?"
Emma nodded slowly but didn't speak, still trying to process everything that had happened.
Ryan and Dev, both visibly relieved that she was safe, turned to the villagers and thanked them for their help. They assured the cops to investigate and find the sailor. "Please make sure he's found," Ryan added, his voice firm with concern.
As the villagers and cops went off to search for the sailor, the group of friends huddled together, finally feeling a sense of safety. Emma, despite her fear, was grateful for the support of her friends. She leaned into Ryan's shoulder, trying to calm her nerves, knowing that whatever happened next, they would face it together.
They decided to leave the place tomorrow morning. Maya felt sorry for Emma and apologized, explaining that they had seen her message too late. She told Emma that when they received the message from Dev, they immediately went in search of the sailor. After finding his ship empty, they asked other sailors, who were sleeping in their small boats far away. They woke them up and asked for help to find the missing sailor. When they learned that the ship's number was 372, the sailors informed them that the ship's owner had been murdered, and there was no sailor for that ship.
Ryan and Maya were frightened. Just then, they received Emma's message saying that a man who had been drinking was disturbing her and attempting to break in. Panic set in, and they rushed to her aid, accompanied by the two sailors.
They went to the police station and explained everything to the officers. The cops called in another villager, and together, they rushed towards the Airbnb. After recounting all that had happened to Emma, they finally went to bed. Some time later, Maya went into Emma's room and saw her peacefully sleeping. Relieved, Maya felt a sense of calm and went back to her own room to sleep as well.
It was 4:30 a.m., and still dark when Emma woke up, terrified. She saw the sailor and the drunk man trying to kill her. Suddenly, she heard a loud noise from above, followed by the sound of something falling onto the roof. She looked up and saw the roof beginning to crack. Black smoke poured out from the cracks. Emma screamed in fear. The monster her mother had once warned her about appeared. Hearing Emma's screams, Maya, Ryan, and Dev rushed to her room. They burst in to find Emma shouting, her eyes fixed on the roof. As Maya tried to calm her down, Emma recoiled in fear, her eyes wide with terror as the monster drew closer and closer. Then, in Maya's arms, Emma fainted.
They were all confused and deeply concerned about why Emma had been so terrified by the small crack in the roof. Afterward, they rushed her to the village hospital, but the doctor delivered the devastating news: Emma was dead. The next day, the results of the postmortem came in, revealing that the cause of death was a heart attack.
After Maya told Ava the story, she noticed that Ava seemed a little disturbed as well. Ava then led Maya to the bedroom to rest. Meanwhile, in Thornhill village, everything was in ruins. The once lively village had now turned into a forest, with trees overtaking the area. The only thing left standing was the house, its main door wide open.