Two days later, Aryan checked into a new hotel — this time alone, under a false name, carrying nothing but the journal and a camera.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDh5k2DrJQ
The place was called Hotel Suryantra, a rust-colored building on the edge of the city that once served as an orphanage. Room 9 was on the first floor, nestled between a janitor’s closet and a utility shaft. A single bulb flickered above its frame.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmc03uHY5j
He unlocked the door.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22yDPBiqW5
The scent of lavender hit first — sweet and strange.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwikoJRbFm
The room looked ordinary: single bed, rusted mirror, yellowed curtains. But on the bed lay a diary — already open.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeqxMvSvPa
In delicate handwriting:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFIEPmLFvy
“My dreams are too loud. They won’t let me sleep anymore.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BRgnvQmCb
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA5ucRBMAi
---
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhtGRQfRQ0
Aryan flipped the pages.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85YLBEoZ7x
Each entry got darker.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXfNNGN5C5
“They come when the lights go out.”
“She’s wearing my face now.”
“Mom said I screamed in my sleep again. But mom’s not alive.”
“They say if you dream of Room 9, you never wake up.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlv25FZ4tc
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoLc0FlzO1
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZ2JTmMOWR
The last entry was scrawled in smeared ink:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4scP2rKeg
“If I fall asleep tonight, please don’t let her take me.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJnvowSDWW
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVWn0M26s9
---
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jhPFG0Eum
Aryan sat on the bed. Turned off the light. Waited.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYJbloTWnQ
Minutes passed.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUuBgDsrjE
Then — soft humming. Like a lullaby.
A child’s voice, echoing from the walls.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQgaawYwyw
He turned toward the mirror.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gcntPPPK7
A girl stood behind him. But her eyes were white — no pupils. Her smile trembled. And she wore Aryan’s university hoodie.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwz2cv9yrT
She whispered:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkraX0zNsx
“You dream too loud. She heard you too.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrlOBhpTsV
Aryan gasped. The room spun.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP4VFFeh2V
Suddenly, he was lying on the bed, paralyzed. His body wouldn't move. Shadowed figures gathered near the ceiling, watching.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dVxq9XA86
One descended. Slowly. Crawling across the wall.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9njHySmLtK
A girl — burned, melted, eyes black like ink. She opened her mouth but didn’t speak. Instead, Aryan felt the words in his skull:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5GivKGk7z
“This is where we’re buried. In dreams. You opened the files. Now you must carry the screams.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF4K5zvlF2
He closed his eyes and whispered:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5zA7RGTcq
“I’m listening.”
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQVUguOcw7
A sudden gust.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ah4WlqFgG
And silence.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYlganquoU
When he opened his eyes again, it was morning.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYTKXPxGfn
The room was empty.
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc3FjmzPn0
Except for a new page in the black journal:
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo18myL5vtp
Room 9 – Delivered
Room 27 – Next
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7Gava3Gj7
45Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4Pdp3Kmtv
