The creature's scream faded slowly.
For a few seconds, no one moved.
The house was completely silent.
Rohan stood behind his grandmother, breathing hard. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he stared at the staircase.
The creature was gone.
The stairs were empty.
Only deep scratch marks remained on the wooden railing.
Rohan's mother slowly stepped forward. "Is… is it over?" she asked nervously.
The grandmother lowered her hand.
Her chanting stopped.
But the fear on her face did not disappear.
"No," she said quietly.
Rohan felt a chill run through his body.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
The grandmother turned slowly toward him.
Her eyes were filled with something worse than fear.
Regret.
"Because it knows now," she said.
"Knows what?" Rohan asked.
"That you came back."
Before anyone could speak again—
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Everyone froze.
Rohan's mother gasped. "Rajesh!"
Rohan's heart jumped.
His father was still upstairs.
"Dad!" Rohan shouted.
He started running toward the stairs, but his grandmother grabbed his arm.
"Wait!" she said sharply.
"But Dad is up there!"
"I know," she replied. "And that is exactly why you must not rush."
Another noise came from above.
Something dragging across the floor again.
Slow.
Heavy.
But it sounded different this time.
Weaker.
Rohan couldn't wait anymore.
He pulled free and rushed up the stairs.
"Rohan, stop!" his mother shouted behind him.
But he was already halfway up.
The hallway looked darker than before.
The small wooden door at the end of the hall was closed again.
But the wood looked strange.
As if something inside was pushing against it.
The door trembled slightly.
Then—
A weak voice came from the floor.
"Rohan…"
Rohan turned quickly.
His father was lying against the wall near the door.
His face was pale, and his breathing was slow.
"Dad!" Rohan ran to him.
His father looked up weakly.
For a moment, relief filled his eyes.
"You shouldn't have come back to this house," he whispered.
Rohan frowned. "What are you talking about?"
His father slowly raised a shaking hand and pointed at the door.
"That thing…" he said.
"It didn't come from the room."
Rohan's stomach dropped.
"Then where did it come from?"
His father's voice trembled.
"It came with us."
Suddenly—
The wooden door behind them cracked loudly.
A long thin crack spread across the middle.
Another crack followed.
Then another.
Something inside was pushing against it.
Harder.
Harder.
Rohan slowly turned his head toward the door.
From the other side, faint whispering voices began again.
But this time there were many more.
Dozens.
Maybe hundreds.
"…open…"
"…let us out…"
"…Rohan…"
The door shook violently.
And the first wooden plank snapped.