Mira didn't answer.
She stood there, staring at the door, every muscle in her body locked in place.
"…Mira…"
The whisper came again. Softer this time. Closer.
Like whoever,or whatever,was outside had leaned in.
Right up to the door.
Her throat felt dry. She swallowed, forcing herself to stay still.
Rule 3.
Never respond if someone knocks three times slowly.
This wasn't knocking.
But it was still calling her name.
That had to count for something.
Right?
"…Go away," she whispered under her breath.
Not loud enough for it to hear. Just enough to convince herself she said something.
The voice didn't react.
Didn't change.
Just—
"…Mira…"
Again.
Her fingers curled into her sleeve.
"Stop," she said, louder this time.
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Silence.
Complete silence.
For a second, relief washed over her.
Then—
A slow scrape sound came from the other side of the door.
Like something dragging across it.
Mira's breath hitched.
The handle moved.
Just slightly.
She took a step back.
Another.
Her heart was pounding so loudly she could hear it in her ears.
The handle turned.
Once.
Then stopped.
Silence again.
And then—
A knock.
Knock.
She froze.
Knock.
Slow.
Knock.
Three times.
Her stomach dropped.
She knew this one.
This was exactly what the rule said.
Her gaze snapped to the paper on the table.
Like it could somehow confirm this wasn't real.
But it was.
It was happening.
"Don't respond," she whispered to herself. "Don't respond. Don't respond."
The knocking stopped.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
Nothing.
No whisper.
No movement.
Just silence.
Mira let out a shaky breath.
"…Okay."
Maybe it was over.
Maybe—
Thud.
Something hit the door hard.
Mira flinched.
Another hit.
Harder.
Then scratching.
Fast. Desperate.
Like something on the other side was trying to get in.
Her chest tightened.
"Stop…" she whispered.
The door shook slightly.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Just like that.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Mira didn't move for a long time.
Didn't even blink.
Eventually, her legs gave out and she sat down on the floor, her back against the wall.
"…I'm not staying here," she murmured.
Her voice sounded small.
Uncertain.
Like she didn't believe herself.
Her eyes drifted to the clock.
3:27 AM.
Somehow, only fourteen minutes had passed.
---
She didn't remember falling asleep.
But when she opened her eyes again, sunlight was coming through the window.
For a moment, everything felt normal.
Too normal.
Then she saw the door.
Three long scratches ran across the surface.
Deep.
Like something had tried to tear it open.
Mira's stomach twisted.
"…Okay."
That was it.
She was leaving.
---
She packed quickly.
Didn't even bother organizing anything properly. Just threw her things into her bag and zipped it shut.
"This is insane," she muttered. "I'm not dealing with this."
She walked to the door.
Paused.
Then slowly unlocked it.
Nothing happened.
No whispers.
No knocking.
Just a quiet hallway.
She stepped out.
The hallway looked the same as yesterday.
Empty.
Silent.
Too silent.
Mira tightened her grip on her bag and started walking.
Her footsteps echoed.
Too loud.
Too clear.
She didn't like it.
Halfway down the corridor, she stopped.
Something felt… off.
She frowned and looked back.
Her door.
302.
It looked normal.
But the scratches—
They were gone.
Mira blinked.
"…No."
She walked back quickly.
Ran her fingers over the surface.
Smooth.
No marks.
Nothing.
Like last night never happened.
Her chest tightened.
"…That's not possible."
"Nothing here stays the same for long."
Mira turned sharply.
The landlord was standing behind her.
Of course he was.
"…You need to start explaining things," she said, her voice tight.
He didn't answer that.
His gaze dropped briefly to her bag.
"You're leaving."
"Yes."
A pause.
"…You can try."
There it was again.
That same sentence.
Mira's grip tightened.
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, slowly—
"Come with me," he said.
Mira didn't move.
"Why?"
"Because if you leave without understanding the rules…"
His eyes met hers.
"You won't make it past the entrance."
---
Mira hesitated.
Every instinct told her to ignore him and just walk out.
But something about his expression—
The way he said it—
Made her pause.
"…Fine," she muttered. "Five minutes."
He turned without another word.
And she followed.
---
They stopped in front of a door.
305.
Mira frowned.
"Why are we here?"
He didn't answer.
Just knocked once.
Immediately, the door opened.
A woman stood inside.
Smiling.
Too brightly.
"New tenant?" she asked, her eyes landing on Mira.
Mira nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I—"
The woman stepped forward, holding out a plate.
"Have some food. You must be tired."
Mira froze.
Her eyes dropped to the plate.
Then slowly lifted back up.
The woman's smile didn't change.
Didn't blink.
Didn't move.
Just stayed there.
Waiting.
Mira's chest tightened.
"…No, thank you," she said carefully.
The woman's smile widened slightly.
"Are you sure?"
Something about the way she said it made Mira uneasy.
Very uneasy.
She took a small step back.
"I'm sure."
The door slammed shut.
---
Mira stared at it for a second.
Then looked at the landlord.
"…Rule 7," she said quietly.
He nodded once.
Now she understood.
A little.
Not everything.
But enough.
Her grip on her bag loosened slightly.
"…Okay," she said.
Then, more quietly—
"…I'm not leaving. Not yet."