Alia and Victor slowly stepped backward, but the shadowy figure kept following them—its piercing gaze fixed solely on Alia.
Just then, a bell rang somewhere in the distance—a deep, metallic toll that echoed throughout the valley. The moment the sound struck the air, the shadowy figure shuddered—then vanished into the snow like a gust of wind.
Alia stared in disbelief.
"What… what was that?"
Victor narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know. But one thing's certain—we've found more than we came looking for."
Before them still lay a frozen, mist-shrouded mystery.
---
Later That Night…
Alia wasted no time and started walking quickly toward the hotel. As she trudged alone along the snow-covered path of Scotland, a strange unease gripped her heart.
> "What even was that? Was it really a human… or something else?"
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. Something was clearly following her. She could feel it. But right now, what she needed most was rest.
When she reached the five-star hotel, she checked in at the front desk. As soon as she stepped inside, the warm air wrapped around her like a comfort she'd long been waiting for.
Inside her room, Alia let out a deep breath. Through the large window, the snow-blanketed beauty of Scotland was breathtaking—but even that couldn't shake the lingering anxiety within her.
She unpacked her things and stood in front of the mirror. She looked tired, worn—but her eyes carried a glimmer of uncertainty and curiosity.
And then suddenly—her phone rang.
Startled, Alia slowly picked it up. Her breath hitched when she looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
She hesitated for a second, unsure whether to answer. Then, taking a deep breath, she tapped the screen.
"Hello?"
A muffled voice came through—quiet and distant, like someone speaking from far away.
> "You think you're safe just because you came alone, Alia?"
Her throat went dry.
"Who is this?"
No reply.
For a few chilling seconds, there was only silence.
Then came the words—
> "The shadows… are always behind you."
The call ended.
Alia stood frozen, staring at her phone.
Only one question echoed in her mind:
> Who was that? What did they mean?
She immediately tried to call the number back. But the screen only flashed—
Number not in service.
A cold wave surged through her spine.
> "How's that possible? It just called me…"
She whispered, "Who are you? What do you want from me?" But no answer came. Only the quiet hum of the room… and the soft sound of snowfall outside her window.
Alia slowly walked over to the window and looked out. From the fifth floor, the lights of the city shimmered in the night.
And then she saw it.
A figure—dark and unmoving—standing silently near the edge of the hotel entrance.
Her heart pounded.
> Someone was following her.
Then—
Knock. Knock. Knock.
The sound echoed from the door.
Alia turned sharply.
Was it Victor?
Or… someone else?
Cautiously, she approached the door and peered through the peephole.
The hallway was empty.
No one was there.
Just then, her phone lit up again.
A new message:
> "You can't run, Alia. The shadow has found you."
Her hand trembled.
> What does that mean? What is the shadow, really?
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed in her room…
---
The Darkness Within
Without warning, the room lights flickered once… twice… and then went out.
Darkness swallowed the room in a suffocating silence.
Alia stood motionless, holding her phone tight.
> "Stay calm, Alia. Don't panic…"
She whispered to herself.
But then—
She heard it.
The sound of a chair shifting.
As if someone had just stood up.
Alia instantly turned on her phone's flashlight and aimed it toward the corner of the room.
No one.
Empty.
And then, a whisper—closer than before—right by her ear.
> "Do you really want to know who I am?"
Alia spun around—but there was no one behind her.
Yet something told her…
She wasn't alone.
She could feel a presence—so close she could sense it breathing.
She swallowed hard.
"Yes… Who are you? What do you want from me?"
A cold, chilling laugh echoed.
Then came the voice again, quiet and sinister—
> "I am the shadow…
The one who knows your past.
And now… I will control your future."
At that moment, the door lock clicked.
All by itself.
The bolt slowly slid open—loud in the silence.
> Was someone coming in?
Or… was something unseen already here?
Alia backed away until she hit the wall, her heartbeat racing like thunder.
Her breath trembled.
> What was happening?
What was this shadow?
There was still a cold, invisible presence lingering inside the room. The sound of the lock turning echoed softly—slowly, methodically. Alia stood against the wall, barely breathing.
She whispered, "Victor… is that you?"
But the moment the words left her lips, she realized how foolish the question was.
> Victor wasn't supposed to be here yet.
Her throat went dry. She spoke again, this time with more strength.
"Victor's not supposed to be here tonight… so who are you?"
Silence.
And then—the same voice she had heard before whispered again:
> "I am the one whose name you should have forgotten…
But you never could, Alia."
Suddenly, the door swung open with a sharp creak. The hallway light spilled inside—and within it, a dark silhouette stood tall in the doorway. The figure's face was hidden in the shadows.
Alia backed away, heart pounding. Her hand fumbled and found the lamp on the dressing table. She grabbed it and held it out in front of her, like a weapon.
"Don't be afraid of me, Alia…"
The voice was closer now—right at the threshold. The shadow was stepping into the room.
Alia had two choices now—run… or stay and face this truth.
She stood frozen for a moment, shaken.
> That voice… it sounded so familiar.
A whisper left her lips, unsteady, unsure.
"Viki… is that you?"
The figure stood still in the doorway.
Alia raised the lamp and shone it at his face—and her breath caught in her throat.
It was Victor.
But something was horribly… wrong.
Yes, it was Victor's face. But his eyes—those eyes—were empty. Hollow. Not a trace of warmth. His skin was deathly pale, like blood had drained from it. And around his mouth… there was a shadow—something dark, something not human.
"Victor?" Her voice cracked with fear.
He didn't answer. He stepped forward—one slow, silent step into the room.
Alia moved back. "Are you really… Victor?"
Then, in a whisper, he finally spoke:
> "Victor… has been gone for a long time, Alia."
Her mind reeled.
> What?! Then who was it she saw this morning?
She remembered so clearly—just hours ago, she'd had breakfast with Victor. They talked, they laughed.
So if this was the real Victor…
> Who was the man she spent the morning with?
Alia felt her throat tighten. She stepped back again, hand clutching the wall.
The figure—Victor or not—took another step toward her. A faint, chilling smile formed on his lips.
"You don't understand, Alia?" His voice began to shift—layered, like many whispers tangled together.
> "The Victor from this morning… wasn't me."
Alia's breath stopped. Her heart thudded violently in her chest.
> Then who… who was he?
And more importantly—
> What happened to the real Victor?
She forced her voice to come out, stern despite the fear.
"Then… where is the real Victor? What have you done to him?"
The figure chuckled—a low, cold sound that made her shiver.
> "The real Victor?"
He stepped even closer, the shadows clinging to him like smoke.
> "Do you really want to know, Alia?"
Her throat tightened, but she managed to whisper,
"Yes."
The figure raised one hand slowly. The air around them thickened, and the temperature in the room dropped sharply.
The mirror to her left began to fog—like it was breathing.
Then…
A scene appeared on its surface.
Alia gasped.
Her eyes widened as she stared into the reflection—what she saw inside would change everything…