The rain poured like needles as Maya stepped out of her car, her phone dead and her GPS useless. The only building in sight was a decaying motel with a flickering neon sign: "Rosewood Inn – Vacancy."
She hesitated. It looked like the set of every horror movie ever.
But she was lost, cold, and alone.
The receptionist was an old man with a crooked smile and a voice like rust.
"Only one room left," he said, handing her a key marked Room 13.
Of course it was 13.
She took it with numb fingers. "Thanks. Just for the night."
He didn't answer.
The hallway smelled of mildew and secrets. Maya reached the end and found Room 13. The doorknob felt ice-cold even through her sleeve.
The room was old-fashioned but clean. Faded wallpaper. A dusty mirror. A single bed.
She tossed her bag down and lay back with a sigh. The wind howled outside.
Then she heard it.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Coming from the mirror.
She sat up. The room was empty.
Tap. Tap.
She crept to the mirror. Her reflection blinked.
But she didn't.
Maya staggered back as her reflection smiled—a twisted, unnatural grin.
Suddenly, the room went cold. The lights flickered.
The reflection stepped forward—without Maya moving. Its hand pressed against the glass from inside.
Then it mouthed:"Let me out."
Maya ran.
The hallway seemed endless. Room numbers were wrong. The exit had vanished.
She turned around.
There stood the receptionist.
Only he wasn't human anymore. His skin was pale, stretched too tightly. His eyes were black holes.
"You opened the door," he whispered. "Now you stay."
She bolted back to Room 13 and slammed the door. The mirror had cracked.
But her reflection was gone.
She turned—and froze.
There, standing in the corner, was herself.
Or something wearing her face.
It whispered in her voice, "Thank you."
And lunged.
The next morning, the rain stopped. A new traveler arrived, tired and lost.
"Just one night," she said.
The receptionist, now perfectly normal again, smiled kindly.
"Only one room left."
He handed her a key marked Room 13.
And behind the dusty window, someone watched.
A girl with Maya's face.
But her eyes were screaming.