Lina spoke one word to open the real Echo door. She chose "Hush," hoping it was the safest word. The door opened, but the seal listened. Right after, the walls repeated Lina's voice, as if the school copied it like a sample. The group escaped the trap room, but they went deeper into a colder corridor. Then a new message appeared: VOICE SAMPLE: CAPTURED. Seren warned that the thing below can speak with Lina now. From under the school, the voice answered with one hungry word: Good.
Chapter 85 — The Voice That Isn't Yours
The corridor was darker than before. The walls were smooth and cold, with thin silver lines that looked like tiny waves. The air felt wet, like it came from deep underground. Lina's breath came out in small white clouds.
Kai kept one arm around Lina's shoulders. He was not hugging her like normal. He was holding her like she might fall through the floor if he lets go. His other hand held her hand tight. He did not stop touching her.
Lina tried to swallow, but her throat felt strange. Not sore. Empty. Like someone took something small from inside her.
VOICE SAMPLE: CAPTURED.
The words on the wall did not fade. They looked fresh and clean, like the school was proud.
Reyon stared at the words and shook his head. "That's so creepy," he whispered. "That's like… when an app asks for your microphone."
Mira made a small sound and pressed closer to Lina. "Do you feel okay?" Mira asked.
"I don't know," Lina whispered.
Seren's eyes glowed silver. She listened to the air like it was a song only she could hear. "It's in the Echo route," Seren said softly. "Your voice is in the walls now. It can use it. It can call. It can copy."
Jax looked like he wanted to throw up. "Then why did the door open for her?" he asked.
"Because it wanted it," Kai said. His voice was calm, but it had sharp edges. "It wanted a sample."
Lina's chest hurt. "I thought one word would be safe," she said.
Kai looked at her and his eyes softened for half a second. "You did what you had to do," he said. "But now we move smarter."
Reyon rubbed his forehead. "Okay, so new rule: Lina does not speak. Like at all."
Lina gave him a small glare. "I can still breathe."
Reyon raised his hands. "Breathing is fine. Words are banned."
Even in fear, Lina almost smiled. Almost. But the hole in her head where Mira's laugh used to be still hurt.
They walked forward. The corridor bent slowly, like a long tunnel inside a shell. The silver lines on the walls started to glow a little brighter, as if they were awake now. Lina felt like the hallway was leaning in to listen.
Then a soft sound floated behind them.
Not a footstep.
Not a whisper.
A simple voice, calm and clear.
"Kai."
Lina's blood went cold.
It was her voice.
It sounded like her, but it did not come from her mouth.
Kai stopped at once. His whole body went tight. His hand squeezed Lina's hand so hard it hurt.
Mira turned fast. "Lina?" Mira asked, scared.
"I didn't—" Lina whispered, and even that whisper felt dangerous.
Seren's eyes widened. "Don't answer the walls," Seren said.
Reyon took a shaky step back. "The school is doing ventriloquist stuff now. Great."
The voice spoke again from behind them, still Lina's voice, still calm.
"Kai, come back."
Kai's jaw clenched. "Keep walking," he said to everyone.
But Lina's heart hammered. Because the words were not random. The voice did not say her name. It said Kai's name. Like it knew the fastest way to pull him.
The corridor ahead suddenly looked different. The silver lines shaped into an arrow pointing left, toward a side hall that was not there before.
SAFE ROUTE.
The letters formed on the wall like a friendly sign.
Reyon stared. "That's a lie."
Kai nodded. "Yes."
Seren's voice shook. "It's using her voice to make it feel safe."
Mira whispered, "It sounds like Lina, so your heart wants to believe it."
Lina felt sick. "It's stealing my voice to steal our choices."
Kai squeezed her shoulder. "Stay real," he whispered.
"I'm here," Lina whispered back.
They kept walking, but the corridor kept trying. The voice called again, still Lina's voice, softer now.
"Kai… please."
Kai's breath hitched. Lina felt it. It was not just the sound. It was the way it touched him. It sounded like Lina was begging him. Like Lina was in danger behind them.
Kai's head turned a little, like his body wanted to look.
Lina's chest tightened. "Kai, don't."
Kai forced his head forward again. "I know," he said, voice rough.
A small door appeared ahead, set into the wall. It was a plain stone door with a thin Echo crest. Under it, four tiny icons were carved:
🕯️ 🪞 🧵 🖋️
Seren stepped closer. Her eyes glowed brighter. "This door is real," Seren whispered. "I feel death traces. Old ones. Not fresh lies."
Reyon asked, "How can you tell?"
Seren swallowed. "Lies feel smooth. Real echoes feel messy. They have pain."
Kai pressed his palm to the door. It did not open. A line appeared above the crest, like a question.
WHO SPOKE LAST?
Seren flinched. "It wants the last word again."
Mira looked around, scared. "But… what if the last word was dangerous?"
Seren nodded slowly. "It might be."
Behind them, Lina's stolen voice spoke again, closer now, like it was walking on the air.
"Kai… I'm scared."
Lina's stomach turned. It was too perfect. Too cruel.
Kai's grip tightened. "Seren," he said. "Can you do it?"
Seren's hands trembled as she touched the Echo crest. "I'll try," she whispered.
Seren's eyes rolled back for a moment. Her voice changed. It layered again, like more than one person was speaking through her.
Then a single word came out, thin and broken.
"Help."
The door shivered.
The silver lines on the wall flickered.
And Lina heard something else at the same time.
A second "Help."
But this one did not come from Seren.
It came from the corridor behind them.
In Mira's voice.
"Help."
Mira froze. Her face went pale.
Because she did not say it.
Lina felt her heart slam.
Reyon whispered, "Oh no."
Kai's voice went low and dangerous. "It can copy anyone now."
The door creaked open, just a little. Cold air spilled out.
Seren whispered, shaking, "We have to go now."
But Mira stood frozen, staring into the dark behind them. Her eyes looked wet and lost, like a memory was slipping.
"Mira," Lina whispered. "Look at me."
Mira's lips trembled. "I heard… my dad's voice," Mira whispered. "It said 'help' like— like that."
Lina's chest hurt. The corridor was not just copying voices. It was picking the softest places in them and pressing.
Kai pulled Lina through the half-open door. Seren followed, dragging Mira gently. Reyon shoved Jax inside. Kai stepped in last.
As the door began to close, the stolen voice spoke one last time, right beside Lina's ear.
In Lina's voice.
But with a smile Lina never made.
"Good girl."
Lina's whole body went cold.
Kai slammed the door shut.
And the wall in front of them wrote a new line in silver letters, neat and calm.
VOICE PATH: ACTIVE.
Lina stared at it, shaking.
Because now the school could speak with her voice.
And it could whisper through the people she loved.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025
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