Below is Chapter 1:
Maria had learned to love the quiet hours of the Dragon Hotel.
At twenty-five, she stood out even in a city as dazzling as Hong Kong. She was beautiful in a way that did not beg for attention. Long open hair fell freely over her shoulders, her eyes deep and expressive with a soft pink glow, her height just over five feet four inches. Guests often remembered her not because she tried to impress them, but because she carried herself with calm grace.
Maria was from India. She had traveled thousands of kilometers away from home in search of a better future. Hong Kong had promised opportunity, and the Dragon Hotel had given her work. She lived inside the hotel, ate there, worked there, and slowly began to feel as if the building itself was her world.
By day, the Dragon Hotel looked elegant and alive. By night, it became something else entirely.
Maria worked as front desk staff and room service support, often handling late-night requests. She was professional, polite, and efficient. The management trusted her.
One person who noticed her more than most was Daniel.
Daniel was the hotel manager. Thirty-five years old, disciplined, respected, and reserved. He had been working at the Dragon Hotel for over a decade. He admired Maria quietly. Her sincerity, her dedication, the way she smiled even during exhausting shifts. He knew the age difference existed, but in matters of the heart, age rarely asked for permission.
Still, Daniel never spoke of his feelings. In a place like the Dragon Hotel, emotions were dangerous distractions.
That night, Maria's shift had been longer than usual.
At 11:15 p.m., a guest requested room service on the seventh floor. Maria prepared the tray herself, checked the order twice, and walked down the dimly lit corridor. The carpet absorbed the sound of her footsteps. The lights flickered briefly, something that happened often enough to be ignored.
She delivered the service, smiled, wished the guest a good night, and returned to the staff corridor.
At 11:30 p.m., her phone rang.
The screen showed an unknown number.
Maria frowned slightly. Hotel staff were rarely contacted on their personal phones. Assuming it was a mistake, she answered.
"Hello?"
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then a voice spoke. Low. Calm. Unfamiliar.
"Is this Maria?"
Her grip tightened around the phone.
"Yes… who is this?"
A pause.
"I think I dialed the wrong number."
Relief washed over her. "Yes, you have," she replied politely. "Please be careful next time."
She was about to disconnect when the voice spoke again.
"You work at the Dragon Hotel."
That sentence stopped her breath.
"How do you know that?" she asked, her voice suddenly cautious.
Another pause. Longer this time.
"I know many things," the stranger said. "More than you think."
Maria felt a chill crawl up her spine. "You said this was a wrong number."
A soft, almost amused laugh came through the phone. "Sometimes wrong numbers are not wrong. They are just early."
Before she could respond, the call ended.
Maria stood frozen in the corridor, the phone still pressed to her ear. Her heart beat faster than it should have.
She told herself it was nothing. Hong Kong was full of strange people. Maybe someone had guessed. Maybe it was a prank.
Still, the unease did not fade.
She returned to the staff quarters shortly after midnight. The staff rooms were simple but comfortable. After changing out of her uniform, she washed her face, tied her hair back, and lay down on her bed. Exhaustion pulled at her eyes, but sleep refused to come.
Her phone rang again.
Unknown number.
Her heartbeat spiked.
She stared at the screen, debating whether to ignore it. Curiosity and fear argued silently inside her. Against her better judgment, she answered.
"Who is this?" she asked, skipping politeness.
The same voice responded.
"You shouldn't have ignored me earlier."
"I didn't ignore you," Maria said. "You called by mistake."
"No," the voice replied calmly. "You made a mistake."
Her stomach tightened. "Listen, whoever you are, stop calling me. This isn't funny."
The voice lowered.
"You went against me."
Maria sat up on her bed. "I don't even know you."
Silence.
Then, slowly, the stranger said, "You did something you shouldn't have. And now you're afraid. I can hear it in your breathing."
Her hand trembled.
"This is harassment," she said. "I'll report you."
Another soft laugh.
"You can try."
The room felt suddenly colder.
"I'm coming," the voice continued. "Very soon. To show you your place. To show you what happens when you defy me."
Maria's voice cracked. "What do you want from me?"
The reply came without emotion.
"Your fear."
Her phone slipped slightly in her hand.
"And your life."
The call ended.
Maria sat in complete silence, her chest tight, her skin covered in goosebumps. She locked her door, checked the window, and pressed her back against the wall, trying to steady her breathing.
She did not know who the man was.
She did not know what she had done.
But she knew one thing with terrifying certainty.
After that wrong number, nothing in the Dragon Hotel would ever be the same.
And the night had only just begun.