Night descends slowly upon Dock city, but tonight, it felt as if all light was suddenly swallowed.
The wind blowing from the sea has turned cold. That wind creeps through the alleys, pushing against the wooden doors of old houses. In the distance, iron chains sway, producing a sharp metallic sound.
The city seems to have fallen into a deep slumber.
But in some places, there is no sleep.
There are some houses—that are not just silent.
They watch.
They listen.
They wait.
---
Iren is standing inside Asha's house.
The door behind him had closed on its own moments ago.
*Click.*
That sound is still echoing in his head.
He slowly looks back.
The door is firmly shut.
There is no wind.
There is no one.
Yet, the door closed.
On its own.
---
Unease continues to grow in Iren's chest.
But he keeps himself calm.
He knows that fear will not help him now.
Rather, it will cause him to make mistakes.
His eyes slowly drift toward the corridor.
In the darkness ahead, the interior of the house seems even deeper.
The walls seem to be swallowing the light.
---
He looks again at the yellow flower lying on the floor.
The flower is perfectly fresh.
As if someone placed it there just a moment ago.
Iren bends down and picks up the flower.
A cold sensation touches his fingers.
He grips the flower tightly.
His eyes narrow.
"Dok..."
He says the name in a low voice.
---
One thing has become clear in his mind.
Dok isn't just watching from the outside.
He has brought the game inside the house.
And that means—
Asha is in danger.
---
Right then, the sound of a weak cough comes from the room upstairs.
Asha.
Iren looks up instantly.
His body becomes alert.
He begins to move quickly down the corridor.
---
The inside of the house feels very strange.
The house that seems ordinary during the day has completely changed in the darkness of the night.
A light sound occurs as pressure is placed on the floorboards.
*Tick... Tick...*
The old clock hanging on the wall has stopped.
Yet, it feels as if an invisible time is ticking somewhere.
---
Iren moves slowly toward the stairs.
The staircase is dark.
A faint light glows from above.
He slowly places his foot on the first step.
The faint creak of wood.
His breathing is very slow.
Controlled.
---
As he reaches the middle of the stairs—
Suddenly, his body freezes.
His eyes lock onto the upper corridor.
A movement.
Very slight.
As if someone was standing by the wall.
Then, they quickly moved away.
---
Iren's eyes turn sharp.
He whispers—
"I saw you."
There is no answer.
Only silence.
---
He slowly climbs to the top.
His heartbeat is a little fast.
Because he knows—
It wasn't his imagination.
Someone was there.
---
Iren stands in the upstairs corridor.
The air here is even colder.
Abnormally cold.
As if no windows are open, yet an icy wind is blowing.
There are several doors along the wall.
Light leaks out from under one of them.
Asha's room.
---
The sound of coughing comes again from inside.
Weak.
Exhausted.
Iren's eyes soften for a moment.
He begins to move toward the door.
But—
His body stops again.
---
Because at the far end of the corridor,
The shadow has moved again.
This time, it is a bit clearer.
The shape of a human.
Tall.
Still.
---
Iren turns slowly to look.
His eyes have adjusted to the darkness.
He can see—
Someone is standing there.
Against the wall.
Motionless.
---
"I know you're there," Iren says in a low voice.
Silence.
A cold silence.
---
Then the shadow slowly tilts its head.
Unnaturally.
As if it isn't like a human neck.
And at that moment, the light in the corridor flickers.
*Flick.*
A single second.
---
As the light returns,
The shadow is gone.
The entire corridor is empty.
---
Iren stands still for a few seconds.
His breathing is becoming heavy.
He realizes—
This is no ordinary person.
---
Then he rushes toward the door of Asha's room.
The door is slightly ajar.
He pushes it slowly and enters.
---
The light in the room is dim.
Asha is lying on the bed.
Her face is pale.
The fever is still there.
She is sleeping under the blanket.
Or perhaps, she is unconscious.
---
Iren slowly approaches her.
His eyes are on Asha's face.
He gently places his hand on her forehead.
Hot.
The fever hasn't gone down.
---
"I should have come earlier…" Iren says in a very low voice.
Guilt is visible in his eyes.
He stands there silently for a few seconds.
---
Right then—
A very slight sound occurs behind him.
*Tick.*
As if the pressure of someone's foot on the floor.
Iren spins around instantly.
---
The room door is half-open.
The corridor is dark.
There is no one.
---
But Iren's eyes slowly move to the wall above the door.
And his chest turns cold.
---
Because on the wall,
Shadows are cast.
Two of them.
One is Iren's.
The other—
Is not his.
---
**Chapter End.**