Chapter 1: The Whisper at 3:17 A.M.
At exactly 3:17 A.M., the whisper came again.
"Don't trust him."
Ethan's eyes snapped open.
The room was dark. Silent. Still.
His heart pounded against his chest as if it wanted to escape. He looked around. His bedroom door was closed. The window slightly open. The curtains moved gently with the cold night air.
But there was no one there.
He checked his phone.
3:17 A.M.
Again.
This was the third night in a row.
The first night, he thought it was a dream.
The second night, he thought he was losing his mind.
But tonight…
Tonight felt different.
Because this time, the whisper sounded closer.
Clearer.
Almost… desperate.
Ethan slowly sat up on his bed. His hands were shaking.
"Who's there?" he whispered.
Silence answered him.
Suddenly—
His phone vibrated.
A message notification.
Unknown Number.
His throat went dry as he opened it.
The message contained only three words:
"It starts tomorrow."
Ethan froze.
Tomorrow?
Starts what?
Before he could think further, another message appeared.
"You will hear everything."
The lights in his room flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then darkness.
Total darkness.
And in that suffocating silence…
The whisper returned.
But this time, it said his name.
"Ethan…"
And for the first time—
He realized the voice wasn't coming from outside.
It was coming from inside his head.