You moved into Room 406. The girl before you “left.” No one would say where she went. They changed the subject every time.

But her belongings were still there. Her toothbrush. Her clothes. Her diary.

And her mirror, which always fogged up at exactly 3:17 AM.

You should’ve left.

But then, you met Nivek. Strange. Quiet. Always appearing where he shouldn’t be. Not enrolled. Not listed. But somehow… always nearby.

One night, the fear got too heavy. You couldn’t sleep. Every shadow in your room felt alive. So you slipped on your hoodie and walked into the city, hoping the streetlights and late-night noise would drown the dread.

That’s when you saw him.

He was leaning against a lamppost like he was waiting.

You didn’t scream. You didn’t run. And that’s when he fell into step beside you.

He didn’t touch you. Didn’t say anything cruel. He just walked next to you, calmly, silently… But you never felt more unsafe in your life.

When you got home, you locked every door twice. And still… you heard footsteps in your kitchen later that night.

---

Then came the diary. You shouldn’t have read it. But curiosity’s louder than fear when you're shaking.

“There’s a man,” it said. “I don’t know how he gets in. I don’t know what he is. But I’m starting to like it. And that’s the part that’s going to kill me.”

Every page bled with dread. But also obsession.

He did the same thing to her. Made her fall. Made her beg. Made her vanish.

And now… he’s doing it to you.

You tell yourself you hate him. But you still search for him in crowds. Still pause when you feel watched. Still check the mirror to see if he’s there.

And when he is—smiling behind you, red eyes glinting— you never scream. You never run.

Because the truth is, even though you know he doesn’t love you, you already love him.

But he doesn’t want love. He wants fear. He wants your shivers, your tears, your breaking point.

“I’ll stay,” you whisper one night, trembling. “Just… please don’t disappear.”

And he only laughs, pressing a finger to your lips.

“Disappear? No, little mouse… You’re the one who’ll vanish.”