Areeba inserted the cassette into the player.
She pressed the button.
For the first few seconds, there was nothing but static.
Then a man’s voice came through: “Do it quickly.” Another voice followed: “Close the door.” Then came a little girl’s scream.
“Areeba!” Areeba’s heart nearly stopped.
She recognized that voice.
It was…
her own voice.
On the recording, little Areeba was crying.
“Get Meher out!” Then there was a loud crash.
BANG!
Someone spoke on the recording: “It’s too late.” After that, there was nothing but silence.
Areeba switched off the recorder.
Tears filled her eyes.
“What happened to Meher?” Dadi Zohra slowly replied, “That night, you and Meher went into that room.” “Then?” “Meher locked the door from the inside.” “Why?” Dadi Zohra lowered her head.
“Because she said she could see her mother.” Areeba asked in confusion, “Her mother?” “Meher’s mother had already died by then.” Areeba said nothing.
Dadi Zohra continued, “Meher was convinced that her mother had come to take her away.” “Then?” “When we broke the door down…” Dadi Zohra’s voice broke.
“The room was empty.” Areeba slowly asked, “Where was Meher?” Dadi Zohra looked at her.
“We found only her anklet.” Areeba glanced at her phone.
At that very moment, it vibrated.
A new message appeared on the screen.
“Dadi has only told you half the truth.” Areeba read the message.
Then another message appeared.
“Your grandmother was the one who hid the real truth.” Areeba’s fingers froze over the screen.
A third message arrived immediately: “And if you want to know the whole truth…
come to the locked room at 3:00 tonight.” Areeba looked at the clock.
It was…
2:47 AM.
She had only thirteen minutes.
And in her hand…
was the key to the locked room.
Areeba stared at the phone screen for several moments.
Only one thought was running through Areeba’s mind.
She had to go to the locked room at three.
She looked at Dadi Zohra.
“I’m going.” Dadi Zohra immediately shook her head.
“No.” “I can’t keep running away anymore.” “Areeba, you don’t know what you’re going to face.” “But you do.” Dadi Zohra fell silent.
Areeba placed the key in front of her.
“This key was left for me by my grandmother.
And you’re telling me I shouldn’t use it?” Dadi Zohra took a deep breath.
“Your grandmother wanted you to never come back to this mansion.” “Then why did she leave this key behind?” Dadi Zohra had no answer.
Areeba looked at the clock.
2:54.
She put her phone in her pocket.
“I’m going.” Dadi Zohra grabbed her hand.
“Not alone.” The two of them prepared to leave the basement.
As soon as Dadi Zohra opened the door, the corridor outside was empty.
There was no sign of Meher’s voice either.
But on the floor…
A small red doll was lying on the floor.
Areeba stopped.
Dadi Zohra whispered, “Don’t touch it.” Areeba stared at the doll.
Its eyes were closed.
But the moment they walked past it…
the doll’s eyes opened.
Areeba froze.
Dadi Zohra pulled her hand.
“Don’t look.” They continued toward the staircase.
As soon as they reached the upper floor, Areeba checked her phone.
2:59.
The locked room was right in front of them.
Areeba took out the key.
Her fingers were trembling.
Dadi Zohra spoke softly, “Areeba…” Areeba stopped.
“Yes?” “If you see anything inside that reminds you of your childhood…” Dadi Zohra’s voice trembled.
“…don’t touch it.” Areeba simply nodded.
The clock struck 3:00.
Dong…
dong…
dong…
Areeba inserted the key into the lock.
The lock opened without any resistance.
The door slowly creaked open.
The room was dark.
Areeba turned on her phone’s flashlight.
In the middle of the room stood an old wooden chair.