Ghost Behind You

1.20. The Slippers

Rose shot up from the bed, panic surging through her. She didn't even think to put on her shoes as she rushed to the door. Her first instinct was to check the lock, making sure it was bolted. Then, she quickly moved a chair to barricade the door from behind, hoping it would buy her some time if whatever was outside tried to get in. Only then did she feel a slight sense of relief. Pressing her ear to the door, she listened intently.

Swish, swish. The sound of footsteps grew closer, echoing down the hallway. The dragging noise, like someone shuffling their feet along the floor, felt like it was scraping directly across Rose's nerves. Her heart pounded furiously, her ears rang with tension, and her body trembled with fear.

Swish, swish. The sound inched closer, moving at the same deliberate pace as the night before. Any second now, it would reach the end of the hall—right outside her door. This wasn't a figment of her imagination. She could even tell that the person walking had an uneven gait, as though one leg were injured. How is no one else hearing this? she wondered. Where were the staff? Surely, other guests would wake up to such loud footsteps in the dead of night. Or, like the black marks on her skin, was she the only one who could perceive these horrors?

The sound was right outside her door now.

Rose backed away, her legs trembling so badly she could barely stay upright. Be strong! If you need to run, you can't have weak legs! But no matter how much she willed herself to calm down, her body refused to stop shaking.

Finally, the footsteps stopped.

Rose held her breath, frozen in place. She didn't dare make a sound, hoping whatever was outside would think she was asleep. Her eyes darted between the doorknob and the thin strip of light beneath the door. Any moment now, she expected to see it again—the pair of cloth slippers, just like the night before.

But then, silence. The footsteps had stopped completely. Rose stood there, waiting, her mind racing. She knew fleeing wasn't an option—jumping out the window was too risky, and leaving the room went against Zach's strict warning. The wards on the door had worked last night, keeping the entity outside. She prayed they'd work again tonight.

Click. A soft sound broke the silence.

Rose's heart nearly exploded in her chest. Was that the lock? She had checked it—it was definitely locked. Could the lock fail against a ghost?

Ghosts! The word sent a wave of ice-cold fear rushing through her body, from her feet to her head. Her skin prickled, and cold sweat soaked her pajamas. Her mind scrambled for answers as she glanced back at the doorknob. Had it moved? Was I imagining it, or had it really shifted?

Backing up even further, Rose's entire being was consumed by dread. She was alone. She thought about screaming for help, but her throat felt dry, her voice trapped like smoke in her chest.

Click. The doorknob turned again. This time, she saw it clearly. The door creaked open slightly, a thin sliver of light spilling in from the hallway. Someone—or something—was trying to come inside.

A jolt of terror shot through Rose. She lunged at the door, slamming it shut with all her strength, the chair behind it jamming painfully into her leg. The pain grounded her, forcing her to think.

I can't just wait for it to come in! The pain had sparked something inside her, a sudden determination. If she didn't act soon, whatever was on the other side of the door would break through, and it would kill her.

What do I do? What do I do?! Her mind spun. In the dim light coming from the hallway, her eyes fell on her phone lying on the bed. She had two options: jump out the window or call for help. But Zach had warned her—leaving the room at night was too dangerous. It could lead her right into the witch's trap.