Elena’s POV

The stairwell was quiet except for the sound of my own footsteps, echoing faintly against the concrete walls, yet beneath that familiar rhythm, another sound slowly emerged, subtle at first but growing clearer with each step I took.

Someone was behind me.

I told myself it was nothing more than an echo, that the emptiness of the stairwell was playing tricks on my mind, yet the sound did not fade. Instead, it followed me, steady and deliberate, matching my pace in a way that made ...