The Room 313

Maya arrived at the hotel just before midnight. Her flight was delayed due to the storm, and this was the last available room: Room 313.

 

The desk employee paused just before he handed over the key. "A weird night," he said. "Make sure to lock your door."

 

The room was cold and clean, with wallpaper that was peeling from the walls like sunburnt skin. She tossed her bag on the bed and went to take a shower, hoping it would help ease the knot in her chest.

 

That's when she noticed the mirror was fogged over, except she hadn't turned the water on yet.

 

She stopped. A shadow flickered across her reflection.

 

She whipped around, and there was nothing. Just silence and her pounding heart.

 

She checked the closet. It was empty. She checked under the bed. Nothing.

 

She went to call the front desk, but the phone was dead. So was her cell phone. No signal.

 

A knock on the door.

 

Soft. Measured.

 

She tiptoed toward it. "Who's there?"

 

Silence.

 

She looked through the peephole.

 

Nothing.

 

And then a whisper behind her:

 

"Wrong room, Maya."

 

She turned-

 

And there was nothing.

By S. Sai Sri Udtkarsh