Ch-3 (If I Find You, I Will Kill You)
The seconds crawled by, each **tick-tock of the clock growing slower**, more deliberate. Samira curled up on the bed, knees pulled to her chest, trying to steady her breathing. **Badum, badum.** She felt like a cornered animal—like something was watching her.
Then she heard it.
*Knock. Knock.*
Her heart lurched. **Badum. Badum. Badum.**
The sound wasn’t loud—it was soft, patient. Almost polite. Someone—or something—was outside the door. Samira sat frozen, every muscle locked in fear.
Her phone buzzed again. She glanced down.
**New Message: “You can run. But if I find you, I will kill you.”**
The knocks came again, more insistent now. *Knock, knock, knock.*
A voice followed, muffled through the wood of the door.
**“Samira...”**
Her blood froze. It was her **roommate’s voice.** But her roommates weren’t supposed to be back until Sunday. What if something had happened to them? What if—?
Her phone vibrated again, pulling her from her thoughts. She stared at the screen.
**New Message: “Open the door, Samira.”**
Her breath came in ragged gasps now. She pressed her hand to her chest, feeling her heart pound beneath her ribs. **Badum, badum, badum.**
“No,” she whispered to herself. “It can’t be her.”
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