I shook my head.
“I didn’t.”
My voice was barely a whisper.
But it smiled wider.
“Yes, you did.”
Its head straightened.
And for the first time…
It took a step forward.
I stepped back instantly.
But there was nowhere to go.
It moved again.
Slow.
Calm.
Like it knew I couldn’t escape.
“Everyone opens it eventually.”
My phone buzzed again.
I didn’t want to look.
But I did.
Another message.
From my number.
“You shouldn’t have looked.”
When I looked back up—
It was gone.
Complet