Chapter One - The Empty Room

CHAPTER ONE

The Empty Room

THERE’S A ROOM in your memory you don’t remember building.
You don’t visit it on purpose. It just shows up sometimes when you’re not quite awake and not quite asleep.

You’ve seen it.

It’s the one with no windows.
The walls are the color of a bruise you didn’t notice until later.
There’s always something just behind you in that room, but you never turn around.

There’s a chair in the center.
And something’s sitting in it.
But only for a second.
Then it’s gone.

No one ever talks about the room. Not your family. Not your friends.
But you know they’ve seen it.
You can tell by the way they hesitate when describing certain dreams.
They always say “it was dark” or “I couldn’t move”
but never “I was in the room again.”

That’s how you know.

Somewhere, out there, someone is reading this exact chapter for the first time.
Just like you.
They’ll think “huh, weird” and turn the page.
They’ll keep reading.
Because curiosity is a louder voice than caution.

But you?

You paused.

You felt that chill. That tiny static flick in your teeth.

And now it’s seen you back.