It is the movie night!

On this Friday night, the air is thick with anticipation as Kali and Meha prepare for their ritualistic horror movie marathon. Instead of partying and reckless antics, their idea of a perfect night involves immersing themselves in tales of terror. The clock strikes midnight, and the eerie glow of the laptop screen casts haunting shadows across the room.

Ginger chicken and rice, a comfortingly familiar meal, are laid out alongside a bag of potato chips, ready to be crumbled onto the rice for that satisfying crunch, the mood was set for the perfect Friday night.

The chosen film, “1408,” comes highly recommended for its spine-chilling suspense. As the movie engulfs them, an unsettling feeling gradually seeps into the room. Meha’s heart races, not just due to the on-screen horrors, but also the faint, inexplicable noises that disrupt the silence from her kitchen.

Despite Meha’s attempt to ignore the disturbances and her hesitance to disturb Kali, the haunting sounds escalate. With determination, Meha ventures into the darkness of the kitchen, her breath hitching in her throat. The flicker of the lights reveals an ordinary scene, but shadows linger in the corners, harboring secrets. She turns slowly, every creak of the floorboards like an echo of her racing heartbeat. Just as doubt threatens to overwhelm her, a chilling whisper brushes against her neck, vanishing as swiftly as it came.

A cold shiver races down her spine as Meha hurriedly secures the balcony door, protecting herself from the unseen. Returning to the movie, she attempts to shrug off the fear that clings to her. Yet, the room itself seems transformed, with shadows weaving a sinister dance and the air growing heavy with an unnatural presence.

Kali, consumed by the movie, is startled when Meha reenters, chips scattering in her wake. Meha’s anxiety is palpable, infusing the room with a growing dread. Kali inquires about the source of the disturbances, and Meha’s voice trembles as she responds, “I… I didn’t find anything. It must have been nothing. Let’s just keep watching.”

As they reengage with the movie, the unease intensifies, amplifying the terrors on screen. The lines between fiction and reality blur, the malevolent energy of “1408” seeping into their surroundings.

Amidst the chaos, a subtle anomaly beckons Meha’s attention. A faint glow outlines the door, a dim illumination where darkness should have prevailed. Her mind races, conflicting emotions battling within her. But with trepidation lingering, she suppresses her growing unease, convincing herself that caution is unnecessary.

The air grows thick and oppressive, sweat forming on Meha’s palms. The scenes in the movie dissolve into a haze of confusion. Lost in her own spiraling fear, Meha’s attention wavers from the movie to the ominous light beyond the door. A voice deep within her pleads for escape, but she buries it beneath the facade of rationality.

As they reluctantly retreat to their beds, an oppressive darkness swallows the room. The events of the night, like malevolent specters, entwine themselves within the corners of their minds, casting a lingering shadow over their dreams. The chilling realization clings to their thoughts, a phantom reminder of the night’s unsettling occurrences.

Exhausted by the ordeal, both Meha and Kali eventually surrender to sleep, seeking solace in the oblivion of unconsciousness. Their eyes close, but the memory of the night’s events refuses to fade entirely, festering in the crevices of their minds.

In the midst of this uneasy slumber, Meha is abruptly jolted awake by the piercing sound of Kali’s panicked voice echoing through the halls, “MEHAAAA! MEHAA!”

Heart pounding, Meha leaps out of bed and races to the hallway. The scene that unfolds before her eyes is a nightmarish tableau—a disarrayed room, possessions strewn about, and the unmistakable aura of intrusion. It takes a moment for the realization to fully register, a moment in which Meha’s world seems suspended in a sinister haze.

Kali’s hysterical cries continue, “Meha, look! Everything’s a mess!”

The room, is now a chaotic battleground. The furniture is overturned, drawers hang open, and personal belongings are scattered haphazardly. The room’s disheveled state reveals a chilling truth—someone has invaded their haven, shattering its sense of security.

Frozen in shock, Meha’s mind races as she takes in the devastation. Kali’s words echo in her ears, but it takes her a moment to comprehend their gravity. It’s as if time stands still, stretching seconds into eternity, as the truth dawns upon them.

Kali bolts back to her room, a guttural scream caught in her throat. Panic courses through her veins as she reaches her destination and finds her laptop missing, her purse absent from its usual spot. The stark reality of the intrusion hits her with a gut-wrenching force.

Questions tumble through her mind like —how did this happen? When did it happen? And in the midst of her racing thoughts, the truth becomes undeniable—someone has robbed them of their possessions.

Meanwhile, Meha stands still in the hallway, a cold realization gripping her. The pieces of the puzzle fall into place with a sickening clarity. It was, her oversight—the door had been left unlocked, an open invitation to the shadows that lurk beyond. A wave of guilt and fear washes over her, and she finds herself grappling with the haunting thought that her forgetfulness had paved the way for this violation.

The moment stretches, a silent communion of shock and realization between Meha and Kali. Their connection deepens, their shared vulnerability forming an unspoken bond. As the seconds tick by, the truth lingers, casting a somber shadow over their once-peaceful abode.

In the aftermath, their sanctuary has been tainted, the line between security and vulnerability irrevocably blurred. The darkness that had once embraced them now seems to hold sinister secrets, a reminder that even in the heart of the night, the shadows can manifest in the most terrifying of ways.