Chapter 3

I opened the front door. Through the darkness, I saw Chloe carrying a steaming plate of food from the kitchen to the dining table. My skin crawled, and my limbs went completely numb.

I tried to flip the light switch, but the power was out. I pressed it repeatedly, but nothing happened.

I pulled out my phone. No service.

"Ethan, you’re home. Why are you standing at the door?"

"Go wash your hands. I made all your favorites."

Was I having another hallucination?

But her voice, the smell of the food... it was all so incredibly real.

I pinched my thigh hard. The pain was real, but the scene before me didn't change.

Chloe kept talking. "Oh, silly me. Ethan, I forgot to get your slippers. Hold on, I'll grab them for you—"

She set the plate down and began walking toward me, step by step, through the pitch blackness.

A freezing chill ran up my spine. My legs turned to jelly, but I forced myself to turn around and run toward the elevator.

For the first time in my life, the elevator felt like it was taking an eternity.

Footsteps echoed down the dark hallway behind me, getting closer and closer.

Chloe’s voice trailed right behind me. "Sweetheart, we haven't eaten dinner, and we aren't married yet. Why are you in such a rush to leave?"

"Did you forget? When you begged me to sleep with those clients and sacrifice my dignity to save your business, you swore you’d marry me. When I was hospitalized with alcohol poisoning, you held my hand and told me I was the only one you'd ever love."

"Oh? Are you scared? Why are you shaking so much?"

"Hehe... you must remember now! You said if you ever betrayed me, you'd lose everything and suffer a fate worse than death. I’m just here to help you keep your promise..."

I leaned against the wall to keep from collapsing, my body shaking violently as I frantically mashed the elevator button.

Finally, just as I was about to scream, the elevator doors slid open.

The hallway flooded with bright light, and Hailey’s beautiful face appeared before me.

I threw myself into the elevator, grabbing her, trembling. "Go! Get us out of here! She's coming—"

"Who?"

Hailey worriedly touched my forehead, then peeked out into the hallway. "Ethan, there’s nobody out there. Are you sick?"

Nobody?

I took a deep breath and forced myself to look. The hallway was empty. Chloe was gone.

The building’s lights were back on, and my phone suddenly had full service again.

Hailey held my hand as we walked back to my apartment. "Ethan, is work stressing you out too much? Maybe you should see a doctor."

I shook my head, unable to speak, my mind a chaotic mess.

Was it really just a hallucination?

But my mind had felt perfectly fine lately!

Soon, I realized it wasn't a hallucination at all.

Because on my dining table sat a fresh, hot dinner.

Hailey giggled and gave me a playful shove. "Oh, stop it! Ethan, did you scare me on purpose just to surprise me with this dinner?"

"It smells amazing. You’re such a good cook!"