Jason froze.
He was sure he heard it.
A whisper.
His name.
"Jason…"
He looked at the door at the end of the hallway. It was open now. Dark inside.
His legs didn't want to move, but something pulled him forward. His hand shook as he pushed the door all the way open.
Inside was a small room with no windows. Just a single chair, a table, and a mirror on the wall.
The mirror was cracked down the middle.
Jason looked into it.
At first, he saw only his own reflection.
Then—it changed.
The reflection smiled… but Jason didn't.
He stepped back, heart racing.
The voice came again, but louder this time.
"Welcome back…"
Jason turned and ran out of the room. Down the hallway, past the living room, toward the front door.
But the door was closed now.
He tried to pull it open. It didn't move.
He pushed with both hands.
Still stuck.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps upstairs. Slow and heavy. Like boots walking across an old wooden floor.
Jason turned his head toward the staircase.
There was nothing there.
Then—another sound.
A music box.
It started playing by itself from somewhere above.
Jason swallowed hard.
He didn't want to go upstairs.
But he had no choice.
If he wanted to find a way out, he had to keep moving.
He grabbed his sketchbook tightly and climbed the stairs.
Step by step.
Up... toward the music... and whatever was waiting.