The streets were quieter than usual that evening, the orange glow of the setting sun bleeding into the deep blue of the coming night. Maya sat by the car window, chin resting on her hand, her reflection looking as hollow as she felt inside. Her phone buzzed for the hundredth time with another message from Riya:

“Please don’t cancel last minute. Trust me, this will help.”

Help? Nothing could help her right now. Her heart felt like someone had twisted it into knots and left it to rot. She had loved Rohan for as long as she could remember—her childhood savior, her first and only crush. And now?

He belonged to someone else. To Neha.

Maya blinked away the sting in her eyes and typed back quickly:

“I’m coming.”

Because how could she let Riya down when her best friend was trying so hard?

By the time Maya reached the entrance of the haunted house, darkness had fully swallowed the sky. The structure loomed like something straight out of a horror film—creaking wooden boards, dim lanterns swinging in the breeze, fake cobwebs tangled over the doorway. A board read:

“Dare to Enter?”

Riya waved both hands like an excited kid. “Finally! Took you long enough.” Her grin softened when she saw Maya’s expression. “Hey… smile? For me?”

Maya curved her lips into the weakest smile possible. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Good enough.” Riya grabbed her hand. “Come on, this will be fun! You love ghost stuff.”

Maya gave a humorless laugh. “I love watching them on TV, not meeting them in person.”

“Relax,” Riya said, her eyes twinkling mischievously. “This isn’t real. Just actors in makeup. We’ll laugh about it later.”

Maya sighed and let herself be dragged in. The ticket counter was crowded. A group of five people stood behind them—laughing, teasing, clicking selfies. Maya didn’t pay attention, too busy retreating inside her own mind again. Rohan’s smile. Rohan’s voice. It echoed in her head like a cruel song on repeat.

The moment they stepped inside, the door slammed shut behind them with a loud BANG. Maya flinched.

The air was heavy, thick with the smell of damp wood and candle wax. Shadows danced on the cracked walls. Somewhere in the distance, a child’s eerie laughter echoed, followed by a low growl.

Riya squeezed Maya’s arm. “Creepy enough for you?”

“Very funny,” Maya muttered.

They walked down a narrow corridor lined with flickering candles. The floor creaked under their weight, and an icy breeze kissed Maya’s neck. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to block out the chill.

Suddenly—THUD!

A blood-stained skeleton dropped from the ceiling right in front of Maya.

Riya shrieked and jumped back. The group behind them cursed loudly. But Maya… didn’t move. Didn’t even blink. She just stared at the skeleton blankly, lost in the storm inside her heart.

A voice from behind chuckled softly. “Wow. Either you’re really brave… or completely dead inside.”

Maya turned, frowning. The guy who spoke stood tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair slightly messy in a way that looked annoyingly good. His eyes—warm brown, filled with amusement—met hers for a moment longer than necessary.

She looked away first. “Neither,” she said curtly, then kept walking.

The guy smirked and followed with his group.

As they moved deeper, the haunted house grew darker, more twisted. The whispers grew louder. Chains clanged somewhere in the distance.

Then it happened.

Out of nowhere, a figure dressed in rags and fake blood lunged from behind the wall and grabbed Maya’s wrist. Before she could even scream, the same figure grabbed the guy from the other group—dragging both of them through a hidden door.

“MAYA!” Riya’s voice echoed, panicked.

Maya stumbled as the door slammed shut, her body colliding with something firm. No—someone. She fell hard against a chest, hands instinctively gripping fabric for balance.

Strong arms steadied her.

“Whoa there,” the same teasing voice murmured.

Maya froze. 

Her head tilted up—and there he was. The guy from before. Their faces were inches apart, his breath warm against her cheek, his eyes locked onto hers like he could read every secret she had buried.

For a second, the haunted house disappeared. The whispers, the darkness, the fake blood—it all faded. There was only this—his heartbeat thudding against her palms, the faint scent of his cologne, and those stupid brown eyes holding her in place.

Maya’s own heart stuttered.

Then reality slammed back. She pushed herself away quickly. “I—sorry,” she muttered, looking anywhere but at him.

He chuckled, shoving his hands into his pockets casually. “You should be. You nearly broke my ribs.”

Her head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. “Excuse me? That was not my fault.”

“Of course not.” His smirk widened, the picture of mischief. “The wall jumped at you, right?”

She glared and marched ahead without replying.

He laughed under his breath and followed.

The corridor twisted again, leading them to a wooden bridge suspended over what looked like boiling green slime. A signboard in bold letters read:

“ONLY ONE AT A TIME.”

Maya exhaled. “As per the rule, only one person can cross at a time. So… you go first.” She stepped back, gesturing for him to move.

He shook his head. “Ladies first.”

“I’m fine. Go.”

“Nope.” He folded his arms. “You’re a girl—”

“Oh god, not this again.” Maya threw her hands in the air. “Fine. Stay here. I’m going.”

She stepped onto the bridge, muttering under her breath. The wooden planks wobbled beneath her feet. Before she could take another step, she felt a sudden tug—and then the world tilted.

The guy had pulled her back, right against his chest, and in one swift motion, he lifted her off the ground—bridal style.

Maya gasped. “What the hell are you doing?! Put me down!”

He grinned, completely unfazed by her struggles. “If you want to end this game faster, zip it.”

Her cheeks burned as his arms tightened slightly around her. “This is insane! You—You can’t just—”

“Shh.” His voice dropped to a low whisper, his lips close to her ear. “Hold on. Unless you want us both to fall.”