Grey area

“Are you free?”

Last night, the message tone sounded louder than usual. I picked up my phone—it was from an
unknown number.I had received this message almost five times last week. I tried calling the
number, but no one ever answered.

Suddenly, I heard my phone ring. It was the same number.

My hands were cold and shaking. I could barely answer it.

“Hello?” I said—but I couldn’t even recognize my own voice. It was trembling.

Then I heard it:

"Ding-dong
I know you can hear me
Open up the door
I only want to play a little..."

A creepy song.
My heart froze.
I threw my phone and slammed my door shut.

I thought I saw a shadow—but I wasn’t sure.

I was alone in the house. No one else was there.
Not at night. Not ever.

What could I do?

I grabbed my phone and called my friend, Li Li.
Or at least—I tried.

I called Li Li, but she didn’t answer.

The silence felt heavier after every ring.

I poured myself a little wine, hoping it would calm my nerves.

My hands were still shaking.

Suddenly, I heard the doorbell ring.

The sound shocked me so much, I dropped my wine glass. It shattered on the floor.

My hands were cold. My heartbeat was racing.

I grabbed my phone, ready to dial 911, and slowly walked toward the door.

But the doorbell rang again—louder this time, like it was right in my ear.
I panicked and ran upstairs, hiding as quietly as I could.

Just then, another message appeared on my screen:

"Are you ready?"

I quickly typed back:

"Ready for what?"

"Who are you?"
"Why are you disturbing me?"

My fingers trembled as I hit send.

The typing indicator blinked for a few seconds…
Then it stopped.
Suddenly, my phone rang.

It was my boyfriend—he lived in another town. I was surprised. He rarely called this late.

“Hello, babe,” I said.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice serious.

“Yeah… I guess.”

“I’m worried about you.”

“Worried? Why?”

“I’ll tell you everything when I get there tomorrow.”

“Babe, what happened?”

He paused. Then he said:

“Just… make sure the door is locked before you go to sleep.”

Silence.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Good night. Sleep tight.”

“Good night, babe.”

What was happening around me?

What was wrong with me?

The doorbell kept ringing—over and over.

I forced myself to go downstairs, step by step, heart pounding.
I opened the door.

Standing there was a plump woman with wild, crazy eyes and wearing something pink. Her
smile was wide—but something about it was wrong. Creepy. Off.

"Hi," she said.

"Hey… what’s up?" I replied, trying to stay calm.

She didn’t answer. Her eyes wandered past me, peeking inside my house… like she was
searching for something.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

She just kept smiling. Her eyes were unnerving, but her voice was soft—too soft.

"I’m your neighbor. From next door."

Her calm voice didn’t match her eyes.

Something felt wrong.

"Oh… pretty good. What do you want from me?" I asked, trying not to show fear.

A cold breeze slipped past her and into my house.

I suddenly realized—I didn’t want to stand there anymore.

She kept glancing around—like she was searching for something inside my house.

Then she asked quietly:

"Are you alone?"

I tried to stay calm, to keep my face normal… but my voice betrayed me. It shook as I said:

"No… my parents are upstairs."

She stared at me for a second too long. Then she nodded slowly.

"Good night, girl. Have a nice dream."

"Good night… bye." I replied, forcing a smile.

She turned and walked away, disappearing into the night.

I stood frozen at the door, my body tense, my mind racing.
The next day, I couldn’t wake up early.
I hadn’t slept well—too many thoughts, too many chills.

But then I heard knocking on the kitchen door.

Maybe it was my boyfriend. He usually came through the back door when he visited.

I called him to confirm—it was him.

I quickly changed clothes and went downstairs.

He was standing there, but something was wrong.

His face looked worried, maybe even upset.
And he wouldn’t look me in the eyes.

"Babe, what’s going on?" I asked, pouring coffee.

Silence.

"Do you want some?" I slid a cup of coffee toward him.

"No... I don’t want any."

His voice was low. His face said more than his words—something was deeply wrong.

"What happened, babe? Please, just tell me."

He looked at me then. And his voice cracked.

"I can’t see you anymore."

My chest tightened.

"Why? I... I don’t understand."

I could barely breathe.
"What’s wrong with you, babe?"

He couldn’t explain anything.

He just stood there for a moment, his mouth half open like he wanted to speak—but no words
came out.

Then, without saying more, he turned and walked toward the door.

"Bye... take care, honey," he said softly.

He looked at me one last time—his eyes full of something I couldn’t read.
Then he left.

Off on his journey.

Leaving me with questions… and a strange feeling in the air.
Suddenly, a notification popped up on my phone:

"Are you ready to lose?"

I froze. My heart dropped—and then rose again, this time burning with anger.

I threw my phone onto the couch and turned to look out the window—straight toward the house
next door.

Every window was covered with curtains.

The whole place looked dark, still… lifeless.

But then—
I saw it.
Something moved inside.

Just a flicker.
A shadow behind the curtain.

---

I went outside, straight toward the house next door.

My heart pounded with fear, but I had to know the truth. I needed answers.

I reached the front door and rang the bell—once, twice, again and again.
No one came.

The house stayed silent.

Too silent.

But I could feel it…

Someone was in there. Watching.

I heard whispers—soft, circling around me.

I held my breath and listened carefully.

Wait… it wasn’t words.

It was a song.

"I see you through the window

Our eyes are locked together
I can sense your horror
Though I'd like to see it closer..."

My blood ran cold.

I turned and ran—across the road, as fast as I could.
My legs shook with every step, but I didn’t stop.

In that moment, I knew one thing for sure:

I needed to stay far, far away from that house.

I ran to The Brew, the little café at the corner of the street.
My friend Li Li was usually there, working on her laptop, typing away at her paperwork.

I just needed someone. Anyone I could trust.

Someone real.

But when I arrived at The Brew, I froze.

The scene in front of me felt unreal.

My boyfriend… and Li Li…

They were sitting together.

Holding hands.

They weren’t laughing or smiling. They looked serious.

My boyfriend was saying something softly to her, and Li Li nodded, her face tense.

He reached over, like he was trying to comfort her—encourage her.

And neither of them had seen me yet.

I stepped back from The Brew, my heart heavy.

I walked to the small park nearby and sat down on the edge of the fountain.
Children were splashing in the water, laughing—
their joy felt like it belonged in another world.

I looked down at my phone.

The screen was cracked, shattered from earlier.
Still, a notification popped up.

"Ding-dong
Here I come to find you
Hurry up and run
Let’s play a little game and have fun."

"What the hell is this... bitch?!" I shouted without thinking.

The kids near the pool went quiet, startled by my voice.

Their parents gave me sharp, uncomfortable looks.
I didn’t care.
I stood up and walked away—numb, empty, drifting back toward home.
I didn’t even feel my feet on the ground.

When I got home, the smell of lunch filled the air.

My mother was in the kitchen, humming as she cooked.
From the garage, my father called out:

"Hey sweetheart! I found your letter in the mailbox and left it on the table!"

"Yeah, Dad," I replied, trying to sound normal.

I picked up the envelope and quietly walked upstairs.

I sat on the edge of my bed, heart already heavy, and opened it.

Inside were five photos… and a single note.

The first photo was innocent—Li Li and me, smiling together at her sixth birthday party.
I remembered that day. The cake, the candles, the laughter.

The second photo...

Li Li and my boyfriend.
A private moment.
Too close.
Too intimate.

I dropped the rest of the photos.

Tears spilled down my face as I clutched my chest.

What’s wrong with me?

Why is this happening?
Why me?
Why—

I opened the note.

The words were written in bold, red letters:

"Whenever the event may be, you must pass the process—and you deserve this."

My hands trembled.
I slipped under my blanket, pulling it over my head like it could protect me from the world.
My brain felt numb.
My tears wouldn’t stop.
My eyes burned with pain.

This had to be a nightmare.

It had to be.

Maybe if I sleep…
Maybe when I wake up, everything will be normal again.
Just a dream. Just a bad dream.

Okay… calm down. Just sleep.

Sleep…