Chapter 14

At 11:43 p.m., Mara received a text from her mother.

Don’t open the door.

She frowned.

Mom?

A typing bubble appeared.

I mean it. Don’t answer anyone.

Mara glanced toward the front entrance of her apartment. “What are you talking about?” she muttered, typing quickly.

Why?

No response.

Then, three knocks echoed through the apartment.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Mara froze.

Her phone buzzed.

It’s not me.

Her stomach twisted.

“Mom?” she called, dialing her number.

The call connected immediately.

“Mara?” her mother answered, confused. “Why are you calling so late?”

“You just texted me not to open the door!”

“What? Honey, I’ve been asleep. I haven’t touched my phone.”

The knocking came again.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Slow. Patient.

Mara backed away from the door.

“Mom,” she whispered, “someone’s outside.”

Her mother fell silent.

Then she said carefully, “Sweetheart… are you sure the texts were from me?”

Mara looked at the contact.

Mom ❤️

The same profile picture.

The same number.

But as she stared, another message appeared.

Misunderstanding.

Then another.

I never said don’t open the door.

Mara’s breath caught.

“But you did,” she whispered.

The typing bubble appeared again.

No.

I said don’t let HER open it.

A cold voice drifted from the kitchen behind her.

“…Mara?”

It sounded exactly like her mother.

The phone against her ear crackled.

“Mara,” her real mother screamed, “RUN!”

Mara slowly turned toward the kitchen doorway.

Her mother’s face smiled back at her.

“You always misunderstand people,” it said softly.

Then, from the front door—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

A familiar voice called through the wood.

“Honey? It’s Mom. Open up.”

Mara stood between them.

One mother behind her.

One mother outside.

And the only thing she knew for certain…

…was that someone had tried to warn her.

She just hadn’t understood who.