The girl in room 17

Chapter One: The Knock
The first time I heard the knocking, I thought I imagined it.
It was almost midnight.
I had been scrolling through my phone instead of studying for my exam the next morning.
My roommate, Teni, was already asleep.
Or at least I thought she was.
I put my phone down and closed my eyes.
Knock.
My eyes opened, I waited.
Then it came again.
Knock.
Knock.
Three slow knocks
I sat up.
Teni?
She didn't answer.
I looked at her bed. She was lying still, facing the wall.
Another knock.
I climbed down from my bed.
Who is it?
Silence.
I took a step towards the door.
Just before my hand touched the handle, Teni spoke.
Don't open it.
I froze.
Teni?
Don't.
Her voice sounded frightened.
Why?
She slowly sat up.
Because nobody should be knocking on our door at this time.
You scared me for nothing.
I'm not joking, Amara.
She stared at the door.
Then we heard it again.
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Teni grabbed my wrist.
Neither of us spoke.
The voice came from outside.
"Amara?"
My heart stopped.
It was my voice.
Not a voice that sounded like mine.
My actual voice.
Amara, open the door.
I looked at Teni.
She was staring at me.
That's impossible, I whispered.
She shook her head.
The voice came again.
"Please."
"Amara, please open the door."
I moved closer.
Teni pulled me back.
Don't.
But that's my voice.
I know.
Then who is outside?
She didn't answer.
Suddenly, the voice screamed.
"AMARA!"
Everything went silent.
Teni got out of bed and walked towards me.
"There is something I never told you."
What?
She looked at the door.
This happened before.
When?
Three months ago.
To who?
She hesitated.
The girl who lived here before you.
My stomach tightened.
What happened to her?
She disappeared.
What do you mean?
She left the hostel one night. Nobody saw her again.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because I didn't want you to think I was crazy.
Before I could respond, something slid underneath the door.
A folded piece of paper.
Neither of us moved.
Finally, Teni picked it up.
She unfolded it.
Four words were written on it:
DO NOT TRUST TENI.
I didn't write that, she said.
I didn't say you did.
But you're thinking it.
Then her phone rang.
She looked at the screen and went completely pale.
"Who is it?"
She didn't answer.
The caller's name was:
AMARA.
My own number.
Teni answered.
She put the phone on speaker.
At first, there was only static.
Then a whisper came through.
"She's awake."
The call ended.
"What is happening?"
Teni grabbed my hand.
"We have to leave."
"Leave where?"
"The room."
"But you said not to open the door!"
"I know."
She ran to the wardrobe and pushed it aside.
Behind it was a small wooden door.
"What is that?"
"I don't know."
"Then how did you know it was there?"
She opened it.
A narrow passage stretched into darkness.
Cold air rushed into the room.
Then we heard footsteps coming from inside.
Someone was walking towards us.
Teni grabbed my hand.
"Run."
We entered the passage.
The door slammed shut behind us.
I turned around.
"Teni!"
She was already running.
I followed.
Then I noticed photographs pinned everywhere.
Dozens of them.
Students.
Mostly girls.
Every photograph had a date underneath it.
"Teni, look!"
She stopped.
I pointed at the newest photo.
It was me.
Standing in our room.
Sleeping.
The date underneath it was tomorrow.
I felt my stomach drop.
Then footsteps echoed behind us.
Slow.
Getting closer.
Teni whispered, "Don't turn around."
I turned.
A girl stood at the end of the passage.
Her hair covered most of her face.
She wore the same clothes as one of the girls in the photographs.
Then she lifted her head.
"Amara..."
It was my voice again.
She smiled.
"You weren't supposed to find this place."
Teni started crying.
The girl stepped closer.
"Now you understand why your roommate was chosen."
I looked at Teni.
"What does she mean?"
"Ask her."
"Chosen for what?"
Teni finally raised her eyes.
"I'm sorry."
The lights went out.
When they came back on, the passage was full of people.
Every one of them was holding a photograph.
Every photograph was of me.
The girl in front held hers out.
I took it with shaking hands.
It showed me sleeping in my bed.
At the bottom was tomorrow's date.
Underneath it were three words:
SHE WILL DISAPPEAR.
I looked at Teni.
"What is this?"
She was crying.
The girl answered instead.
"Ask your roommate."
I turned to Teni.
"Teni?"
She wiped her face.
"I was never your roommate by accident."
My heart sank.
"What does that mean?"
She took a step towards me.
"I was told to watch you."
"By who?"
Before she could answer, the girl behind her whispered,
"Too late."
Every light in the passage went out.
And in the darkness, I heard Teni scream.
Then I heard my own voice whisper directly into my ear:
"Welcome to Room 17."