The Man Outside the Gate

Jane (whispering)- “Jiya... look… over there.”

Jiya turned.

Across the street, half-shadowed by a flickering lamppost even in daylight, stood the same gaunt man.

Unmoving. Watching.

His beard hung like moss. His shirt, torn and soaked with mist, clung to his frame.

But it was his eyes. Cold. Blank. Dead.

They weren’t watching the crowd. Not Jane.

Just Jiya.

Staring straight into her soul.

For a moment, it felt like the world went silent.

No honking.

No footsteps.

No chatter.

Just him… and that unbearable, paralyzing stare.

Jane (grabbing Jiya’s hand tightly)- “Don’t look at him. Walk. Fast.”

Heart pounding, Jiya turned her face away, but it didn’t help.

She could feel it.

The burn of his eyes clawing at her back like unseen fingernails.

They crossed the road quickly, weaving through the crowd without looking back, their pace just short of a run.

As they reached the end of the lane, Jiya’s phone buzzed in her pocket.

Her fingers trembled as she pulled it out.

New Message — Unknown Number:

"You shouldn’t have looked at me."

Jiya’s blood ran cold.

She whipped her head around—

He was gone.

Just an empty street. Empty... and watching.

Trying to shake off the crawling dread, the girls made their way to the electronics shop. Jiya handed over her damaged camera for repair, forcing a smile that never reached her eyes. They booked a cab back to campus immediately after.

Girls' Dormitory Lounge — Late Afternoon

They sank into the worn lounge sofas, tension still gripping their bodies.

Jane (finally breaking the silence): “What… was that?”

Jiya (rubbing her arms): “How would I know? You’re the one who told me not to look! He was staring at me like… like I was cursed or something.”

Jane (grimacing): “Honestly? For a moment, I thought he was a terrorist. I mean, his clothes… his eyes... something felt wrong.”

Jiya (disbelieving): “Seriously? That’s your takeaway right now?”

Jane (throwing her hands up): “No! I’m just freaking out! Call Fa, please.”

Jiya (checking her phone): “Already did. She’s on her way.”

Moments later, Fa entered the dorm, beaming.

Fa: “Hey guys! Ready to head out?”

Jiya (hesitating): “Umm… can we just stay on campus today? I’m not feeling okay.”

Fa’s smile faded.

Fa (gently): “Of course. We’ll stay in.”

But the unease didn’t leave.

Following Days…

Every time Jiya stepped outside the university gates…

He was there.

Across the street.

Behind a tree.

In the reflection of a bus window.

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Always watching.

Always still.

Always her.

At night, her body would burn with fever again.

She whispered in her sleep—words she didn’t remember. Names she didn’t know.

Jane and Fa, increasingly worried, made her stay indoors. She missed classes. Her appetite vanished. Even the dorm walls began to feel too thin.

Dormitory — Past Midnight

The night was unnaturally quiet. Even the insects outside buzzed like they were holding their breath.

Jane was fast asleep, one arm hanging off her bed. Fa hadn’t returned from her late-night study group.

Jiya lay curled beneath her blanket, sweat clinging to her skin despite the fan spinning above. Her eyes were closed… but sleep wouldn’t come.

Then—

Suddenly — a sound.

A faint creak.

Like an old door... opening slowly.

Jiya's eyes flew open.

Footsteps echoed down the hallway.

She couldn't even move herself, just praying, heart pounding, every instinct screaming to hide — to run.

The dorm's main entrance, protected with a keycard lock, should’ve been secure.

But the door creaked again. This time it's closer.

Then, from the corner of her eye —

A shadow moved across her window.

Jiya held her breath.

The door to her room left slightly ajar, began to open... inch by inch.

And then — he stepped in.

The same man. The same ragged beard. The same cold, lifeless stare.

His eyes locked onto her like a predator that had finally found its prey.

He didn’t speak.

He just moved closer. Silent. Slow. Unblinking.

His eyes flicked down to her shoulder — the left one.

The one that had a scar since she got in the fight with the ghost. A scar she never remembered getting.

He reached out a bony, scarred hand... fingers trembling slightly as if something important lay beneath her skin.

But just as he was about to touch her —

He jerked back.

His hand froze mid-air, as if something invisible had pushed him away.

He let out a low, guttural growl, eyes burning with frustration.

Suddenly, the lights flickered — then blazed on.

Jane stirred awake and sat up groggily.

Jane: "Jiya...? What’s going on?"

The man was gone.

Only the chilling cold still lingered in the room... and the burning sting that flared across Jiya’s shoulder.

Breathing heavily, she sat up and grabbed the glass of water from her bedside table, gulping it down.

Jiya: forcing a shaky smile "Nothing. I was just trying to drink some water."

Jane: blinking sleepily "Are you sure you're totally fine?"

Jiya: nodding quickly "Yeah... yeah. Let’s just sleep. I’ll try to attend classes tomorrow."

Jane: softly "Only when you feel right, okay?"

The room fell silent again, but Jiya barely slept, her mind racing in endless circles.

The next morning, on her way to classes, Jiya walked briskly through the old corridor, the halls unusually empty.

Jiya (soliloquy):

"What is happening to me...?

The doctor insists I’m fine—"perfectly healthy," he says. But then why does my body give out every night?

Why do I wake up drenched in sweat, heart racing like I’ve run from something I don’t even remember?

That man…

He’s always there. Just outside the university gate.

Staring. Unblinking.

Like I’m marked—cursed—like I belong to something I don’t understand.

And last night... he was in my room. I know he was.

Or was it just another hallucination?

Maybe... maybe it’s because I keep seeing him whenever I step out.

Maybe his face is burned so deep into my mind, it’s bleeding into my dreams.

But that mask... that awful mask…

It all began that night—the exploration.

That one stupid night we thought was just fun.

But what really happened?

Why can’t I remember everything clearly? Why does it all blur like a smudged memory?

Something's wrong.

Not just with me...

With this university.

With the halls, the people, the silence between the walls.

I can feel it.

It’s clawing at me—slowly, patiently.

And I’m terrified I’m already too far in to escape. I want to go home."

Suddenly — WHAM!

A boy came crashing into her out of nowhere.

Both of them tumbled to the ground in a messy heap.

Jiya: groaning, furious "Rudraaa!"

Rudra: scrambling up, flustered "I’m sorry! I swear, I was just trying to fix the damn bulb!"

Jiya: shoving his shoulder, glaring "First of all, stay away from me!"

Rudra chuckled nervously but his eyes sharpened when he noticed something —

His gaze dropped to Jiya’s shoulder, where her sleeve had slid slightly down during the fall.

There — angry and raw — was a dark, reddish-black scratch.

Thin but deep, like a fresh claw mark slashed across her skin.

Rudra’s face darkened for a split second — something flickered in his eyes. Concern... and something else she couldn't name.

Meanwhile, Jiya, oblivious to his sudden change, dusted herself off angrily, muttering curses under her breath.

But Rudra didn’t move. He just stared at the mark... as if he knew exactly what it meant.

Jiya: frowning as she gets up "Secondly, why do you always have to fall on me, huh?"

Rudra: rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly "I don't know... I'm really sorry about that day too. I didn’t mean to—"

Jiya: softening "I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that."

Rudra: smiling gently "It’s okay. Honestly... I was looking for you. But you just vanished. Where were you?"

Jiya: avoiding his eyes "Actually… I wasn’t feeling well. So, I stopped coming to classes."

Rudra’s smile fades slightly as his eyes narrow with concern.

Rudra: quietly "Are you alright now?"

Jiya: shrugs "Yeah... just feeling a little uneasy, that’s all. High fever. Mostly at night. Nothing major."

Rudra's face turned furious and stressed, worried. Before he could say more, Jiya's phone buzzed.

Phone Message: "Your camera has been repaired. You can collect it from the shop."

Jiya (glancing at the screen, standing up abruptly)- "I need to go. We'll catch up... someday."