“HELP!”

The scream echoed through the hotel.

Maya ran up the stairs so quickly that she nearly fell twice.

Rayyan was behind her.

“Slow down!”

“Someone needs help!”

“You don’t even know who screamed!”

“That’s why we’re going to find out!”

Zoya was running behind both of them.

“Wait for me!”

“No!” Maya shouted.

“Why not?”

“Because you’re the slowest!”

“I’m wearing heels!”

“Then take them off!”

“I paid three hundred dollars for these!”

Rayyan looked back.

“Your priorities are impressive.”

“Shut up and run!”

They reached the second floor.

The hallway was empty.

Maya stopped.

“Where did the scream come from?”

Everyone became silent.

Then they heard it again.

“HELP!”

This time, the voice came from the end of the corridor.

Maya ran toward it.

Rayyan followed.

Zoya followed Rayyan.

They reached a large wooden door.

Maya grabbed the handle.

Locked.

“Someone is inside.”

She knocked.

“Hello?”

No answer.

“Open the door!”

Still nothing.

Rayyan tried the handle.

“Move.”

Maya stepped aside.

Rayyan took a step backward.

Then kicked the door.

BANG!

Nothing.

He kicked again.

BANG!

The door opened.

Rayyan nearly fell inside.

Maya stared at him.

“Very professional.”

He straightened his shirt.

“I meant to do that.”

“Of course you did.”

They entered the room.

It was empty.

Completely empty.

Zoya looked around.

“Where’s the person?”

Maya frowned.

“That’s impossible.”

Rayyan looked behind the curtains.

“Maybe they escaped.”

“Through a locked room?”

“Maybe they used the window.”

The three of them ran toward the window.

It was closed.

And they were on the second floor.

Maya stared at the floor.

There was no one.

No footprints.

No sign of a struggle.

Nothing.

Zoya whispered:

“Okay.”

Maya looked at her.

“What?”

“Maybe it was a ghost.”

Maya rolled her eyes.

“Don’t start.”

“I’m just saying.”

“Ghosts don’t scream for help.”

“How do you know?”

“Because they’re dead.”

Zoya stared at her.

“That’s exactly why they would scream.”

Rayyan sighed.

“Can we please stop discussing ghost psychology?”

Maya turned around.

Something caught her attention.

A small table stood in the corner.

On it was an old silver bell.

Beside it was a piece of paper.

Maya walked toward it.

She picked up the paper.

Her eyes widened.

“What?”

Rayyan stepped closer.

“What does it say?”

Maya read it aloud.

“The first clue is where the bride sleeps.”

Zoya’s eyes widened.

“The bride’s room!”

Maya nodded.

“Exactly.”

Rayyan frowned.

“Why would someone leave clues?”

“Because they want us to find something.”

“Like the cake?”

“Maybe.”

Zoya suddenly pointed at the floor.

“Guys.”

Maya looked down.

A trail of white crumbs led out of the room.

Cake crumbs.

Maya’s eyes widened.

“The cake.”

Rayyan smiled.

“We found it.”

“No.”

Maya followed the crumbs with her eyes.

“They lead somewhere.”

Zoya looked down the hallway.

“Where?”

Maya pointed.

“Toward the bridal suite.”

They followed the trail.

The hotel was strangely quiet now.

The wedding guests had returned to their rooms.

The staff were searching for the missing cake.

But Maya wasn’t interested in the cake anymore.

Something else was happening.

Something much bigger.

They reached the bridal suite.

Maya knocked.

No answer.

She opened the door.

“Hello?”

The room was empty.

Zoya stepped inside.

“Maybe the bride is sleeping.”

Maya looked around.

The bed was perfectly made.

The curtains were closed.

A large mirror stood against the wall.

There was a small table beside the bed.

Maya walked toward it.

A photograph was lying there.

She picked it up.

It was a picture of the bride.

But something was strange.

The bride was standing beside an old man.

The same man they had seen near the cake.

Maya turned the photograph over.

There was a message.

“ASK HER ABOUT THE BASEMENT.”

Maya’s heart skipped.

“The bride knows something.”

Rayyan looked at her.

“About what?”

“The basement.”

Zoya frowned.

“What’s wrong with the basement?”

Maya stared at her.

“The hotel doesn’t have one.”

Silence.

Rayyan laughed.

“Of course it doesn’t.”

Maya looked at him.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Because you’re acting like we’re in a horror movie.”

“We found a creepy key.”

“True.”

“A disappearing cake.”

“True.”

“A mysterious old man.”

“True.”

“A ghost screaming for help.”

“Possibly true.”

“And now there’s a secret basement.”

Rayyan stopped.

“Okay.”

He looked around.

“Maybe we are in a horror movie.”

Zoya smiled.

“I knew it.”

Maya ignored them.

She walked toward the wall.

“Every old building has secrets.”

Rayyan followed.

“Not every building.”

“This hotel was built over a hundred years ago.”

“How do you know?”

“I researched it.”

“Of course you did.”

Maya turned.

“Do you have a problem with my research?”

“No.”

“Then stop making comments.”

“Fine.”

“Good.”

“You’re still annoying.”

“Rayyan.”

“Sorry.”

Zoya suddenly interrupted.

“Guys.”

They turned.

Zoya was standing beside the bed.

She was holding something.

A small black box.

Maya immediately walked toward her.

“Where did you find that?”

“Under the pillow.”

Rayyan frowned.

“That’s not creepy at all.”

Maya opened it.

Inside was a small photograph.

Three children.

Two girls.

One boy.

Maya stared.

She recognized one of the girls.

The bride.

But she was only about ten years old.

The boy was standing beside her.

And the third child…

Maya didn’t recognize.

“Who is that?”

Rayyan took the photograph.

“I don’t know.”

Zoya looked closely.

“Wait.”

She pointed at the boy.

“That’s the groom.”

Maya looked at him.

“What?”

“The groom.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Then who is the girl?”

Zoya shook her head.

“I don’t know.”

Maya looked at the photograph again.

Something was written on the back.

“ONE OF THEM WILL LIE.”

Rayyan’s face became serious.

“Okay.”

Maya looked at him.

“What?”

“Now I think we should talk to the bride.”

“Exactly.”

They left the room.

But before they could reach the stairs…

They heard footsteps.

Someone was coming.

Maya looked toward the corridor.

The mysterious old man appeared.

He stopped when he saw them.

His eyes immediately went to the photograph in Maya’s hand.

His face changed.

“Where did you get that?”

Maya held it tightly.

“Who are you?”

“Give it to me.”

“No.”

The man stepped closer.

“That photograph doesn’t belong to you.”

“Neither does the cake.”

Rayyan whispered:

“Good one.”

Maya ignored him.

“Tell me about the basement.”

The man’s face went pale.

“Who told you about it?”

“The note.”

“What note?”

Maya showed him.

The man stepped backward.

“Where did you find this?”

“In the bridal suite.”

He shook his head.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

Maya frowned.

“Why?”

“Because you’re asking questions that should never be asked.”

Rayyan stepped forward.

“Sir, you’re not helping.”

The old man looked at him.

“Leave this hotel.”

“Why?”

“Tonight.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Why?”

Rayyan smiled.

“Because we haven’t found the cake yet.”

The old man stared at him.

“You think this is about a cake?”

Maya’s expression changed.

“Then what is it about?”

The man looked at her.

“Something much worse.”

Suddenly…

The lights went out again.

Zoya screamed.

“Oh no!”

Maya grabbed Rayyan’s arm.

“Where is he?”

“Who?”

“The old man!”

They heard footsteps.

Running away.

Maya immediately chased him.

“Come back!”

Rayyan followed.

“Maya!”

They reached the end of the hallway.

The old man was gone.

There was only a wall.

Maya stared.

“Where did he go?”

Rayyan looked around.

“Maybe he disappeared.”

“Don’t joke.”

“I’m not.”

Maya touched the wall.

It felt strange.

Cold.

She looked down.

There was a small keyhole.

Her heart skipped.

“The key.”

Rayyan immediately understood.

“You still have it?”

Maya took the black key from her pocket.

She slowly inserted it.

The key fit perfectly.

Rayyan grabbed her hand.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Maybe don’t open mysterious doors with mysterious keys.”

Maya looked at him.

“Why?”

“Because that’s how horror movies begin.”

“You’re scared?”

“No.”

“Then let go.”

“You’re impossible.”

“Thank you.”

She turned the key.

Click.

The wall moved.

A hidden door slowly opened.

Zoya’s mouth fell open.

“Oh my God.”

Behind the door was a narrow staircase.

Leading downward.

Maya looked at Rayyan.

He stared at the darkness.

“Basement?”

Maya nodded.

“Basement.”

Zoya stepped backward.

“No.”

Maya looked at her.

“What?”

“I’m not going down there.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not stupid.”

Rayyan pointed at the stairs.

“She’s right.”

Maya looked at him.

“You too?”

“Absolutely.”

“Fine.”

Maya stepped forward.

“Then I’ll go alone.”

Rayyan immediately grabbed her hand.

“No, you won’t.”

Maya looked down at their hands.

Then at him.

“Why?”

Rayyan hesitated.

His voice became quieter.

“Because I don’t trust that place.”

Maya’s expression softened.

“You’re worried about me?”

“No.”

“Rayyan.”

“I’m worried about myself.”

“Why?”

“Because if something happens to you, I’ll have to listen to Zoya cry.”

Zoya gasped.

“Excuse me?”

Rayyan smiled.

“See? She’s already annoying.”

Maya laughed.

Despite everything…

She felt strangely safe beside him.

She looked at their hands.

Rayyan slowly released hers.

Neither spoke.

Then Zoya interrupted.

“Are you two done staring at each other?”

Maya immediately looked away.

“We weren’t.”

“Of course.”

Rayyan cleared his throat.

“Let’s go.”

They began descending the stairs.

One step.

Two.

Three.

The darkness became thicker.

The air became colder.

The walls were covered with old photographs.

Maya stopped.

“Look.”

Rayyan turned.

The photographs showed the hotel.

Decades ago.

But one photograph caught Maya’s attention.

The same old man.

Standing beside a woman.

And two children.

Maya stared.

“That’s the bride.”

Rayyan looked.

“Yes.”

“And that’s the groom.”

“Yes.”

Maya pointed at the woman.

“Who’s she?”

“I don’t know.”

Zoya stepped closer.

“Wait.”

She looked at the photograph.

“That’s the bride’s mother.”

Maya’s eyes widened.

“But she died fifteen years ago.”

Silence.

Rayyan stared at the photograph.

“Then why is she here?”

Maya looked at the date.

Fifteen years ago.

The exact year.

She turned.

“Someone is hiding something.”

Suddenly…

A loud noise came from below.

BANG!

Zoya screamed.

“Let’s go back!”

Maya grabbed the railing.

“What was that?”

Rayyan looked down.

“I don’t know.”

They continued.

At the bottom was a large wooden door.

Maya approached it.

There was a small window.

She looked inside.

Her eyes widened.

“The cake.”

Rayyan looked.

The missing wedding cake was sitting inside.

Perfectly intact.

Zoya smiled.

“We found it!”

Maya frowned.

“Wait.”

“What?”

“Look.”

The cake wasn’t alone.

Beside it stood a large antique mirror.

The same creepy black key was reflected in it.

But there was something wrong.

The key wasn’t in Maya’s hand.

It was inside the mirror.

Maya stepped closer.

“That’s impossible.”

Rayyan grabbed her arm.

“Don’t touch it.”

Maya stared at the reflection.

Then she noticed something.

Behind the cake was a person.

A woman.

Standing completely still.

Maya turned around.

Nobody.

She looked back.

The woman was still there.

Maya screamed.

“There’s someone inside!”

Rayyan looked.

The woman disappeared.

The door suddenly opened.

The cake rolled forward.

And stopped at Maya’s feet.

Everyone froze.

Zoya whispered:

“Okay.”

She took a step backward.

“That’s enough mystery for one night.”

Then the mirror cracked.

CRACK!

Maya jumped.

A piece of paper fell from the ceiling.

She picked it up.

Five words were written on it.

THE CAKE WAS NEVER STOLEN.

Rayyan stared.

“What?”

Maya looked at the cake.

“Then why was it hidden?”

Suddenly, someone behind them spoke.

“Because someone wanted you to find it.”

They turned.

The bride was standing at the top of the stairs.

Her face was pale.

Maya immediately stepped forward.

“You know what’s happening.”

The bride shook her head.

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain.”

“I can’t.”

“Why?”

The bride looked at the cake.

Then at the mirror.

Then at Maya.

“Because if I tell you…”

She took a breath.

“…someone will die.”

Everyone became silent.

Rayyan stepped forward.

“Who?”

The bride looked directly at Maya.

“You.”

Maya froze.

“Me?”

The bride nodded.

“You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Why?”

The bride’s eyes filled with tears.

“Because the person who took the cake…”

She pointed toward the dark staircase behind them.

“…wasn’t trying to hide it.”

Maya slowly turned.

“Then what were they doing?”

The bride whispered:

“They were hiding something inside it.”

Maya stared at the cake.

“What?”

The bride didn’t answer.

Instead, she ran away.

“Wait!”

Maya chased her.

But the door at the top slammed shut.

Maya stopped.

Rayyan reached her.

“She’s gone.”

Maya turned toward him.

“What was inside the cake?”

Before he could answer…

A phone began ringing.

Not Maya’s.

Not Rayyan’s.

Not Zoya’s.

The sound was coming from the basement.

They slowly turned.

The ringing came from inside the cake.

Maya’s eyes widened.

“That’s impossible.”

The phone continued ringing.

Rayyan looked at her.

“Don’t.”

Maya stepped closer.

“Don’t what?”

“Whatever you’re thinking.”

“I have to.”

“Why?”

“Because someone is calling.”

Maya reached toward the cake.

Rayyan grabbed her wrist.

“Wait.”

The ringing stopped.

Silence.

Then…

A voice came from the cake.

A woman’s voice.

Whispering.

“Help me.”

Maya’s blood ran cold.

She looked at Rayyan.

His face had gone pale.

Zoya was crying.

Then the voice whispered again.

This time, it said Maya’s name.

“Maya…”

Maya stepped backward.

“How does it know my name?”

No one answered.

Then the cake suddenly split open.

And something fell onto the floor.

A small silver locket.

Maya picked it up.

Inside was a photograph.

The photograph showed the same three children.

The bride.

The groom.

And the mysterious third child.

But this time…

The child’s face wasn’t scratched out.

Maya stared.

Her heart stopped.

Because she knew that face.

She had seen it before.

In an old family photograph.

The mysterious third child…

Was Maya herself.

And on the back of the photograph were six words.

“MAYA KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.”

Maya dropped the photograph.

“I don’t remember.”

Rayyan stared at her.

“Remember what?”

Maya looked at him.

Her eyes filled with fear.

“I don’t know.”

Then the lights went out.

And somewhere in the darkness…

Someone laughed.

To Be Continued…