The Knock at 3:00 AM

It was exactly 3:00 AM. Rahat was sleeping alone in his room. Outside, the night was completely silent. The wind had stopped, and even the usual sounds of insects had disappeared. The darkness inside the room felt heavier than usual. Suddenly— Knock... Knock... Knock... Rahat's eyes opened immediately. For a few seconds, he remained completely still. Knock... Knock... Knock... The sound came from his bedroom door. Rahat slowly sat up on his bed. His heart began beating faster. "Who is it?" he asked. There was no answer. He looked around the dark room. The only light came from his phone charging beside the bed. Then he heard a familiar voice. "Rahat... open the door." His blood ran cold. It was his mother's voice. "Mom?" Rahat asked. "Yes, son. Open the door." Something felt strange. His mother was supposed to be staying at his aunt's house that night. She had left in the afternoon and told Rahat that she would return the next morning. Rahat slowly moved closer to the door. "Mom? Why are you here?" For several seconds, there was complete silence. Then the voice answered softly— "Just open the door." Rahat placed his hand on the door handle. At that exact moment, his phone started ringing. RING... RING... RING... Rahat quickly looked at the screen. His face turned pale. The caller ID said: MOM His hands began shaking. He slowly answered the call. "Hello?" His mother's frightened voice came through the phone. "Rahat! Are you okay?" "Mom... you're outside my room." There was silence on the other end. Then his mother whispered— "What are you talking about? I'm still at your aunt's house." Rahat felt his entire body freeze. He slowly turned toward the bedroom door. "Mom... someone is outside. It sounds exactly like you." His mother suddenly began crying. "Listen to me carefully," she whispered. "Do not open that door." Then— Knock... Knock... Knock... The knocking became louder. "Rahat..." the voice outside whispered. Rahat covered his mouth. His mother shouted through the phone— "Don't answer it!" But the voice outside continued. "Rahat... I know you're talking to your mother." Rahat dropped his phone onto the floor. The knocking suddenly stopped. Everything became silent again. For a moment, Rahat thought whoever—or whatever—was outside had gone away. Then he noticed something. A dark shadow appeared beneath the door. Slowly... Something moved. A long, black hand began crawling under the door. Rahat screamed and jumped back. The fingers were thin and unnaturally long. They slowly moved across the floor. Then the voice whispered— "Rahat..." The lights suddenly went out. The phone call ended. The room became completely dark. Rahat stood frozen in silence. Then, from directly behind him, someone whispered into his ear— "You should have opened the door." 👁️ And that was the last thing Rahat ever heard.