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Suprim Pandey

9 - Tsho Rolpa

301012

Knock knock!!

Every night at 2:17 a.m., Daniel heard three knocks on his door.

The first night, he ignored them.

The second night, he opened the door.

There was no one there.

Only a small black envelope lay on the floor.

Inside was a single sentence:

“Stop looking for me.”

Daniel had no idea who had written it.

The next night, the knocking returned.

Three knocks.

2:17 a.m.

Another envelope.

This time, it contained a photograph of Daniel standing outside his own house.

The photograph was old.

Very old.

On the back, someone had written:

“You took this picture.”

Daniel couldn't sleep.

He searched through his room until he found an old box belonging to his father, who had disappeared many years ago. Inside was an identical black envelope.

His hands trembled as he opened it.

There was only one line:

“When you hear the third knock, don't open the door.”

Then came the sound.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Daniel froze.

The clock showed 2:17.

He remembered the letter.

He stepped away from the door.

Silence.

Then a voice whispered from the other side.

“Daniel.”

It was his father's voice.

Daniel stopped breathing for a moment.

His father had been missing for fifteen years.

“Dad?”

No answer.

Slowly, Daniel reached for the handle.

Then he noticed something beneath the door.

A black envelope.

He picked it up.

His hands went cold when he saw the handwriting.

It was his own.

The envelope contained only one sentence:

“If you are reading this, you already opened the door.”

Daniel looked at the handle.

It was still locked.

Then came three knocks from behind him.

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Daniel slowly turned around.

And the clock stopped at 2:17.