ShristiAdhikari

The first anniversary of Alexander Rhea’s death should have brought closure, but for investigative reporter Ava Harris, it only deepens the nightmare. A year ago, she thought she had left behind the haunting, manipulative tycoon and bestselling author—but when she picks up his diary on the anniversary of his death, she’s faced with a chilling discovery: a new entry, written in fresh ink.

“To be continued.”

The words send a jolt of terror through Ava, for she knows one undeniable truth: Alexander Rhea has been dead for a year. Or so she thought.

As the memory of their disturbing interview resurfaces, Ava realizes she’s been tangled in a web of lies, power, and dark obsession. Three years ago, she entered Rhea’s mansion to conduct an exclusive interview, expecting the usual. Instead, she was thrust into a twisted psychological game that pushed her to the edge of sanity.

Now, as she revisits the haunting moments of that encounter, Ava uncovers a series of chilling murders—each marked by a cryptic whisper of “Goodnight.”

The closer Ava gets to the truth, the more she feels the unshakable presence of Rhea looming over her. Is he truly gone, or is he manipulating her from beyond the grave? As her investigation unravels, the line between the living and the dead begins to blur, and Ava is forced to confront a terrifying question: What if Alexander Rhea never really died?

SYMPHONY OF SHADOWS

The journal's final line—"If my life was a novel, you would come there four times—the title, the synopsis, the highlighted chapter, and the final page"—played in Ava's mind like a broken record. Her trembling hands gripped the book as though it might reveal more if she just held it tighter.

"Elena," she whispered, testing the name on her tongue.

Ava's heart raced, torn between waiting in the study as Alexander instructed or confronting him. Her eyes darted around the room. Every shadow seemed heavier, every creak of the old house more menacing. There was something about this place—something that spoke of hidden stories buried under layers of dust and regret.

The sound of footsteps snapped her attention to the door. Alexander appeared, his expression unreadable. "You shouldn't have touched that," he said, his voice low but sharp.

"I wasn't trying to—" Ava began, her voice faltering as his piercing gaze silenced her.

"You were curious," he interrupted, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. The click of the lock made her stomach twist. "That journal… it's not for you."

"But who is Elena?" Ava's voice cracked under the weight of her question. "Why is she such a... significant part of your life?"

Alexander's jaw tightened. For a moment, she thought he wouldn't answer, but then he spoke, his voice laced with bitterness. "Elena was… everything. And then, she wasn't."

His cryptic response only deepened the mystery. Ava wanted to push further, but the look in his eyes warned her that the subject was far from open for discussion.

The air between them thickened, charged with tension. Alexander finally turned away, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Come. Dinner is ready."

Ava followed him reluctantly, her mind churning with questions. The journal, the old house, the name "Elena"—everything seemed like pieces of a puzzle she was being forced to solve blindfolded.

The ghost of Elena