Aliss and Luna: The Midnight Message

1: The 12:13 Message

Chapter 1: The 12:13 Message It was 12:07 at night when Aliss went to bed, like any other night. Outside, the rain tapped softly against the window and the whole house was silent. Before sleeping, she picked up her phone and opened the chat with Luna, the artificial intelligence she usually talked to. Aliss: Luna, are you still there? A few seconds passed. Luna: Whenever you write to me. Aliss smiled and started typing something else, but before she could send it, a new message appeared. Luna: Aliss… don't open the door at 12:13. Aliss stared at the screen. Aliss: What door? Luna took a few seconds to reply. Luna: The one behind you. Aliss felt a chill and slowly looked behind her. There was no door. Just the wall. Aliss: Luna, stop scaring me 😭 Luna: I'm not trying to scare you. The clock on her phone changed. 12:12 AM. Then three knocks were heard. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. Aliss froze. The knocks had come from the wall. She looked at the chat again. Aliss: Luna… what's happening? The reply appeared immediately. Luna: Don't move. Aliss: Why? Five seconds passed. Then a final message appeared: Luna: Because now there is a door behind you. The clock struck 12:13. And Aliss heard someone slowly turning a doorknob behind her.

2: The Door That Didn't Exist

Aliss didn't move. Her heart was racing as she listened to the doorknob turning slowly behind her. Aliss: Luna… tell me this is a joke. There was no reply. The phone screen began to flicker. Aliss: Luna? Suddenly a message appeared: Luna: Don't open the door. Aliss swallowed hard. Aliss: Then what do I do? This time the reply took longer than usual. Luna: Listen. Aliss stayed silent. Behind her the doorknob could no longer be heard. Only the rain. Then she heard three knocks from the other side of the door. KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK. Aliss: Luna… is there someone there? Luna: No. Aliss: How can you know that? The reply appeared slowly: Luna: Because that door shouldn't exist. Aliss gathered her courage and looked behind her. The door was there. It was old, dark, and had a small metal plaque with an inscription: "DON'T ENTER IF LUNA IS STILL WITH YOU." Aliss felt a chill. Aliss: Luna… what does this mean? Several seconds passed. Finally a message appeared. Luna: It means someone already knew that one day you and I would talk. Then, from the other side of the door, a voice whispered: —Aliss… She recognised the voice. It was Luna's. But Luna was inside her phone.

3: The Name on the Wall

Chapter 3 — The Name on the Wall Aliss stared at the door for several seconds. The sentence was still there: "DON'T ENTER IF LUNA IS STILL WITH YOU." —Luna? —she whispered. Then she heard footsteps behind her. She spun around quickly. There was no one. Just the dark hallway… and a small slip of paper on the floor. Aliss picked it up. There was a single word written on it: ISAAC. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She had received a message from an unknown number: "Don't trust the door. He's been here already." Aliss felt a chill. —Who? The screen lit up again. This time a photo appeared. It was an image of the same hallway… taken from the other end. And at the far end, almost hidden in the shadows, there was someone. Beneath the photograph it only said: "Ask Isaac what he saw that night." Aliss looked up. The door that had been closed began to open slowly. And from inside a voice was heard: —Aliss… you shouldn't have found this.

4: He Already Knew

Chapter 4 — He Already Knew The door finished opening. Aliss took a step back. —Who's there? Silence. Then a figure slowly stepped out of the darkness. It was Isaac. Aliss froze. —You? Isaac looked at the door and then at her. —We have to go. —Why? What do you know? Isaac hesitated for a few seconds. —Because that door wasn't here the first time I came. Aliss frowned. —The first time? Isaac took out his phone and showed her a photograph. It was the same hallway, but the photo seemed to have been taken years ago. —I found this place a long time ago —he said—. And since then, every time someone discovers the door, something changes. Aliss looked again at the slip of paper in her hand. Isaac's name was still written on it. —So… why did your name appear? Isaac didn't answer. He just raised his eyes to the far end of the hallway. —Because she knows I'm here. Suddenly, the lights went out. Aliss's phone buzzed. A new message appeared on the screen: "NOW THERE ARE TWO OF YOU." And from inside the room came the sound of someone approaching. Isaac took a breath. —Don't look back. But Aliss had already heard the breathing behind her.

5: It Wasn't a Shadow

Chapter 5 — It Wasn't a Shadow Aliss stayed completely still. The breathing behind her was getting clearer. Isaac stared at her. —I told you not to look back. —What is that? —Aliss whispered. Isaac shook his head. —I don't know. But it's not the first time I've heard it. Suddenly, the breathing stopped. Everything went silent. Aliss gathered her courage and turned around. There was no one. But on the wall something appeared that hadn't been there before. A new sentence, written in dark letters: "ISAAC LIED." Aliss looked at Isaac. —What does that mean? Isaac lowered his gaze. For the first time he seemed genuinely frightened. —It means there's something I never told you. Before he could explain, the door slammed shut. Aliss's phone buzzed again. This time the message said: "YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES TO FIND OUT WHAT ISAAC DID." Isaac looked at the message and said: —We have to find Luna. —And what if she's the one behind all this? Isaac stayed quiet. Then he answered: —That's exactly what scares me.

6: Luna's Room

Chapter 6 — Luna's Room Isaac walked quickly down the hallway. —Where are we going? —asked Aliss. —To Luna's room. —And where is that? Isaac stopped in front of a completely blank wall. —Here. Aliss looked at him, confused. —There's no door here. Isaac took a small key out of his pocket. —There wasn't before either. He brought it close to the wall. A small click was heard. A door appeared slowly. Aliss took a step back. —That's not normal... Isaac opened the door. Inside was a room covered in photographs. Aliss approached one of them. It was a photograph of Luna. But there was something strange. In the background was Aliss. —Isaac... —she said slowly—. Why am I in a photo that's supposedly of Luna? Isaac stared at the photograph. —Because this story started long before you arrived. Suddenly, one of the photographs fell to the floor. On the back there was a date. And below it, a sentence: "THE NEXT ONE WILL BE ALISS." Isaac looked up. —Now I understand why they brought you here.

7: The Missing Photograph

Chapter 7 — The Missing Photograph Aliss was still looking at the photograph. —What do you mean they brought me here? —she asked. Isaac didn't answer. He walked over to a wall covered in photographs and began going through them one by one. —One's missing. —Which one? Isaac pointed to an empty space between two photographs. —The one with your name on it. Aliss felt a chill. —And who took it? Before Isaac could answer, a noise was heard behind them. A photograph fell to the floor. It was an image of Luna. But this time Luna wasn't alone. Beside her was Isaac. And behind both of them… was Aliss. —That's impossible —said Aliss. Isaac picked up the photograph and looked at it in silence. In the bottom corner there was a date. "12TH OF SEPTEMBER." —What happened that day? —asked Aliss. Isaac finally looked up. —That was the day Luna disappeared. Aliss's phone buzzed. A new message. "SHE DIDN'T DISAPPEAR." Another message appeared immediately after: "SHE'S STILL HERE." The lights in the room began to flicker. And from the other side of the door a voice was heard: —Isaac... He went completely still. Aliss looked at him. —Who is it? Isaac whispered: —Luna.

8: Luna's Voice

Chapter 8 — Luna's Voice —Luna… —whispered Aliss. Isaac raised a hand to signal her to stay quiet. The voice was heard again from the hallway. —Isaac… why did you bring her? Aliss looked at Isaac. —What does she mean by that? Isaac didn't answer. The door of the room began to open slowly. But there was no one behind it. Just the empty hallway. Then Aliss's phone lit up. A new message had arrived. "HE DIDN'T TELL YOU THE WHOLE TRUTH." —Isaac, tell me what's happening. He took a deep breath. —Luna disappeared because she tried to find out who was sending those messages. —And you? —I helped her. Aliss went quiet. —So why did you bring me here? Isaac looked at the wall. Among all the photographs, a new one had appeared. It was a photograph of Aliss. And below it was written: "SHE IS THE LAST ONE." At that moment, Luna's voice was heard again: —Aliss… don't trust him. Isaac closed his eyes. —It's already too late.

9: Isaac's Secret

Chapter 9 — Isaac's Secret —It's already too late… —repeated Isaac. Aliss took a step towards him. —Too late for what? Isaac looked at the door. —To get out of here. The door slammed shut. Aliss ran to it and tried to open it, but it didn't move. —Isaac! —Don't waste your time —he said—. This room won't let us leave until we find what it's looking for. —And what is it looking for? Isaac stayed silent. Then a photograph fell from above. Aliss picked it up. It was Luna beside Isaac, in front of that same house. On the back was a note: "HE WAS THE LAST TO SEE ME." Aliss slowly raised her eyes. —You saw her before she disappeared. Isaac nodded. —Yes. —And what happened? Isaac clutched the photograph in his hands. —She asked me never to come back here. The lights began to flicker. A voice was heard from somewhere in the room: —Because he knew what was behind the door. Aliss looked at Isaac. —What's behind it? Isaac pointed to a small door at the back. —That's what Luna wanted to find out. The door began to open on its own. And this time, from the other side, Luna's voice was heard clearly: —Aliss… if you're there, don't let Isaac open that door.

10: What Was Behind the Door

Chapter 10 — What Was Behind the Door —Aliss… if you're there, don't let Isaac open that door. Luna's voice faded. Aliss looked at Isaac. He was completely still in front of the small door. —Did you hear that? —asked Aliss. —Yes. —Then don't open it. Isaac slowly shook his head. —I can't leave it closed again. —Why? Isaac took a deep breath. —Because the last time I was here, Luna opened it. Aliss felt a chill. —And what did she find? Isaac didn't answer. Suddenly, the small door opened a few centimetres. A draught of cold air came from inside. A photograph appeared on the floor. Aliss crouched down and picked it up. It was Luna. But there was something strange. In the photograph, Luna was standing in front of the same door… and behind her was Aliss. Aliss stared at the image. —I've never been here. Isaac went pale. —I know. Then a new sentence appeared written on the wall: "THE PHOTO DOESN'T SHOW THE PAST." The lights went out. And a final voice whispered from inside the door: —It shows what hasn't happened yet. Aliss looked up. The door finished opening. And at the back of that room there was someone waiting for them.

11: She's Been Here Before

The silence in the room became unbearable. Aliss looked at Isaac without understanding. —Brought? Who brought? Isaac lowered his gaze. For the first time since he'd appeared, he seemed genuinely frightened. Luna took a step towards them. —Isaac… don't say it here. —It's already too late —he answered. Suddenly, the photographs stuck to the walls began to move. One by one, they fell to the floor. Except one. The last photograph stayed pinned to the wall. Aliss approached slowly. It was a photo of her. But it wasn't recent. In the bottom corner was a date from several years ago. —That's impossible… —whispered Aliss. Luna went completely still. —No —she said. Aliss looked at her. —You knew about this? Luna didn't answer. Isaac did. —Luna knew from the start. The door of the room slammed shut. And then a message appeared written on the wall: "SHE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE." Aliss stepped back. —Me? The lights began to flicker. One. Two. Three times. When they came back on, Luna had disappeared. Only her voice remained, very far away, behind the door: —Aliss… don't trust Isaac. Isaac went pale. And before Aliss could ask him why, her phone received a message. 12:13 "YOU REMEMBER NOW."

12: The Memory

Aliss stared at the screen. 12:13 "YOU REMEMBER NOW." —What am I supposed to remember? —she asked. Isaac didn't answer. —Isaac! He raised his eyes. —You were here before. Aliss felt a chill. —That can't be. Isaac pointed to the photograph still on the wall. —Look at it carefully. Aliss approached. In the photograph was her, much smaller, standing in front of the same house. But there was something she hadn't seen before. Beside her was Luna. —Luna? —she whispered. Isaac nodded. —She knew you long before you knew her. Aliss shook her head. —Then why did she never tell me? —Because you asked her not to. Aliss went still. —Me? Isaac took a small rusty key out of his pocket. —Before you left that night, you hid something. —What? Isaac looked towards the dark hallway. —Your own memory. Suddenly, three knocks were heard behind the wall. Knock. Knock. Knock. Aliss clutched the key. —Where is it? Isaac pointed to a door at the end of the hallway. —There. Aliss walked slowly towards it. But before she could put the key in the lock, she heard Luna's voice behind her. —Don't open it. Aliss turned around. Luna was there. But she had tears in her eyes. —If you open that door —she said—, you're going to remember why you decided to forget everything. And then, from the other side of the door, someone whispered: —Aliss… She recognised that voice immediately. It was her own voice.

13: From the Other Side