The rain poured in sheets, hammering the roof of Elegance Girls Hostel like angry fists. Darkness swallowed the old building whole. With each crack of thunder, the walls shuddered, and the lights flickered - then died.

Inside Room 8, six girls huddled together on their bunks. The storm had killed the generator hours ago. All they had was a single phone torch, its weak beam cutting through the black.

"NEPA don finally kill us," Adaeze whispered, pulling her wrapper tighter. No one laughed.

Then - _knock. knock. knock._

Three slow raps on their door. But the corridor was empty. Everyone knew Mrs. Ijeoma, the hostel supervisor, locked the main gate at 10pm sharp. It was 1:17am.

The knocks came again. Louder.  

"Who dey there?" Fatima called out, voice shaking.

Silence. Then a soft voice from the hallway, barely audible over the rain:  

“...let me in. I'm cold.”

The girls looked at each other. All six of them were already in the room