Whispering Cassette Tape

The last thing she heard on the old tape was her own voice whispering, “You’re not alone.” When the lights failed, the replay began from the beginning—same creaking door, same footsteps—but the date stamp was now tomorrow night. As the tape hissed to a stop, a cold breath pressed against her neck, and the recorder, unplugged and dead for years, began to record again.