Evelyn Carter stepped inside, shaking the rain from her coat. The hotel lobby was eerily quiet, the kind of quiet that presses against your ears. She approached the front desk, where a sallow-faced clerk awaited her with a key in hand. "I'm checking in. My name should be on the reservation," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid to disturb the silence. The clerk nodded, sliding the key across the counter. "Room 314. Enjoy your stay."

Evelyn entered the room, her footsteps muted by the plush carpet. The absence of windows struck her immediately, a detail that felt both strange and unsettling. "I suppose it adds to the ambiance," she mused, trying to shake off the creeping unease. She placed her suitcase by the dresser and sat on the edge of the bed, her mind wandering to Michael, who had insisted on this particular hotel. "He always did have a flair for the dramatic," she thought with a wry smile.

As Evelyn settled in, a strange sensation prickled at her skin—like being watched. She turned her head sharply towards the sound, her eyes narrowing at the shadows. "Who's there?" she called, her voice steady despite her racing heart. A figure emerged slowly from the shadows—a woman with long, flowing hair and an ethereal presence. "Don't be afraid," the woman soothed, her voice like a gentle breeze.

Evelyn rose from the bed, captivated by the woman's otherworldly aura. "Who are you?" she asked, her curiosity overcoming her fear. "I am [@ch_5]Lydia,"[/@ch_4_d] the woman replied softly. "This room is a refuge for the lost souls, those left behind by time and memory." Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine. "Why am I here?" she questioned, the weight of the room's history pressing down on her.

"You seek answers, as we all do,"[/@ch_5_d] [@ch_5]Lydia said, her eyes locking with Evelyn's. "Perhaps it is not the room that holds you, but the ties yet unbroken." Evelyn nodded slowly, the truth resonating within her. "I think I understand," she murmured, feeling an unexpected peace.

As the night wore on, Evelyn sat with Lydia, sharing stories and laughter. The room, once a prison, had become a place of healing. "Thank you," Evelyn whispered, her heart full. "For helping me see." Lydia smiled, her form beginning to fade with the first light of dawn. "May your journey be clear, Evelyn." And with that, the forever room, once full of shadows, was filled with light.