The Cursed Rental: A Guest Who Vanished

Yuto needed a short-term place to stay for his week-long work trip. He didn’t want to spend too much on accommodation, so he searched for a budget-friendly rental with good reviews. Soon, he found the perfect listing—affordable, well-located, and highly rated. The comments were all positive:

"Quiet and comfortable,"

"The owner is friendly,"

"Perfect for a peaceful stay."

Everything about it seemed ideal, almost too ideal.

When he arrived, the apartment looked even better than the pictures—clean, modern, and spacious. The minimalist décor made it feel airy and open. However, something about the air inside felt… stale, as if no one had lived there in a long time.

A large, antique mirror in the living room stood out. Unlike the rest of the apartment, which had modern furniture, this mirror was old, its wooden frame covered in intricate carvings that looked almost like symbols. A strange unease crept into Yuto’s mind, but he shook it off. He was just tired.

Footsteps in the Night

That night, Yuto woke up suddenly. He didn’t know why at first, but then he heard it—soft, deliberate footsteps coming from the hallway outside his bedroom door.

Is the owner checking on something?

He glanced at his phone. 3:00 AM. No one should be walking around at this hour. He held his breath, listening. The footsteps stopped… right outside his door.

Summoning his courage, he quietly got up and opened the door.

The hallway was empty.

The silence was thick, pressing against his ears. He checked the locks on the front door—still bolted. A chill ran down his spine, but he convinced himself it was just his imagination. Maybe the noise came from the apartment upstairs?

Shaking off his unease, he climbed back into bed.

A Warning from Nowhere

The next evening, after returning from work, Yuto found something strange—a note sitting on the kitchen table. It was old, the edges curled and yellowed, as if it had been there for years.

"You shouldn’t be here. Leave before he comes."

His stomach clenched. He was sure the table had been empty when he left. He checked the door again—locked. The windows—shut.

No one had entered.

A growing sense of unease settled over him. He grabbed his phone and called the owner. No answer. He tried again. Still nothing.

Taking a deep breath, he told himself it had to be a prank. Maybe a previous guest had left the note as a joke? Or maybe the cleaner had put it there, not realizing how creepy it seemed?

Trying to ignore the unsettling feeling, he made himself dinner and turned on the TV for background noise. If you're looking for a short-term rental but want professional management that ensures your safety and comfort, consider Airbnb Management Melbourne.

The Mirror’s Secret

That night, the footsteps returned. But this time, they didn’t stop outside his door.

They entered the room.

Yuto’s breath caught in his throat. The sound of slow, heavy steps crept closer… but when he looked, the room was empty.

Then he saw it.

In the mirror’s reflection, there was someone else in the room.

A tall, shadowy figure stood at the foot of his bed, its head tilted unnaturally to one side. Its face was blurred, as if hidden behind a layer of static.

Yuto spun around—but there was no one there.

Heart pounding, he turned back to the mirror.

The figure had moved closer.

Yuto grabbed his phone and his bag, stumbling toward the door. His fingers fumbled with the lock, panic making them clumsy. Behind him, he heard a whisper—not in his ears, but inside the mirror.

"Stay."

Gone Without a Trace

The next morning, the cleaning service arrived to prepare the apartment for the next guest.

Yuto’s belongings were still there—his suitcase neatly packed, his phone still plugged into the charger, his shoes by the door. It was as if he had simply stepped out for a moment.

But Yuto himself was gone.

The owner sighed, making a note in his ledger. This wasn’t the first time a guest had vanished. And it wouldn’t be the last.