The week started so normal. I would go to work, came home, rinse and repeat. But today, everything started to go wrong. On my drive home, something just felt...off. It was something that I couldn't place, a feeling that I couldn't name. I chalked it up to having a stressful day at work, and continued my drive as normal. I got to my apartment building, and started the descent into the underground parking lot. As always, the garage was dimly lit, cold and damp as I circled around going to each ramp to descend another level. I always got annoyed with how far down I actually had to go, but its cheaper down there, so I couldn't really complain.
I finally got to my assigned spot, and turned the key to stop the ignition. Everyting was so quiet, so eerie today. The dim light and the cement walls always unchanged, I took a moment to myself to get rid of the stress of the day. Finally feeling a little better, I took my bag out of the car, locked it, and started my walk to the basement door of the garage. All of a sudden, I heard it, a blood curdling scream from the parking lot over. I looked around, frantically, but no one was around. I turned on my phone's flashlight to try and see better, but to no avail. Thinking that I was hearing things, I continued to walk towards the door, but then I heard it again, almost directly behind me, along with a rushing sound of footsteps coming in my direction. I didn't even take the time to turn around, I moved as fast as I could to the basement door, slamming it behind me. Out of breath and anxious beyond belief, I carefully moved to the door's small window, uncertain of what I wanted to or expected to see. Completely shocked, I saw no one. Everything was as it always was, no one was in the garage.
Thinking that I was starting to lose it, I walked through the basement to the elevators to finally get home, to be safe. As I walked the long hallway, the lights began to flicker above me with audible cracks and pings. I looked around, absolutely confused at what was happening, but again saw no one. Maybe this happens all of the time, I thought to myself, in a building this old I am sure it does and I just never notice. Trying to stay calm with those thoughts in my mind, I reached the elevator and pushed the 12 button, followed by many frantic pushes of the "close door" button, just in case.
I got to my floor, and exited the elevator without issue. I convinced myself that I was probably just tired, and my imagination was getting the better of me. I walked down the hall to my door, and it happened again. The lights above all of the apartments began to flicker on and off all around me. Started to get even more frightened, I searched my pocket quickly for my keys. Then I heard it, something was down the hall, in the elevator. I tried to stop myself, but I couldn't. I turned my head slowly to the side, and thats when I saw it. Ghostly pale, long fingers starting to grip the side of the elevator, just enough to be seen by anyone in the hallway. They moved so slowly, as if in slow motion, each finger taking its time to hold the side wall. In an absolute panic, I frantically took the keys in my hand and tried to open the door. I could start to hear a long, raspy breath coming out of the elevator, the fingers continuing their grip. Not wanting to wait to see any more, I shoved the door open, got inside, and slammed it shut. I locked the door so fast, and began to stack whatever heavy objects I could in front of the door.
Attempting to slow my own breathing, I remained by the door, waiting for what was to come. I could hear the elevator finally close, and I didn't know if whatever was in there was outside or inside of it. The long breaths I heard confrmed the former. I started to hear footsteps thud along the hallway, just as slow as the hands moving and the breathing. Shaking, I started to back away from the door, when I heard that shrill scream again, much louder than before. Then, silence. Utterly confused and incredibly scared, I brought myself closer to the door to look through the small hole, and with the same result as the basement, nothing was there.
I didn't know what to think anymore, I didn't know if I was imagining all of this, if something was seriously wrong with me, or if this was actually happening. While trying to put myself together and get my thoughts straight, there was a knock at the door.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
I glared at the doorway, my heart beat quickening and my breath becoming shallow.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
I couldn't help it, I had to answer the door. No matter how much I tried to stop myself, I kept walking towards it.
*tap* *tap* *tap*
I slowly turned the lock, and then the doorknob, my hand seemingly moving on its own. The door started to creak open, and in a rush of adrenaline, I pulled the door so quickly I surprised myself.
But nothing...no one...was there.
I couldn't help but laugh at myself, at how ridiculous I was being. Calming myself down, I closed the door, and turned back into my own apartment.
It stood there, in the middle of the room, its head down looking at the floor. Its bare feet almost looked like they were hovering there, barely touching the ground. As it lifted its head, its long, black hair shifted and moved around its face. Its eyes met mine, and I froze in place. Through its hair I could see them, two black eyes set on me, never blinking. It didn't move towards me, it just stood there. Its skin looked grey and cold, its hair looked wet. I looked at its hands, and the same long fingers met my gaze. I couldn't move, only stare back at whatever was in front of me. Once my eyes met its once again, its mouth started to move into a crooked smile, black teeth beginning to show underneath. It kept getting bigger, until the mouth began to open wider and wider, revealing all its black, pointed teeth in a gaping grin. I suddenly heard, saw, and felt nothing at all, everything went black. In an instant, it was next to me, its mouth inches from my ear.
Then, it screamed for the last time.
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