The Forbidden Floor

"Finally, it's Monday morning," Daniel said at 5:30 a.m., excited to start a new job after months of job hunting.

He had landed a job as an assistant in a well-known, prestigious company, popular for its reputation and cutting-edge facilities.

Standing at the entrance to the building, he drank in the air of its surroundings.
"I smell success," he said with a grin, walking into the sleek, modern building.

Days ago, while preparing for his first day of work, he had hung out with friends—dancing and playing games—when Mark made a statement about a superstition of "the 13th floor" in the building.
"You must be joking," he said through gulps of beer, brushing it off as a mere tale.

But that day, Monday, he noticed while going through records that the 13th floor wasn't listed in the building's directory.
"Strange..." he muttered, replaying the scene from his midweek getaway with friends.
The beware of the 13th floor from Mark filled the air, ringing warning bells in his head, but he shook it off—talking about mistakes, or so he put it.

Getting home felt like a 200-pound weight had been pulled off his shoulders.
"What an eventful day," he said, getting into the shower, singing off-key as the water danced on his body, easing away the tension.

The next day came in a flash, as though work couldn't wait for him, but he couldn't shake off the constant thoughts of something being wrong with the building.
"Hi, I'm Josh. How are you holding up?" came a voice from a guy after the close of work.
"Better than I had expected," he responded with a little tilt of his lips.
"Heading home?" Josh asked.
"Yeah," came Daniel's reply.
"Why don't we head out together?"

On entering the elevator, that same unease came over Daniel—and that's when he noticed it: the button to the 13th floor wasn't there.
Keeping the questions to himself, they bade each other goodbye and went their separate ways.

"My third day," he said, excited as ever the next morning, forgetting the events of the previous evening.
The day dragged by slowly and was very uneventful.
"As it was a bore compared to the other days—maybe 'cause I'm working overtime," he said with a yawn while rounding up for the day.
"How long have I been here?" he asked, heading to the elevator and noticing the quiet of the building.
"Damn, I think I'm alone," he noticed, half-peeking around in hopes of catching a glimpse of a colleague.

Stepping into the elevator, he pressed the button for the ground floor, half-slumping to the wall of the elevator in a bid to cushion his fatigued form.
Suddenly, it jerked, stopping between the 8th and 9th floors.
"Dammit," he said. "Today must be for swear words."
The lights flickered—slowly, then with more urgency—before stabilizing.

Then, as if pulled by an invisible force, it began going up. He pressed the ground floor button, but nothing happened—it was as if the elevator now had a mind of its own.
Suddenly, the doors opened, indicating a 13th floor.
Gasping, he took a step back, wondering how it got there.

"But it isn't in the directory," he said, a horrified expression etched on his features.
The doors didn't close... it was as if they beckoned him to step out. Hesitating, he put one foot out, then the next.
Then, as if on cue, the doors slid shut.

"The floor is quiet," he noticed, giving way to the urge to move in... there was no one in sight.
Taking a sharp turn, he noticed how old-fashioned and dusty the place was—so out of place compared to the rest of the building.
The air felt heavier, with strange markings lined symmetrically on either wall.
"No windows..." he said, as a wave of panic began to set in.

"I feel like I'm being watched," he said—but still, no one in sight.

Filled with confusion, he made his way back to the elevator, pushing the button, but it wouldn't budge.
The lights began flickering once more.

"There must be a way," he thought, filled with panic.

"Aha... the staircase."
Making his way to the stairs, he climbed for minutes but landed exactly on the same spot—on the 13th floor—as if on a loop.

Filled with dread, he descended the stairs once more but found himself at his starting point.
It felt as if time froze... warping him in this dreaded place, with time ticking away.

He began hearing strange whispers... noises in the distance. Unsure whether to approach it or hide, he stood, waiting for the worst to come.
Footsteps echoed... then ceased.
The clock on the wall shifted, as if yawning from exhaustion.
"I must be hallucinating," he said, clutching his head and waiting for this nightmare of an evening to be over.

Walking to the reception area, he found dusty files.
"Is this 20 years ago?" he muttered, blowing away dust.
Records were written down in red—
Missing workers... transferred... moved on.
But no mention of a 13th floor, he noticed, with a rising wave of panic.

Footsteps—his head snapped up, ears straining to listen to the sound.
Yes... footsteps. An elderly man came into view.
"A new collection," he said dryly.
"I'm Mr. Walker, and you are?"
Silence.
"I see you're too shocked," he said with a quick assessment of him.

"I have been here for years, searching for an exit without finding one... at least not the one I wanted.
This is a metaphysical space, where the past, present, and future blend.
Records showed that this site has a dark history... a failed exorcism, and somehow this floor was created.
Anyone who enters here becomes trapped—set on a loop.
You have to embrace the truth of this floor... the building—or forever remain here.
To conquer, you must confront its true purpose, letting go of the past."

"Of course. Why am I still here? You're quite easy to read.
I do not have any purpose, so why bother," he said, letting out a heave.

"Know that this floor remembers... it feeds on memories. We are but echoes on it—like tocks of a ticking clock."

"Days??
It felt like hours," Daniel said, staring at his cell phone.
"Kate must be worried," he said, sighing.
"I have to confront this force...
I can't afford to be trapped forever."

The ding of the elevator brought him back to reality—it was as if it were attuned to his mind.
Stepping inside, the doors shut.
"Finally," he thought, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Higher??"
It was ascending—he almost wailed as a fresh dose of panic hit him.
Past the 14th floor, it went higher... into an unknown realm.

"Help me... my voice??
No doubt it is mine."
He looked back, seeing a vision of himself... like a past.

"No more," he thought, walking into the dazzling brightness.

═༓═ ═༓══༓═

The elevator came to a halt with a ding and slid open its doors.
The 13th floor.
Someone steps out, oblivious to the curse.
Another era...

The cycle begins again.



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