iris (sally face)

everlong

"Oh, I know, that's the weird kid that wears the mask," Aunt Claire tilts her head, scratching the back of her neck. "He seems nice enough, but are you sure you feel safe going somewhere with him? I mean-"

"It should be okay, Claire, there's gonna be a girl there, too. Plus Lisa's son, have you met Larry?"

"Oh, Larry!" her face brightens. "He's a sweetheart. Him and Lisa both. Okay, just stay safe and don't do drugs." I nod eagerly, grinning at her in gratitude.

I glance outside as I skip back to my room. It actually isn't raining right now, shockingly; it's lightened up a little so the sky is just a misty, hazy shade of grey. Hopefully the rain doesn't pick back up later.

I'm sitting on my mattress, lacing my shoes back up when my phone vibrates on the floor. A message from an unknown number lights up the tiny screen, and I nearly break my neck lunging to grab it.

[Unknown Number]: hi its sal lol

[Me]: lol hey!

I grimace at my awkwardness. Was an exclamation mark too much? But without it the text looks dry. I don't want to scare off my only friend so far by giving off the wrong energy.

Jesus, why am I reading into this so much?

[Unknown Number]: ready to go?

[Me]: yea ofc

[Unknown Number]: we can meet in the lobby

[Me]: on my way

Okay, so far so good. My texting etiquette isn't fantastic, but it could be much worse. It's been a long time since I've had actual friends to have to worry about this type of thing over.

I push myself to my feet, grab my bag, give my outfit a last once-over and head out the door, bidding goodbye to Claire as I leave.

And of course, with my fucking luck, the elevators aren't working.

I must've pressed the ground floor button at least twelve times as I wait, pacing back and forth. The button doesn't even light up when I press it, and I can't hear the elevator box moving up the shaft when I press my ear to the doors. It's probably stuck somewhere- hopefully with no one inside it.

I huff, remembering Sal and Larry's warnings about taking the stairs. But it can't be that dangerous, right? I mean, I've taken them once before and no stairs caved in or pipes fell on my head. The concrete stairs actually seemed very sturdy, albeit slippery from the leaky pipes.

Pressing the elevator button one last time to no avail, I turn on my heel with a sigh and head for the exit sign that's illuminating the dark end of the hallway with a menacing red glow. I grimace.

The stairs are just as dark as last time, and I whip out my flip phone again, my measly screen light being my only salvation. I scramble down the first few flights quickly, relieved when no homeless people jump out at me and no anvils fall on my head, or whatever the hell I'm supposed to be scared of.

And that's when I feel it.

Eyes on me.

I don't know how I can sense it, but the heavy feeling of immense dread that floods over me and settles itself like a weight in my stomach, makes the hairs at the back of my neck all stand on end, and goosebumps rise on my arms. Whatever is watching me is standing behind me, and I can feel it's gaze like a laser being shot straight through me.

Practically in slow motion, I turn my head, and time feels like it's standing still as I lock eyes with whatever is in the corner.

I can barely see because of the shadows flooding the staircase in darkness, but I can make out it's figure, a black entity lurking in the corner, it's gaze bearing into me with glowing red eyes.