The Demon in Apartment 4B

Coming to Her Own

Chapter 1: Coming into her own

You figure moving into a new place would be turning a new leaf in your life, well...there's a first time for everything.

Lumina is our lovely protagonist here, a plump 27 year old woman moving into her new apartment. A short cocoa skinned gal with a scruffy mop of short dark brown hair, her usual attire nowadays consists of comfortable hoodies and skirts. Always wears sneakers unless she has to go somewhere special. Lumina would usually have a bubbly and friendly demeanor that hides the inner turmoil she feels, often masking her true emotions with a facade of cheerfulness. Despite her naivety, Lumina possesses a quiet strength and resilience, determined to carve out her own path in life. Empathetic and compassionate, she harbors a deep sense of empathy for others, often putting their needs above her own. Creative and artistic, Lumina finds solace in music, channeling her emotions into her instrumental and vocal performances.

Onward with the story!

The sounds of hefty grunts could be heard as a hired moving company placed a few furniture pieces and boxes into a nice looking apartment, a few of the nosy neighbors were leering outside their doors watching as they did their work. Whispering to others or just glaring at them. After a good 30 minutes Lumina lugged her last box into the cramped apartment, her breaths coming out in short puffs as she placed it onto her coffee table.

"Ms. Beaumont you know we could've helped you with that.." Spoke one of the movers as he rested against the nearby wall, in a greenish jumpsuit and slick backed hair was Tony, the manager. His three workers were at the kitchen island happily having slices of the bundt cake that Lumina made for them.

"I know...it's not that I don't trust you. I don't even know you guys, it's just my grandparent's things. I want to keep it safe." She smiles halfheartedly. 'Mother would not let it go if something happens to it..' She says in her thoughts, her phone suddenly buzzed to life insistently in her pocket. She already knew who it was and decided to ignore it.

"Anyway, thanks for your help fellas. You've got a hefty tip in advance with the payment for your work." They had soon shuffled their way out of her apartment, letting the short woman sit down on her couch and lay back and getting much needed rest. Her phone rang again which made her eyebrows furrow in irritation, with a sigh, she answered, already bracing herself for the inevitable barrage of disapproval.

"Greetings, Mother. How do you do on this fine day?" Lumina greeted, her voice lacking its usual effervescence but dripped with sarcasm.

"Where the hell are you?! I just came back and your room is fucking empty!" Her mother's voice shrieked through the line, sharp and disdainful.

"I told you I was leaving, it's for the betterment of my health." Lumina replied with a deadpan tone while raking her hand through her hair holding back a groan of anger.

"You didn't say shit! I didn't give you permission to do anything, get your ass back home now!" Her mother yells, Lumina could hear her throwing something at one of the maids, she heard him yelp.

"Mother I-" Lumina began to say but was interrupted.

"You're an ungrateful brat! Just like your father, you forget I made you who you are today! You're going to fucking regret leaving the only person who loves you!" Her mother warned, the threat implicit in her tone.

Lumina's eyes widened slightly, she then glares at the ceiling and grumbles. "I'll take my chances, thanks."

There was a pregnant pause on the other end of the line before her mother spoke again, her voice icy. "Fine! But don't come crawling back to me when you realize what a mistake you've made!"