The Complex

The Complex: Chapter 18

2 Days until the Expo:

Bella's POV

"Don't I look so good?" I evilly cackle to myself as I look into my bathroom mirror wearing the beautiful dress for the Expo.

"I just need some shoes to go along with it now..."

I go to my closet and pick out some nice black heels. That should match my dress!

After wearing my outfit for a bit I decide its time to take it off as to not damage it as I was dancing to music in it....

Hehe.

Its a Saturday and the Expo is on Monday night after work but some team members are over there working some minor details.

Our security camera product is in perfect condition with no flaws and that put everyone in a good mood yesterday when we tested it for the last time.

My own team isn't there today as everything is set up and organized already so I thought I'd take the time to do some laundry on the first floor.

I take a basket of clothes down and head to the elevator.

Its weird. I don't feel totally alone anymore as often usually when I'm in my own place, I hear doors slamming. Although I actually have never heard anyone talk or have physically seen anyone...

I head down to the first floor and almost make it the laundry room when Jeff stops me.

"Bella! Good to see you, I'm currently introducing a new resident into the building. He's actually my nephew, Ralph." He says while pointing to the guy behind him.

I shoot the newcomer a smile and a short 'hello' and look back to Jeff expectingly.

"Since all the other rooms are booked, he'll replace Daria." He explains.

My smile falters as the situation becomes more dire. Well on my part anyway...

"Oh is that so?" I still look at Jeff who just smiles and nods.

"Well I should get going, I have to do some laundry..." I say while picking up my basket again.

"Laundry day huh? You look good in red by the way." Jeff says and turns to leave with my new neighbor.

What does he mean by that? I don't remember wearing any red in front of him considering I don't own a lot of that color?

Maybe he thought I'd look good in that color?

Either way that's weird and creepy! Ima just hop on out of here. I think as I enter the laundry room and close the door behind me.

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2 hours later

*Knock* *knock*

I look up from my bowl of ice cream and sigh.

Can't a girl eat some ice cream on her couch while watching Netflix in peace?

I jump off my couch hoping it won't take too long as my ice cream will melt, and make my way to the door.

I open the door to find Ralph standing there with a tiny smile.

Ralph is pretty different then his uncle in the sense that he actually looks put together and doesn't smell like nicotine.

So I guess thats nice.

He seems to be around my age, maybe a bit older.

Hopefully he's nice since he'll be living close to me.

"Hey, I didn't get to formally introduce myself, my name is Ralph as my uncle said." He states holding out his hand for me to shake and letting out a small chuckle.

"Hello, I'm Bella, nice to meet you." I respond while shaking his hand.

This is so awkward.

"I just wanted to apologize for the noise I might make while moving in some of my boxes." He then points down the hall to some of the movers.

"No worries, It's mostly quiet here and you'll never see anyone but you'll occasionally hear a few doors opening and closing so don't worry." I smile back at him.

he just laughs almost nervously and says he should go back to help

weird.

I closed my door and rushed back to the couch, wrapped myself in my blankies and looked down to my ice cream where my chocolate chips were now swimming for their lives. 

Sigh.

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Its in the late evening now and I decided to take a walk. Its too dark for me to take it outside so I figured I could do it around the complex.

I put some sweats on and an oversized jacket and head out my door. I think I'll take the stairs to the second floor and explore as I've never been before and last time the elevator wouldn't take me there.

I walk past the elevator and open the creepy and loud screeching door to go down one floor. I push open the last door thats stopping me from the second floor and am immediately bombarded with a cold breeze.

Is there some open window nearby?

I enter the long hallway and realize its a lot different then my floor. This ones is much more dimmer and has a certain musty stench to it. The doors of the different apartments look paper thin, like you can breath on them and it would wither away.

It was the same layout as my floor though so I start to walk down the hall to the very end where I spotted the open window.

As I slowly walk I try and listen for any of the tenants occupying the space but I'm just met with silence and the occasional creak of the floor boards below me.

I eventually get to the end of the hallway and I haven't heard a single noise from any person on this whole floor. Either the people who live here are very quiet or the walls are thick.

Ill go with the latter...

I start my walk back down the hallway to go back upstairs thoroughly creeped out from my little walk when I trip on some loose carpet and slam into one of the tenants doors.

I expected a thud on the wooden door, but my hands were met with cold concrete walls with a door painted on it.

The doors were fake...

all of them.