SIXTH FLOOR

SIXTH FLOOR - PART 5

Chapter 5: Encounter with the Demon

I cautiously approached the flickering light on the abandoned floor, my curiosity piqued by the eerie surroundings. The cold air seemed to grow thicker, swirling around me in a silent dance as I navigated through the shadows and debris.

There was nothing particularly remarkable about the area near the bulb, so I turned back, ready to leave the desolate floor behind. Just as I began to retreat, a faint sound caught my attention – a rhythmic chewing noise that echoed faintly in the stillness.

Intrigued and slightly unnerved, I followed the sound, my footsteps cautious against the cold cement floor. As I rounded a pile of discarded materials, my breath caught in my throat at the sight before me.

There, in a dimly lit corner, sat a bizarre creature unlike anything I had ever seen. Its upper body resembled that of a human, but its lower half twisted and writhed like a snake's tail. Its face, contorted in a grotesque mockery of humanity, bore a resemblance to a decaying zombie.

My instinct to scream was stifled by sheer terror as I watched the creature devour what remained of a human hand. The sight was horrifying – the hand, adorned with a ring bearing a pure sapphire stone and impeccably manicured nails, hinted at a wealthy owner who had met a grisly fate.

Frozen in place, I prayed silently that the creature wouldn't notice me. But as if sensing my presence, its milky eyes locked onto mine with a chilling intensity. Panic surged through me as I stumbled backward, my heart pounding in my chest.

Desperate to escape, I turned and ran as fast as my trembling legs would carry me. The abandoned floor seemed to stretch endlessly as I sprinted towards the safety of the elevator, every shadow and sound heightening my fear.

In my haste, I accidentally stepped on an iron nail protruding from the floor. I expected pain and blood, but to my astonishment, there was neither. The nail passed through my foot as if I were insubstantial, leaving no mark or injury behind.

I reached the elevator just in time, slamming my hand against the button for the 26th floor. The doors slid shut, and the lift began its ascent, carrying me away from the nightmare below.

Inside the confined space of the elevator, my heart still racing, I tried to calm myself. But then, a strange sensation brushed against my leg, sending a chill down my spine. I looked down in horror to find a lifeless body – my own body – lying at my feet.

Shock and disbelief washed over me as I realized what had happened. My soul had somehow separated from my physical form during the encounter with the creature. Tears welled up in my eyes, though I wasn't sure if souls could cry.

Frantically, I attempted to re-enter my body, willing myself to merge back into the familiar form lying motionless on the elevator floor. But no matter how hard I tried, I remained incorporeal, unable to bridge the gap between spirit and flesh.

The elevator reached the 26th floor, and the doors slid open to reveal a few people waiting anxiously outside. They rushed in, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion as they gently lifted my lifeless body and carried it out of the elevator.

I followed them silently, my attempts to communicate or interact with them proving futile. Sarah's distraught face greeted me as they brought my body into our flat, but my voice went unheard as I tried to comfort her.

Alone and helpless, tears streaming down my translucent cheeks, I could only watch as my friends and loved ones grappled with the aftermath of my inexplicable departure from life.