Short Horror Stories

Trapped on Level Two

The fluorescent lights flickered in the concrete cavern of the parking garage, casting long, dancing shadows as Ida navigated the ascending ramp. Dusk had settled, painting the sky outside in hues of deep purple and blood orange. Her apartment building, a towering monolith of glass and steel, loomed above. She just wanted to get home, kick off her shoes, and forget about the demanding day at the office.

As she rounded the bend to level two, a figure caught her eye. A woman, dressed in a flowing white dress, was walking slowly up the ramp ahead of her. Odd, Ida thought, why wouldn't she just take the elevator? But fatigue dulled her curiosity, and she continued upwards.

Reaching the third level, a chill prickled her skin. The woman in white was still there, further up the ramp, her pace unhurried, her back still turned. A wave of unease washed over Ida. It was the same woman, she was sure of it. The same long dark hair, the same flowing dress. But how...?

By the fourth level, a cold dread gripped Ida's heart. The woman was still ahead, an ethereal figure gliding through the dim light. Ida's foot hovered over the brake, her mind rebelling against the impossible scene unfolding before her. That's when she saw it – a sign painted on the wall: 

 "L2 -> L3".

"What the heck?!" she gasped, the words catching in her throat. She had been going in circles, trapped in an endless loop on the same ramp. The realization hit her like a physical blow, sending a shiver down her spine.

Panic rising, Ida wrenched the steering wheel, forcing the car back down the ramp. She had to get out of there. Reaching the ground floor, she slammed on the brakes, her heart pounding in her chest. She scrambled out of the car, her gaze drawn upwards to the second level.

And there she was.

The woman in white stood motionless on the half-wall of the parking level, her pale face eerily illuminated by the dim light. She was looking down at Ida, her expression unreadable, her eyes dark and hollow.

A scream caught in Ida's throat. She turned and fled towards the elevator lobby, her footsteps echoing in the oppressive silence. The image of the woman, suspended in the air, burned into her mind. She fumbled for the elevator button, her fingers trembling, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

The elevator doors slid open, and Ida stumbled inside, pressing the button for the tenth floor with frantic urgency. As the elevator ascended, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of unseen eyes following her every move. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor indicator, counting the floors, praying to reach the safety of her apartment.

When the elevator finally reached her floor, Ida practically flew out, her keys jangling in her hand. She burst through her apartment door, slamming it shut behind her and locking it with trembling hands. Leaning against the door, she slid to the floor, her body shaking, her mind reeling from the terrifying encounter.

The night stretched on, filled with the echoes of her fear. Every creak of the building, every rustle outside her window, sent shivers down her spine. Sleep eluded her, the image of the woman in white haunting her thoughts.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through her window, casting away the shadows of the night. But the fear lingered, a cold knot in her stomach. Ida knew she would never look at the parking garage the same way again. The encounter had left an indelible mark, a chilling reminder of the unseen forces that lurked in the shadows, waiting to be revealed.