Short Stories/Dreams

New Apartment (First)

VACANCY, the apartment building boasted in clear red lettering as I pulled into the parking garage. As I exited my car, the warmth of the garage surprised me. Usually parking garages were as cold as ice.

My bright pink heels clicked on the floor as I walked purposely towards the apartment building. Vacancies were hard to come by in this city, and I didn't want to live with my parents my whole life. I was already turning 23 in a few days. I had finished college a year ago, and I had a steady job.

As I walked toward the apartment, a man opened the door for me. I smiled and thanked him. Doormen, a warm parking garage, and it has a vacancy? Weird.

"Good morning," the clerk smiled at me. I glanced at the clock. 10:49 A.M. I could've sworn it was afternoon.

"I saw that you have vacancies-"

"Only one," he interrupted politely. "Would you like to see it?" I nodded and he turned. I waited patiently, which is strange since I'm the most impatient human on Earth, as he gathered his things. He turned back, leading me to the elevator.

"It's on Level 13. Do you have a problem with that?" I shook my head, although living on Level 13 usually meant bad things would happen-stop it Anna you're not superstitious. He pressed the 13 button. The elevator music started softly, as he hummed to it.

"I'm Anna, by the way," I said quietly. "I'm sorry for being so impolite."

"Jack," he smiled, shaking my hand. "It's fine." His hand was cold, unlike the warm air around us. I glanced down at his hand. It was so pale.

My thoughts were interrupted by the elevator doors opening. Level 13 was beautiful. The floors were red velvet carpet, the walls a beautiful gold, with tables and chairs spread out along the hallway. There was at least 10 apartments on the spacey floor.

"Do you like it, Anna?" Jack asked, glancing at my awestruck face. He laughed as I nodded hazily. "Come on, dear, let me show you the apartment."

He walked past 8 of the doors, stopping at Q13. I followed him inside; the door had been unlocked. Strange.

He clapped and the lights turned on, blinding me. I blinked slowly, trying to adjust to the new light. "It's a clapper," he explained, clapping once to show me and again to turn it back on.

I stared around the beautiful room. The kitchen had stainless steel everything, perfect black cabinets with glass, and a bar. The living room and kitchen were attached; there were two perfect couches and tables.

"These are the kitchen and living room. They're attached, but what apartment doesn't have those?" He asked me cheerfully. He pulled me away from my drooling over the apartment and pulled me to the bedroom. "Unfortunately the two bedrooms are out of your price range." I never told him my price range...weird. He opened the door and my jaw dropped as I stared at the beautiful king sized bed. The walls were a gorgeous red, to match the blankets sitting on the king bed. Two dark wood nightstands sat next to the bed.

"It's perfect!" I yelled, no longer able to contain myself. He grinned at me.

"Perfect. It costs around $700 a month. Can you do that?"

"Yes, yes I can." I cheered in my mind. He smiled at me and dropped the key in my hand.

"Can you move in tomorrow?"

"I can move in right now!" My excitement made him chuckle.

"Excellent!"

***
First night in my new apartment! I was so excited. I turned off all the lights, walking to my new bedroom. The sultry red chandelier glowed as I pulled on a bunny footsie (just because I'm 22 doesn't mean I can't love footsies) and crawled under the soft blankets.

This was heaven, I thought, before drifting to slumber.

***
"Anna," someone whispered next to me, a cold hand shaking my shoulder gently. "Anna," he whispered again. My eyes flew open with his last shake and I screamed, staring into the face of my intruder.

"Shh," the clear man whispered, a smirk pulling on his white lips. "The other residents are sleeping." He pulled me out of my bed, before I realized I was being pulled by a ghost. A ghost!

"L-let go of m-me," I stammered, trying to loosen his grasp on me. Aren't ghosts not able to touch humans?

"I used to live here," he told me, ignoring my protests, as he dragged me to my balcony. It had been my favorite part of the apartment, but I wasn't so sure I liked it anymore. "But I fell, right off this balcony. Because Jack, you met him, right, he pushed me over. The doors are always open, you know," he whispered.

"And now it's your turn," Jack's menacing voice freezing my insides. "Your turn to die." His cold hands found my back, and I was forced over the balcony.

The last thing I saw, before splattering all over the ground, was Jack's evil grin, and a grim looking ghost, staring down at me.

SPLAT!