Apartment 109 (unfinished)

Chapter 5: Introduction

I stood up after finishing my breakfast. "I'm going to check the mail, before we get started on unpacking. Alright mom?" I asked. Just wanted once more to get some fresh air and get out of my stuffy apartment. It seemed when I got outside that it cleared my head.

"That sounds like a great idea sweetheart. Hurry back though. Me and you need to have some mother daughter time." she gave me a wink and then a smile before she pushed her chair back and stood up. She began to gather up the breakfast dishes and before she could engage in another coversation with me I rushed to the door.

"I'll be right back mom." I said as I opened the door and closed it behind me.

Once stepping into the hallway the regular smells that usually greeted me were overcome by another scent. The smell of fresh paint. The smell was overwhelming and as I glanced down the hall I realized why.

The maintnance man stood a few feet away from me, whistling to himself as he ran a paintbrush with a white paint down the wall. I couldn't help but stare though I felt rude. I watched him carefully as I tried to force myself to move quickly passed him. But my feet moved slowly and I continued to stare as I inched passed him.

He turned his gaze to look at me as he stopped whistling. He gave me a smile. "Good morning." he said before bending down to dip the brush back into the paint can.

I forced a smile, not wanting to look to observant and not polite. "Morning." I said softly.

After getting by him I glanced back to notice that he began to whistle again and continued to paint. I swallowed hard as I turned my gaze back to the elevator doors that stood before me. I couldn't get the warning out of my head that the ghost girl told me about. I was suspicious of everyone and I hated the feeling that I was being stalked by a killer.

I stepped into the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

"Hey, wait." I heard him call out as I frantically pushed the bottem to make the elevator go down to the ground floor. My heart was in my throat as I heard him running towards the elevator. Just as he stood outside the doors they closed.

Once they were sealed I threw myself into the corner of the elevator and let out a breath that I seemed to be holding and never noticed. I tried to hold back my startled cry but couldn't as I leaned over resting my hands on my knees for a moment. For that instant I felt like a child at a sleepover that was afraid and just wanted to go home.

"Be Careful."

I stood up startled by the voice. It seemed to come from all around me in the elevator. But I was alone. I looked around wildly though as if I would see something. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw her though, once more in the mirror of the elevator. But when I looked in that direction she was gone and the only reflection I saw was my own.

"He's watching you." she whispered.

I was trembling as I stared at my own reflection.

"Who is?" my voice squeaked.

Before she could reply I heard the ding of the elevator and the doors opened. There to greet me was the ground floor and the door leading to the outside which stood wide open. I stood in the elevator for a few more moments in hopes of hearing a reply. But when none came I knew that she was gone.

I stepped out into the hall and began walking. I glanced back and watched the elevator close.

I tryed my hardest to shake the voice from my head as my body trembled in fear. I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as I closed my eyes.  I turned slowly and opened my eyes. As my eye site adjusted I glanced at the opened door to the building as it seemed to welcome my with open arms. I walked towards it though I felt that I was walking in slow motion, making the open door seem miles away.