The Elevator

Your Side Of The Story

      One day you woke up from a deep sleep, feeling strange as if all the oxygen had just got strangled out of your body. You were freaking out, sweat dripping down your face, just trying to catch your breath. Your heart was beating fast; you did not know what had happened, and you had no idea what you were dreaming about that would have brought you into this state. You looked all around for your phone and noticed what time it was, and you were now late for work. So with that, you got up and rushed to get ready for work, and at that point, you just decided to forget what just happened that morning. You got undressed and hopped into the shower to relax and calm yourself down, but it was not comforting. You felt someone watching you, someone's eyes just staring into your naked body. You are supposed to be alone.

As a child, you were paranoid, always on edge, like someone was always there with you. Your parents thought nothing of it, and you were just a kid, of course. However, that feeling you had as a child was back, you did not want to look or move, but you needed to get out. So slowly you peeked out of the shower curtains, and there it was, you saw the shadow, you could not move, it started to move closer to you. Its hand started to reach out to your face, and you could not move; fear petrified you. Then your phone's ringer goes off, the lights flicker, and the shadow is gone when the lights go back on. So you exit the shower to get dressed, grab your phone, and all you still want to do is put this morning behind you. Putting it off to just being too tired, you are just imaging this shadow. You had a long time last night, maybe had a bad dream, you are fine. You take a deep breath and finish your morning routine.

After getting ready, you left your apartment and went to the elevator as you usually do. When you got to the elevator, there was a strange man that you had never seen before. You live on the top floor in your apartment complex, and the elevator was going down.

You did not know what floor he would live on; maybe he was a guest who possibly went to the incorrect floor or went into the wrong building. You just tried to ignore him, and you have to get to work you are already so late, so why worry about this random man? You get off the elevator on the main floor. The man takes a moment to leave the elevator. Both of you walk out of the building. You were in front of him, and strangely you both were going the same way. He was getting closer and closer to you. You picked up your speed; you saw your work and just thought of getting into the building. Then the man was right behind you, and you could hear him breathing and some mumbling coming from his mouth. You could see his hand; he was about to touch you. Then you hear someone scream your name, and his hand moves away. You noticed the person that yelled was your best friend, Emilia. You ran to her and held her so tightly as your body was shaking. You looked around for the man and noticed that he was walking into this broken-down house. Emilia freaked out. 

She asked you, "What is wrong with you? I have not seen you like this in years."

You answer, "Did you not see that man behind me? He was about to grab me. If you had not come, he might have killed me."

Emilia gives you a strange look. She said, "There was no one behind you. Are you okay?

"Yes, there was, he was following me, and then you came, and he went into that house." You point over to the abandoned house.

"Let us go, ladies. It is packed in here!" Your boss shouts to Emilia and you. Both of you start to walk over to your boss.

"Emilia, I swear he was there; I do not know how you did not see him." You whisper to her.

Your boss stops both of you, "Emilia, go in and help the customers, please. Em, can you stay here for a second? I need to talk to you."

Emilia walked into the restaurant, "I am so sorry for being late, Liz; I do not know what happened this morning. It just has not been my day so far." You said.

"Em, it is okay. I am not mad at you. You are one of my best workers. Are you okay with working today? If you feel like you can not work today, let me know now, and I can call someone in for you. You have been working every day this week. You might just be exhausted."  Liz said.

"No, I can work today. I will be fine, I promise. Thank you."

"All right, go to the bathroom and try to calm down and collect yourself, Em. Once you are ready, clock in, and we can get started." Liz said and walked into the restaurant. You follow her in and head to the bathroom.

You turn on the sink in the bathroom, rinse your face, and just stand there staring at yourself. You just started to think to yourself, was the shadow not there, was the man not there. What is going on today? Questions just started to fill your head. Nevertheless, you knew that you would not have a clear answer just standing in the bathroom, so you washed your hands and exited the bathroom to go clock in and start working. Hours passed fast, and now it was time to clock out for the day. Liz was not lying when she said it was a busy day, more than usual. However, it helped you forget about that terrible morning and about the terrifying man you saw earlier as well.