Is There Anybody There?

By Priyansh Singh

I got down from the bus. It roared off, blowing hot air into my face. I began to walk home.

The bus would have taken me further if not for some construction underway near my house. Never mind, it was only a ten minutes’ walk.

As I walked, there was nothing to it to notice that I was completely alone. The only sound was the echo of my shoes against the pavement. Those too seemed hollow and dull.

I shivered. Such isolation was spookier than I liked it. I sped up a little. Eventually the sound of my footsteps faded out as my step became lighter. I saw the shape of my apartment building. Relieved, I skipped towards it.

There seemed to be a substitute security guard on duty today. She was hunched over the table, looking at seemingly nothing. Her hair was mangy, unbrushed and not in a tight bun like our normal security guard had. It fell over her face, and kept it in its shadow. Her uniform was seemingly well kept, but there were tears and stains on it, and was tucked in loosely.

I asked, “You must be the subbing security guard?” I tried to keep my tone cheerful, but it was hard. Her presence and state made me uneasy. Moreover, she didn’t respond. I tried again. “It’s nice to meet you!” Still nothing. But she did happen to tilt her head up ever so slightly, and I saw her mouth.

There was nothing wrong about it, but it did curl into a smile. Not a warm, reassuring smile. When her teeth unfurled, I could see crimson decorating their edges. She still said nothing.

I congratulate myself for holding in my horror. But I am a sensitive soul, so before I lost my lunch I got into the elevator.

The ascending numbers on the display had never seemed so slow before. I tapped my fingers on the steel wall in anticipation. I just wanted to get into my room. I wanted to fling my bedsheets over myself and let sleep convince me it was all a dream.

No such luck.

I felt a cold wind over me, but quickly adopted the notion that there could be no cold wind: I was in an elevator. A shudder ran through my whole body. There was someone with me in the elevator…

By Priyansh Singh