| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
Yes, the newbie this time is Gallen. Gallen doesn’t really acknowledge them or seems to care. When he walks by the group, he only nods his head like normal as if just greeting the new neighbors.
“Okay, we know it’s not Simon who’s suspicious,” Ray said. “It’s probably this guy then.”
“I think Simon is more suspicious,” Kevin said. “This guy doesn’t give you the sneaky air.”
“Simon is just Simon, man. This guy doesn’t give off that vibe, but he doesn’t look like he’s going in here for a place to stay. He’s got other motives.”
“What motives? You’re trying to create some more problems around here as if we don’t have enough to worry about already?”
“I’m covering all the bases, okay? What if he’s involved in the ransacked from last night? And it might be easier for him to snoop around when he lives here than just randomly wait for us to leave and sneak around?”
“You’re so full of it, man.”
“Give me some evidence that it’s not him and it’s Simon then.”
Kevin haven’t told the other three about what he found out when he went to Simon’s apartment because the girls were enjoying themselves at the mall when he met them so he didn’t want to spoil everyone’s mood. He knows that he must say it out now.
Kevin clears his throat. “I went to Simon’s apartment to check things out earlier.”
“You what?!?” Ray exclaimed, not believing his ears. “When?”
“When you said you forgot something, right?” Mandy asked.
Kevin nods at Mandy’s question and begins to tell them what he found out.
“Even if you throw in that creepy dude, you can’t be sure Simon’s got something going on,” Ray said after Kevin finished. “It might be that his friend ran a marathon before so he can move fast.”
“No,” Kevin said, shaking his head. “It’s not that part. I’m talking about how he said that Simon’s inside unpacking but I didn’t even hear any sound at all. Not even rummaging.”
“Maybe that guy is quiet. Not loud like us when we move stuffs around.”
“It’s impossible that he didn’t even come out front to see who’s there.”
“Maybe he trusts his friend and doesn’t want to come out at that point. Like he was busy unpacking.”
“I don’t buy it.”
“I don’t buy your story either. Maybe you’d been under too much stress lately that you’d imagined the part about Simon.”
“Don’t buy what?” Someone behind them asked.
Everyone jumps a bit. They turn around to see a guy wearing black shirt and blue jeans. The one Kevin saw before.
“Hi again, Mr. Cheng,” The guy said. “And I guess these are your friends?”
“Yes,” Kevin said. “Uh, let me introduce you.”
After a round of handshakes, Gallen has found his way back down to the lobby to join them.
“As you all probably seen, I was just moving in here,” Gallen said. “My name is Tim. Nice to meet you all.”
Another round of handshakes and they still don’t know the guy in black shirt and blue jeans’ name.
“Enough of these handshakes already, you guys,” Ray protested. “My hand is throbbing.”
The guy in black shirt and blue jeans smiles while Gallen studies him closely. Gallen realizes that this guy looks familiar but doesn’t know where he had seen him before. He makes a mental note to check it out later since he’s going to be here for a while anyway. He watches the guy’s every move silently as the others continue their conversation.
“Forgive my brother,” Mandy said. “He’s a bit irritated lately. What’s with all these going on.”
“No problem, little lady,” The guy said with a smile.
“Hey, don’t call my sis that,” Ray jumped in, slightly irritated.
“Ray!” Mandy yelled out, stopping her brother from doing anything rash.
“It’s fine,” The guy said. “And I apologize.”
“Apology accepted,” Ray said.
“Ray!” Mandy called out again.
The guy smiles again. He has a very nice smile, but for some reason, Gallen couldn’t find himself to trust him.
“By the way, man,” Ray said, his voice less edgy. “What is your name?”
“Wilson,” The guy rattled off naturally.
“Strange name for a guy like you.”
“I don’t look like a Wilson?”
“No. Sounds too ordinary for you.”
Wilson thinks for a second. “Maybe but it’s a name I like.” He looks at his watch. “All right, I can’t chat long. I have a long day ahead tomorrow. See you all later.” He turns to leave. This time, he uses the elevator instead of the stairs like before.
Gallen looks after him until he enters the elevator before turning back to the group. “So, is this place full of strange people?”
“Pretty much,” Ray admitted. “But you’ll get use to it.” He claps Gallen on the shoulder for encouragement.
“I sure hope I can.”
The group makes their way back upstairs in the other elevator.
When they get out of the elevator, Charmaine suddenly remembers something. She turns to Mandy. “Where had Wallace been? I haven’t seen him at all since yesterday.”
“Wallace had to go somewhere with Kenneth and Joey,” Mandy answered. “You know, the cops. Alice is still around. I asked her to join us for breakfast this morning but she told me that she was going somewhere to do research.”
“We should check on her later.”
“With all the things going on lately, we don’t know if it’s safe for her to walk around alone anymore,” Ray said.
Charmaine nods.
Ray suddenly realizes something as they’re walking down the hallway. He turns to Gallen. “Why are you still with us? I thought you said you’re going back to your apartment.”
“I am,” Gallen said.
Ray look confused.
“I’m at apartment 7H.”
Ray couldn’t hide his shock. “Right next to us?”
Gallen scratches his head. “I don’t know. You guys live next door? Wow. We’re neighbors then.”
Kevin has to give Gallen some credits for being so convincing.
“I guess so then,” Ray said. “But I must warn you, that apartment is sort of haunted so you better be careful.”
“Ray, don’t scare him,” Mandy said.
“I’m just telling the truth.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll manage,” Gallen said.
They continue down towards the hallway.
Charmaine walks ahead and goes towards Wallace and Alice’s apartment. Before Charmaine could knock, the door flies open.
“Hi!” Alice greeted her.
“Hi, when did you get in?” Charmaine asked.
“About an hour ago. Wallace is still out.”
“Want to eat with us tonight?”
:Sounds like fun since you seemed to have emptied out the store.”
Charmaine smiles and looks down at the grocery bags that she’s carrying at the moment.
Alice turns around to lock her door before joining Charmaine and the others next door.
Alice hands a small tan envelope to Kevin. “Your aunt came by earlier and dropped these off.”
Kevin reaches out for it and he finds a pair of keys inside. He hands one to Ray and the other he uses to open his apartment. Then he turns around to the girls. “We’ll be right over.”
The girls go inside to prepare the food. When Charmaine unlocks the door, she’s about to turn around to say goodbye to Gallen when she discovers that he’s already gone. He’s not so normal himself either, she thought.
While all seems to be back to normal routine, they hear a loud scream across the hallway fifteen minutes later.
Mandy runs out the door faster than anything with a knife still in her right hand. On the other side of the hallway, Ray’s also running out the door.
Ray could see Mandy with a knife in her hand. “Whoa!” He puts his hands up in protection. “Take it easy, sis.”
“Ray?” Mandy called out.
“Who else?”
“No. I thought I heard a scream in your apartment.”
“No, it’s not us. It seems to come from next door. I told that guy it’s haunted but he won’t believe me.”
By that time, Kevin, Charmaine, and Alice have joined them in the hallway. They walk slowly towards Gallen’s apartment. Mandy had lowered her right hand already. Mandy takes the lead and knocks the door.
“Tim?” Mandy called out. “Is everything all right in there?”
A second later, the door flings open. Gallen comes running out of it. Mandy has to step aside quickly and makes sure that the knife isn’t sticking out. They see Gallen, covering his face and slams into the wall by accident. Charmaine steps up to him slowly.
“Tim, are you all right?” Charmaine asked.
Gallen recovers a moment later, taking his hands away from his face. He seems to be embarrassed by the current situation. “Uh….there are….” He mumbles too low for others to hear. “….in my apatment.”
“What?” Ray asked, cranking his ears. “Ghosts?”
“No. It’s worst.”
“There are worst things in there than ghosts? Unbelievable.”
“Ray!” Mandy called out.
Gallen turns a bit red but tries to remain calm. “Can…ummm…Kevin come with me into my apartment for a few minutes?”
“What for?” Ray asked, suspiciously. “He’s not a ghost-buster. I’ll go with you. ’Cause I swear Kevin’s the big chicken here.”
“No. I already told you it’s not ghost. Something else.”
“It’s okay, Ray,” Kevin said. “I’ll go with him. I’ll be back in five minutes. You all can go on without me.”
Ray pulls Kevin aside before he could step inside Gallen’s apartment, whispering, “Are you kidding me?”
“What?” Kevin whispered back.
“It could be a trap.”
“You’re all here, aren’t you? What I meant was if I’m not back in five minutes or so, you guys can call the cops.”
Ray rubs his forehead. “Oh. Right! How could I be so dumb and not get your hint?” He pats Kevin on the shoulder.
Then both guys head back to the group.
“He’s all yours,” Ray said to Gallen. Then he turns to the others. “Let’s go, guys.”
Mandy looks at Kevin one last time before following Ray and the others to Charmaine’s apartment. Ray slams his door shut before joining the girls inside the other apartment.
Gallen slams the door as soon as Kevin’s inside with him.
“What is going on here?” Kevin asked.
Gallen doesn’t respond right away, but goes to the stereo system and turns it on before explaining. “I have to tell you the plan and couldn’t find a better way.”
“Go ahead.”
“Okay, that guy Wilson is making me uneasy so you all should be careful when you’re around him.”
Kevin knows that he should tell Gallen what he discovered before. He summarizes quickly since his five minute is up soon.
“Okay, I’ll follow him for now. But you guys must be very careful. Don’t separate from Ray whatever you do. I’m sure you can ask Charmaine to help with Mandy since she’s been with Mandy for a long time now. 20 seconds. Can’t talk much now, so you can go back and I’ll tell you what I find out later.”
“What should I tell them about your breakdown though?”
“Rats!”
“What?”
“I’m scared of rats.”
“Okay.”
“They’ll believe since it seems impossible but I put on a convincing show. We’re over a minute already. Go!”
Kevin opens the door and steps out in the hallway. As he’s about to open the door to Charmaine’s apartment, the door opens at that moment when he reaches his right hand out. Ray’s so jumpy, he thought. But he’s wrong. It’s not Ray, it’s Mandy. Kevin looks at Mandy’s worried expression. He suddenly wants to hug Mandy. Although she probably got freaked out from Ray’s exaggerated version of the story, but it’s good to know that Kevin himself is the reason for her worries.
“It’s okay, little one,” He reassured her. “I’m fine now.”
Mandy smiles at him. He smiles back. She steps aside for him to come inside. They join the others in the kitchen.
© Saturday, May 26th, 2007
Re-posted: Saturday, October 10th, 2009