| Fan Fiction |
by DTLCT
“This is my second time walking upstairs,” Ray said. “I mean all the years here, I never had to deal with this, why now?”
“Stop complaining already,” Mandy chided. “At least you’re still alive.”
“Mandy’s right,” Kevin agreed. “Would you walk faster already? You’re blocking the way.”
Ray steps aside for Kevin to go past before going.
Jacky and Jan are walking a little up ahead, behind Charmaine. Jacky is deep in thoughts while Jan’s watching over him silently by his side. He looks at Charmaine once in awhile to make sure she’s okay. He feels guilty since he was the one to bring such a game up and to also blurt out Benny’s name. However, he’s a bright person. His mind snaps to work right away. He turns around to the others.
“I think we better stick together tonight,” Jacky announced.
“What?” Ray asked, confused and amused rolled into one. “Are you kidding me? You said it yourself earlier. We all have work tomorrow.”
“No. They’re making the move tonight.”
“Who’s making the move tonight?”
“He’s right,” Gallen jumped in.
Ray turns back to Gallen. “What?!?”
“I figured it out already. It must be the elevators. Last time when Kevin was trapped for a while, he must have discovered the secret passageway. Those people, whoever they are, use the elevators to get back and forth between their hiding places.”
“Your thinking is the same as mine,” Jacky said. “I’d been looking around the whole building the whole week and was wondering how they could have disappeared so fast without any one of the neighbors knowing after the murder.”
“Wait,” Ray interrupted. “Even if you guys are right, aren’t we supposed to be somewhere safer discussing all of these? Instead of standing here?”
“I dare that person to come out now!”
“Fan Gang,” Jan whispered, her voice shaky.
Jacky calms himself again. “Sorry. You’re right. Let’s go.”
“Whose apartment are we going to?” Ray asked.
“Tim’s.”
“How come?”
“He just moved in recently. And the one he rented had been deserted for years now. They couldn’t have bugged it in time.”
“Okay then.”
Jacky turns to continue the way again but he turns back to them right away. “Miss Man, please don’t leave the company. You’re the target.”
“I am?” Annie asked, shocked and confused at the same time.
“Yes. Don’t deny or pretend. Your cat is dead. Your bodyguard is dead also. You don’t want to be the next person.”
Annie turns pale at that time. She stays silent but seems to agree to stay with them.
They continue their way up with no more talk of the murder until they reach their destination.
“He’s starting to get scary,” Ray whispered to Kevin.
“I thought you said he was earlier,” Kevin whispered back.
“Not that scary. Just weird but now he’s…eerie.”
“That’s how he works,” Gallen said from behind them.
Ray jumps up a foot before turning around. “You’re creepy, man! Stop sneaking up on me!”
Gallen smiles. “I didn’t. You didn’t pay attention, that’s all. I was behind you the whole time.”
“Told you not to sneak around too much, now it’s your turn to get all scared!” Alice mocked.
“Alice!” Wallace scolded once again.
Alice turns to Wallace. “I’m just kidding, ge.”
They continue their way up again but the stairs seems to go on forever. The only sound they could hear is their own footsteps. When they’re on the 5th floor, a ringing sound alarms everyone. They all freeze.
“It’s okay, you guys,” Ray said. “It’s my phone.”
They continue their steps again while Ray takes out his phone.
“Jess, no time to talk,” Ray said into the phone. “Busy night. I’ll tell you what’s going on tomorrow.” He pauses. “Yea. I know. Goodnight.”
After that, everything is back to silent again.
The only question that’s running through their mind is: Will they ever reach the top? Everything seems to be a blur at the moment.
© Saturday, June 2nd, 2007
Re-posted: Sunday, October 11th, 2009