❤️🔥Apartment 304: chapter 2
584 Words
The hallway outside Apartment 304 was completely silent now.
Too silent.
I stood awkwardly near the doorway while Ethan watched me with obvious amusement shining in his dark eyes.
Unfortunately…
the flashlight under his jawline only made him look more attractive.
Which was honestly rude.
“You’re blushing,” he pointed out casually.
“I’m leaving.”
“You said that thirty seconds ago.”
My irritation returned instantly.
“Why are you enjoying this so much?”
Ethan shrugged lazily.
“You barged into my apartment at midnight looking ready to commit murder over loud music.”
His lips twitched slightly.
“That’s not exactly boring.”
I opened my mouth to respond—
Then froze.
A strange sound echoed faintly from deeper inside his apartment.
A loud thump.
Like something heavy falling.
My eyes shifted past Ethan automatically.
The apartment behind him was enormous compared to mine.
Dark kitchen.
Long hallway.
Closed doors.
And somewhere in the darkness…
something moved.
Ethan noticed my expression immediately.
His playful smirk disappeared.
“What?” I asked quietly.
“Nothing.”
Definitely not nothing.
I heard it again.
Thud.
This time closer.
A nervous chill crawled down my arms.
“You live alone?” I asked carefully.
Ethan stared at me for a second too long before answering.
“Yes.”
Another lie.
I could feel it.
The air inside Apartment 304 suddenly felt strange.
Heavy.
Like walking into a room seconds after an argument ended.
Before I could speak again—
The lights flickered back on.
I blinked quickly against the sudden brightness.
And that’s when I saw it.
A red stain on Ethan’s white kitchen counter.
Small.
But definitely there.
My stomach tightened instantly.
Was that—
Ethan moved casually to block my view.
Too casually.
“You should probably head home, Ava.”
His voice remained calm.
But something about it changed.
Colder now.
Careful.
Every instinct inside me screamed to leave.
Immediately.
But curiosity rooted me to the floor.
“What happened back there?” I asked slowly.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
Another thud echoed from deeper in the apartment.
Louder this time.
My heart nearly stopped.
Someone was definitely in there.
Ethan exhaled quietly like he was losing patience.
“Ava.”
The way he said my name now carried warning.
Not teasing.
Warning.
I swallowed nervously.
“You’re hiding something.”
For the first time since meeting him…
his expression darkened completely.
Not angry.
Worse.
Dangerous.
“You should go,” he repeated softly.
Then suddenly—
A loud scream ripped through the apartment.
Female.
Terrified.
Every hair on my body stood instantly.
“Oh my God—”
I stepped forward automatically, but Ethan grabbed my wrist before I could move.
Fast.
His grip wasn’t painful.
But strong enough to stop me easily.
Our eyes locked.
And for the first time…
I felt actual fear.
Not because of the scream.
Because Ethan looked terrified too.
“Listen carefully,” he said quietly.
The teasing version of him was completely gone now.
“When you leave this apartment…”
another scream echoed faintly.
“…do not come back tonight.”
My pulse hammered violently.
“What is happening?”
Ethan glanced briefly toward the dark hallway behind him.
Just one second.
But that second was enough.
Because I saw it.
A figure standing at the end of the hallway.
Tall.
Motionless.
Watching us.
My breath caught painfully.
The figure slowly tilted its head.
And smiled.
- Writer
