Mia arrived at the high-rise office just after midnight. She carried her cleaning cart and her flashlight. The building was silent and the lights were dimmed, only a few glowing signs showed the exit routes.

Her routine was simple: clean all floors, empty bins, and polish desks. She preferred this quiet time, away from noise and phones. Tonight felt ordinary, but a small shiver crept into Mia’s spine as she turned the corner.

Suddenly, a faint tapping echoed through the empty corridor. Mia paused, flashlight beam dancing on the glossy floor. The sound was slow, purposeful, like someone walking in heavy boots. Her heart beat faster.

She followed the noise to a service lift at the end of the hallway. The doors were slightly ajar. A pool of shadow lay near the gap. Mia felt a cold wind brush her cheek.

She shone her torch inside. The cabin was empty, its metal walls reflecting back her trembling face. A scratch marked the floor, leading to the far corner. Mia swallowed hard and stepped forward.

Before she could look again, the doors slammed shut with a violent clang. The lift jolted and began to move downwards, though she had not pressed any button. Her breathing caught in her throat.

Lights flickered. The usual floor indicators glowed in an impossible pattern: 13, 7, 22. Mia stared as the numbers blinked in the dark. She pressed every button she could find, but nothing changed.

A low humming began, like a distant radio searching for a signal. The air grew thick, making every breath heavy. Her flashlight dimmed, leaving only a faint glow around her feet.

Then she felt it, a cold presence behind her. She whirled, torch swinging wildly. The walls were empty, but shadows writhed near the ceiling. A whisper curled around her ear: Stop.

Mia backed away until her hand hit the control panel. She slapped it in panic. The doors grated open, revealing a black corridor she had not seen before.

She stepped out. The corridor stretched endlessly, lit by broken ceiling lamps. Each lamp flickered in a different colour: red, green, blue. Her ears rang with soft laughter.

She walked forward, feeling the floor tilt under her feet. The laughter grew louder, echoing around her head. Then it stopped, leaving a ringing silence that made her chest tighten.

Abruptly, a figure appeared at the far end. A tall shape in an old uniform, face hidden in shadow. It raised a hand, pointing directly at her. Everything froze.

The lights burst into a white flash. When Mia opened her eyes, the corridor was gone. She stood in the lobby again, under the bright neon exit sign.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She shook violently and answered. A recorded voice whispered: You should not be here. Then the line went dead.

Mia ran toward the exit, heart pounding. She pushed through the glass doors and felt the cool night air on her face. Behind her, the lobby lights flickered off one by one. She never returned.

---

Vocabulary Notes

Dimmed: verb (past participle used as adjective)
Definition: Made less bright or intense.
Example: The building was silent and the lights were dimmed, only a few glowing signs showed the exit routes.
Similar words:
subdued
softened
lowered

Shiver: noun/verb
Definition:
noun: A sudden, slight trembling movement.
verb: To shake slightly because of cold or fear.
Example: A small shiver crept into Mia’s spine as she turned the corner.
Similar words:
tremble
quiver
shake

Ajar: adjective
Definition: Slightly open.
Example: She followed the noise to a service lift at the end of the hallway. The doors were slightly ajar.
Similar words:
unlatched
cracked
partly open

Jolted: verb (past tense)
Definition: To give a sudden, sharp movement or shock.
Example: The lift jolted and began to move downwards, though she had not pressed any button.
Similar words:
jerked
shook
bumped

Flickered: verb (past tense)
Definition: To shine unsteadily or to go on and off quickly.
Example: Lights flickered. The usual floor indicators glowed in an impossible pattern.
Similar words:
fluttered
wavered
glimmered

Humming: verb (present participle) / noun
Definition:
verb: To make a low, steady continuous sound.
noun: The sound itself.
Example: A low humming began, like a distant radio searching for a signal.
Similar words:
buzzing
murmuring
droning

Presence: noun
Definition: A feeling that someone or something is nearby, even if you cannot see them.
Example: Then she felt it, a cold presence behind her.
Similar words:
aura
air
vibe

Tilt: verb/noun
Definition:
verb: To cause something to lean or slant.
noun: An act of leaning or sloping.
Example: She walked forward, feeling the floor tilt under her feet.
Similar words:
lean
slant
incline

Story written by CoPilot AI on Windows 11 Pro

Image created by CoPilot AI on Windows 11 Pro

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads

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