Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Neighbor?"

"Xander, you have neighbors?"

"I thought you lived alone on this floor," Yolanda chuckled.

"You seem to have a good relationship with them."

My face stiffened.

"Didn't you come to ask about my new book?" I said, my tone unfriendly.

"Let's stick to that topic. I need to rest soon."

Yolanda apologized, "I'm sorry, Xander, for taking up your personal time."

"As a fan, I'm just really curious about your private life."

My expression softened a bit.

"It's okay. I'm not close with them."

"Don't pry into other matters either."

Yolanda's next question made my face darken further.

"Xander, where did you get the inspiration for the ghost in the building?"

The edamame I had just picked up fell to the floor.

"I..."

Yolanda looked a bit embarrassed and handed me a beer.

"Sorry, Xander, is that something you can't talk about?"

I didn't drink the beer but put it down.

"No."

"What?" Yolanda asked.

"It's not a secret."

"Actually, someone died in this building," I said cryptically.

Yolanda covered her mouth tightly.

"Oh my!"

"And you still dare to live here?"

I smiled, "Don't worry, the killer has been caught."

"And as horror novelists, don't we need to find inspiration?"

Yolanda glanced around and asked,

"Why not move to a better place?"

Her voice suddenly took on a chilling tone,

"This old apartment... the soundproofing is terrible."

I poured her a glass of lemon water.

"Have some of this. It's too late for tea."

Yolanda just sniffed it, "It smells so good. Xander, please continue."

I sighed and began to recall.

"Actually, I didn't live here at first."

"There was a murder here some time ago."

"It happened right in this hallway."

"After it was over, I moved in."

I touched the cheap table.

"Don't let the rundown appearance fool you; this place has a lot of stories."

"The deceased used to live here."

Yolanda grinned.

"Xander, is this the inspiration you wanted?"

"Congratulations, you got what you wished for."

She added,

"This place really brings you luck, Xander."

I touched the new talisman on my wrist.

Smiling, I said, "Indeed."

"Once I finish the ending of my new book, I'll move out of here."

Yolanda's face turned somber as she asked,

"Move out?"

"You're leaving here?"

I didn't notice her expression, too focused on finding the fallen edamame.

If it got stepped on, cleaning it up would be a hassle.

"Xander, you haven't told me, what happened in that murder case?"

At some point, Yolanda had sat down again, her back to me.

She was sitting in my usual spot.

I had no choice but to sit beside her.

She was eating the edamame one by one.

It seemed Theresa's edamame were quite to her liking.

"Aren't you scared, listening to this so late at night?" I asked.

Recalling it myself gave me chills.

Yolanda suddenly leaned in and wrapped her arm around mine.

I felt a soft touch.

My heart fluttered.

"Scared, but I still want to hear it," Yolanda said, her head lowered.

I licked my lips and continued,

"That girl was first... then killed by a beast."

I could feel Yolanda's body start to tremble.

I naturally held her close.

"Don't be afraid, that beast is already behind bars," I said softly.

Yolanda continued to ask,

"Then why is it called the ghost in the building?"

"She died in the hallway. I heard she was an orphan, and no one came to claim her body," I said.

In the end, I paid for her cremation and burial.

After all, I was going to live here after her.

I continued,

"There are still bloodstains in the hallway that no one has cleaned up."

"Later, Theresa was afraid it would scare her grandson, so she found a piece of white cloth to cover it."

Just talking about it gives me goosebumps.

"Honestly, that white cloth is worse than nothing."

"Every time I walk by, it feels like someone is lying there."

"I just close my eyes and walk past quickly, pretending it's not real."

A chill ran through my chest.