Chapter 4 Whispers in the dark

"Who's there?" Ella called out, her voice shaky in the quiet, empty office.

There was No answer.

The overhead lights flickered. The shadows on the floor stretched and twisted, like they were alive. The red light above the elevator blinked slow on and off, like a heartbeat.

Ella took a step back. Her fingers gripped her bag tightly. With her other hand, she reached into her coat pocket and touched the crumpled note again.

"I know what happened."

Her chest tightened. Her hands were damp with sweat. The air smelled like printer toner ,sharp and dry and something else. Something faint. Like burnt plastic.

Then she heard it.

Footsteps.

Soft. Slow. Getting closer.

Her eyes scanned the office. Empty desks. Dark windows. Her heart pounded in her ears.

"Hello?" she said again.

No reply.

The elevator dinged.

The doors slid open with a low groan.

Ella didn't wait. She ran her heels clacking loudly on the tile. She dove into the elevator and slammed the "Close" button again and again.

The doors finally shut.

She leaned back against the cold wall, breathing hard.

Her pale reflection stared back from the metal surface wide eyes, flushed cheeks, messy hair.

Was this a joke? A prank? Or was it something worse?

She just couldn't decipher

***

At home, Ella locked the door behind her.

Then, checked it again.

And again.

Her home was small and quiet. The couch in the living room had a saggy spot in the middle. A dirty plate sat on the coffee table from dinner the night before.

Her mom went for a small vacation so it felt quite lonely.The air smelled like old coffee and dust.

She dropped onto the couch, still wearing her coat. Her body felt heavy, like it had soaked up all her fear.

She pulled out her phone and typed:

"Someone left a creepy note at work. I'm scared."

She hit send.

A minute later, a reply popped up from Ava:

"Probably a joke. Come out tomorrow. Distract yourself."

Ella stared at the screen.

It didn't feel like a joke.

That night, she barely slept.

***

The next morning, Ava pounded on Ella's front door.

"I said we're going out!" she shouted. "I'm not leaving until you're dressed."

Ella groaned and rolled out of bed. Her body ached with tiredness.

Outside, Ava was full of energy. She wore red lipstick and sunglasses pushed up on her head like a movie star.

"You look like a zombie," she said, sipping her iced tea. "Didn't sleep?"

"No," Ella said, yawning. "Kept thinking about the note."

Ava rolled her eyes. "Seriously. It's probably just some dumb intern messing around."

"Still," Ella said softly. "It felt real."

"Okay, okay." Ava leaned across the table, grinning. "Let's talk about something fun. Like Liam."

Ella blinked. "What?"

"Oh come on. He's hot. And you've been working late with him."

"It's just work."

"Mmhmm." Ava smirked. "You totally just blushed."

"I did not."

"You totally did."

Ella shook her head. "He's not what I expected."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What did you expect?"

"I don't know," Ella said, staring at her cup. "He's... different when we talk."

Ava smiled. "Sounds like someone's catching feelings."

Ella looked away. "Can we not?"

***

That afternoon at work, the intercom buzzed.

"Ella, can you come to my office?"

Liam's voice. Calm. Deep.

She fixed her blouse, smoothed her hair, and went.

"Hi," she said, peeking inside.

"Come in," Liam said, pointing to the chair across from him. "I want you on my new project. It'll mean late nights. Can you handle that?"

"Yes," Ella said, trying to sound confident.

He looked at her for a long moment. "Good. I need someone I trust."

Her breath caught in her throat.

She nodded.

The next few nights passed in a blur of long hours. Papers covered Liam's desk. Takeout boxes piled up. Coffee cups, empty and cold, cluttered the space between them.

They sat side by side, laptops glowing.

"What did you study?" Liam asked.

"Literature," Ella said.

"You like stories?"

She smiled. "I used to write short ones when I was a kid. Mysteries."

He chuckled. "That makes sense. You notice everything."

She looked down, cheeks warm.

"You're good at this," he said. "Sharp. Organized. Calm under pressure."

"Thanks."

Their hands brushed when they both reached for the same folder.

Ella pulled away quickly.

He looked at her, then back at his screen. Said nothing.

But her heart wouldn't stop racing.

Ava kept texting.

"Try the blue blouse next time."

"Touch his arm,just lightly. See what he does."

Ella frowned. Ava was pushing. Too hard.

She looked at the note again. Then opened a drawer and found an old birthday card from Ava.

She looked at the handwriting.

The loops. The curls. The curve of the letter h.

It was the same.

Her stomach twisted.

Why would Ava do that?

But that didn't bother her much.

That night, Liam brought Chinese food. They ate in his office, sitting on the couch.

Ella laughed at a ridiculous email from a client.

"You really think that's what synergy means?" Liam said, shaking his head.

"You laughed," Ella said, surprised.

"I laugh."

"Not often."

He looked at her. "You make it easier."

For a moment, everything was still.

"You're not what I expected," he said softly.

"What did you expect?"

"Someone closed off. Cold."

"Is that bad?"

"No." He smiled. "I like being wrong sometimes."

Their shoulders touched.

Neither of them moved.

Then...

The lights flickered.

Ella sat up. "Did you see that?"

Before Liam could answer...

CRASH.

Glass shattered.

Ella screamed.

Liam jumped up. "Stay here."

He rushed toward the hallway.

Ella stood slowly. Her hands trembled. She turned to the broken window.

Cold night air poured in. Papers scattered across the floor.

Outside, in the darkness...Something moved.

A shadow.

She stepped closer.

"Ella..."

A whisper.

She turned around. "Liam?"

He stepped back in. "What?"

"Someone said my name."

He looked around, then out the window. "There's no one there."

But she didn't believe him.

Because in the glass reflection, She saw a face.

Watching them.