C-211

The setting of this true story is not what one would typically expect. Instead of a small town, rural farmhouse, or a cliche cottage in the woods, the events unfolded in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Amidst all the glitz, glamour and thriving nightlife, a quaint community became the stage for the following incidents.

Demons, in various shapes and forms, have a propensity for wreaking havoc on humanity and mental well-being. Those who uncover these demons in their true state often succumb to inexplicable madness. It is important to acknowledge that these malevolent entities exist among us undetected, quite possibly even dwelling in our own neighborhoods.

You never know.

Dean and Robert, college roommates, endeavored to find an affordable residence close to their college. However, due to an unavailability of dorm rooms, which were overcrowded, their options were limited. Positioned before the bulletin board on campus, Dean diligently perused the notices that advertised rooms for rent.

“Find anything?” Robert inquired, standing next to Dean.

“Nah. Nothing.” Dean frowned, then gently lifted a corner of a party flyer, “Ah, wait…what’s this?” he carefully but quickly removed the underlying page, tearing it off the tack holding it in place, “Look…” he handed the advertisement to Robert, “that doesn’t sound too bad, and it isn’t too far from campus either.” he looked at his friend, seeing the confused expression, “Come on, man…” he snatched the paper from Robert’s hand, “we don’t have a choice. You don’t have to come with me to look at it.”

“I didn’t say that.” Robert protested, then quickly glanced at his watch, “I have to get to class, meet here after school and then we can go check it out.”

“Yeah, okay.” Dean nodded affirmatively, then he too gave a glance at his watch, “Sh*t…” he realized he was running late. He abruptly changed direction and hurriedly made his way through the hallway, apologizing as he passed others in the hall. Reaching his classroom, he quietly opened the door, hoping not to attract too much attention to his late entry.

“Glad you can make it, Mr. Anderson.” the teacher greeted over his shoulder, scribbling educational diagrams on the board in front of him.

“Sorry.” Dean took his seat towards the back.

Later that day, the two students drove, following the GPS to the East Villas Apartments at Silverado Park. As the car drove through the gate, both men nodded in approval, they were pleasantly surprised by the impressive surroundings.

“Damn, this is nice.” Dean commented, impressed by what they were seeing.

“Yea, too nice.” Robert pondered, “And for eight hundred?” he looked at his friend, “There has to be a catch, right?”

“Give it a chance, man.” Dean countered as he glanced at Robert.

“Alright, fine.” Robert conceded the argument. However, he ended up taking the wrong turn unintentionally driving to the left, leading them around the community, “Damn.” he surveyed his surroundings.

“The office, I think, is back that way.” Dean pointed over his right shoulder, indicating the correct direction.

“Yeah, I know.” Robert adjusted the steering wheel then backed up near one of the rear buildings, facing a creepy wash with an ominous tunnel that seemingly had no end to the other side. With the car stationary, he peered into the darkness for a brief moment that felt like an eternity. As he felt an unsettling chill, he blinked and swallowed before he turned the car left again. Upon reaching the front of the vast community, they finally spotted the office which was set back, explaining why they initially missed it.

“You okay?” Dean observed Robert, sensing a hint of an uneasiness in him, “Rob?” he shook his shoulder.

“Y-yeah.” Robert hesitated for a moment, clearing his throat, “I’ll tell you later.” he said with a grin then grabbed the keys and his wallet. Exiting the car, his piercing blue eyes carefully scanned the surrounding parking lot, taking note of the nearby buildings painted in varying shades of beige and brown, their doors ironically adorned in black or red paint. Curiously observing that the upstairs doors were red while the downstairs were black, he quickly dismissed the thought and followed Dean into the office.

Greeted by the Manager, Scott Peters, an individual known for his prudish nature and inflated sense of self, Robert took a moment, observing his bald head, neatly trimmed graying beard and glasses. Scott’s meticulously arranged shirt and trousers indicated an excessive amount of attention paid to his appearance, evident in the sharp and precise creases. The Manager guided the two men, who had inquired about the apartment, towards the back of the office, a location that seemed to be nestled somewhere in the middle, in close proximity to a dry wash that hadn’t experienced rainfall in a considerable period. After unlocking the door, he waited outside while the two roommates thoroughly examined the features of the downstairs unit.

Robert and Dean made their way through the unoccupied unit, admiring its generous and open design. The presence of three bedrooms and two bathrooms exceeded their initial expectations. Grinning with satisfaction, they exchanged a knuckle-bump and smile then eagerly agreed to signing the lease. With their minds already making plans, they were confident that this arrangement would be a success.

“Scott, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s the catch here?” Roberto inquired directly.

Startled, Scott turned to face the young man, “Pardon me?”

“The catch, I mean a place like this for eight hundred?”

“It’s a special.” Scott responded sharply as he continued to walk ahead of them.

“It’s a special, right.” Robert nodded skeptically, “Friendly.”

“Rob, what the hell are you doing?” Dean curiously asked, “This is a great deal. It has everything we need and more. Come on, what’s going on?” he nudged him.

“Nothing, I just…” Robert hesitated with a shiver, “forget it.” he frowned, quickening his pace ahead of his friend, after Scott.

Observing their surroundings, Dean grinned, reassured that everything was falling into place smoothly. As he glanced at the windows of the apartment upstairs, he could have sworn he saw them sway as if someone peeked through their slats.

After spending a few hours on the task, Scott personally took care of all the paperwork and background checks, not wanting to miss a single detail of the young men’s lives. Their suitability for the residency was impeccable. Once he accepted their reasonable down payments, his blue eyes glanced above the rim of his wire-framed glasses.

“Of course you know it will take time for the background checks to go through?” he muttered, placing his hands on the desk.

“Yes, Sir.” Robert nodded.

“As long as, uh…” Dean ran his fingers through his blonde hair, “the apartment is ours, we’re kind of desperate here.” he let out a brief chuckle, but his faint grin faded as Scott sat there, appearing prim and stern, “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” he cleared his throat, then adjusted his jean jacket.

“I’ll contact you once everything is done.” Scott announced, swiftly gathering the papers and organizing them into the folders, which he then tucked away in the drawer.

“Um…okay.” Dean glanced at Robert, “Thanks.”

Scott rose from his seat, adjusting his blue tie, “I soon hope that you come to call this place home,” he said, gesturing towards the door, “Now please, it’s after hours and I have places to be.”

“Right.” Robert nodded, then guided Dean out of the office, and once they were outside, they turned to witness that the Manager hastily closed the window shades and locked the doors, “What the hell is his problem?”

“Doesn’t matter, come on.” Dean urged.

Later that evening, they gathered in the small on-campus lounge with their girlfriends, Sharon and Mary. Over dinner, they shared the details about the apartment; Dean even showcased its layout through the online photographs they accessed.

“You should see it.” Dean flashed a smile, “It’s perfect.

“Too perfect.” Robert grumbled as he took a sip of beer.

Sensing his lack of enthusiasm, Mary leaned in whispering in his ear, “You don’t sound too happy about it, what’s wrong?”

“He’s been a d*ck about the whole thing. Ever since we arrived on the property.” Dean pointed out, motioning towards Robert.

Curious to know what’s bothering him, Sharon asked, “Why, what’s wrong with the property?”

“Nothing, but I just can’t shake this feeling.” Robert gave a brief shrug.

“What kind of feeling?” Mary asked, her curiosity piqued.

“I don’t know, I can’t explain it. It just didn’t feel right.” he replied, casting a quick glance at her, “I’m just tired, that’s all. It’s been a long day.” he kissed her gently, “I’m going to call it a night, I have homework.” and with that said, he placed the bottle on the table and stood.

Mary wore a concerned expression, anxiously thinking about him. She was aware of his unique ability to perceive things that others couldn’t and had complete faith in him. She never dismissed his thoughts as craziness or just sheer imagination. Therefore, when he expressed his doubts about something being amiss in the community, she would listen without judgement. Sharon and Dean, on the other hand, were a bit more skeptical but still believed him.

After several weeks, everything fell into place, Robert and Dean has secured the apartment C-111 as their own. As they settled in and arranged their limited furniture, they finally had a place to call their own, away from the chaos of campus life. Regularly hosting their girlfriends overnight, the two women couldn’t help but notice a few stray cats that roamed around the buildings, hiding beneath some of the nearby bush clusters that hugged the buildings.

“Awe…” Mary’s face softened as she attempted to get the attention of the cats nearby. Crouching down, she managed to gain the trust of two while the others remained cautious, eventually disappearing into the dense bushes surrounding the buildings.

“Hello, there…” Sharon joined in, kneeling down to pet one of the cats and couldn’t help but express her affection, “oh, aren’t you adorable?” she noticed their dirty fur, “You poor babies.” she cooed sympathetically.

“You two okay out here?” Dean stepped outside and caught sight of Mary and Sharon engaging with the elusive felines. A mischievous smile formed on his face, anticipating the outcome, “Uh-oh…” he shook his head.

“Uh-oh, what’s the uh-oh?” Robert stood, looking at him, inquiring about the cause of his amusement.

“The girls saw some cats.” Dean looked at him.

“Uh-oh.” Robert chuckled, aware of their girlfriends’ keen inability to resist helping defenseless animals, “Guess that means we should stock up on cat food now, hmm?” he softly teased, scanning the surroundings.

“You think the Manager would like that?” Dean glanced at him.

“As long as he doesn’t find out.” Mary approached him.

“I won’t say anything, if you don’t.” Sharon chimed in.

“Our lips are sealed.” Dean extended his arm, drawing his girlfriend closer.

“Always helping the strays.” Robert looked at Mary with a faint smirk.

“Of course, that’s how I met you, didn’t I?” she teased.

Dean and Sharon chuckled before retreating back indoors.

For a span of approximately 2-to-3 years, there was a period of tranquility without any noteworthy incidents or issues necessitating attention. Dean and Robert consistently had attended their classes punctually and formed acquaintances residing in the neighborhood. Regrettably, because of the transient nature of Las Vegas, these fleeting friendships had dissipated as they relocated out of State. Dedicated to their part-time roles at the local ASPCA, Sharon and Mary had actively participated in the rescue of numerous stray cats who had been forsaken or abandoned by their owners that had departed the apartment community.

It seemed that C-111 emerged as a prominent gathering spot for providing sustenance and assistance to these animals. Every night, a significant cluster of cats would assemble on the rear patio, seeking refuge from prying eyes while they were safeguarded against potential threats concealed in the shadows. Nevertheless, a peculiar turn of events unfolded after some time had passed once the population of stray cats appeared to have dwindled.

One evening, Robert found himself unable to sleep. As he quietly slid open the patio door stepping outside, he sought solace in the cool night air. He leaned against the wall, then surveyed the surroundings, meticulously scanning all of the adjacent buildings on the property. To his surprise, there was a towering tree wedged between the building and the apartment upstairs, its branches stretching out gracefully above the roof. The distant sound of cats engaged in what seemed like an intense battle reached his ears, unsettling him. Rubbing his eyes in an attempt to focus, Robert then directed his gaze towards the roof of the tall, two-story neighboring building, where he noticed an enigmatic dark figure. Remarkably larger than expected from that distance, the figure appeared to be crouched. Captivated, he kept the unwavering stare at this mysterious presence which stared back wordlessly, its eyes hidden from view. The luminosity emanating from the building lights was ample enough to accentuate the figures’ silhouette, perpetuating its locked and unwavering gaze. While observing the unsettling and unnatural figure, it quickly extended its arms, resembling either wings or a cloak, as it surveyed the closest vicinity of the playground. Robert was taken aback when it eventually caught sight of his watchful stare, causing his eyes to widen in sheer terror. Gathering himself, retreating inside with caution and a series of shuffling steps, Robert accidentally collided with the glass door behind him. He swiftly pivoted and hurriedly rushed down the hall, abruptly rousing Mary from her deep slumber.

“Mary…Mary, baby wake up!” he gently shook her.

“R-Rob?” she groaned, opening her eyes then attempted to locate the clock, “What is it, what’s wrong? Wh-what time is it?”

“Come outside, there’s something on the roof on the other building across the way.” Robert stressed, yanking back the sheets.

“Wh-what?!” her drowsy eyes widened.

“Just…come and look!” he grasped her hand with eagerness, leading her briskly down the hall and into the living room, toward the patio.

“Robert?” Dean cautiously stuck his head out from his room, catching snippets of their conversation. Curiosity piqued, he called out, “Robert! Mary! What’s going on?!”

Mary turned, perplexed, “I don’t know!” she responded, glancing back at him.

“Dean?” Sharon chimed in from the bed, “What’s going on?” she sat up, awaiting an explanation.

“I-I don’t know.” Dean shrugged in response, scratching his head.

Roberto turned to Mary, “There!” he pointed towards the roof across the way.

Confused, Mary wrapped her arms around herself, feeling a chill in the evening air, “Wh-what am I supposed to be looking for?” her asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Robert’s eyes widened as he scanned the roof top closely, finding nothing but an empty space, “There’s…” his voice trailed off frustrated, “it-it was right there, I swear!” he shifted his gaze towards Mary.

Dean, standing at the door with Sharon, expressed his blunt exasperation, “What the hell is going on?! Robert?!”

“I-I swear I saw something on the roof!” Robert defended his stand on the matter, “It was right there clear as day!”

“Maybe you’re just tired.” Sharon murmured softly, “You haven’t been sleeping much and I know exams are intense this week.”

“I’m NOT…tired!” Robert argued vehemently.

“Whoa, hey…” Dean frowned, stepping in, “take it easy! She’s just making an suggestion, she’s not calling you a liar or crazy so take it easy!” he stood in front of his girlfriend in a protective manner, “If you saw something, maybe it was only for you to see, isn’t that how it goes?” he made the attempt to handle the situation with respect. He glanced at Mary, seeking her agreement, “Right?”

“Y-yeah, baby maybe that’s what it is.” Mary responded as she turned towards Robert.

Despite their earnest efforts, Robert still harbored lingering doubts, unable to fully accept their support. Shaking his head and rubbing his eyes, he brushed past Mary, storming through the living room and down the hall, forcefully closing the rear bedroom door.

“Oh boy…” Dean sighed, then stepped outside, surveying the surroundings.

“Dean, let’s go back to bed.” Sharon pleaded, feeling an increasing sense of anxiety.

“He’ll be alright.” Dean assured Mary, his hand gently resting on her shoulder, “You know he’s never been the same since his grandfather died.”

“I know.” Mary, filled with concern, nodded quickly. She retreated inside, exchanging a brief hug with Sharon before making her way down the hall. With a quiet gesture, she opened the door, expecting to find Robert sitting on the bed. However, she noticed the light from the bathroom was left turned on to her right. Standing in the doorway, she silently watched him splashing water on his face in the mirror, “Baby, what happened out there? What did you see?”

“Don’t pretend that you believe me, when you and I both know that you don’t.” he argued, facing her reflection behind him, “You think I’m crazy, all of you do.”

“No, I don’t.” Mary assured as she slowly approached, gently massaging his back, “I don’t think you’re crazy, far from it. You’re just more sensitive to things that others can’t see, that doesn’t make you crazy.” she circled around him, standing by his side, casually leaning against the sink, “Whatever you saw out there, baby, it was meant for you to see.” her hands migrated from his shoulders down his chest, her touch comforting, “You’re not crazy, a little weird and nerdy sure, but…” she smirked, interlocking her hands with his, bringing them to rest on his face, “but not crazy.”

“Weird and nerdy?” he playfully bantered, his hands resting on her waist.

“Mm-hmm.” Mary titled her head, a soft smile playing on her lips, as she exchanged a brief kiss with her partner; their affection escalated into a passionate embrace. Hours later, as she lay beside him, she sat up attentively, watching his slumbering form. She cautiously reached for her laptop that was placed on the nearby table, ensuring not to disturb him from his peaceful rest. Engrossed in her pursuit, she silently conducted online searches to unravel the mysteries that had surrounded the paranormal and supernatural community, “What the?” her eyed widened.

Afterwards, stranger incidents began to occur. Both Dean and Sharon became convinced that they heard eerie tapping on their windows, akin to long nails scraping against the glass. Jolting awake, they hastily sprung out of their beds, hastening towards the windows. Pulling the curtains apart, they each searched outside, only to find emptiness and no fleeing figure between the surrounding buildings. Sharing a bewildered expression, they returned to the bed, hoping for respite. However, the tapping resumed once more.

“Okay, what the f*ck is going on?!” Dean swiftly jumped out of the bed, bewildered by the situation at hand. He had hurriedly made his way into the hall, frantically knocking on Robert’s door, only to receive no response. Discovering the door unlocked, he burst into the room, startling both Roberto and Mary who had been bothered by his persistent knocking.

“Dean, what the hell are you doing?!” Robert barked as he rubbed the corner of his eyes.

“Sorry, I…” Dean scanned the room, “I heard something, it was tapping on the window and I thought…”

“And you thought it was me?!” Robert climbed out of the bed, approaching his friend with a stern expression and his fists tightly clenched, “Seriously, dude?”

“Look, this is some crazy sh*t okay?!” Dean retreated, raising his hands in surrender, but not before stealing a glance beyond his friend’s shoulder towards the source of the tapping noise at the window to his left (Robert’s right).

Mary looked apprehensively at the curtains, reluctant to uncover whatever lay beyond. Climbing out of the bed hurriedly, she dashed towards Dean and Sharon, watching Robert’s silent approach towards the window.

“Rob, don’t…” Mary murmured with fear.

Robert held his breath as he parted the drapes and nudged the blinds aside, only to find an empty view. Suddenly, the fresh round of taps sounded on the front door, followed by the metallic clatter of the mailbox-drop flap. Peeking their heads down the hall, they all fixed their gaze on the door, able to witness and hear it being lifted slowly then dropped, producing a resounding clank. Exchanging a quick glance, the two men swiftly made their way down the hall, tightly clutching baseball bats they retrieved from their closets. As he and Dean quietly approached the door, unlocking it, they silently counted to three before swinging it open, raising their bats in the air.

Again, there was no one there, not a single living being in sight, not even the cats who usually lingered around eagerly waiting to be let in or fed.

Startled by the silence, Mary and Sharon stood together, clutching onto their pepper spray for protection, “What is it?” Mary shrieked softly.

Upon hearing their feminine voices, Robert and Dean stood on the walkway connecting their buildings to the adjacent one. They scanned the surroundings, searching both left and right, but there was no indications of the mischievous and unknown troublemakers. Reluctantly lowering their bats, they glanced around one last time. It was then Dean’s gaze shifted towards the rooftop of their building; his green eyes widened in astonishment as he noticed a shadowy figure perched on the roof. It wasn’t their seldom-seen neighbors, whose movements were often audible but rarely ever seen, “R-Rob…” he barely whispered, tapping Robert’s shoulder, trying to get his attention, “Robert…”

Robert turned to his friend, noticing the fear visible in his voice. He glanced upward and caught sight of the figure yet again before it swiftly jumped off the ledge and onto the adjacent building.

“You saw that, right?” Dean muttered, quickly scanning his surroundings.

“Told you…I told you!” Robert argued, pulling his friend towards their apartment. They locked the door and placed a dining chair under the knob and mailbox-drop. He stepped back with Dean, keeping their eyes fixed on the door.

“What happened, what did you see?” Sharon asked softly.

Dean looked at her, holding her close, “I saw something on the roof.”

“Saw something on the roof?” Sharon examined him closely, “What do you mean something? Dean, this isn’t funny…” she barked, “stop messing around just to make Robert feel better!” she trailed off as she distanced herself from him.

“Babe, I’m not making this up! I saw something, it jumped across the space between our building and the other one, I-I don’t know what it was!” Dean’s voice escalated, gripping her arms firmly, “I’m not lying about this!”

Gazing into his sincere green eyes, Sharon knew he would never deceive her, much less in a situation like this, “Okay, but…this is getting crazy, too god damn crazy!” she stepped back, “And I don’t think that I can stick around anymore, not until you figure things out. Mary?” she turned to her friend for support.

“Um, I’ll stay. For now.” Mary responded curtly, folding her arms, feeling an unsettling chill tickle her spine.

Sharon remained silent, retreating to the bedroom, loudly slamming the door shut.

“Let’s just…get back to bed. We can figure this out later on in the morning, yeah?” Mary proposed, then turned and walked down the hall, closing the door with a resounding thud.

“Sh*t.” Dean expressed his frustration as he approached the dining table, cautiously placing the baseball bat on the glass top, “What the f*ck is going on?!” he turned to Robert.

Robert retorted, “I don’t know, but I totally told you that I saw something out there, and now…you’ve seen it too, for yourself! So if I’m going crazy, then you are too!” he spat the words.

Dean sarcastically responded, “This is just great, what else could possibly go wrong?”

As weeks went by, the mysterious figure continued with its appearance, consistently watching the inhabitants who had captured numerous cats roaming around the premises, turning them over to animal rescue-organizations; cats that it preyed upon.

Mary and Sharon made an agreement to return to the guys’ apartment, but under certain conditions. They agreed that they would only stay for a few nights, and during this time, the men were STRICTLY forbidden from discussing the ongoing strange events. However, one fateful night, things took an unexpected turn for the two women as they slowly wandered around the community, diligently searching for the missing cats that had disappeared days ago. As they had made their way towards the rear of the community, near the wash flooded by the recent heavy rains, Mary and Sharon suddenly halted by the fence; an unsettling sensation washed over her, sensing something uncanny about the surroundings. With a frown, inquisitively, she peered into the deep pass-through tunnel, which seemed to lead somewhere. In a hopeful yet apprehensive manner, she longed to catch a glimpse of the other end. To her dismay, she bore witness to a vast, and impenetrable black void, resembling a gateway somewhere else, perhaps even Hell.

“Mary?” Sharon inquired, “What is it?” she glanced around, “Do you see them?” she stood near the fence, scanning the ground and ledges close to the water, “Here, kitties!” she called out softly, but loudly enough for the felines to hear, “Pspspspspsps…”

“N-no, I just…” Mary continued to gaze intently, “thought that I might have seen something in there.” she pointed at the tunnel that lay gaping ahead, “That’s all.”

“Oh no, not you too.” Sharon complained, “Did Dean and Robert put you up to this?” she quickly stepped back with a mocking shake of her head.

“Wh-what?!” Mary turned to her bemused, “No, that’s not what this is, Sharon come on!” her smile disappeared when she witnessed the horrified expression on Sharon’s face, “Sharon?” she reached out, noticing her friend trembling violently.

“M-Mary…behind you.” Sharon whispered fearfully.

Skeptical, Mary shook her head, thinking it could be a joke, “Nice try, but I’m not falling for that one.” she stubbornly folded her arms.

“I-I’m not playing games, turn around…TURN AROUND.”

Upon witnessing the genuine fear displayed on her friends’ face, Mary instinctively reached into her pocket to retrieve her pepper spray. However, her hand faltered as she then noticed two colossal black hounds standing near the fence; the presence of them perplexed her and Sharon, considering the absence of any plausible pathway across the wash, and especially during floods. Gradually, her and Sharon quickly mustered their courage and cautiously retreated, sprinting away in a state of terror as the hounds aggressively barked and growled, perceiving an intrusion upon their territory. Colliding with the front door, the women hastily slammed it shut behind them, leaning against it to regain their senses and composure, audibly releasing quivering breaths.

“What the f*ck was that?!” Sharon questioned, casting the suspicious sidelong glance at Mary.

Mary closed her eyes, attempting to make sense of the bewildering chain of events that had unfolded, “I don’t know.” she glanced ahead, watching Dean emerging from his bedroom, while Robert swiftly made his way around the counter, exiting the kitchen.

“Babe, are you okay?” Roberto casually slung a towel over his shoulder.

“I don’t know.” Mary shook her head, recounting the events.

“Seriously?!” Dean inquired, biting his lip, “Black hounds?”

“Scraggly mutts, more likely.” Sharon shuddered, her brow furrowing, “They came out of nowhere, just POOF…I mean, one moment they weren’t there, and the next, they were. I know I said we wouldn’t talk about it anymore, not while we were here, but…” she walked over, taking a seat at the dining table, voicing her belief, “I think we should now.”

“She’s right.” Mary took a seat beside her.

“That’s great, cause there’s been more since both of you’ve been gone.” Dean approached and settled next to Sharon, while Robert sat beside Mary, “You know the playground out there? Well, Dean and I were coming back from a round of laundry that’s out by the office and pool right, and you know, there were some kids playing around but then as we got closer to our building, they were all standing around and looking up at the roof.”

“The roof? Why?” Sharon pondered curiously.

“They said they saw a man up there, crouched as if it were watching them or something, maybe waiting.” Robert had concluded, “They’re kids sure, but not even they can make up something like this, especially since they don’t know that we have seen the same damn thing.” he turned his gaze towards the women, “And of course, it wasn’t the cable guy, or anyone like that. Not at that time of night. This was like what…” he glanced at Dean, “eight-thirty, then they too, claimed to have seen the same dogs that you did tonight, all hanging around that god damn wash out back. I knew there was something off about that place, and this one, when we drove through those gates.” he rose from his seat, fixing his gaze upon Dean.

Sharon inquired softly as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the ledge of the glass top table, “What does the Manager say about it?”

“We haven’t gone to him about any of this yes, I mean, he’d just think we’re crazy or maybe even smoking something a little too strong.” Dean commented nonchalantly shrugging, emphasizing that neither he nor Robert had even smoked, not even weed.

“Right, good idea.” Mary acknowledged Dean’s suggestion, nervously biting her nails. She instinctively glanced toward the stove, “Robert!” she urgently pointed toward the kitchen, urgently directing his attention to the situation.

“Sh*t!” Robert promptly reacted, rising from his seat and hurriedly rushed into the kitchen. He swiftly wafted away the smoke emanating from the frying pan, ensuring that their dinner remained unharmed. As they sat down to eat, the atmosphere was noticeably subdued, and despite the meal being delicious, the two roommates and their partners merely picked at their food, consumed by their own rushing thoughts. it

Several months later, it appeared their seemingly unnoticed neighbors were displaying significant activity, particularly in the evenings. While engrossed in a Sunday night football game, Dean and Robert, Sharon, Mary and a few other friends from campus, amidst the lively cheering and enthusiastic whistling emanating from the television, the group suddenly became aware of the loud banging and thumping noises originating from the upstairs apartment, C-211; some resembled the sounds of an object dragged heavily across the floor or someone purposefully pounding their fists on the ground.

Joey, one of their friends, expressed his confusion, “Damn, what the hell is that?” he looked around, scanning the white flecked ceiling above them.

Mockingly, Dean responded, “You wouldn’t believe us if we told you, but it’s just the neighbors.” he too, glanced at the ceiling.

“And this is why I enjoy dorm living.” Lizzie, one of their girlfriends stated in a soft, mocking tone while sipping her beer then cheered for her favorite player, “Woo, you go boy!” she quickly apologized to Joey, leaning her head against his shoulder, “Sorry, babe.” her gaze then shifted towards the ceiling hearing another round of loud bangs and echoes through the room, “Jes*s Chr*st…”

“What the f*ck man?!” another friend, John, exclaimed as he stood from the couch, grabbing his coat, “How can we watch the game like this?! They’re making more noise than the f*cking game itself!”

“Look, we don’t know!” Robert contended bluntly, “But we don’t blame if you want to leave.” he stood then gestured toward the front door, “I’m sure you can find the game on the screens at the restaurant down the street.” subsequently, he heard another deafening bang resonate through the room, prompting him to assert, “That’s it…I’m going up there!” he hurriedly maneuvered around the couch, “It’s not the damn TV, it’s not even that loud!” he swung open the front door, then dashed around the pillar and ascended the stairs. As he surveyed the surroundings, he noticed the vacant front patio, giving no indication of anyone living there. With urgency and volume, he knocked multiple times, yet received no reply. As he inclined to knock again, he raised the mailbox drop flap and called out into the apartment, “Hello, anyone in there? Listen, we can hear you up here, keep it down will you?!” however, there was still no response. Expressing his concern, he closed the flap and shook his head. Turning his back, making his way down the seemingly endless stairs, he suddenly halted, as the mailbox drop flap rattled loudly as if someone was peering through it. He turned watching as it swayed, “Hello?!” he shouted, leaning against the railing in hopes of catching a glimpse of the neighbors.

Concerned, Mary called out to him, expressing her worry, seeing his feet between the gaps of the stairs looming above her, “Robert…Rob, get back here you crazy bastard!”

Dean, with a hint of urgency, encouraged, “Rob, come on…” he worried, “it’s not worth it!” he anxiously bit his lip.

Despite the uneasiness that engulfed him, Robert then quickly disregarded the peculiarity. As their friends departed, he securely shut the front door, carefully securing and locking it.

“What do you mean there’s nothing you can do?!” Dean had firmly questioned Scott, after he and Robert became fed up with the incessant noise disturbing their sleep at night and lives in general.

Scott derisively responded, “Unless they’re presenting an issue for your other neighbors, it’s basically your word and nothing else.” he concluded while seated at his desk.

“Are you f*cking serious?!” Robert argued, expressing his deep frustration, “We’re coming in here telling you that they are making noises past curfew hours and you’re sitting there telling us that there’s nothing you can, or won’t do?! This is bullsh*t man, a big load of bullsh*t!” he exclaimed, raising his voice unintentionally, causing the leasing agents at their desks to startle and try to ignore the escalating and loud conversation.

“You should hear ’em, it’s as if there are elephants living up there! You have to do something Sir, please…” Dean loudly pleaded.

“Alright, that is enough. Have a good day, gentlemen. I am sure you can find the door.” Scott dismissed them, focusing on the paperwork on his desk.

“This is bullsh*t!” Robert stormed out of the office with his friend following closely behind, “I’m going to get proof, I’m going to get proof of all of this and then shove it in that damn bastard’s face or up his a**, whatever I can get!” he glanced back at the office in frustration.

Dean nodded in agreement, “I’m with you!” he then cast a quick glance at his watch and urged, “Come on man, we’re going to be late for work.”

As they entered the workspace, their co-workers promptly greeted them, expressing curiosity about their tardiness; the colleagues then suggested that this shouldn’t occur again, as it had happened before since they moved into their spacious new apartment.

Apologizing, Roberto assured them, “Sorry, it won’t happen again.”

However, one of the men shook his head and remarked, “Don’t apologize to us man, we can only cover for you two so many times with the same stories. It’s not our place to keep you in check of your schedules.”

“We got it!” Dean barked, hastily throwing both his jacket and backpack into his locker, “Just…don’t worry about it.” he frowned at his silent colleagues, “Rob, we can’t do this much longer. We can’t live like this anymore, it’s f*cking up our lives.”

“I know.” Robert responded, anxiously adjusting his name tag, “Tonight, we’re going to settle this!” he forcefully shut his locker door then began his shift.

Dean walked alongside him and questioned, “And how are we going to do that?! I mean, it’s not like we can just go into the apartment and take a look around!” he observed a faint mischievous glimmer in his friends’ eye, “You know that I was joking right, you can’t…” he whispered, “be serious, you aren’t really going to break in there, are you?”

“No, I’m not stupid.” Robert whispered back, giving their surroundings a quick glance, “But I am going to sit outside tonight, and see if anyone comes and goes up those stairs, cause we’ve all heard them come and go, I’m going to catch them in the act.”

Dean nodded in agreement, “Right.”

The Manager’s voice echoed through the hall, shouting their names loudly, “Dean…Robert…my office, NOW!”

“Sh*t.” Robert muttered under his breath, his frustration evident clearly.

“F*ck.” Dean cursed, realizing the situation they were in. He turned and noticed the stout man at the end of the hall, motioning them to come closer, “Here we go.”

“Come on, MOVE IT!” the man barked, snapping his short fingers impatiently, “Unlike you, I don’t have all day!”

“Sorry, Sir.” Robert rasped, trying to be politely, “Is there a problem?” he and Dean entered the office.

“I don’t know, you tell me.” the man responded, waddling toward his desk, “I got a call from your apartment Manager, and he has told me that you are pestering your neighbors.”

“Seriously?!” Robert mocked, “What does this have to do with our jobs, Sir?” he questioned, crossing his arms with a genuine curiosity.

“Yeah!” Dean added, placing his hands on his hips.

“Nothing per say, but he wanted to know if the two of you like to cause trouble at work, and while I can’t say that you do, is there something going on over there?” the man softly, and curiously inquired, glancing between the two men, “Is that why you’re showing up late for work, of even missing some days? Because you know that I don’t tolerate nonsense like that, I gave you both a chance! Remember that, hmm?”

“It’s nothing, Sir.” Dean reassured with a smile, “It’s just uh, apartment living. You know how that goes.” he offered a false grin.

“No, I don’t.” the man responded, reclining in his chair, “If I get another call like that, I will have to reconsider both of your positions here, is that clear?”

Robert nodded, “Yes, Sir.”

“Good, now get to work. Your shifts started ten minutes ago.” the man dismissed the two men standing before him. As they left the office, he adjusted his collar and stretched his neck, emitting subtle clicking sounds he kept to himself. He retrieved his phone, placing a call.

During their break, Dean and Robert rendezvoused with Mary and Sharon for a quick lunch in the cafeteria.

Mary expressed her astonishment, “So he still hasn’t done anything about it?”

Robert shook his head, “Not a thing. And can you believe he called our boss to find out if we’re trouble?” he raised his voice unintentionally, but quickly cleared his throat, realizing how it sounded, “None of this sh*t feels right.” he furrowed his brows.

Dean leaned forward, frustration evident, “The tapping has not stopped, we still see the figure and now this?! We don’t know what to do anymore, we really don’t.” he ran his hand through his disheveled blonde hair, which Sharon promptly fixed with a quick, affectionate touch.

“Why don’t you try recording them and play it back for the Manager?” Sharon suggested, “Maybe if he hears it, then he will finally do something about it.”

Dean looked at her and nodded, acknowledging her words, “Not a bad idea, babe.”

“I have my moments.” Sharon said with a smile as she gave her hair a quick fluff, then she glanced at her watch, “Damn, Mary let’s go…got to get back to work! Your place tonight?” she asked, standing up and looking down at Dean.

“Sounds great.” he responded, smiling at her.

“Cool.” she said, leaning in to give him a quick kiss.

“See you later.” Mary kissed Robert.

“Later, babe.” he responded, playfully tapping her butt only to receive a faint squeal in response, “You know, Sharon had a point.” he addressed Dean, “Maybe we should record it, or even call into that radio show that we listen to, no?”

“You mean that YOU listen to.” Dean teased, referring to radio show that discusses all things supernatural.

While glancing at his watch to ensure he was keeping track of the precise schedule of the two residents in apartment C-111, the Manager politely knocked on the door. Without a response, he cautiously surveyed his surroundings, ensuring that he remained unnoticed, before retrieving the Manager’s key from his pocket. Slowly and cautiously, he unlocked the door and announced his presence, but it became evident that the residents weren’t home. As he carefully inspected the tidy apartment, he made a point of examining the cabinets and drawers, searching for any signs of drugs, joints or even medications that could potentially explain any peculiar and strange occurrences or sightings. Although he noticed a case of beer in the fridge, only two were missing, indicating that the two young men weren’t heavy drinkers. Puzzled greatly, he found himself standing in the living room, placing a hand on his hip while the other stroked his bald head, when a faint scraping sound emanated from the apartment above. Acting swiftly, he proceeded to secure the front door closing and locking it firmly. With determination, he made his way up the stairs, unlocking the door to be greeted by towering figures that loomed above him.

“Easy…” he calmly assured, “it’s only me.” he stretched his neck, assuming his true, unnatural appearance, “I thought we agreed to take things slow this time, or have you all…all forgotten what happened to the others?!” his voice deeply reverberated, attracting attention from the diverse array of demons lurking nearby. Walking past them, he paused in front of a mirror situated on the counter overlooking the dormant kitchen, “I have used this place for our hibernation for years, and it is because of you, that it could all come crashing down on us. Is that what you want?!” he intently examined his form in his reflection, his piercing black eyes fixated upon himself, exhibiting an intriguing physical appearance, characterized by his pale and nearly white skin. As he ran his hand, which consisted of merely three fingers, along his face, his significantly wide mouth with razor-sharp teeth curled into a snarl. He licked his thin lips, which revealed a forked tongue that flicked with snake-like swift precision. Despite his hunched back, it was evident that his tall and slender frame couldn’t be contained by the shirt he wore, while his form almost grazed the lofty ceiling. This figure was one of the mythical creatures, specifically known as the Slender Man. Accompanying him were other demons, each considered misfits among their own kind.

“We are sorry.” murmured one of the demons, expressing a deep hiss, “They are…nosey and disturb us with their guests and sounds from that box.”

“Television. It is call a television!” Scott whispered in a low tone, casting a sinister glance at the towering demon that resembled a massive hulk with limbs, “It is something these mere humans seem to find amusing.” he added, moving past the nearby demons, “The time is getting close, I have seen their apartment and know exactly how to handle this, but you MUST…remain quiet, if this is to be done successfully. We must rely on their genuine fear, if we are to survive this year’s hibernation and if they are going to begin again with their pestering and incessant interference…” he sighed then closed his obsidian eyes, “I cannot guarantee their sanity would be much of a feast.”

“How much longer must we wait?!” growled another one of the other demons, bearing the appearance of a traditional monster with horns, claws and split hooves, “We cannot wait, it is unbearable. These humans reek of mortality and sanity.” he snarled through his pig-like snout.

“The time is coming, be patient. That is all I ask of you.” Scott addresses the demons, “And if I have to return again before it is time, I will send you back to where you came from and let your kin do what they wish with you!” his black eyes sneered, “Is that clear?!”

“Yes.” the demons hissed, fixing their gaze upon the front door, where maintenance personnel were knocking for the property’s annual inspections.

“Silence.” Scott motioned for quiet, placing a long, delicate finger against his thin lips. As he transformed back into his human form, tidying his shirt, tie and adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses, he cleared his throat before answering the door.

“Oh, um…” the maintenance man appeared surprised, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone was up here.”

“It’s alright, I was just inspecting the unit.” Scott responded smoothly as he slipped through the door, locking it behind him, “The kids below keep reporting noises up here and I just thought I would check it out myself. Turns out that it was nothing, what are you doing up here?” he wondered.

“Inspections, Sir. Per the community rules.” the man gave a quick nod, then glanced down at the clipboard that he held in hand, where a box of keys sat atop.

“Well, consider this one…” Scott took out a pen from his own pocket, and leaning over, he crossed it off the checklist, “inspected.”

“Y-yes, Sir.” the man nodded, responding respectfully, “Uh, have a good day.” he turned and slowly descended the stairs, occasionally casting a backward glance, before leaving the peculiar encounter behind him. Climbing aboard his cart, he drove across the property.

With a soft sigh, Scott caressed his bald head, releasing a deep growl before descending the steps. As he reached the bottom, he skillfully maneuvered around the building then strolled between the two structures towards the wash. By the fence, he stood, casting a piercing gaze towards the dark, unsettling tunnel on the opposite side while furrowing his brows, attentively listening to the distant screeches and barks. After briefly glancing at his watch, he returned to the office and settled at his desk, diligently and quickly typing out a NUISANCE LETTER intended for apartment C-111, ready for posting. Once it was signed, he set it aside.

“I just hope that…” Dean smiled, glancing at Robert, but his expression then changed abruptly as he cursed loudly, “ugh, what the f*ck is this?!” he immediately grabbed the notice from their door, quickly reading it before roughly passing it to Robert.

“Seriously?!” he frowned, visibly annoyed, “I can’t believe this, a nuisance letter against us?!” he roughly folded it.

“Nuisance for what?” Mary questioned reading the letter she snatched from Robert’s hand.

“But you’re not the problem.” Sharon concluded after she too, read the letter. She finally came around to believe them and the events taking place, “This is wrong, this is so wrong. He can’t do this…” she huffed heavily, returning the letter.

Robert folded the paper, carefully placing it in his pocket before unlocking the door. He glanced to his left, his gaze fixated on the stairs above, expressing disbelief as he thought to himself, “THIS ISN’T OVER YOU F*CKERS, FAR FROM IT.” and stepping aside, he allowed Dean and their girlfriends to pass through ahead of him.

Following their enjoyable double date and dinner, they had retired to their rooms. However, their peaceful slumbers were abruptly interrupted by a series of disconcerting noises, echoing throughout the apartment. The intense thumping, banging, stomping, dragging and crashing sounds created an atmosphere that felt as if someone was forcefully trying to break in, pounding on their door. As Dean, Mary, Robert and Sharon gathered anxiously in the living room, all of their attention was captivated by the unsettling symphony that resonated from above; their eyes fixed on the ceiling.

“One of these days, I swear, a foot is going to come through that god damn roof.” Robert vented in frustration before he grew increasingly angry and fed up. In haste, he rushed to the fridge, reaching around it to retrieve a broom that was tucked between its side and the counter adjacent to their spacious microwave. For the first time since they moved in, he turned and forcefully banged the stick against the ceiling, shouting loudly, “Here, take that you bastards! How do you like it, how does that sound!” he continued with a few more bangs that overshadowed Mary’s voice desperately trying to calm him down as she swiftly approached, trying to free the broom from his firm grasp.

“Robert…” she pleaded, “Rob, please! Stop it…” and with determination, she finally managed to snatch the broom away from him. Stepping back, she leaned it nearby against the closet then shook her head, “Baby, I can’t do this…I just can’t do this anymore.”

Sharon softly whispered, “Me either.” she gazed at Dean before glancing upwards at the ceiling, listening intently as a loud scratching noise echoed through the room as if there were something desperately wanting to claw its way through the floor. Sharon’s voice trembled, “Wh-what the hell is that?!” she strained her ears, following the shifting sounds as they searched for a weak spot to break through.

Reacting quickly, Dean and Robert rushed towards both of their girlfriends. They huddled down behind the table in the hall, fearful of the unsettling scratching. Robert pulled out his phone and began recording the eerie noises. It continued for five, long minutes until abruptly, it ceased, almost as if someone had flipped a switch, ending all of the paranormal and supernatural activity.

In a soft and trembling voice, Sharon asked, “Is-is it over?”

Uncertain, Dean muttered, his gaze shifting towards Robert who played back the recorded sounds, “I don’t know.”

“Got it.” Robert grinned, “I’d like to see what Scott says about this now.” he gripped the phone tightly with hope.

“Well, I’m not sticking around to find out. I’m so done with this!” Sharon abruptly rose, swiftly making her way toward the couch where her jacket was draped over the backrest, “This is too much. Mary, you can stay here if you want but I am heading back to our place.” she added, briefly pausing to glance at her.

“Y-yeah, I hear you.” Mary stammered, then shifted her gaze towards Robert, “I’m sorry but…she’s right, I can’t do this.” she shook her head and hurried past him, grabbing her own jacket on the way.

“Mary…” Robert pleaded, desperately seeking a hopeful reconsideration.

“Sharon, baby…” Dean tried to reach for her, but she moved away from his touch.

“We’re sorry…” Mary wiped her tears, turned on her heels and attentively listened as Sharon unlocked the front door.

“If and when you get this sh*t sorted, and you’re both done obsessing over all of this, you know where to find us but we are not coming back here!” Sharon expressed her concern with a deep frown, then swiftly hurried down the walkway towards her vehicle with Mary following closely behind.

Dean reacted with frustration, “Sh*t!” he cursed, slamming the door, locking it quickly, “This is f*cked up, Rob. I can’t do this anymore either, we’re going to lose our girls and our jobs if we keep this up!”

Understanding the gravity of the matter, Robert raised his phone, ensuring the event was safely stored in his pocket, “I know, but now that we have this, maybe it will stop.” he contemplated, “We’re going to the office first thing in the morning, even if the sun isn’t up yet.”

“Yeah, see if he…” Dean murmured under his breath before detecting the sound of approaching footsteps from outside. He and Robert swiftly rushed towards the patio window, pulling aside the blinds to catch a glimpse of the staircase. Despite hearing footsteps persisting and passing their door, no one appeared to be descending or ascending. Suddenly, a chilling set of knocks echoed forcefully, followed by a rattle of their mailbox drop flap as if an unwanted intruder sought entry, “What the f*ck is that?” Dean whispered, becoming startled as he and Robert turned, witnessing fingers slipping through the metal flap, gripping momentarily before they slowly slithered in retreat.

“Hey!” Robert shouted, dashing towards the front door, vigorously pounding on it, “I know you’re there, I got you on tape you mother f*ckers…it’s over!” he cautiously peered through the peephole only to encounter an absence of any visible figure, just murky shadows, “D-do you think maybe, this apartment, and the one upstairs are haunted and maybe Management found out? Hence, why it was rented for only eight-hundred bucks?” he cast a curious glance toward Dean.

“How the hell should I know, we didn’t sign up for this!” Dean angrily spat, “We can’t just move out of here like…I don’t know, tomorrow! All of our damn savings went into all of the deposits for this place, we’re stuck here dude!” he crossed his arms, visibly irritated, “But we’re definitely, oh definitely going to talk to Scott. We have the recording now, so let’s see if he does something after listening for himself.” he glanced at his watch, “Listen, it’s late and we have to go to bed. We have class tomorrow.” and with that said, he turned and walked down the hall, returning to his room and closing the door behind him.

“Yeah, sure…whatever.” Robert muttered quietly.

As expected, the next morning, the roommates sat outside the office, patiently waiting for Scott to arrive. They stood, watching the main gate, their attention focused on his black truck with tinted windows, parking in an empty space that was marked Management.

“Here we go.” Robert said, looking at Dean.

“Don’t jinx it yet.” Dean responded curtly, rubbing his tired eyes.

Strolling past the young men, heading towards the office to commence business for the day, Scott inquired bluntly with a confident tone, “Shouldn’t the two of you be in class?”

Robert stated straightforwardly, “Listen, Sir…you have to do something about the neighbors upstairs from us, they are ridiculous with their god damn noise making! It goes on and on for hours, and even into the late morning. Even all of our friends and girlfriends hear it, but now because of it, they’ve chosen not to come around.” he emphasized, “And this time, we are not just spewing words, we have proof of it all!”

Scott appeared surprised and anxiously toyed with his keys, “Proof?” he queried, directing his attention toward the young man, “And wh-what is it you have?”

Dean proposed, “I think it’s best we go inside, no?”

Scott composed himself and responded, “Listen…I am only going to say this one more time, there is nothing that I can do about this.”

“Nothing you can do?!” Dean retorted bluntly, “That’s a load of bullsh*t man, come on!”

“What do you want me to do?” Scott snapped, directing his gaze towards him.

“Your god damn job for starters!” Robert grumbled, “We’re telling you that there something going on up there and you are doing nothing about it, so here…listen to this!” he took out his phone from his pocket and played the recording, “This will prove everything that we’re saying, listen!” he extended his arm, displaying the phone in front of himself, Dean and Scott.

Scott furrowed his brow, tilting his head as he listened, “Is this some kind of a joke?” he mocked.

“Wh-what?!” Robert frowned, glancing at the phone, “No, it was…” he placed the phone near his ear, only to hear the faint sound of static and their voices in the background, “I-I don’t…” he stuttered.

“Listen to me, this foolishness has to stop NOW! You are bothering me, complaining about something that no one else around you can hear, and do you think calling into that radio station is going to get you the answers you’re looking for?” Scott impatiently expressed, “You should’ve listened to what they have told you, it is just homeless folks living in the wash and stray dogs.” he readjusted his tie and then proceeded to open the office, “And whatever it is that you’re smoking in that apartment, apparently fried your brains, not to mention it is illegal. Now with that said, there is no one up there, that apartment is, and has been for quite some time, vacant. We don’t get a high occupancy here, now we are done here and I swear if I hear one more word about this, I’ll proceed to see this handled accordingly, is that clear?” he asserted with a glare before entering the office, and shutting the door behind him.

“But…” Dean stuttered hesitantly, his gaze shifting towards Robert as he questioned, “but if it’s vacant, who’s making all that noise and walking up and down the walkway?”

Sullenly, Robert responded softly, “I-I don’t know.” he then turned, shuffling towards their car. Once he settled inside, waiting for Dean to take the wheel, a sense of an impending mental breakdown overwhelmed him. Tiredly rubbing his eyes, he watched Dean seated in the driver’s seat, running his fingers through his blonde hair.

The consequences of their situation gradually unfolded as the day progressed; their negligence reflected in both of their dwindling academic performance and lackluster work output, resulting in a temporary layoff until they sorted it all out. Struggling with unemployment and failing grades, Robert and Dean were gradually losing control over their lives, both personally and professionally.

A month passed, an inexplicable silence enveloped upstairs. Dean and Robert found themselves sitting on the couch, just blankly staring at the TV screen, exchanging puzzled, yet baffled, expressions.

“I wonder what happened up there?” Dean wondered.

Robert, sighing with relief, commented, “Who cares, huh? It is finally quiet. That’s all that matters, maybe we can get back on track now.” he took a sip of his beer then glanced at the door, hearing soft knocks. Frozen in place, a hard lump formed in his throat, “Are you, uh…expecting anyone?” he cast a glance towards Dean.

“N-no…” Dean replied, “are you?”

Robert slowly stood, cautiously approaching the barricaded door, “Who is it?!” he called out, then stepped back, his eyes glanced down, watching as the mailbox drop opened.

“Dean? Robert?” Mary’s voice came from the other side.

Sighing foolishly, the roommates exchanged quick smiles then opened the door, eagerly greeting their girlfriends with hugs and kisses. It had been weeks since they had spoken or seen each other.

“Hey.” Robert said, holding Mary close.

“Hey.” she replied, kissing his neck.

Sharon expressed her concern as she observed Dean’s face, “Are you alright? You look a little…pale.” she rubbed a hand on his chest.

Dean glanced at her, hesitating momentarily before rasping, “Y-yeah, just…it’s nothing, nevermind.” he smiled at her.

“Well then, if that’s the case, look what we brought?!” in an attempt, Mary lifted a hand presenting a takeout bag from the nearby Express Panda restaurant down the street.

Robert’s face brightened, “Oh man, we were just thinking about them!” he proceeded to swiftly shut and lock the door, quickly scanning the surroundings before concluding that the feeling of being watched had subsided; no more figures or threats lurked in the shadows, “I call dibs on the puffs and veggie rolls!” he joked, turning to Mary.

“As if.” she smiled.

Later that night, possibly around 3:00am, the two couples were peacefully asleep when suddenly a terrifying banging dragged across the floor above. This was followed by ear-piercing shrieks, causing a shiver to run down their spines as they quickly sat up in their beds.

Startled, Dean shouted, “Robert!” he jumped from the bed. Sharon clung onto him as they hurriedly swung open their bedroom door, standing in the hall outside the master room.

“What the f*ck is that?!” Mary cried out, looking up in fear.

“I don’t know!” he replied, straining his ears as the noises seemed to move down the hall and into the living room.

“Right, that’s it!” Robert swiftly approached the hall closet, slid open the doors and with trembling hands, searched for the gun they kept securely out of sight and mind.

“R-Robert, where did you get that?!” Sharon whispered.

Robert remained silent, forcefully pushing past Dean and Sharon. He swiftly unlocked the front door, and with Dean and their girlfriends close on his heels, they made their way outside. Standing near the front door, they looked up at the stairs lining the wall above them to their right, their senses heightened as they listened, “The light, turn the light off.” he turned to Mary, gesturing for her to switch off the light by the front door. He watched, without hesitation, as she reached inside, turning it off. Now, concealed in the shadows, they all leaned against the wall, holding their breath, attentive to every sound when suddenly, the front door upstairs swung open in a forceful slam, reverberating throughout the building. The dim light near the stairs cast eerie shadows, depicting figures slowly descending with a menacing approach. Silently, Robert, Dean, Sharon and Mary maneuvered along the wall, finding refuge in the gravel patch beneath the stairs, their gaze fixed on the stairs above.

A grotesque being with large goat-like horns, disfigured legs and long claws scraped along the wall, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. Walking with thunderous steps from its large cloven feet, the demonic figure pushed another towering, pale-skinned, bald headed figure forward, which emitted a spine-chilling shriek upon landing on the walkway at the bottom of the stairs.

Joining them were four more figures, each with unique and horrifying appearance, but bound by a shared feature; their eyes were hollow voids, as if all light had been extinguished. Communicating through a series of clicks and chirps, they surveyed their surroundings, attentively listening to the distant barking hounds and an eerie hiss from a shadowed figure perched on the roof.

Unfortunately, Mary was unable to stifle a soft yelp that had been building up within her. She instinctively covered her mouth with her hands, shutting her eyes tightly in the hopes that the horrifying demons lurking ahead wouldn’t hear her. However, as she cautiously reopened her eyes, they widened to the point where they almost seemed to bulge from their sockets, for there stood the grotesque and malevolent demons, fixated on them with their eerie gaze.

Realizing that they had been spotted, the demons turned and advanced towards the obscured figures concealed under the stairs, emitting deep, bone-chilling growls. Exchanging glances with each other, they then shifted their attention to the Slender Man that stood between them.

“They have seen us…” one of the demons hissed, “they can’t be set free to tell anyone.”

“Who would believe them?” the Slender Man screeched in a low tone, momentarily stooping down due to his tall and emaciated physique. With his head tilting slightly, he stared at the figures with his sinister, hollow eyes, “No, there is something better planned for them.”

Another demon expressed her impatience, “Like what?”

“Insanity.”

Robert, although sensing an overwhelming urge to voice his words, felt a lump forming in his throat. He closed his eyes, unfortunately succumbing to the humiliation of wetting his pajama pants.

To their astonishment, the demons retreated backwards a few paces, returning back to their human disguises. It was an unexpected shock to discover that one of them was one of their Professors from Dean and Robert’s college, two had been fellow students and another was their boss from work. The remaining two were unfamiliar, but the Slender Man, now in his human form, turned out to be none other than the Manager, Scott.

Gulping surprise, Robert observed as Scott retrieved a pair of glasses from his shirt pocket, adjusted his tie then cleared his throat, “It didn’t have to come to this.” he moaned in a straightforward manner, watching the two men and women before him, “All you had to do was just leave things alone, and let it be. But no, you didn’t listen and now you must pay the price.”

“P-price?” Dean stammered, his voice trembling, “What are you talking about?”

“Wh-what are you?” Mary questioned nervously, her voice barely audible.

“It doesn’t matter, man…” one of the students cleared his throat, “you’ve seen us, and your sanity is the price!” he nonchalantly shrugged then cast a glance between the tall buildings, towards the parking lot, noticing the sky started brightening above the nearby rooftops, “It’s dawn. We do this now.”

“A new day indeed.” Scott uttered quietly, adjusting his tie once more.

Dean and Robert, as well as Mary and Sharon, were found days later in the living room, their gazes fixed on the blank TV screen. Their accounts of encountering the demons and classmates, and teachers who could change shape had been deemed nonsensical by the police. As the four individuals were forcibly removed from the apartment and dragged out towards a sizable medical van, they desperately screamed and accused Scott.

“Him…it’s him, he’s the demon! He’s the one! It’s him…” Robert shouted, pointing towards the elegantly attired man. However, his protestations fell on deaf ears as he, along with his friends, were forcefully loaded into the van, “He’s the monster!” he continued his vehement assertions as he pounded against the doors.

Scott conversed with the police, expressing his regret, “It’s a real shame…they were such quiet young men, but…” he watched as other officers joined them, carrying a collection of drugs, pills and liquor bottles, “I guess you can never tell anyone’s true nature, hmm?” he shook his head in disbelief.

The officer, with a raspy voice, jotted down notes in his pad, “They’re college potheads, what do you expect? Guess they couldn’t handle the drama of exams. I’ve seen this before, it shouldn’t surprise, but yet…it does every time.” he too, gave a shake of his head.

Scott nonchalantly shrugged, “You never know.” he then turned his attention towards the bustling parking lot where the slow-moving van attracted the attention of neighbors.

Several months later, four unfamiliar individuals strolled past the sizable noticeboard, catching the sight of a flyer that advertised a 3 bedroom apartment available for rent:

“THREE BED, TWO BATH APARTMENT WITH AN ARRAY OF FULL UTILITIES. RENT IS ONLY $800 ROOMMATES PREFERRED. WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO MARKETPLACE, NOT FAR FROM CAMPUS. CONTACT SCOTT AT 555-555-0505 FOR MORE INFORMATION. QUIET TENANTS ONLY. APPLY TODAY!”

A conversation among friends ensued as one of the men, Mason, had excitedly pulled the eye-catching flyer off the bulletin board, “What do you think?” he queried, “Sounds like a good deal.”

The woman beside him, Jessica, beamed with a smile, “Anything at this point would be great!”

Nodding in agreement, another young man, Ezra, chimed in, “We can take a look after class.”

Later that afternoon, the four roommates ventured onto the property, eager to explore their potential new home.

Curiously, the other woman, Alexis, questioned, “Wait, isn’t this the same place Robert and Dean rented from?” she studied the community.

Quietly, Ezra responded, “I uh, I don’t know. I never got the name.” he parked the car by the office.

Persistently, Mason stated, “At this point, eight hundred is not that bad. As long as our neighbors aren’t drag-queens, I am taking this place.” he looked at his friends.

In a friendly manner, Alice jokingly smacked the back of his head, “Coming from the gay one in this group, that’s funny.” she shook her head.

Acknowledging the humor, Mason grinned then stepped out of the car, gesturing towards the vibrant display of the flowers planted near the office, “Love the flowers and all of the colors.”

“Of course you would.” Ezra shook his head.

Inside, Scott stood, peering through the blinds, nodding in approval. Adjusting his glasses and fixing his tie, he took a seat at the desk, patiently waiting for the young women and men to enter. As expected, after their meeting and the brief inspection of the apartment, the lease was signed. Filled with excitement, they exited the office and joyfully climbed back into the car, however, it was Alice that felt a chill run down her spine as she caught an eerie glimpse of Scott at the window, continuing to peer through the blinds.

Weeks later Alice, Ezra, Mason and Jessica became aware of the individuals residing upstairs, they came to know the DWELLERS…

Of apartment C-211.