Chills and Thrills Grave Mistake

Dave tightened his grip on the cardboard box, which had the words ‘Kitchen Stuff’ scribbled on it, his breath misting in the cool air. The scent of damp leaves filled his nose as he walked towards his new apartment complex.

A muffled thump came from the alley to his right, causing him to jump. A fleeting shadow darted out of sight, and Dave paused, his heart racing, and glanced over his shoulder. The street was empty, with a streetlight flickering in the distance. It was his first night in this place, and the quiet was more unsettling than he had anticipated. With a shrug, he chalked it up to his imagination and continued.

As he approached the apartment entrance, a figure emerged from the inside. The man looked up, his eyes widening in surprise before a smile spread across his face. “You must be the new guy.” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Nathan.”

Dave returned the smile, relieved. He shifted the box in his arms to shake hands. “I’m Dave. Just moving in tonight.” The weight of the box felt heavier, and he was eager to get inside and unpack.

Nathan nodded, his eyes flicking to the box before meeting Dave’s again. “Need a hand?”

“Thanks, that’d be great,” Dave replied, gratefully passing the box over. The two men stepped into the dimly lit foyer, the scent of old carpet and something faintly metallic entering their noses. The walls also had slightly peeling wallpaper on them.

“The elevator’s a bit wonky,” Nathan warned, his voice echoing in the empty space. “It’s quicker to take the stairs.”

They climbed the stairs, their footsteps echoing in the stairwell.

On one of the walls, there were some some notices for a few tenants, a few were torn and old, while others looked like they were recently added. As they walked up the stairwell, the sound of a distant TV show echoed out.

Dave fumbled with his keys, and eventually managed to unlock the door to 4A, and the faint smell of lemon cleaner greeted them as they stepped inside. The apartment was smaller than he remembered from the listing, but it had a cozy charm. The living room was bare except for a second-hand couch that had seen better days, but it was a start.

As they set the box down, the TV’s muffled laughter grew louder, and a door down the hallway creaked open. An old woman peered out, her eyes narrowing suspiciously at them.

“Don’t mind Mrs. Jenkins,” Nathan said, his voice low. Dave nodded, his smile politely forced as he waved at her. She squinted at them before retreating into her apartment, with the door clicking shut. He turned to Nathan, who had already moved on to inspecting the space.

“So, what brings you here?” Nathan asked, his eyes sweeping over the room.

“Needed a fresh start.” Dave said, shrugging.

“We all have our reasons for moving, don’t we?”

They worked on unpacking dishes and setting up the kitchen. The conversation was mostly about the quirks of the building, along with a few locations in town. ‘Well, this is a welcome distraction.’ Dave thought to himself.

As they finished up, Dave couldn’t help but ask about the noise from the alley. “You hear that weird thump when I was coming in?”

Nathan paused, his hand hovering over a container. “Oh, that?” He chuckled. “Probably just a raccoon. They get into the dumpsters sometimes.”

They sat on the couch, and chatted for a while. The TV remained off, the only sound the occasional creak of the old building. As the hours ticked by, Dave found himself feeling more at ease.

But as the night grew later, the laughter from the TV upstairs grew louder. Dave’s eyes kept drifting to the peephole, the need to check the hallway growing stronger.

“You okay?” Nathan asked, noticing his discomfort. Dave forced a laugh. “Yeah, just a little jumpy. First night in a new place, you know?”

Nathan nodded, his expression understanding. “Well, if you ever need anything, I’m just down the hall.”

With a final handshake, Dave watched as his new neighbor disappeared into the stairwell, the door closing with a soft click. He was left alone in the apartment, the laughter from upstairs now the only sound keeping him company. He told himself it was just the TV, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t alone.