C3 Wu Yi

I asked Old Zhang how he came to know about it. Old Zhang told me that he and his friends were terrified after reading a report. They went online to dig deeper and found several news articles that had been censored. These articles mentioned an eerie, ancient building in the Dongcheng district that seemed to undergo renovations every two to three years. However, tenants would either move out within days or suffer accidents. Despite multiple police investigations, the cases remained unresolved. Former residents claimed the building was haunted.

Old Zhang also mentioned that he had researched the building's past and consulted several locals. They all confirmed that the building had been sealed off for years. With the founding of the country and the skyrocketing land prices, the area became increasingly attractive for its market value. Many attempted to refurbish and rebuild, but they all ended up losing substantial amounts of money because the place was truly uninhabitable.

Regardless of whether the little girl I encountered yesterday was something sinister, I was too frightened to return to that location. I asked my roommate to search online for a man named Wang Tao, the owner of a renovation company. I wondered if he was connected to the fire or, perhaps, if he had perished in it.

My roommate shook his head, indicating there was no such person. They even checked the newspaper's obituary to confirm that Wang Tao's name wasn't listed. I breathed a sigh of relief.

I immediately phoned Ms. Liu and informed her that I could no longer work at that site. Surprisingly, Ms. Liu didn't inquire about my reasons, which convinced me that she was more aware of the situation than I was and had deliberately kept me in the dark.

Ms. Liu's response was unsettlingly calm, "It's too late now."

I didn't grasp her meaning. She continued evenly, "Setting aside the contract for a moment, did you ever fail to close the elevator on time?"

A sense of dread washed over me. Was she going to hold this against me, to threaten me over a lapse in my work ethic? Determined, I replied, "What if I did?"

Ms. Liu let out a soft laugh and said, "I intended to save you, but you've broken the rules. Even if I were to release you, they wouldn't. You're cursed, and there's no escape."

Confused, I asked, "Who are they?"

Ms. Liu replied, "You must have some idea by now, so I won't keep you in the dark. If you follow my instructions, everything will be fine. However, you didn't just forget to shut down the elevator; you also released something you shouldn't have."

Alarmed, I pressed her for an explanation.

With a calm tone, Ms. Liu explained, "Since its construction, this building has seen many deaths. Despite efforts by the police and numerous Feng Shui experts, nothing has helped. In fact, things have only gotten worse. After last year's incident, no one dares to live here anymore. I'll be straight with you—the elevator is no ordinary lift; it's a spiritual staircase. And the building's main entrance isn't just any door; it's the gateway to the living world. There's definitely something sinister upstairs, but as long as the spiritual staircase is properly guarded, they can't descend. That's why the elevator must be shut down promptly at midnight. The main entrance is their only path to our realm. Think about it—did you let something slip by yesterday?"

My mind raced as I pondered her words. "There was a man named Wang Tao. Initially, he asked me to help him open his room door. Later, we took the elevator down together. After a brief chat, he left. I did open the door for him, but if he's what you're implying, how could he ride the elevator with me? It wasn't even midnight yet. Plus, when he read my palm, I felt warmth in his hand. How can a ghost have a body temperature?"

"You're too innocent," Ms. Liu chided. "Who told you ghosts can't have a body temperature? He managed to go downstairs by leeching off your life energy. He clung to you and used the spiritual staircase to descend. He intentionally befriended you, waiting until it was nearly midnight before leaving through the gateway. You've been deceived."

Reflecting on the encounter, a detail struck me. While standing by the door with Wang Tao, he seemed to be deliberately engaging in conversation, feigning a sense of camaraderie, all the while just killing time. I addressed Ms. Liu through the intercom, "If you're saying Wang Tao is a ghost, then why isn't his name on last year's death registry?"

Ms. Liu fell silent for a moment before saying, "Based on what you're telling me, he probably wasn't killed by the fire. This building is home to more spirits than you can imagine—the explosion last year was just one incident among many."

I was shaken and took a moment before responding, "I can't do this job anymore!"

Ms. Liu replied, "I have no objections, but let me remind you of something. You got this job because you picked up money on the spiritual staircase and it brought you upstairs. By the time we found him, he had been unconscious for two days and nights. He was mentally disturbed when he woke up and eventually committed suicide in the mental hospital. His suicide note read: 'I should never have entered the elevator, nor should I have picked up that cursed money.' I only learned about your situation by reviewing the surveillance footage. I'm not sure if you took anything of theirs, but what I am certain of is that the entity you released will come looking for you. Whether it harbors any ill will, I can't say. You'd better watch out for yourself."

My mind was in turmoil. Out of sheer irritation, I abruptly ended the call with Ms. Liu. After leaving the school, I hopped into a cab and headed straight to Qiao's place—the friend who had recommended the clerical job to me. As soon as I saw him, I punched him and demanded to know why he referred me to work in the Ghost Building. He hung his head and apologized, explaining that he was tempted by the hefty referral fee Ms. Liu offered and knew I was desperate for money. He said he felt pressured to act and that I could hit or yell at him if it made me feel better.

Fuming, I stomped my foot and exclaimed that he had nearly gotten me killed!

Qiao listened to my story and repeatedly apologized. I didn't want to waste words with him, so I asked if he knew how my predecessor had died. He shook his head, saying he didn't know but offered to find out. After several phone calls, he confirmed what Ms. Liu had told me.

Moreover, Qiao shared that of the three clerks who had worked there before me, aside from the one who disappeared, the other two had met untimely deaths. His face turned ashen as he spoke, and through clenched teeth, he confessed that had he known the truth, he wouldn't have sent me there for all the money in the world.

At this point, I had no desire to continue debating with Qiao. After parting ways, I got a call from Ms. Liu. She cut to the chase and asked if I had taken anything from upstairs. I told her I hadn't, and she seemed satisfied, telling me I was free to go.

Then, it hit me—I remembered a little girl knocking on my door last night, asking for a piece of clothing.

Before I could finish my thought, Ms. Liu interjected, "You can't leave now. You need to come back to work tonight!"

I slumped to the ground, bewildered. "This has to be a joke," I muttered in fear. "It's just a piece of clothing. What harm could she do? I haven't committed any crimes; there's no animosity here. Why would they target me?"

Ms. Liu explained that my scent and hair were on the clothing. If she wanted to harm me, just one strand of hair could lead her right to me. She could possess me and turn me into her scapegoat! If possible, I should try to get the clothing back, but Ms. Liu doubted she would return it.

Feeling utterly defeated, I couldn't believe my situation had deteriorated to this. Ms. Liu's voice softened, "Do you want to live?"

I was taken aback, then blurted out, "Of course, I do." Ms. Liu instructed me to visit the 14th floor that night, armed with a pencil, a glass of water, and a red piece of paper. "Make sure you take the elevator at 11:58 pm and return before 12:05 am, or else you're a goner," she warned.

"What does this all mean?" I asked.

Ms. Liu's response was cryptic, "Your survival hinges on the 14th floor. Don't ask too many questions. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss."

After ending the call, my mind was elsewhere. I kept thinking about Wang Tao's words. I was convinced that even if he was a ghost, he meant me no harm. In fact, he had cautioned me to shut the elevator promptly, secure the door, and above all, avoid the 14th floor at all costs.

Yet here was Ms. Liu, insisting that my life depended on going to the 14th floor!

Whose advice should I follow?

Ms. Liu had deceived me, but truthfully, any boss looking to hire might do the same. Yet, I realized I knew nothing about her. Instead, Wang Tao's words seemed increasingly credible to me.

Regardless, I was determined to stay in the Ghost Building. My life was on the line, and the only way to reclaim it was to face the danger head-on.

After a few hours of sleep in my dorm, I grabbed a meal at the cafeteria, attended my classes, and did my usual studying. When I got back to the dorm, I caught my reflection in the mirror and was shocked to see how much weight I'd lost in just half a month; dark circles had etched themselves under my eyes. Despite my roommates' advice, I went out that night.

Arriving at work, I noticed a new face by the monitors, likely the newcomer Ms. Liu had mentioned. I approached and introduced myself. He was a lanky guy with pale skin, deep-set eyes, and distinct eyebrows. He was not much of a talker. After exchanging brief introductions, he resumed his watch over the screens with a stoic demeanor. I didn't bother striking up further conversation, my mind preoccupied with whether to visit the 14th floor. As I was wrestling with the decision, Wu Yi slapped his forehead and mentioned that someone had come by looking for Lee Fan—I had nearly slipped his mind.

I inquired about the visitor's identity, but Wu Yi only knew he was somewhat dark-skinned and stocky. The man had left his phone number, insisting I would call.

Confused, I realized it had to be Wang Tao, the 'person' Ms. Liu had referred to—the one I had released. Why was he so sure I'd call him? Was he trying to thank me for setting him free?

I stepped outside and dialed the number. Sure enough, it was Wang Tao on the line. His first words were a warning: "Don't go to the 14th floor. She's intentionally trying to hurt you."

A chill of cold sweat coated my back as I quickly asked him, "Are you a person or a ghost?"