C4 Don't Go to the 14th Floor

Wang Tao's voice was deep, a stark contrast to his usual playful tone. He spoke with grave seriousness, "You're aware there's something unclean in this building, aren't you? If you value your life, steer clear of the 14th floor. Anger the entity inside, and no one can save you. The curse has begun. Only you can control the spiritual staircase. If one day it fails to stop on time, it's over for you."

I pressed on, "Are you human or a ghost? Why is Ms. Liu out to get me?"

Exhaling deeply, Wang Tao replied, "I'm not a ghost. Ghosts are bound to the spiritual staircase. I did use you to make my escape, but I assure you, I have no intention of harming you. Take my advice, little brother. Liu Rong is cunning. Don't fall for her tricks. And here's my number—call me if you run into trouble."

I was momentarily stunned, my nerves almost causing me to drop my phone. Sensing Wang Tao was about to end the call, I hurriedly asked, "Do you know the young girl on the third floor, about sixteen or seventeen? And what about the woman in white on the 14th floor?"

There was a lengthy silence from Wang Tao. I feared he'd disconnected, but after several prompts, he finally said, "That girl isn't human. And the woman... I can't say much. She usually doesn't venture out, but... just keep your distance. I've told you what I can. There are forces there I dare not cross. Remember, do not go to the 14th floor!"

Ending the call, I felt a chill soaking through my back. Was Wang Tao truly a ghost? The question haunted me. Ms. Liu claimed he was, yet he denied it. The more I thought about it, the harder it was to believe I might actually be communicating with a ghost! Clutching my head, I felt it might burst. With midnight approaching, I was still torn about what to do.

Back in the control room, Wu Yi remained motionless in his seat. He was silent as I entered. We exchanged glances, each returning to our respective tasks without a word.

At 11:50, Wu Yi suddenly spoke up, "Time's up. Aren't you heading up?"

Startled, I cautiously asked, "How do you know I need to go up? Did Ms. Liu tell you?"

Wu Yi shook his head, then nodded. "I reviewed all the surveillance footage before you arrived, from the deleted files to today's. I didn't miss anything. Plus, Ms. Liu had mentioned a few things to me. When you walked in with paper, a pen, and a cup, I put it all together. I'm the one who taught Ms. Liu that method."

I was taken aback, urgently asking him like someone grasping at a lifeline, "What should I do now? That man called me again, warning me not to go to the 14th floor or I'd be risking my life."

"Don't panic," Wu Yi reassured me. "I'll go up with you. When we get to the 14th floor, you stay in the elevator. I'll take the items in and come back down quickly."

Grateful, I asked if he would be in any danger. Wu Yi, with a stoic face, replied, "I'm just fulfilling my part of the deal. Ms. Liu paid me a sum of money; it's my job to handle these matters."

Excitedly, I blurted out, "So you're a Taoist?" Wu Yi gave me a puzzled look and said, "Taoists? They're hardly around these days. No, I'm not one. I'm just a feng shui master. The method I shared with you is a traditional one. The pen and paper are for communicating with the entities inside, as sometimes ghosts and humans can't interact directly. The cup of water represents your intentions. Who? The cup is an offering, so it doesn't seem abrupt. It lets them know you mean no offense and simply wish to understand their purpose. Leave the items there, and we'll come back during the day to retrieve them. Then, everything will be clear."

I questioned the effectiveness of this plan. Wu Yi, growing impatient, admitted he wasn't sure but suggested we give it a try.

Wu Yi then stood up and said, "Let's head out."

Glancing at the clock, it read 11:56. I followed Wu Yi, timing our entry to the elevator perfectly. As we pressed the button, my heart raced. The elevator ascended quickly, yet my anxiety was palpable. When it halted, Wu Yi instructed me to keep the button pressed and wait inside for him. I watched the seconds tick by, anxiously awaiting Wu Yi's return.

At the stroke of midnight, Wu Yi still hadn't emerged. I couldn't help but worry that something had gone wrong. Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number: "Leave now, don't worry about me!"

A chill ran down my spine. That number belonged to Wu Yi. We had exchanged numbers when we first met, but I had been too preoccupied to save it. It seemed likely that Wu Yi had run into trouble. Wang Tao had warned that the 14th floor was fraught with danger, and his words now echoed ominously in my mind. As the seconds ticked by, my anxiety mounted. Wu Yi had gone there for me; leaving now would be the height of ingratitude. Yet, standing there, I felt utterly helpless. My fingers clung to the elevator button, my heart suspended in uncertainty.

Out of nowhere, a figure clad in red darted in. Startled, I stumbled backward. The elevator button slipped from my grasp, and the doors began to close. Instinctively, I reached to hold them open, but a voice interrupted, "Brother, run for it! You can't save him."

I whirled around to face a familiar face, a girl staring back at me with resolve.

Whether she was a ghost or not was the least of my concerns. I demanded to know if she had seen Wu Yi and what had transpired inside.

The girl's brow furrowed, and she looked at me with a mournful gaze. "Brother, it's past midnight. Don't concern yourself with it any longer. If you don't leave now, the spiritual staircase will spiral out of control."

Without any button being pressed, the elevator halted on the third floor. The girl hopped out, then turned back to me, "Brother, may I keep your clothes for a little longer?"

I knew I should reclaim them, but as I opened my mouth to speak, no words came out. Once the elevator doors shut, I descended straight to the ground floor and hastily shut off the power. Collapsing to the ground, I gasped for air. My phone rang abruptly. Expecting Wu Yi, I was instead greeted by Ms. Liu's frantic voice inquiring about my whereabouts. I told her I was beside the elevator.

She spoke with terror in her voice, "You mustn't go to the 14th floor; it's deadly."

Exasperated, I retorted, "Now you tell me? Wu Yi's already up there, and whether he's dead or alive, I have no idea."

Ms. Liu told me to wait for her, and I'm on my way now.

Ms. Liu didn't arrive until three in the morning. When I asked her why it took so long, she explained that even if she had arrived earlier, she couldn't have opened the door. Apparently, the hours between midnight and two a.m. were too risky. I thought to myself, "You really value your own life, don't you? Meanwhile, I'm the one who's been dragged into this mess." Once inside, Ms. Liu suggested we check upstairs. I asked her if she wasn't scared anymore. She scoffed, "Scared of what? The chickens are already crowing. What could possibly happen now?"

I couldn't help but sneer, realizing she had it all figured out from the start.

We took the stairs, and for the first time, I got a good look at the entire building. Apart from the ground floor, every level was cloaked in dust, clearly neglected for ages. I'd made up my mind that if anything happened to Wu Yi, I'd call the police immediately and forget about any supposed curse. I needed to get out of this godforsaken place.

Upon reaching the 14th floor, Ms. Liu, panting heavily, indicated we had arrived and instructed me to follow her. The floor was unlit, its decor oddly archaic, with two screens by the door featuring hand-sewn illustrations. As I was examining the apartment with curiosity, Ms. Liu called out to me. I turned to see her crouching next to a figure—it was Wu Yi, lying motionless on the ground, his face gaunt. Ms. Liu whispered that he had just passed out and was otherwise okay. "Carry him down first," she said, "I'll be right behind you." I agreed without hesitation.

With Wu Yi on my back, I watched my step carefully. The staircase, long overdue for a cleaning, was thick with dust, and the dim lighting made me wary of a potential fall. After descending a few flights, I got the eerie feeling that someone was following me. Assuming it was Ms. Liu, I asked if she'd found anything else. She didn't respond, and moments later, I felt a hand tugging at my clothes. Startled, I turned around to find myself face-to-face with the little girl from the third floor. Her sudden appearance nearly made me lose my balance, but she grabbed onto me, preventing a fall.

My heart was racing, and with a gulp, I managed to ask, "What do you want?"

The little girl just smiled, her teeth gleaming, and her bright eyes fixed on me. "Big brother, I'm sorry if I frightened you."

Her soft voice eased my fear a bit. I figured, even if she were a ghost, what could a teenage girl possibly do to a grown man like me? Remembering that she still had my jacket, I reassured myself and inhaled sharply before asking, "Do you still have my coat? When can I get it back?"

Ms. Liu had mentioned that ghosts could track someone through their scent or personal items. The little girl hadn't returned my jacket, and if I wanted to shake her off, I needed it back. She didn't seem to harbor any ill will; she had even popped up in my elevator yesterday, warning me to run.

With a pout, the girl replied, "I'll give it back soon, in a few days."

At a loss for words, I responded in frustration, "I'm broke and have no money. Why are you following me? Look, if you agree to leave me alone, I'll do my best to help you with whatever wish you have!"

I remembered from horror movies that hauntings often involved unfulfilled wishes or unforgivable deeds. Helping a ghost achieve their last desire usually ended the haunting. I was raised in the countryside; I hadn't so much as stolen corn, let alone committed serious crimes! The girl suddenly giggled, covering her mouth – she was pretty, but it sent shivers down my spine. Then, with a serious cough, she warned, "Brother, if Liu Rong asks for your birth details, you must never tell her!"