I stayed frozen for a moment, listening—really listening.
Nothing.
No distant footsteps. No doors creaking. Not even the subtle hum of electricity from the flickering hallway lights. Just an unnatural, suffocating stillness. It was as if the entire building had been abandoned, as if I was the only one left… but that wasn't possible.
I stepped cautiously into the hallway, my bare feet barely making a sound against the cold floor. The air felt stale, untouched, like no one had walked through here in hours—maybe even days. Where was everyone?
My eyes flicked toward the receptionist's desk downstairs, expecting to see the old woman hunched over her usual paperwork. Empty.
A chill crawled up my spine.
Maybe they all left for campus? That had to be it, right? But still… the emptiness didn't feel right. It felt wrong.
Then, from somewhere in the building, something shifted.
