Chapter 2: The Unknown Voice

The morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on the floor. Lin Xue’s eyelids felt heavy—she had barely slept the night before. Even so, she didn’t dare recall that moment in the elevator—the blurry figure that didn’t belong to her. She tried to relax, but deep down, a subtle force kept reminding her that everything wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

The vibration of her phone broke the morning silence. Lin Xue frowned slightly and glanced at the screen—it was a message from Xiao Ling.

“Xue-jie, are you okay? Did I scare you a bit with what I said yesterday? If you're feeling off, please let me know.”

Lin Xue stared at the screen in silence. Her heart was warmed, but mixed emotions surged up within her. She didn’t want to worry Xiao Ling with her bizarre experience from the night before. Yet, the lingering doubts inside her made her want to confide in someone she could trust.

She quickly typed a reply:

“I’m fine, just a little tired. Thanks for checking in, don’t worry.”

Then she turned off the screen, took a deep breath, and began to prepare breakfast.

But even such a simple task couldn't shake off the tension she felt deep inside. Everything from last night still seemed to hang in the air, as if it hadn’t really passed. She finished her breakfast quickly, deciding to give herself a quiet morning to sort through her thoughts.

Heading into the kitchen, she began to make a cup of hot tea. Steam rose gently, curling in the air. She took a sip, the fresh taste slightly easing her anxiety—but the worry in her heart remained. She wasn’t sure if her unease came from the strange events on the fourth floor, or from the mysterious figure she’d seen in the elevator. Either way, it haunted her.

Lin Xue decided to find out more about the fourth floor. After all, she’d lived in this building for years and had never heard of anyone living on that floor. Maybe a little curiosity would lead to some answers—or at least ease her mind.

Just then, the doorbell rang, pulling her from her thoughts. Her heart skipped a beat. She set down the teacup and walked to the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw a familiar face—it was the elderly lady from downstairs.

“Lin Xue, good morning.” The woman’s voice was kind and warm. “You don’t look too well today. Didn’t sleep well again?”

Lin Xue opened the door and responded with a polite smile, “Good morning, Auntie. I’m fine, just a little tired from last night.”

The auntie gave her a quick look, seemingly concerned, but soon returned to her usual gentle tone. “I know you live alone—it must feel a bit quiet, huh? I can help check your door lock if you want. This building is safe, but that fourth floor… well, you know.”

Lin Xue’s heart jumped. She had just been thinking about the fourth floor—and now the auntie had brought it up. Instinctively, she asked, “The fourth floor? Auntie, is there something strange about it?”

The woman hesitated. Her eyes flickered briefly, then she sighed.

“The fourth floor… years ago, a well-off family lived there. But they moved out not long after. Ever since then, that floor has been empty. Nobody wants to live there. They say it’s vacant, but sometimes I still hear strange noises coming from the hallway.”

Lin Xue felt a chill run down her spine. “Strange noises? What kind?”

The auntie fell silent for a moment, her gaze a bit evasive.

“Well… it’s hard to describe. Sometimes it sounds like something falling, other times like footsteps. It just doesn’t feel right. And some nights, the hallway feels… eerie. Like something’s pressing down on the air. It’s probably nothing, but I often get a bad feeling about it.”

A cold unease crept into Lin Xue’s chest. Even the auntie had noticed odd things about the fourth floor. She forced a smile. “Thank you for the warning. I’ll be careful.”

The auntie nodded. “Good. Take care of yourself. Let me know if you need anything.” With that, she turned and walked away.

Lin Xue stood at the door, watching the auntie leave. Her thoughts returned to the vague figure she had seen in the elevator that night—one that looked like her, yet somehow not. She still couldn’t explain why she had seen such an image. It felt familiar, yet distant, like another version of herself standing behind her.

She decided not to dwell on those unexplainable details. Today, she was going to dig into the history of the fourth floor. She needed to uncover the past—maybe then she could calm the storm of doubt in her heart. She had to know what secrets were hidden behind it all.

She changed her clothes, ready to step out. But just as she took her first step outside, a low, muffled knock echoed from behind her.

In that moment, her heart jumped once more.