Delusion [ Chapter 14 ]
FOUND
“They are refusing to connect us to the department...”
“That’s unfair ...”
Yabu mouthed something furiously at his cell. Takaki sighed and pushed his back against the wall. “What now?”
“Wakarunaii...Ryo... why you?”
Yabu forced his cell back into a tiny jacket pocket. Takaki closed his eyes. He wanted to rest. Just for a moment. He closed his eyes, and listened to the silence around him being broken by the boys’ chatter, Daiki munching on his pocky, Hikaru’s snores, Yabu’s continuous muttering and some heavy breathing. He tried to forget everything that happened till now. He wanted to open his eyes and find everything back to normal. Impossible but a soothing thought nonetheless. As he indulged further into his consciousness, something hit him. He opened his eyes and stared around at the boys. There was an extra sound he had picked up. None of the boys were breathing that heavily. He gently tugged Yabu’s arm, to avoid anyone noticing.
“Yabu...did you hear that?”
“What?”
“That sound... like some heavy panting or something...” he whispered.
“Is someone tired? And why are we whispering?”
“Cause none of us are tired Yabu. Nor panting...”
Yabu stared at Takaki who looked uneasy. “We need to leave..”
“Why? What do you suspect?”
Takaki stared at the boys. “Knowing this abandoned floor, nothing good.”
“Okay...lets alert them..”
“But do it silently Yabu. I want our movements to be unnoticed..Yabu?”
Takaki stared at Yabu who’s expression changed within seconds. He stared into the darkness behind them, his eyes wide with shock.
“Ta...takaki....I don’t think ..we can do that....”
“Nande... Yabu? Daijobu?”
“We’re being watched...he’s looking at me...at us...”
Takaki stood up. He felt a jolt vibrate through his spine. Ignoring the many goose bumps on his hand, he went to the circle of boys and muttered “We need to get out of here... now...please”
The boys stared at his pale expression and exchanged nervous glances. Chinen woke Hikaru up and shushed him as he made a loud moaning sound upon being woken up. Without further questioning, the boys packed within seconds ready to move out. As curious as they were, Takaki and Yabu’s expressions were all they needed to make a move. Takaki approached Yabu who had completely frozen a few feet back. His gaze fixated on the eyes visible through the plastic curtains placed on the windows. Behind one of these curtains was definitely a man. As still as a rock, and so well blended within the darkness, had he not panted, they would never had guessed his presence
“Yabu.. Ikou...”
“ha.... hai...”
They tried their best to act natural, and moved towards the door. Chinen tugged at it. But it wouldn’t open. Yuto pushed him aside gently and put all his strength into pulling the door open. Panic spread amongst them as one by one they tried their best to pull the door open.
“It can’t be locked... how can it be locked? We just came in a few hours back! The door is right in front of us...” Inoo squeaked nervously. Takaki brushed everyone aside and tugged the door extremely hard. It all happened in a matter of seconds. The handle came off with a loud sound and Takaki fell onto HIkaru who attempted to catch him. They both fell pushing Keito onto the fuse box behind. The impact caused fluctuations in the lighting. As the lights flickered on and out, the elevator button glowed and the doors opened. All the lights on the floor were now on. The man would definitely be visible, had anyone bothered to get a glimpse of him. They were paralysed with fear as they witnessed what lay behind the elevator door. It was far more terrifying, more horrible than anything they had ever seen. Even the man’s laughter at their terrified faces went unnoticed. Chinen yelled and moved back towards Keito who crawled away in disbelief from where he had taken the fall. Yabu and Takaki gazed in utter shock as Yuto fell to his knees. Hikaru walked back slowly until he bumped into Inoo who was frozen against the wall behind the crowd. Within the elevator doors, hanging by the belts, was the decaying corpse... of the missing victim.