Step after step. Shaky breath after shaky breath.
'That thing really is leading me down the staircase all the way back to the first floor, huh?'
I tried telling it I'd rather take the elevator, but it insisted — "politely" insisted — that I use the stairs. And that it accompany me.
'I'm leading it right down to everyone else. I have to stop it somehow — or warn them — or they're all gonna die!'
No matter how often I tried to talk it out, the anomaly wouldn't budge. Worse, I saw other security anomalies walking up and down the stairwell, their footsteps echoing like clockwork.
The problem? They scaled these stairs faster than my eyes could track.
'No wonder this thing killed seventeen recruits on the ninety-first floor...'
For a second, I honestly felt like curling up inside an elevator and staying there forever. But this wasn't the time to be swallowed by fear.
If I can't stop it, I at least have to warn them.
"Excuse me," I ask, trying to sound calm, though my voice trembles. "Is there any way to contact the other floors without physically entering them?"
The tall creature in blue office attire stops, turns, and tilts its head at me. Silence follows. Then it speaks.
"There are multiple telephones on each floor, connected to every other floor. Is there anyone you would like to call?"
I swallow hard.
"I have a couple of friends on a lower floor," I say carefully. "I'd like to ask them to clock out early… to spare you some work for your service."
It stands still for a few seconds before cheerfully responding.
"That is very thoughtful of you. Please allow me to lead the way."
We walk a few steps further down before it opens the door. [Floor 72]
'Shit. This is Abby's floor. I hope she and the others already left.'
I glance around for the first time since entering the floor. Unlike the others, this one has no working computers. No lights at all either. Dust dances in the air, and cobwebs lace the corners of the ceiling.
'Looks abandoned. I guess not every floor's been kept alive.'
'How did Abby navigate through this floor anyway? I can hardly see anything at all!'
Luckily, a few meters away from the door, there was a table — standard Bureau setup: papers, a computer, and an old-fashioned telephone.
The creature stands a few meters back as I dial, as if respecting my privacy.
'Tch. Keep pretending to have manners all you like. The blood stains on your hands tell the truth.'
A few seconds pass. No answer. I try again. Still nothing. On the third attempt—
"Who… who's there?"
'It's that guy who wanted to pick a fight with me.'
"It's me, Yuwon — the blonde guy from earlier. Listen carefully: there's a security guard on its way down to the first floor. It already killed seventeen people on the ninety-first. You guys have to flee — but don't take the stairs, they're full of others like it."
The voice on the other end bursts into laughter.
"Pfffft, and we're supposed to believe that, yeah?" He spits. "You're just trying to get us to play errand girl after most of us refused to follow your plan!"
'This guy…'
"No, I mean it! You guys aren't—"
"So what if one of those things is coming down, huh? That brawns-for-brain and his lapdog dealt with one earlier just fine."
"But this one's more dang—"
"Listen here, blondie. You better hope that thing never comes down here. Because if it does, the next thing I'll beat senseless after that anomaly will be you."
——Peep. The call ends.
'That went about as well as i imagined.'
I lower the receiver slowly.
'Whatever. I'll just drop this thing off on that guy and bolt for the elevators back to Louis.'
I returned to the security guard.
"Allow me to continue leading your path," the anomaly says smoothly.
I stay silent and follow.
What I thought would take five minutes ends up taking fifteen. By the time we reach the first floor, I'm gripping the railing, my legs burning with exhaustion.
'God damn it my legs feel like they're on fire—'
We step out into the lobby.
The anomaly's attention shifts from me to the other recruits. It asks one to leave; then turns to another, it suddenly backhands them hard enough to send teeth flying.
Oddly enough, despite its strength, teamwork wins — a few recruits gang up, forcing it back.
'Thia is the same thing that killed atleast seventeen people on the upper floor? It can hardly defend itself againat seven of them! Did it… get weaker or something?'
But the real danger is behind them.
The security guard Abby and Louis had knocked out earlier begins to stir — joints cracking, head twitching — then lurches upright and joins the fight.
'Yeah no, that's my cue to leave.'
I slip into the nearest elevator, press "91" and lean against the wall, exhaling loudly.
Before the doors close, two hands grip the sides firmly.
"You bastard. Didn't I tell you what would happen if you did this? You're dead meat, Yuwon."
'He's not even helping the others deal with the guard. I get that he has a grudge and all, but how can one me so unbelievably petty?!'
I step closer. Sure thing.
"Whatever helps you sleep at night. Hunt me down, big guy."
I kick between his legs — hard. The scream he makes sounds like metal tearing. He crumples to his knees.
'A dirty move indeed... but I'm not here to be all heroic. Besides he deserved it.'
The doors close slowly. He looks up at me with watery eyes. I stare back down, eyes cold, almost bored. Then blink — and exhale again.
'He'll be motivated to explore the floors now, at least,' I think, smiling faintly.
But the smile fades as the elevator ascends in silence. The hum of the lift feels like breathing inside a coffin.
The lights overhead flicker, bathing the elevator in pulses of pale white and sickly yellow. My reflection stares back at me in the mirrored door — eyes hollow, tie half-loosened, the Bureau insignia catching faint glints of light.
I wipe some dust off my shoulders and adjust my tie.
'That thing definitely got weaker compared to its presence on the Ninety-first floor. Do they get weaker the lower the floor is? Or do they get weaker the closer they're to the actual exit? In any case this is valuable information.'
The elevator dings. Floor 91.
The doors slide open — and what waits beyond isn't chaos. It's silence. The air stank of rot. Bodies, limbs, blood — everywhere. My shoe slipped on a puddle and nearly sent me falling.
"Fucking hell…" I muttered. Something blue-black glimmered under the mess.
A card. I pick it up
『Golden Moon Parade Market!』
Buy, sell or exchange your Anomalous Items — anonymously! Every full moon, 2–4 A.M at the address below!
P.S Please be mindful of the dresscode.
'Sounds Sketchy.... and expensive. But might be useful.' I pocketed it.
Minutes later, after looking through half of the floor I finally found Louis.
"Yuwon, you're back!" Louis exclaimed behind me, a little too loudly— too sudden for my liking.
'Christ, my heart—'
Next to him was Abby — bruised, bleeding, arm broken.
"Abby? What happened? Where's everybody else?"
"...Dead."
'All of them?'
"The security agents happened," she said bitterly. "The higher floors are worse. We survived 33 fine. No clues but atleast it was empty. Floor 72 was manageable. But 100... one guard. Everyone on my side died. I just got lucky." tears swell up in her eyes. Same in Louis' eyes.
'They didn't even know the people... so why be all emotional about them...? Or am i the weird one for feeling hollow about this?'
"That's... unfortunate. I'm glad you're alive."
She glared. Louis said nothing.
"Did you find anything? Any clues?" I asked.
"none. No signs of the exit, no clues, we dont even know what to look for. But we did find something strange; Floor 72 wasn't connected to a staircase."
'...!'
"That's impossible," I said. "I entered it through the staircase earlier."
"Well, we all saw a wall there. Where the door should've been."
The thought festered.
"that doesnt make sense. Lets go check it toge--"
A telephone rang.
We all froze. Slowly, I approached the dusty receiver.
"Hello?"
"God, finally — listen, we found the exit! Floor 20! Hurry, or better yet—spread the word!"
"Okay, but how does it even look li—"
—— Peep.
I stared at the receiver. Then at the two recruits behind me. They didn't seem to be thrilled about it either.
'Sketchy.'