Chapter 40: The Operating Elevator
This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation
After waiting for what felt like an eternity, two whole hours had passed since their ordeal began.
Miles, with a sense of finality, was able to ascertain that the eerie ghost child wasn’t going to make a reappearance.
For now, the crisis involving Mr. Beach’s family seemed to be under control. However, an unsettling feeling remained, like a shadow of danger that hadn’t completely vanished.
Miles turned his gaze to Coral, and his eyes softened, showing a trace of sympathy. Becoming adept at handling ghosts had been a matter of survival for him. If he hadn’t gained this skill, he would have met his end in a restroom under mysterious circumstances. But Coral was different. She could have led an ordinary life, yet fate had cruelly chosen her to be haunted by the ghost child.
Sighing, Miles remarked, “I’ve got obligations to attend to. I had to request leave to be here today. Now that things are stable here, I need to depart. Should anything arise, especially of the supernatural kind, reach out. Though, remember, such services come at a cost.” He began to gather himself, ready to hail a taxi and move on.
Gratefully, Mr. Beach interjected, “Your assistance today has been invaluable. Words fail to express my gratitude. Whenever you have a moment to spare, might I extend an invitation to dinner as a token of appreciation?”
Miles dismissed the offer, saying, “I appreciate the gesture, but there’s no need. Such expenditures are unnecessary. Moreover, it’s best to keep a distance; when you’re in my vicinity, misfortune seems to follow.”
Suddenly, Coral, with an unexpected assertiveness, asked, “Miles, can I accompany you?”
Taken aback, Mrs. Ocean instinctively clutched her daughter’s hand, anxiety evident in her eyes. She had come to realize that there was more to Miles than met the eye, and she feared the inherent perils of Coral being around him.
Miles chuckled, replying, “You should stay with your family, Coral. After all the stress you’ve caused today, they deserve your company. And, remember, even if you weren’t the ghost child’s target, you’re on borrowed time.”
With a surprising depth of resolve, Coral responded, “I understand all of that, but my wish remains unchanged.”
Firmly, Miles stated, “It’s not possible. Stay with your parents. I must leave now.”
He knew he couldn’t bear the responsibility of having Coral shadow him. Should any harm come to him, he had his unique abilities to fall back on. However, being encumbered by others meant he’d have a duty to ensure their safety too.
With the payment clenched firmly in his grasp, he swiftly hailed a taxi.
His next destination was the mall, where he would resume his everyday life and continue to make ends meet.
Watching him leave, Mr. Beach remarked, “That young fellow is truly remarkable. In our times, raw talent is the ultimate asset.”
Indeed, Miles was a prodigious talent. He might be young and less versed in life’s intricacies, but given enough time, he was destined to leave an indelible mark on the world.
Mr. Beach couldn’t help but ponder over a thought that kept recurring in his mind. “Miles would indeed be a suitable match for my daughter,” he mused internally. It was evident that Coral, with her striking beauty, had taken a liking to him.
However, Miles’s seeming indifference toward Coral made Mr. Beach wonder. “Could it be that he’s gay?” This was just a fleeting thought, though.
In reality, if Miles were privy to such speculations, he’d adamantly dismiss them. His current life situation had no room for love or romance; he was in a perpetual battle for survival.
Upon his return to the mall, darkness had settled in, casting shadows everywhere. The sole source of light was the security room where Strong, a young security guard, was engrossed in a mobile game.
“You’re back pretty late,” Strong remarked, sounding a bit accusing. “How long were you out? You took time off on your first day? Good thing I covered for you with Sister Pear. Told her you were using the restroom. Otherwise, you’d have been on the receiving end of her wrath.”
“I apologize for the inconvenience,” Miles replied sincerely. “An urgent matter with a friend held me up. I assure you, such an incident won’t repeat.”
Brushing it off, Strong added, “Well, your timing couldn’t be better. Midnight’s approaching, and it’s time for our routine patrol. Once we’re done, we can switch off the lights and get some rest. Remember, we’re on duty again at eight-thirty in the morning.” With a prolonged yawn and stretch, Strong seemed ready to get going.
Miles held a tinge of respect for Strong, acknowledging his bravery. Patrolling such an expansive mall in the dead of the night was no small feat.
“Our dorm is upstairs,” began Strong, “so our patrol starts at the basement parking area. Once we’re done, we simply switch off the lights as we head to the dorm. No need for an extra trip back here.” He continued, “Oh, and don’t forget to grab a flashlight.”
“Thanks for the heads-up,” Miles replied, picking up the flashlight and joining Strong for the patrol.
Though Miles only intended to be an observer for a short three-day period, he was determined to fulfill his duties with utmost diligence.
The underground parking, mainly devoid of vehicles due to dwindling business, felt eerily empty. A particular row of posh cars caught Miles’s attention. “Whose vehicles are these?” he asked, pointing towards the line of luxury automobiles. “Could they belong to the people who have gone missing?”
Chuckling, Strong replied, “No, those belong to the mall owner. He seems to prefer a different ride every day. Who knows how many more he’s got at his mansion? Anyway, everything seems normal here. Let’s move up.”
After a meticulous scan of the basement parking, Miles was certain there were no anomalies.
His trained eyes would have detected anything out of place immediately.
The duo then proceeded to the first floor. Wielding their flashlights, they scoured the area. The vast expanse remained undisturbed, save for the looming darkness. Everything appeared to be in order.
Ascending to the second floor via the elevator, Miles and Strong were greeted with an unexpected soft rumble emanating from above.
“Do you hear that?” Miles inquired, directing his flashlight upward in an attempt to identify the source, but he found nothing of note.
The low-pitched sound appeared to originate from the elevator shaft, somewhere between the fourth and fifth floors.
Strong, seeming unperturbed, remarked, “It’s just the sound of the escalator system. Sometimes Sister Pear and the others overlook turning it off. Each escalator has an individual power switch, so it’s easy to forget. But that’s what we’re here for, right?”
Miles, curiosity piqued, said, “Shouldn’t we go check it out immediately?”
Strong, adopting a more cautious tone, replied, “Hold on, not so fast. We should first patrol the third floor and then the fourth. Remember, there are surveillance cameras around. We can’t afford to be seen neglecting our duties. Being new, you’re more susceptible to scrutiny. One slip-up and you might lose your job.”
Miles perceived Strong’s overly meticulous approach as somewhat inflexible, but he decided not to press further. The mall was vacant, after all, and he believed any anomalous activities wouldn’t be directly linked to him.
The duo methodically patrolled the third floor, then progressed to the fourth. They concluded their sweep near the escalator.
Contrary to standard elevators, this mall was equipped with an automated escalator system resembling a conveyor belt.
“There you go,” Strong remarked, slightly triumphant. “As I suspected, they simply forgot to cut off the escalator’s power.” He then ambled over and flipped the power switch, shutting down the machine.
Miles held his tongue, hoping his heightened alertness was mere paranoia.
Upon reaching the fifth floor via the escalator, a sensation couldn’t be dismissed as mere suspicion: a faint, unmistakable stench of decay lingered in the air. Strangely, this odor wasn’t detectable on the third floor.
“There’s something not right about this floor,” Miles observed as they began their round, illuminating the surroundings with his flashlight.
Aside from the shutters of closed stores and an assortment of display shelves, there appeared to be no abnormalities. The ambiance was hushed and serene.
Yet, as they passed a boutique, Miles’s flashlight beam unveiled an unsettling sight. Mannequins stood fragmented within, exactly as they were during daylight hours, entirely undisturbed.
Shrugging it off, a weary Strong said, “Seems like everything’s in order. Let’s head back and get some rest.”
“Sounds good,” replied Miles, retracting his gaze. They exited the mall through the staff passage and began their trek to the dormitory.
As they ambled, a perplexing thought struck Miles. He inquired, “If we hadn’t switched off the escalator’s power on the fourth floor, shouldn’t it have been in operation? Why was it stationary when we approached?”
Sensing the confusion in Miles’s expression, Strong clarified, “The escalator system is designed with sensors. It’s energy-efficient as it only activates when someone is close by, ensuring the escalator doesn’t run needlessly when there’s no one around.”
Miles’s analytical mind kicked in. “But Strong, if the escalators only function when triggered by sensors, then wouldn’t the one we heard have been set off by someone’s presence? We’re the only ones in the mall at this hour. So, who was near the escalator?”
Strong, in an attempt to dismiss Miles’s concerns, responded, “It could’ve been a glitch or a malfunction. If someone was indeed present, we surely would’ve spotted them during our rounds.”
Miles’s eyebrows knit together in deep thought. The logical side of him debated returning to inspect further, but he finally decided against it. “I’ll discuss this with the manager tomorrow. Maybe there’s a reasonable explanation,” he rationalized.
However, just as the duo settled down in their dormitory for a well-deserved rest, the faint rumbling of the escalator echoed through the mall once again.
Slowly, the escalator came to life, humming softly as it moved. About a minute later, it ceased.
Almost immediately, the escalator connecting the fourth and third floors roared to life. It ran for a short span before coming to a halt.
Then, the one between the third and second floors started its descent.
And, in a series of eerie sequences, the final escalator, from the second to the first floor, ran its course. After completing its cycle, the vast expanse of the mall sank back into an unsettling silence.
In the distance, the occasional creaks and groans of the building settling were the only sounds that punctuated the stillness of the night.