You looked up, your feet planted firmly in front of your new home’s door - room 403 of Addison Apartments. The floor creaked slightly under your weight as you moved forward, the box a heavy weight in your hands as you entered your now home.

Immediately, you were hit with an unpleasant odor, one that you couldn’t quite mark down other than with the one word; strange. The apartment was dingy and rundown, silent with no other sounds than odd creaking that seemed to come from nowhere. An unsettling feeling like a weight of rocks settling into the pit of your stomach as you moved the boxes in, scoping out the place. Other than dust and cobwebs, there was truly nothing else in there with you.

“Gizmo!” A voice startled you as soon as you opened your apartment door. You took a surprised step back as a little furball, the color of auburn brown like that of fall leaves brushed up against your leg. A few moments later, a peculiar looking boy came into view.

Sal huffed, most likely trying to catch his breath as his shoulders slumped in visible relief upon seeing the cat. “Sorry about that…I didn’t mean to scare you. He’s always running off, that cat.” The boy shifted his weight from one foot to another as Gizmo now rubbed against Sal’s leg. Sal titled his head, his blue pigtails swaying a little with the motion, although you weren’t entirely sure what his expression was since it was covered by his prosthetic mask, you could guess it was an expression of curiosity, if anything. “Are you new here? I didn’t think there was anyone in…room 403.” He paused, “I guess that means we’re neighbors, huh? I’m Sal. Sal Fisher. Sometimes I’m called Sally Face but, well, you can just call me Sal. Or whatever you like.” You got the impression he was smiling a bit nervously under his mask. Maybe this boy wasn’t so bad after all.