The office was nearly empty, the dull hum of fluorescent lights the only sound filling the silence. It was well past working hours, and most employees had already fled the sterile, corporate labyrinth. Only two remained.

Nathan Holloway stood by the elevator, scrolling through emails on his phone with an impatient scowl. His suit jacket was slung over his arm, his tie loosened just enough to hint at exhaustion.

Behind him, Joel Alvarez leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching the numbers above the elevator door tick down. He yawned. “Remind me again why we’re still here?”

“Because some of us have actual work to do,” Nate muttered, not looking up.

Joey scoffed. “Right, because staring at spreadsheets all night is what dreams are made of.”

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. Without another word, they stepped inside, Joey hitting the button for the lobby. The doors shut, and the descent began.

Then the elevator stopped.

A brief flicker of the lights. A low hum in the walls.

Nate frowned, jabbing the button again. Nothing. Joey sighed, pressing the emergency call button. The speaker crackled, but no voice responded—only static.

“Great,” Joey muttered. “Guess we’re stuck.”

A sharp ding! cut through the silence. The doors slid open… but the floor beyond was wrong.

The office was still there, but twisted. Desks overturned. Walls stained with something dark. The air felt thick, heavy with something neither of them could name.

Nate took a slow step forward, then stopped.

Someone—or something—stood at the far end of the hallway. Motionless. Watching.

The doors began to close.

Joey slammed the button to keep them open. “What the hell was that?”

Nate didn’t answer.

Because for the first time in his life, he didn’t have one.