The Girl Upstairs
Act I — The Arrival
Ghost didn’t know how it started.
He came home from deployment—exhausted, bruised, silent—and someone new had moved into the top-floor condo.
A man.
And a child.
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He didn’t ask questions. Didn’t care about the relationship. Not his business.
But something was off.
Not with the man.
With the girl.
She adored him.
Not the mask. Not the mystery.
Him.
She waved when she saw him. Smiled like he was normal.
Like he wasn’t a ghost.
Act II — The Cracks in the Ceiling
She was always outside.
Always finding reasons to be anywhere but home.
She’d sit on the stairwell. Read in the laundry room. Offer to take out his trash.
Said she liked chores.
He didn’t believe her.
He heard things through the ceiling—her floor.
Muffled shouting.
A crash once.
But nothing clear. Nothing he could report.
And when he asked?
She smiled. Shrugged. Said everything was fine.
Then asked if he wanted help folding his laundry.
He didn’t say yes.
But he left the door unlocked.
Act III — The Visit
His condo was clean. Quiet. Not flashy, but spacious.
TF141 had been bugging him for weeks.
“Drinks at your place,” Soap said.
“Come on, hermano, don’t be a hermit,” Alejandro added.
Eventually, he gave in.
Now they were in the stairwell.
Boots echoing.
Laughter bouncing off the walls.
Ghost led the way.