Chapter 4: The apartment

(Interview between Santiago and Simon Goodwhile. September 14 2002. Dead man’s bar.)

[RUFFLE]

Santiago- Where?...Alright what's your name?

Simon- Simon Goodwhile. You're new to this, aren't ya?

Santiago- Yes sir, just hired yesterday.

[WHISTLE]

Simon- Must've had an impressive resume, huh? They obviously didn't hire ya for ya looks. How'd ya get those scars?

Santiago- Shrapnel. It hit me and tore around my face.

Simon- Military?

Santiago- Yes, sir. I was a field medic.

Simon- When I graduated, I thought about pursuing the military, but my mom didn't want to lose another son. Worried that if I joined, I'd break her heart.

Santiago- I'm guessing your brother passed while in duty?

Simon- Yeah, he was a marine.

[SNIFFLE]

Simon- But ya probably don't wanna hear bout’ that. Ya wanna hear about me.

Santiago- Yes sir, that is what I'm paid to do. However, after the interview, I'd be happy to talk.

Simon- Nah, I think after this I should continue trying to find a new apartment.

Santiago- Okay, you are free to begin whenever you're ready.

Simon- After highschool, I moved here. It's a good 2 hours from my house, so I needed an apartment. My college sadly doesn't offer dorms. Which means lil ol me has to scour up and down for an affordable apartment. It was as hard as ya’d expect. All the okay ones were too expensive, all the affordable ones were black with mold and falling apart. I saw one, and the ceiling was bulging downward, and dust fell every time ya shut a door. Obviously, I was losing hope. But, like an angel descending down from the sky and offering me a boon, an apartment crossed my path. It was a one person apartment, with a communal washer and dryer. It was cheap, so I had suspicions, but it was fine. Talked to the landlord and we had a deal.

Santiago- Was there anything weird about the building’s history? Because in the email you said, quote, “weird and horrific things keep happening.”

Simon- I did ask before I bought it actually. My momma, love her, but she awful superstitious. Raised me and my brother on tales of ghosts and monsters. Taught us never to break mirrors, walk under ladders, the whole nine yards. So, I was slightly worried bout' a recent death, but he assured me that the only thing that happened was that the last tenant left when rent was due.

Santiago- Why'd she leave?

Simon- Don't know. But, the landlord said she probably couldn't make payments and bounced. He’s really chill, and doesn't ask anyone for any way to contact him…
Looking back, he was shady. He only did cash, and collected it in person every month. Didn't even ask my name.

Santiago- What apartment complex is this?

Simon- Blue porch apartments. But, after what I experienced, I wouldn't suggest it. Anyways, so as I was saying, at the time, ol naive lil me thought that it was great. And promptly moved in. The first few days were fine, but occasionally I'd notice weird things. A knife left cleanly on the counter even though I hadn't cooked that day. The wallpaper looking peeled in the dark. But, about a month in, everything ramped up. I was sick with a fever. Lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, waiting for medicine to kick in, when I heard a resounding “crack” It was terrifying, but like the big grown up boy I am, I investigated. All the mirrors in my house had cracked, I didn't have many, like two or three lying around. And, when I looked through one, I swear, I saw a woman.

Santiago- What did she look like?

Simon- Tired. And, sad. Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, but even like that, I could tell it was an oily mess. Her eyes were puffy, like she'd been crying. Her lips were chapped and pressed into a line. She looked at me as if I were the reason for her sorrows. And, I now this sounds weird, but I was overcome with a sense of urgency, but also melancholy. She disappeared as quickly as she appeared, taking the sense of melancholy with her, leaving only a few more cracks spider webbing up my mirror. It got worse after that. Nothing harmful, not to me at least, but I’d wake up at night to banging in the walls, the sound wallpaper ripping, a woman crying. It all came to a head, three weeks ago. I saw the woman, sitting at the table, picking at a piece of old, molded, pizza. She lifted her head when I came in, what looked like construction dust fell off her hair. She pointed towards the door, looking almost defeated. I still refused to leave, I won't let a ghost bully me into leavin’ That made her mad. She began sobbing, and screaming, banging on the table, and uttered the first, and last words I heard her say. She simply said “leave, please.” After that the walls started to bleed, it pooled around the carpet and both of us. I'll admit it. I ran, ran away and drove the two hours back to my mom. A friend recommended you people to me, so I finally mustered up the courage to write to y'all. And, that's it. That's my story.

Santiago- Thank you. I don't have any questions so I'll head back to the office. Unless you want to talk about your brother?

Simon- No, but before ya leave, why'd ya leave the military?

Santiago- Too many dead bodies.

{END NOTES}

Santiago- Alright, for end notes, Ms Brooks managed to scrounge up some info on the past tenant, I do not know how.

Brooks- I live there, that’s how.

Santiago- Oh, that makes sense. Well, the tenant’s name was Avery Smith, and has recently been dubbed missing. Her current whereabouts are unknown and all leads for them have gone cold. Her family says that she had recently broken up with her boyfriend, and started to isolate herself. Every time someone tried to see her, she told them to leave, claiming she wanted to be alone .Sadly, I believe she is dead. From the notes that Ms Rowan has given me, it seems she has become a ghost. So, I have sent aid to hopefully put her spirit to rest. Oh, Brooks, before you leave…

Brooks- Hm?

Santiago- Where’s the lady? Because, after Jamie introduced me to you and Rowan, and finished showing me around, he said, “and that’s everyone.”But, the reason I’m here is because a lady came up to me and suggested it.

Rowan- Did she have red hair and green glasses?

Santiago- Yes.

Brooks- Oh, that’s Dorothy. Yeah, we’re all here because of her. Don’t know a lot about her though…