Young Writers Society

The drive wasn't supposed to long, in fact, the apartment building was nearby where I lived. The delivery was quite unexpected but I agreed to take the pizza up that way because the last guy was fired, or at least, that's what I like to believe. I go into the tasteless white car with the large pizza logo on both doors and drove off in the direction of the apartment building. As I was driving, the radio announcer was talking about the disappearance of people in the area. I changed the channel, not wanting to deal with nonsense such as that. I took the usual shortcuts, ones that I was used to, and when I arrived, I parked on the sidewalk. In the dark, the apartment building was twice as scary. Looming trees were near the apartment's entrance and in the distance, I could hear dogs howling.

I grabbed the pizza boxes from the passenger side and slammed the car door. There wasn't much cars or people awake at this hour, and kind of asked me why someone would want pizza so late into the night. But I shouldn't judge someone based on their preference as it could be for someone who went through a breakup or something like that. I walked down the sidewalk and stared up at the apartment. Most of the lights were shut off, except for one that was near the top. It gave off an eerie yellow glow that reflected off the night sky.

When I was in front of the apartment doors that led in, I pressed the room buzzer. Static. I pressed it again. Static. I began to think that maybe it was a prank caller and was ready to head back when I heard a groan came from the other end.

"Hello?" I asked, pressing the button.

The groan cleared its throat and asked,"Yes?"

"Hi, I have your pizza."

Silence.

I blinked and pressed the button once again. "Hello?"

The thick voice came over the intercom again. "Come up."

I pushed through the apartment doors and into the lobby. The check-in desk was empty and the lights behind the desk were turned off. I continued forward to the elevators. The entire lower floor felt cold as I shuddered. I heard several odd noises coming from the floors above me, but told myself it was just the air turning on. The elevator doors creaked open and I stepped in, pressing the floor I needed go to.

There was soft jazz music that came from the speakers inside. I thoroughly enjoyed a good tune here and there. The elevator stopped on the floor and the doors opened once again. The floor I picked was dimly lit as there were few lights on the walls. Doors lined the walls and the hallway seemed to go on forever. I stepped out of the elevator and continued down the hallway, figuring out which room was the groaning voice's. I heard a collection of gasps and wheezes coming from several doors but shook it out of my head as someone watching late night TV.

I finally found the door and knocked once. Nothing. I knocked a second time. Still nothing. I was half considering to leave the pizza here and not get paid because this place was starting to freak me out. However, just as I was considering it, the door open to a crack. A yellow eye peeked through and at me, narrowed.

I tried my best smile and said, "I have your pizza! That'll be 16.23!"

The yellow eye blinked at me, examining slowly before shutting the door. "Hello?" I called out. I heard locks click and clack on the other side of the door, and when it opened, I saw a fat man with yellow skin and big blue eyes. His mouth was droopy and his ears were too large for his head. He was wearing a stained grey tank top with red PJ pants and blue socks on his fat feet. I gulped as the man went to the table, grabbing a stack of money with a meaty hand.

He groaned coming back, placing the money into my shaking hand. He then took the pizza box. Before closing the door, the man looked at me once more, up and down, and closed the door in my face.

I felt as though I could faint. I stuffed the money into pant's pocket and ran as fast as I could to the elevator. I pressed the button repeatedly. The doors eventually opened and I stepped in, pressing the floor button. The jazz music wasn't helping any as my nerves were already shot. Finally, the elevator opened and I was back on the freezing floor. I looked around, at the darkness. My imagination was taking the better form of dark creatures that lurked in the shadows and I decided it was best I leave as soon as I could.

I went to the doors and pulled at them. They didn't budge. I tried to pull and pull but to no avail. I panicked, grabbing a nearby fire extinguisher and throwing it against the windows. It bounced back and onto the floor. My throat closed upon itself and I fell against a wall, grabbing my legs to my chest. The cold air continued to wheeze through the vents and my entire body shivered through the thin layers I was wearing. I closed my eyes for a few moments and then when I opened up, the man from upstairs was standing in front of me, staring at me with his big blue eyes.

Before I could scream, he grabbed my mouth with a meaty hand to keep me quiet. I heard a snap and figured it was my nose. The man then dragged my body to the elevator. Before I blacked out, I considered the radio news I had heard just a few hours ago and wondered if I was going to be another on the disappearances.