New Prompt (for November 2, 2022):
"You can taste lies. One day you're comforting your best friend after a tough breakup and almost vomit at the foul taste the words bring—'after all, you're only human'." {credit to writing.prompt.s on Instagram}
Old Prompt (from October 5, 2022):
"You wake up one morning to the sweet smell of home-cooked breakfast. You go into the kitchen and find the table full of your favorite breakfast dishes. You sit down to eat and go to thank your mom, only to come to the realization that you'd just moved into your new apartment last night and were all alone." {credit to writing.prompt.s on Instagram}
My Story: The First and Last Time I Live Alone
As I rolled over in bed, I wished for at least five more minutes of sleep. I had tossed and turned all night. Despite having been my mattress for the last four years, it could not have felt more uncomfortable the whole night. The numbers at the top of my home screen read "7:44" with a notification asking if I wanted to turn my alarm off for today.
"Ughhhh," I groaned as my phone started playing an upbeat song telling me it was time to wake up.
I quickly shut it off and sat up in bed. After scrolling through my phone for a few minutes, I noticed that there was a wonderful aroma coming from down the hall. I stood up and walked mindlessly to the kitchen.
An array of pancakes, bacon, sausage links, scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, and milk sat at the dining table. I licked my lips before sliding into a seat. I took a bite of the pancake and made a sound of approval.
"Thanks—"
Looking up, I realized, I wasn't in the home I had known for the last fifteen years of my life. Being twenty-two and starting my first post-graduate job in a week, I moved into an apartment in a new city yesterday. A city two hundred miles away from home.
"Mom?" I called.
There was no answer. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and texted my mom.
"Have you been to my apartment today?"
She responded quickly, "No, what's wrong? Did something happen?"
"I must've forgotten that I took my blanket to my room last night. No worries."
"OK. Love u."
"Love you, too."
I scooted my chair back and crept into the kitchen. Freeing the big butcher knife from my knife set, I started checking every nook and cranny in my apartment. There was nothing taken or out of place. No one seemed to be in my apartment either.
"There has to be an explanation for this." I placed my hand on my forehead. "I got it. I woke up and made myself breakfast and just forgot. Easy as that."
I chowed down on my breakfast and walked to my office to begin unpacking some boxes. When I got back there, I noticed one box was completely unpacked and broken down, ready to be taken to the paper recycling.
I jumped back and slammed against the door. "It's not possible."
When I checked the apartment before breakfast, everything in the room was still boxed up and secure. There wasn't an explanation for this one.
Without a second thought, I ran to my bedroom. I locked the door and curled up in a ball on the bed. What was happening?
After a few deep breaths, I called the leasing office.
"Marble Lake Estates leasing office, how can I help you?" A lady's voice came through the phone.
"Hi, my name is Charlie. I just moved into apartment 333. I wanted to see if anyone else had access to my apartment." I could hear my voice shaking slightly.
"Hi, Charlie," the lady said. "Unless you requested a maintenance check or received a notice that we would be checking your apartment, no one else should be able to get into your apartment. Is everything alright?"
"Yes," I said with closed eyes. "I think I'm just a little paranoid. It's my first time living alone."
"I understand. If there is anything else you need, don't hesitate to give us a call." The lady hung up.
"Deep breaths Char," I said to myself.
The rest of the day seemed to go off without a hitch. I unpacked my office in preparation to do my online work. The job I had gotten was a hybrid position where I would mostly be working from home but occasionally may be called into the office. Therefore, I needed to make sure I had a nice space for myself to complete my daily work.
Nothing else strange seemed to happen throughout the day. I cooked two meals and watched some TV before bed. The next morning, I woke up and everything was out of place. There were blankets scattered around the living room. Pots and pans sat in the sink. When I opened the fridge for breakfast, there were all kinds of food inside of it. With a note.
"For the week."
I stumbled backward clutching my head. Everything around me spun like someone had my head and was shaking it back and forth. I clutched onto the counter for support.
Instead of breakfast, I went to my office computer when the world leveled out again. I had about five emails saying my work profiles had been set up. I didn't remember doing that either.
I closed out of my email and hopped on Reddit.
"My New Apartment is Haunted"
"I just moved into an apartment by myself and have noticed strange and unexplainable happenings. Boxes were unpacked without me unpacking them. Food got cooked without me cooking it. There are notes in the apartment telling me what to use things for. I am beyond afraid. I haven't seen anyone in the apartment and live several hours from my family and friends. No one is pranking me. Does this sound like a haunting to you?"
I stepped away from the computer and started to settle into my apartment more. A few hours into it, I had to stop because my head was pounding. I took some medication and a quick nap. When I woke up, I needed some antacids because my stomach was churning so violently. I had slept for six hours. It was the middle of the night.
"I need to update my Reddit post." I dragged myself off of the couch and walked to my computer.
When I opened the post, I gasped in horror. It was already updated.
"Edit: I feel sick now, too. My stomach is upset, I have headaches, and I sometimes feel dizzy. Is this more of a demonic situation?"
There were hundreds of upvotes and a few comments. Most of them agreed that it could be demonic. However, there were six near the top that urged me to call maintenance and have my furnace and water heater checked as it could be a carbon monoxide leak.
The next morning, I called as soon as I woke up.
"Hi, it's Charlie from 333 again," I said. "I think I may have a carbon monoxide leak in my apartment. Is there any way you could send maintenance up to check?"
"Yes, please step out of the apartment if you can," the lady said. "I will send them up as soon as possible."
The sick feeling was back in full force, so I stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air while maintenance checked the apartment.
The older man that was checking all my appliances rapped on the balcony door. I opened it to talk to him.
"You were absolutely right. Thank you for calling in. We are going to put you up in a nearby hotel for a few days so we can get this resolved. Per protocol, I have to tell you that it is a good idea to be checked by a medical professional since you have been living with this for almost four days now." The guy handed me a paper with my hotel information on it.
"Thank you so much." I felt tears leaking down my cheeks. "I thought I was going crazy."
The maintenance guy offered me a hug. "You aren't crazy."
Happy Writing,
Ally Mac
Comments