I looked at the hallway ventilation and then at the mess on the red carpet. Unless that cat flew, it was impossible for it to pass from the plant to the vent, which was a considerable distance away. And those marks...
He didn't know what happened, just like I did. A cat wouldn't explain the mess, but what would? Besides that the path was from the ventilation to the bathroom, not the other way around. I started to feel anxious. It could be a person who passed by and made the scandal, but it would have to be small or else they would be trapped.
No one seemed interested in the event except me. Maybe I was taking it too seriously...

I looked at the man when he spoke again, referring to the shattered pot. It took me a second to process his words, as I was focused on a thousand and one things. "Uh, yeah. We should get the pieces up before someone gets hurt. Maybe that cat has already left the building" I commented, wanting to believe it too. I was curious how far the path left by the one who caused the mess led, but I wasn't sure. I'd love for someone to come with me, but the only person around me was a practically stranger who most likely had other things to do than follow me on an investigation to the comunal bathroom. I should go?

The man was back to cleaning out the shards, vaguely nodding ago as you spoke tho it was fairly obvious he just wanted to have that issue dealt with as soon as possible and return to his familly. " Dont know and to be fair i dont realy care, i doubt it will be able to get pass the door on it's own however." He was, of course, refering to the wooden door separating the stairwell from the rest of the hallway, it was a fairly new addition to the place apparently due to an incident that had happen not too long before you got your appartement.

Glancig back toward you, he raised an eyebrow. " Is there somthing else ? I got the cleaning covered so dont wory about it. If you want to help maby go check if you can catch the cat, maby see if it have an owner or somthing..."

"Me?" I asked, looking where I knew I had to go to find the 'cat'. My plan was to go behind the trail after finding some brave companion, or take enough guts to venture out alone. What if I ask him to find it and I take care of the mess? No, no. Don't be a coward, Annie.
I walked slowly after the trail, somewhat embarrassed to back down in front of the stranger. "Eh, yeah, I'll look for the cat," I said, moving a little faster to get away from the man's sight. Oh, how I wish I had a baseball bat right now, I would feel more safe.

Asside from the oily substance and the dirt, the hallway was as it alwais had been. A few generics painting of various senaries adorned the walls, cutting from the bland color and brigning some life to the otherwhise boringness of the vew. The surprisingly thick carpet was doing a great job at muffling any noise your feets could have been doing otherwhise, it was great to hide your presence but it also hided the presence of anyone else that could be walking it that hallway.

Once you actualy reached the communal bathroom however, the door was half way closed, the oil like substance smeared onto the side of it. You coudnt see anything from the entrance but a slight crunching sound could be heard inside, somwhat reminding you of sand being grinded on the pavement.

I inched toward the communal bathroom, staring at anything but the stained carpet, fear increasing with each step I took. It felt like my heart wanted to leave my chest.

As soon as I got close to the door I could see that it was stained with the same as the carpet. I couldn't stop to analyze it - just so I didn't have to go inside - when a subtle sound leaked into my ears. I approached slowly, leaning against the wall, listening. I couldn't see anything from my position, and the sound was starting to make my hair stand on end. What was that? It was definitely not a cat, and I was beginning to doubt that it was a thief. What thief leaves a path to his location as if he wants to be found and would make a constant noise while escaping? I felt my breathing heavy, so I covered my mouth with my hands as I moved to the other side of the door to get a better view. Thank God the carpet silenced my footsteps.

Upon closer examination, the clear liquid on the door had a slight lime green hue to it and seemed to evaporate as it dryed. There was realy nothing more you could figure out by looking at it without proper equipement, whatever that may be.

Peaking inside, you caugh the sight of a man leaned against the sink. You could only see his back, he was wearing a faded bleu shirt and some stained jeans. From what you could see of his skin, it was deathly pale and without any freackles, the only imperfection was a large black stain was running across the back of his neck. His messy brown hairs seemed to be long enough to fall into his eyes as he was messing with somthing in his hands, hiden from vew.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99758&page=3#25 Author: Cian Time Posted: 10/14/2021 at 10:46 PM The old lady let you help with her bag but shook her head at your offer of replacing anything waving her hand dismissively. "It's quite alright dear, you dont have to wory about doing that, i will be fine you focus on taking care of yourself. Worst that can happen is that i wont bake five pies every weaks for a little bit, that could be good tho the kids next door have started to be a bit to spoiled." She shuckle at the last part, clearly remembering somthing that had happen there. She seemed to be a bit surprised by your last statement. "Oh, i assumed since he had a key to your appartment... well your friend look just like the previous tenant that lived here, Tom i belive it was his name, who lived where you are now. A bit strange, very reserved and didnt realy talked to anyone, the only raison he ever left his room was to go to the bathroom or to work. He was found dead a few months ago so seeing an almost identical guy entering that place was a bit of a surprise to say the least."

<sup>Even though her neighbor denied her offer, Emilie couldn't help but worry about her. Still, hearing what the older lady had said, she couldn't help but laugh, a low but carefree noise. "Okay then. I'm sure the kids will be upset though," she commented.

Hearing her next statement though, she couldn't help but worry. Someone had her key? It sounded like she was going to have to change her locks. Though, hearing that there was someone else who locked exactly like the dead tenant was also a bit unnerving, especially with how she'd seen the 'Necroshifter' a little bit before. "That's definitely a bit strange," she agreed. "Well, is there anything else I I can do for you? If not, then don't hesitate to call me if something strange happens."</sup>

The old lady smile kindly and shook her head at your question. "No nead, everything is quite alright for me, i wont bother any longer surely your friend is waiting for you." The mention of anything strange seemed to amuse her. " If you are interessed into the legends of the floor, i woudnt mind telling you more about them, it's an old building, woudnt be too surprise if there was a few ghost still living here." With a friendly wave and a slight glance toward your door, she started to walk back to her appartment.

Once the lady was out of sight, you were left to your own thoughs in the hallway. Of course you had the background noise of daily activities happening in the building, muffled discutions and even some music echoed softly from various doors. The fact remained that, somhow, someone or somthing had enter your appartment without making any noises at all and if it wasnt for this incident you may not have ever known about it.

When the image of a person entered my field of vision - someone who looked normal at first glance - I felt my body relax and I let out a low sigh, uncovering my mouth. Surely he was a person who entered the communal bathroom after whatever made it's way here was gone.

I stopped to analyze him then, noting details that I had previously overlooked. A black tattoo was the first thing that caught my eye.
The profile of this person did not sound familiar to me, but this tattoo confirmed that he was someone unknown to me (although I did not exactly know everyone in my flat, and even less who they bring to their apartments). His skin tone looked sickly, but I couldn't tell if he was as I had no view of his face, which was crestfallen. The sound that had made my hair stand on end earlier coming from between his hands.
I looked down a bit to try to see what he was doing, but then I noticed the stained jeans. I frowned trying to guess of what. What if it was the same thing that stained the carpet? Maybe this person was what I was looking for? He didn't look exactly the right size to go through the vent so quickly, though.

I shook my head to get my theories out of my mind, trying to shake off the chills too. I looked at the empty hallway and then my hands, how did I come up here without a plan in advance? What if I had really run into someone bad? I would have no way to defend myself. I glanced at the stranger, just in case I could see his face and then the strange liquid on the door that seemed to disappear with every minute that passed. First the encounter with the deer - which still feels like a fever dream - and now this.
I should go back, I thought, hugging myself, still confused as to what was really going on.

Your sigh seemed to have alerted the man as he turned quickly in your direction, it wasnt too hard to estimate that his age was probably the same as you but his eyes were all the confirmation you neaded to know that he wasnt human. They were black, lacking any features to so mutch as distinguish the iris from the rest of the eyes. They seemed rather surprised to see you there but then mutter somthing under his breath in a thick accent as he stept away from the sink and hesitated for a moment before making up his mind and pulling you inside the bathroom, slaming the door behind.

His fingers were cold and coated in the odd substance that was smeared on the door as he positioned himself between you and the exit. For a moment he stayed like that, staring at you as if looking for somthing before letting you go while looking away. It was clear from his whole deminors that didnt know what to do next and probably had acted out of instinct more then malice.