The Floor That Wasn't There

Ethan moved into the apartment building because it was cheap and quiet, but the silence

felt wrong. On his first night, the elevator stopped on a floor that

didn’t exist on the directory. A woman stood there, smiling without blinking,

and asked if he was “ready to stay.” The doors closed by themselves, trapping him inside

as the lights flickered. Later, his neighbor warned him never to answer knocks after midnight.

At exactly twelve, three slow knocks echoed through Ethan’s door. He stayed still,

holding his breath, until a whisper slid under the door, calling his name and thanking him

for finally letting it in.