Chapter 1The Descent

I was listening to an audiobook while on the treadmill when I suddenly received a text from a friend:

"Somebody help me! I'm trapped in the stairwell!"

I replied immediately:

"What do you mean? Where are you?"

"I was climbing the stairs at the Riverview Apartments for exercise. I got tired and wanted to take the elevator down, but I found the door to the floor wouldn't open. The windows outside are pitch black. I went down several floors, and it's the same everywhere!"

I stopped running and looked out the window.

Pitch black.

"I'm climbing this building too..."

* * *

I met up with Chloe on the 24th floor.

"What happened? Why are you wearing a mask?"

Chloe shook her head.

"Nothing. Let's go down to the first floor and check the situation."

When we reached the first floor, a property manager was trying to pry open the door, while the rest of the people looked terrified.

They said they were all forced to take the stairs due to an elevator malfunction and got trapped here.

All the floor doors and windows wouldn't open, and the property manager's keys were useless.

No internet, and calls wouldn't go through.

But there seemed to be a signal within the stairwell itself; we could call and text each other.

A delivery guy looked fierce:

"My next order is going to be late! Are you guys filming some TikTok skit? I don't have time to play with you, open the door!"

Chloe said, "If you don't believe us, go up to the 2nd floor and look."

The delivery guy was impatient. "Why should I go upstairs!"

"You'll know when you get there."

Cursing, the guy went up the stairs.

The moment he disappeared around the corner, my heart went cold.

His figure reappeared on the landing leading down to the basement level.

He had climbed up from downstairs.

I looked at Chloe, and she nodded tremblingly.

No wonder when I was on the 24th floor earlier, Chloe told me not to move and that she would come down to find me.

—In this stairwell, you can't go up, only down.

Looking at the stairs leading to Basement Level 1, everyone's faces turned pale.

Chloe murmured:

"Have you guys heard of the urban legend about the stairwell?"