The Reborn Girl Is Dauntless but Overly Cautious

11

Me: "What do you mean?"

Julie: "The way that property manager talks is so weird, and now he's coming to see you, that definitely means something's off. Plus, he's a murderer, how can you be so naive!"

Me: "I'm well aware there's something off about him, I'm asking how you know about it."

The property manager had posted in the residents' group chat, a group Julie wasn't part of.

Julie's chat showed she was typing, but no message came through.

Meanwhile, on the surveillance, a hunched figure in a raincoat ascended to the fourth floor. It was raining outside, and the figure's footsteps echoed with the sound of wet shoes, though through the camera, it was clear the coat was smeared with blood, not rainwater.

The motion-sensor lights illuminated one section at a time, with the last light revealing the figure standing close to my door, seemingly trying to peer inside through the peephole.

Knock, knock.

"Hello, I'm the substitute property manager, it's my first day on the job. I accidentally scared your friend earlier, could you open the door so I can apologize?"

His eerie tone lost some of its edge through the thick door.

I approached the door with my tablet in hand.

"No need, I've just cut ties with that 'friend' of mine. She's in another room now; you can go look for her yourself."

"Aren't you going to forgive me?"

The property manager lifted his head, revealing a face marred with wrinkles and scar tissue in the surveillance feed, a visage so grotesque it could ward off evil spirits.

"Please, open the door. I can't afford to lose this job. You must understand."

I remained silent.

Bang, bang, bang!

The intensity of his knocking grew, his demeanor turning frenzied.

"Do you look down on me because of my appearance? Is that it? IS IT?!"

His face twisted into a grimace of madness, the force behind each knock growing stronger.

Then, abruptly, he ceased his assault on the door, his expression morphing into a sinister smile.