Chapter Text
19/04/20XX — 7:06am
Sandrone wasn't one to snoop, she knew how important privacy was and she wasn't going to randomly breach it but this time she just couldn't help herself. As she stood there waiting for the elevator, she couldn't help but glance to her right as if trying to see into the lonely apartment’s window but it was unsuccessful, the curtains were drawn closed. She had never once seen the person who lived in that apartment and sure it could just be up for rent or something of the sort but that lonely door had an aura she couldn't quite place as anything other than utterly unnerving, she couldn't help but stare at it every time she stepped out of her apartment.
After a little too long of staring at the door as if waiting for something to happen she sighed, she knew she was probably being dramatic, maybe a little paranoid but there was just something so off with that apartment and— CLICK — Sandrone practically jumped out of her skin as the door suddenly opened, her eyes wide like a deer in headlights, frozen in place as her eyes met the crimson eyes of the owner, he looked just as surprised as she was.
He was tall, unnervingly tall, almost as tall as the door and considering how short she was, the man was beyond intimidating to her. Her eyes further scrutinised the man, he was lanky, like he barely took care of himself yet his clothes looked expensive and proper, he was well put together yet dishevelled at the same time. He had fairly messy hair but it was messy on purpose, two tufts of hair hung in front of his face, they were longer than the rest, he had what looked to be a disposable surgical mask on, gloves too.. either this guy was a serial killer or a huge germaphobe.
The man hesitated for a second before stepping out with a certain confidence that put sandrone off, his eyes were terrifying, piercing like he was a vulture ready to swoop down and pick at her corpse. She tried to keep her composure and her eyes off him as he stood next to her. He was so much taller now that he was standing right next to her. The soft pitter patter of something echoed through the awkwardly quiet hall.
She leaned forward just a bit to look at the source of the noise, as she did, she noticed he had a duffle bag with him that seemed to be leaking something, her eyebrows furrowed for a moment before she felt.. watched.. seen like a deer being hunted, the gun already pointed at her head while she grazes the field, her eyes flicker up to the hunter. He was staring at her.
She could see the mask move ever so slightly, he was smiling at her. “Curiosity kills the cat, little lady.” She looked a bit surprised at his words, one because she didn't think he could talk and two because he was definitely a she. She was a little embarrassed by her assumption but this woman had a nice voice, it was deep and unnervingly proper but it still had the slightest accent she couldn't quite place. Sandrone found herself feeling.. safe.. despite the woman's appearance, her voice was warm and kind, yet there was something slightly off, like it was an artificial flavouring.
It took the woman raising an eyebrow at her to make her realise she definitely forgot to respond. “Oh— shit— well, I was just curious is all.. I've uh.. never seen you around here before?” She hated how unsure of herself she sounded, as if she was a small animal caught in a bear trap, but she didn't care, that didn't matter right now, there were much more pressing issues like how utterly thick the air was or how suspicious this woman was, there was something so off about the woman that stood next to her. It put Sandrone off yet also intrigued her.
The woman's mask crinkled again, she was laughing under her breath, there was something in her eyes that terrified Sandrone, she couldn't tell what it was exactly, satisfaction? Curiosity? “Oh aren't you an observant little marionette~” the woman was mocking her, Sandrone could tell she was by the bellowing laugh and the almost playful look in her eyes.
“Who even are you anyways?” Sandrone asked with a little too much hostility for a first meeting. The woman laughed loudly, her laugh echoing and bouncing off the empty halls, “You really are so insistent! It's admirable.” The woman said with a softer chuckle, “Just call me ‘the doctor’, little marionette! But now it's my turn to ask you something, curious little kitty~” the woman said as she took one step closer to her, looming over the much shorter girl, her eyes burning into Sandrone’s like she could see her soul.
“Who might you be, little lady?” the woman said, cocking her head to the side as she stared at Sandrone expectantly. There was a beat of silence before she spoke up, “Sandrone.” she gave out a little too easily, the woman seemed satisfied, turning on her heels and taking the stairwell, Sandrone had to do a double take, she could have sworn that the woman was taking the elevator. Was she just standing there to taunt Sandrone? To play with her food before she ate?
She was utterly confused. And what kind of psychopath takes the stairs from the top floor? She tried her best to just shrug it off when the elevator doors opened, she told herself to just focus on getting to work but she knew she wouldn't be able to. Not after that interaction.
19/07/20XX — 11:45pm
She was home later than she had expected but her work kept her, she didn't always get home this late— hell she usually works from home— but she was utterly swamped at work today and it took her longer to get out than expected.
She groaned as she checked the time on her watch, she was utterly exhausted and just wanted to be curled up in her bed as soon as possible. She rested her head against the steering wheel of her car, trying to relax for a second, just one second before she had to go home but the angle was uncomfortable and she was utterly annoyed, her face showing it clearly. She lifted her head off the steering wheel with an annoyed groan.
She pulled her keys out, opening the door and slamming it behind her. She quickly locked up her car and just stomped her way over to the elevators and oh how lovely they weren't working..! The pads where they'd usually display the floors they were on now displaying a scrolling “out of service” message. This damned apartment and their stupid fucking elevators that kept breaking down!
She groaned in annoyance loud enough that someone definitely heard her, she swung the stairwell door open, sighing as he made her way up from the basement.
She was ready to pass out after two floors. She wasn't made for walking so much! She was a software engineer, not some hiker! She was losing it, she was fairly certain she was hearing colours and tasting sounds.
“Not used to taking the stairs, little lady?” The voice echoed through the empty stairwell, making the hair on the back of her neck stand, she was practically frozen in place, her ears ringing as she turned to look at the source of the voice and sure enough if it was her, The Doctor.
“I'm not fucking psychotic that I'd use the stairs when the elevators usually work.” She sounded terrified even though it was so obvious she was trying really hard not to show weakness in front of this woman. The doctor laughed at Sandrone's biting comment, her eyes glinting with amusement.
“Oh? Does that mean you think I'm psychotic then?” The doctor said playfully, she could tell the woman was smiling under that mask as she took a step closer to Sandrone. “Fucking look at you! Who wouldn't think you're psychotic..” Sandrone said with a scoff, she was still tense and unnerved, the air to her was thick and filled with absolute terror but considering the half obscured look on the doctor's face she was starting to think she was the only one who could feel it.
“Oh my, you're wildly entertaining, little lady!” The doctor laughed, pausing for a moment before mumbling something, “Adorable too..” The doctor commented, sandrone couldn't help but think that was a weird ass thing to say to someone you just met, her eyebrows furrowed as she stared at the taller woman. Just as she was about to speak, the doctor's voice cut her off.
“Why don't I carry you, marionette?” Sandrone immediately raised an eyebrow at the offer, that was beyond suspicious to ask someone you barely knew. It was weird, it had to be weird but something about that soothing voice made Sandrone actually consider it for a moment. She scowled at the doctor only to get an obscured smile back.
“Fuck no.” She said with a glare, immediately attempting to rise to her feet and keep walking up the stairs and away from the conversation but she could still hear the woman's laugh as she walked, echoing through the air of the stairwell.
She barely made it to the sixth floor before her legs gave out, she yelped as she fell. “Reconsidering?” Sandrone looked up to see the doctor, how the fuck did that woman pass her without her noticing? Her eyebrows furrowed, she was above this! She was above being carried by someone like a helpless little princess!.. but she couldn't deny she needed help. “I—” But she was too stubborn to accept it, she could get the words out, they were stuck in her throat.
“I'm good. Thanks.” She said with biting sarcasm, “Well, suit yourself, marionette! I'm sure the elevators are back up.” The doctor commented with a shrug. Sandrone attempted to stand up, her legs trembling as she turned on her heels and opened the stairwell door to the sixth floor, the elevators were back up! The doctor was right!
She immediately got out of there the second she could, calling the elevator and waiting eagerly. She stood there and waited for a moment but she immediately felt the hair on the back of her neck stand like she was being watched, observed. She could feel someone's breath hitting her neck, paralysing her, her breathing picking up. She had to get home and fast.
Her eyebrows furrowed when she entered the elevator and the feeling persisted. The elevator seemed suddenly so.. slow.. it felt like hours had gone by in that elevator. Relief flooded her when the elevator doors opened, she practically ran to her door like she was trying to outrun the feeling of being watched.
She stopped in front her door, her hands trembling as she unlocked the door, immediately slamming the door closed behind her. Her back pressed against the door, her chest rising and falling with several panicked gasps. She didn't know why she was so freaked out by just a stupid paranoid sensation but something about it made her feel like she was in real danger, like she was being hunted for sport.
Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her eyes fixed on the ground. Today was.. eventful, her most eventful day by far but she had questions. What was so off about that doctor woman? Who was watching her just then? That duffle bag.. what was in it? Why was it leaking? Hell what was it leaking and Why did she keep bumping into the doctor?..
She wanted answers. No. She needed answers.