by Jon Athan
Who wandered the mall at night? Demons? Ghosts? Deranged homeless people?
Parents would tell their children anything to keep them away from the hazardous mall. For the most part, the tales worked on Isaac as a child. He never thought he'd be returning to the property as a security guard.
Isaac strolled to a gate at the north-end of the mall. He glanced at the small security post to his left. The small structure would be his home-away-from-home for the next few weeks. It was puny, sure, but it seemed cozy enough. He walked past the booth and approached a group in the parking lot.
Isaac said, “I hope I'm not late.”
Lewis, donning a black pinstripe suit and a matching bowler hat, smiled and enthusiastically said, “Isaac! I was afraid you wouldn't show up. I'm glad my instincts didn't fail me. I knew you were something special.”
“Special? I don't know about that, but I'm always up for a job. I'm a punctual guy, that's all.”
“Good, good. I like punctual. Come on, let me introduce you to your partner,” Lewis said as he beckoned to his employee.
The enigmatic employer turned towards the young woman and man to his right. Isaac recognized the blonde woman – Lorraine Davis, Lewis' secretary. He didn't recognize the man, though.
The man had straight black hair, a wispy goatee, and dark brown eyes. He wore the same outfit as Isaac: a long-sleeve navy shirt, navy trousers, black insulated boots, and a utility belt. Clearly, they were partners. He seemed like a decent young man, too.
Lewis said, “You already know Ms. Davis. Thank you for making her job so much easier. You don't know how much stress I must be putting on her with all of my demands.”
Davis smiled and nodded, then she said, “Nice to see you again, Isaac.”
Isaac returned the nod and responded, “Good to see you, too, ma'am.”
Lewis pointed at the other guard and said, “This will be your partner for the duration of the project, Mr. David Cho.”
As the guards shook hands, David smiled and said, “It's nice to meet you, Isaac. I've heard a bit about you from Mr. Lewis. I hope we can work well together.”
Isaac responded, “I'm sure we will.” He pulled the walkie-talkie from his belt and said, “You can always call me if you need anything. I'm always around to give a helping hand.”
“Sounds good to me. Hell, I might take you up on that offer if we run into any ghosts around here.”
“Well, 'always' might have been the wrong word. Don't call me if you run into any of that crap. I'm not looking for any 'supernatural' trouble, especially not at this place.”
Lewis chuckled and patted the guards' shoulders, disrupting the friendly conversation. He obviously didn't want the pair to talk about ghosts on their first night. He didn't want one of them to quit before work started because of a few horror stories.
Lewis said, “Ms. Davis, please escort David to his post. Fill him in on any other minuscule details and answer any of his questions. Call me if you need anything.”
Davis nodded and said, “Sure.”
She beckoned to David, then she walked beside the dilapidated building. David waved at his employer, then he hurried to Davis' side. The pair walked towards the security post at the south-end of the property.
As he watched them depart, Lewis said, “Let me show you around the security post.”
***
Lewis said, “This is a state-of-the-art security booth with all of the finest trinkets and tools you could possibly imagine. Using this compact post as your headquarters will allow you to capture the bad guys and save the day with minimal effort. It's truly something special. Security guards around the world will be jealous of your status. Believe that, son, believe that.”
Lewis couldn't help but snicker as he shoved the door open, blatantly jolly. The hinges howled like a wolf to the moon, shrill and obnoxious. Yet, compared to Madison Mall, the hinges were merely a minor inconvenience. A squirt of lubricant could fix the door in an instant. Oil couldn't upgrade the booth, though.
Isaac examined the tiny booth, dispirited by Lewis' joke.
The security post was barely able to fit one person. To the left of the door, there was a filmy window. Beneath the window, there was a desk with some paperwork and a radio on top. There was a cheap rolling chair wedged in front of the table. The walls were beige and the floor was comprised of concrete. To be blunt, the booth could probably be blown down by a big bad wolf.
'State-of-the-art' and 'jealousy' did not come to mind. The security post was practically ancient by modern standards. There were no computers or monitors to keep track of the property. The booth didn't even have a landline phone in case of emergencies. Most disappointing of all: there were no entertaining distractions in sight.
Isaac said, “I figured we wouldn't have the biggest budget, but this is a little depressing. I mean, couldn't you have sprung for a cheap laptop or something?”
Lewis shook his head and said, “No, no. That would just distract you. Besides, at least we wired the booth.”
He flicked the switch on the wall to his right, illuminating the interior of the booth. He flicked another switch and illuminated the area in front of the security post.
Lewis said, “Electricity isn't cheap, Isaac. The light should make your job easier anyway. People who wander around these parts aren't exactly looking for trouble.”
“I hope not. I don't have much to work with, do I?”
“Nope. There are no high-end cameras installed in this area. I believe there are a few still functioning in the parking lot, but none at the security posts or in the mall. There are no 'emergency buttons,' either. The cops won't come speeding down here at a moment's notice, so be cautious. You'll only have a chain-link fence and your regularly scheduled patrols.”
“To be honest with you, Mr. Lewis, this is not the ideal situation for a job like this.”
Lewis shrugged and said, “I know, I know. Remember, though, we've never really had any significant issues around here anyway. There aren't a lot of muggings in this area. There isn't a severe drug problem. It's just wanderers... Keep that in mind.”
Lewis' reminder was reassuring. It didn't relieve all of Isaac's stress, but it helped him keep an optimistic view of the future. He didn't have cameras to keep an eye out for him. He didn't have the police on speed-dial, either. At least his chances of being mugged were slim to none.
Isaac swallowed the lump in his throat, like swallowing a golf ball, then he said, “Well, that's great news, sir. Regardless, I'll make sure I get the job done. There won't be any problems. You have my word.”
Lewis patted Isaac's shoulder and said, “Attaboy. I knew you were dedicated. I could see it in your eyes.” He glanced at the falling sun and nodded. He said, “It'll be getting dark soon. Do you remember the rotation schedule?”
“Yes, sir. We're swapping every hour.”
“That's right. If you forget, I'm sure David will remind you. He's a very punctual young man, too. Don't forget to check the gates every once in a while, too. Even with the lights, some people tend to prowl around the property. If you see anything suspicious, make sure you call David. I want you to be together in case... Well, in case anything goes wrong. It won't, though, so don't worry about that.”
Lewis' lack of confidence was worrisome. His advice was well-intentioned, but he came off as uncertain. In case anything goes wrong – such an ominous message made anxious minds run wild with horrifying ideas. The fact was simple: anything could go wrong at any given moment, especially under the unsecured circumstances.
Trying his best to ignore Lewis' statement, Isaac said, “I understand.” He glanced over at the abandoned mall and asked, “If anyone gets inside or if we hear anything suspicious in there, should we go into the mall and investigate?”
Lewis clicked his tongue, then he said, “I'd prefer it if you didn't. Like I said, there are a few hazards in there. If you see or hear anything inside of the building, call me. I'll let you know if you can go inside or I
'll call the proper authorities for you. My phone will be on all night, so don't worry about that, either. Besides, as long as you keep the border secure, there will be no need to check the rest. Sound good?”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Great.”
Isaac and Lewis shook hands, signaling the beginning of the first shift. Lewis smiled and waved at the young security guard as he strolled towards the south-end of the mall, seemingly searching for his secretary.
Isaac fell into the rolling chair and said, “Well, here it goes...”
Chapter Five
The First Shift
The ability to stop time was fictitious. Time manipulation was a creative concept found in movies, novels, and comic books. However, in a sense, the ability to stop time existed through a tried-and-tested method – an ancient method. Of course, sheer boredom could make time slow to a dreadful crawl. Ask any man dragged to the mall.
Isaac leaned back in his seat with his legs kicked up on the desk. He vacantly stared through the window ahead, waiting for someone to interrupt the tedium. He didn't want to bump heads with violent vagrants or obnoxious teenagers, but he preferred drama to boredom. He hated ghosts – the mere idea made his spine waver – but he welcomed any malevolent spirits with open arms at the moment.
The young security guard sighed due to the boredom, then he leaned forward in his seat. He tossed his cell phone and his walkie-talkie on the desk. He figured he had a few options on the table: he could call David or he could call Tracey. Although David seemed like the more exciting choice, Tracey and her ominous message still lingered in his mind.
The cow-headed intruder was a different story. The uncanny man was certainly on his mind, but he tried his best to forget about him. As far as he could tell, he was a hallucination – perhaps he was part of an epiphany. Still, it was not the time to unravel hidden revelations.
Isaac dialed Tracey's number, then he held the phone to his ear. As he counted each tone, he whispered, “Answer the phone, Tracey. Talk to me. Please, talk to me.”
Tracey didn't answer the call. Isaac placed the phone on the table and shook his head, disappointed. The utter disregard was disrespectful. He made some questionable statements during their last conversation, but he felt like he deserved another chance. She attacked him with scathing accusations after all. His girlfriend's disdain was worrisome and annoying.
Before he could kick and scream like a child dragged to the doctor's office, the clanking sound of rattling steel emerged outside of the booth – the fence. Isaac quickly stood from his seat. He stumbled out of the security post, then he shined his flashlight towards the chain-link fence. The rickety fence swayed, but there was no one in sight.
Isaac murmured, “It... It was the wind. It was just the damn wind.”
He furrowed his brow upon hearing a faint buzzing sound – the phone. He rushed back into the booth, sprinting as if he were being chased by a serial killer in a horror movie. The chair rolled to the farthest wall from the entrance as he fell into the seat. His excitement quickly dwindled, though. The caller ID read: Melanie Luna.
Isaac loved Melanie – that fact was indisputable. He was simply too stressed to talk to her. He only wanted to speak to Tracey. He wasn't fond of neglecting his daughter, it hurt him, but he felt like it was the best thing to do.
As the phone rang, he rubbed his moist brow and whispered, “Melanie, I can't deal with this now. I just can't talk to you now. I can't say 'good night' or 'I love you.' I just can't. Ask your new daddy to tuck you in, ask him to tell the monsters to go away. I can't talk to you. I just can't.”
With the blunt rejection, the phone stopped ringing. It was impossible for Melanie to hear her father's rejection, but the timing was eerie.
Isaac said, “I'm sorry, Melanie. I'll talk to you next time. Good night, baby. I love you.”
He grabbed his phone and dialed Tracey's number again. He would certainly be deemed 'clingy' due to his persistence, but his image as a boyfriend wasn't very important at the moment. He was more concerned about the accusations. He had to clear his name, he had to understand Tracey's thought-pattern.
In a hoarse tone, as if she had spent the day crying, Tracey answered, “What do you want, Isaac?”
“I want to talk. You didn't really give me a chance to explain myself earlier. You said some... some strange things, too.”
“Strange? What the hell are you talking about? Just come out and say it.”
“You–You said, 'I know it was you last time,' or something like that. I have no idea what you're talking about, though.”
“You're still playing dumb, aren't you? You know what I was talking about. I lost my baby this week, Isaac. I don't know if that was you. But, the last time, the time I fell down those stairs, I know you pushed me.”
Isaac grimaced and shook his head, disgusted by the allegation. He wasn't responsible for Tracey's recent miscarriage and he refused to take the blame for her previous accident. Such a sinister accusation could ruin a person's life. Contrary to popular belief, words were often more powerful than sticks and stones. They couldn't cause physical harm, but they could easily destroy a person's reputation.
Isaac said, “That was your accident, Tracey. I was nowhere near you when that happened. You told the police someone bumped into you on the stairs that night. You said it was an accident. If you thought someone pushed you, why didn't you say something? If you thought I did it, why didn't you tell them that? Huh? You can't bring this type of bullshit up just 'cause something bad happened to you. You can't bring this up now that I'm getting my life on track. That's not fair.”
Isaac breathed heavily as he tried to compose himself. He didn't plan on ranting to his traumatized girlfriend, but he couldn't help himself. He didn't want to taint his name, he didn't want to return to prison.
Isaac asked, “Tracey, are you still there?”
Tracey said, “I thought you'd act this way. You actually sound like you believe you're innocent. It... It makes me sick to know I ever loved a man like you.”
“I'm telling you the truth. I had nothing to do with it. Miscarriages happen, accidents happen. It's horrible, I know, but we've just been unlucky. Let's just talk about this in-person, okay? Let's not say anything rash over the phone. I'll come to your place after my shift and we'll talk.”
Tracey huffed, then she said, “We're finished, Isaac. I'm moving on with my life. I'll find someone who actually cares about me. You're just a bastard. You're a guilty bastard and you'll get what's coming to you.”
Isaac shouted, “That's enough, Tracey! Stop!”
There was no response. He glanced at his phone and sighed. Tracey had disconnected from the call before Isaac's barking. Once again, the security guard was left to ponder his girlfriend's ominous messages. Is she planning something?–he thought.
***
Isaac absently gazed at his cell phone, lost in a maze filled with horrifying thoughts. Vengeance was a frightening concept, especially when it was unjustified. He maintained his innocence amidst the appalling accusations. If Tracey sought vengeance, she would solely be responsible for her actions – there would be no justification.
As he stared at the phone, hoping for another call, the security guard whispered, “It wasn't me, Tracey. I don't know who told you that crap, but it wasn't me. Please believe me.”
He wiped his nose as he sniffled – a result of his complicated emotions and the cold temperatures. As a matter of fact, the booth became colder with each passing second. He crossed his arms and rubbed his shoulders as he shuddered. He glanced up at the ceiling. The light buzzed and flickered a bit, then it settled.
He whispered, “What's going on in–”
He gasped and hopped as he glanced at the window. A woman in a white nightgown ran past the window with small, hurried steps, like an insect skittering away from a predator. She giggled with each step, too, laughing like a devious child. In the dark, desolate environment, the soft laughter was unnerving.
He lowered the walkie-talkie as he waited for a response. He continued to stare out the window. The laughing had already stopped.
Isaac held the walkie-talkie to his mouth and asked, “David, can you hear me? David?”
The frightened guard stared at the two-way radio, eagerly waiting for a response. To his dismay, his partner remained silent. The man was punctual – he showed up before Isaac – but he wasn't very reliable.
Isaac pressed the push-to-talk button again and said, “David, you should start heading over here. I think it's time for our patrols. I'm going down the west end of the mall. Okay?” There was no response. Isaac muttered, “Damn it... Goddammit...”
Even without a direct interaction, the woman tormented him. Her rapid steps were unusually unnerving. The long black hair covering her face reminded him of the ghosts from classic Asian horror movies. The white nightgown seemed familiar, too – he felt like he had seen it before, in-person. Although he wasn't certain, he also thought he spotted blood on her forearms and hands. She didn't seem like the type of woman to wander the abandoned property.
Isaac exited the security post. He shuddered as his body was hit by a cool breeze. The chilling effect was appropriate under the circumstances – well-timed, too. Standing less than a meter away from the door, he glanced around the property. The mall was eerie, as usual, but the area seemed empty. There was no one in sight.
Isaac loudly swallowed, then he said, “If you're out here, you better leave. I have a baton, a taser, pepper spray, and... and a gun. I can defend myself. If you stay, I'll let you choose what you want me to subdue you with. Okay?”
The wind responded with a powerful gust, but the intruder remained silent.
