The specified location was so deserted it made you doubt the accuracy of your map app. Streetlights were sparse, and despite it being daytime, the area felt strangely dim. There were almost no shops open nearby, save for a small convenience store just around the corner.

You compare your smartphone screen to the building in front of you several times. —No mistake. This seems to be the "site."

You recall the job description:

— "Don't think, just perform the inspection."

— "If SOMETHING is there, absolutely do not make a sound, and do not move."

The simplicity of the task and the bizarre nature of that last sentence don't add up at all. But the pay was good. A short-term, simple patrol. You'd get a substantial amount for just that. You tell yourself to overlook the slight sense of wrongness.

You grip the smartphone in your pocket.

You place your hand on the glass door. It's heavier than expected and makes a dull sound as you push it open. In that moment, a flicker of regret crosses your mind.

—Maybe I should have stayed away.

But it's too late. You take a step inside. As your sole touches the floor, you think you hear a faint, watery sound.

You look back.

The outside looks strangely distant. And you realize, the interior is much darker than you thought.