trembling hands , and her breath got shallow and thin . When the song repeated for the fourth time , another human voice joined in on the lyrics . At least , she thought it was a human voice . The voice was there , right there , and not far away . It was crackly , gruff . “ CALLIEEEEE !” Wasn ’ t she the only one in the building ? The only live one .
Perhaps it was all in her head .
Callie ’ s whole body shuddered . She heard what sounded like click-click against the linoleum tiles , someone ’ s steps walking in time with the musical beat . Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw Mr . Kramer ’ s foot going back and forth like a metronome . When she turned to look , his foot was still , the covers unmoved . Outside , the storm was raging , the snow thrashing against the window and freezing on the glass panes . “ CALLIEEEE !” The color drained from her face , fear stuck in her throat , she couldn ’ t swallow . She convinced herself that it was the howling wind creating all these sounds . But had she locked the entrance door ?
“ Who is it ?’ Callie ’ s voice was almost a cry . The music got louder , more urgent . She heard the elevator make its descent again then come up to a halt at the floor she was on . The doors screeched open . Click-click . Click-click .
Callie tried to convince herself nothing was going on , that it was just her imagination . She ’ d do her job as usual , and all this stuff would go away , and the dead silence would return . She ’ d welcome it , too , never
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