It wasn't hard to notice -- the lights to his apartment building were off completely. Odd; the rest of the lights on the street were still on. Was it deliberate? Elias rolled up the windows of his 2009 Honda Accord, stepped out, and set the car alarm with a backward-pointing click as he walked toward the entryway to his new apartment home. He'd finished unpacking a day ago, and there already seemed to be electrical problems. Disconcerting.
But it wasn't all negative news, really. He preferred it dark, and absolute darkness was more than preferential; it was downright soothing. His mother had called him a strange little boy. These days, she was doing well to remember him at all. He would have been pleased to hear from her, on this day, that he was still a strange little boy. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly in a smile that was more resigned than fond. He loved his mother -- but his mother was leaving herself behind. More often than not, all that was visible was the shell of a body that she still carried. She hadn't remembered him today. Yes, a dark building would be a comfort.
As he entered the building, however, the chatter of residents set him immediately on edge. Why were they all downsta... Of course. Some people found it uncomfortable to be alone in the dark in their apartments. Elias ground his teeth together and headed to the mailboxes. His vision was already very sharp in the dark but tonight he used his phone to light the way. Thumbing on the 4.3 inch display, he turned his phone face down and let it shine on the floor. It wasn't hard to find his mailbox, and after tucking his mail under his arm, he stopped before entering the lobby. The elevators were across that lobby, and with the lights off like this, the elevators themselves were probably down as well. The stairwell was right across the throng of gathered people. None of them were familiar. Then, even with his excellent night vision, he would have difficulty recognizing anyone.
He took a breath. He would have to go through them. At this very moment, all Elias wanted to do was sit down at his desk and write his mind clean before turning in. He didn't want to deal with people. He didn't even want to be close to them. Everything was setting him on edge, and the knowledge that his mood was dark because his mother was in a state of steep decline didn't stop his mood from being dark. It was what it was. He accepted that. But he would have paid someone to build a path where he would have no chance of running into anyone while heading to his apartment. But that was no option. And he was twice the fool for even thinking it.
Head down, he started through the throng. The faster he did it, the faster he'd get to room 202. But about halfway through the darkened room, phone still lighting his steps, a voice caught his attention. He didn't know the voice. He would have recognized it anywhere if he had ever heard it before this very moment. He didn't know it, but he felt like he should. It was delicate, cool, melodic, and wretchedly compelling. His steps slowed, despite himself.
"Did you know him from before you moved here?" it said. Simple words. Nothing intrinsically captivating about them. And yet, his feet seemed to have grown roots straight through the carpet and foundation of the building. Slowly, Elias turned off the display to his phone. Even slower, as if he were moving against his very will, he stepped backward and sat down on the bench he'd just passed. He didn't want to be here... But that voice. That voice.
He didn't want to be here... but now he couldn't leave.