Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-35650682-20180521153808

'''I've been trying to make a short story, akin to "personal experience" style of storytelling. This is what i've got so far. Really hoping to get some help from you guys :) cheers!'''

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The Showers:

I once stayed on this very old apartment. Affordable rent, average size room good for just one person and the best perk was its very close to my office. It was too good to be passed out. After living in it for 2 weeks everything has been good so far. But i did notice there were so little people living there. This was hard to believe because of the steal price. But then again, the building was old, every room was bland and desperately in need of furnishing. The hallway ceiling even had a few holes that exposed the ventilation shafts. Damn place was an eyesore, but it was livable.

The rooms didnt have their own bathroom. Instead they shared a common bath area. Because of the small number of tenants, I never had to rush for my shower every morning. It seems no matter what time i wake up, its either I get there or the person before me just got done. I guess people here wake up early. Aside from the wet bathroom tiles, i am sometimes welcomed by the massive clumps of hair clogging the floor drain. There was also a trail of water on the hallway as if who ever showered didnt even bother drying up. Bunch of slobs i thought, but I just shrugged it off. They were probably just in a hurry.

One day I decided to take a bath a bit earlier than usual. My room was on the west side of the building. The bath area was situated on the east end. Traversing the hallway that early was quite eerie. It was still dark and there was no vehicle noise from the road outside.

As i was getting closer to the bathroom i heard a creeking noise behind me. Startled, i quickly turned around to see one of the room's door was ajar. Behind it was a person. A thinly built middle aged man. He was staring at me. The guy at all wasnt so scary, but the look he gave me was unnerving. His eyes were wide and never blinked. His whole body stayed frozen behind the door.

I looked behind me to find the hallway empty, so he was definetely staring at me. After a few seconds I decided to move on, feeling how stupid it was to have a staredown with a stranger. I thought he must've been a drug addict or sleep deprived junkee.

I proceeded to the bathroom which was just a few steps away. I was surprised to find it occupied. I can hear the faucet running and light slipped out from the bottom of the door. First time for everything i guess, that's what i told myself.

While waiting I glanced back to the door of the weird man. He was still there! Still staring at me. I dont think he ever moved. The uneasyness he gave me slowly turned into annoyance. He looked like he was about to step out and lunge at me any moment, so I decided to confront him. I wanted to just intimidate and scare him off. I started walking towards him. Just when i was about to ask him what his problem was, I heard the bathroom door open.

He and i were still locked eye to eye, but I considered letting it go and finally have my shower. Then I noticed.. he wasnt looking at me anymore. He was looking behind me.. i felt a singking feeling in my gut. I slowly turned my head back to the bathroom door.

It was open, the running water turned off. Seconds later a big pile of what looked like wet hair slowly peered out of the doorway. A big green hand followed suddenly and slapped itself on the door frame. Its fingers were long and webbed. Then another hand with the same features reached out and posted on the opposite wall. What ever it was, it stayed there, in that position while doing deep heaving breaths. The massive stash of hair bobbed up and down, drizzling water on floor beneath it.

Shivers covered my back. My jaw was hanging open. My feet was just moving by instinct. I was stepping backward with one of my hands pushing on the near wall. I wanted to run but I was too afraid. Just then I felt someone grab my shoulder and drag me backward. I almost fell down but whoever startled me caught me by the arm and guided me away from the hallway and into one of the rooms.

As we scampered my gaze never left that thing. It was only when we were off the hallway that i looked at my saviour. It was the man from before. He slowly shut the door, taking caution not to make a sound. Before i could speak he put a finger up his lips, gesturing me to be quiet. We sat there motionless on the floor for a bit. The man had one ear pushed on his door, listening. I did the same.

Soon we heard a wet thumping sound. First it was a bit distant but got louder by each step. I was holding my breath while listening. Suddenly, it just stopped. There was a long silence. While wondering where the sound went, my eyes dropped to the floor. What I saw almost made me scream. Water.. a flood of water was seeping through the bottom of the door and into the room. My eyes widened as i witnessed my slippers being soaked wet. I would've jumped if it wasnt for the man in front of me. He clutched my shoulder and his facial expression begged me to keep quiet. His body stayed pinned to the door.

I swear I can hear breathing from the other side. We locked ourselves in that position. After a minute the wet steps came back, and the water at our feet stopped flowing. The stepping was getting farther and farther. When we could no longer hear it I took a sigh of relief. To my horror the man opened the door. I hurriedly grabbed his arm to stop him but he assured me that it was okay now. He even told me to come take a look outside. I wouldve disapproved if it not for my own curiosity, and the fact that he looked relax now. The scared look in his face completely gone.

I followed him out of the room. As we stood there in the hallway I had a dreadfull realization. The whole stretch of the hallway now had a trail of water.. Just like everyday. I asked the man what the hell was going on. He explained everything. Turns out that thing, lived there too. Its obvious that it scared away almost everyone in the building. Save for a few who were desperate for affordable living. Still I found it hard to believe that this guy managed to live there for almost a year. He says you just have to watch out for it. It only comes out early in the morning, right before the sun comes up. Thats why nobody, uses the showers that early. It goes there everyday, he says it likes, the water.

I asked if it ever hurt anybody. He says he doesnt know, neither did the few who lived there. Nobody would stick around the hallways and greet it a goodmorning.. All they know is, if they kept their distance and be quiet while it prowled the hall, they were fine. Of course, I left. But not before seeing where the trail of water that thing left behind lead to.. It was into an opening in the ceiling, beside my room. 