Chapter 53: A Shameful Escape
The shopping mall was shrouded in a suffocating silence.
The once constant hum of the elevator had ceased, as had the relentless footfalls from every direction. Even the cries for help had vanished without a trace.
But the quiet within the mall was far from peaceful.
A nauseating stench permeated every inch of the space. On the fifth floor stood a group of people, their faces pale, bodies starting to decompose. They blocked the passageway, seemingly not allowing anyone to pass.
These individuals appeared to have been dead for some time, but they had just recently emerged from various corners of the mall. To call them people wouldn’t be accurate – they were more like ghosts.
Mr. Calm, a local business owner, was petrified. He couldn’t bear to witness the horrific sight before him. His mind repeatedly chanted prayers, seeking protection from the celestial beings, promising to offer more incense in return once he got out of this nightmare.
After some time, he realized there were no more movements around him, and he was still alive and unharmed. However, he knew his survival wasn’t due to his prayers but because of Miles’s intervention.
“Mr. Calm, stop playing dead. Open your eyes,” Miles said. “Don’t ignore my words from before. Your safety is temporary. Whether you can leave here alive is uncertain. But if you agree to pay me for my services, I can ensure each one of you leaves here alive.”
Carefully, Mr. Calm opened his eyes and looked around. Spotting the decomposing bodies, his heart skipped a beat. But seeing Miles, a living person, he sighed in relief.