Mysterious Awakening

Miles tormented this cunning merchant for over an hour, pushing him to the brink of collapse. Only then did he return to the cell phone repair shop, extracting the phone he had lodged into the merchant’s head.

Miles gripped the merchant’s collar, his voice icy as he warned, “I suspect you’ve made a habit of tricking people, trading their phones out from under them. I bet you’ve amassed a fortune that way. You should know, I can be just an ordinary customer, or I can be a menace ten times as ruthless as you, forcing you to regret your actions. I’ll be watching. If I see you persisting in these deceptive practices, next time it won’t just be a phone I’m lodging in your skull.”

“Big… big brother, I won’t dare again,” the merchant stammered, his voice laced with fear.

“It seems you people toss away any semblance of conscience in the name of profit. When you’re not caught, you’re arrogant, even going so far as to play the victim, accusing me of peddling stolen merchandise. You think a simple apology can erase your wrongs once you’re discovered? This is far too easy for you. Your deceit appears so effortless that swindlers like you are a dime a dozen. Take today as a lesson, and remember to tread lightly next time.”

Having sternly admonished the merchant, Miles departed, compensation for his emotional distress in hand. His tactics might have been somewhat dubious, but that didn’t faze him.

As an infamous individual leading a liminal life between the living and the supernatural, Miles understood that his survival hinged on tracking down that ghost. “I don’t mind resorting to despicable means as long as I can secure a comfortable old age for my mother before I die. If I’m gone, what will become of her? Her health is already failing,” Miles mused, a glimmer of sorrow flickering across his face.

“Sadly, there’s no payout for solving paranormal incidents in this place. Otherwise, I could risk it all for a chance at millions, perhaps even tens of millions of dollars.”

Roaming aimlessly through the city streets, Miles kept his eyes peeled for potential ways to pad his wallet. Eventually, he came to a halt in front of a telephone pole covered in an assortment of advertisements. These ranged from reward offers for lost children to simpler posts seeking ad space.

While scanning the ads, Miles’s attention was drawn to a half-ripped flyer. After a moment’s hesitation, he thought, “Should I take a chance on this?”

“The reward is over a million. If I manage to secure it, it will cover half the funds needed for my mom’s retirement.” Miles resolved to head straight to the address given in the ad to assess the opportunity firsthand rather than placing a phone call.

With his decision made, he flagged down a taxi and made a beeline for the address listed on the flyer. The destination was a bustling thoroughfare lined with buildings and pedestrians. There was also a prominent mall situated roadside – the exact location indicated in the ad.

Miles exited the taxi, paid his fare, and took a moment to survey the mall. Yellow police tape had been stretched across the entrance, though it had yet to be removed, hinting at a recent disturbance. The mall was void of customers, its lights dimmed, and the premises appeared temporarily closed.

Miles moved closer, his attention drawn to a number of job postings on display at the entrance. The ads touted positions with attractive benefits, including a monthly salary of six thousand dollars along with provisions for meals and accommodations.

“Judging from the looks of things, something’s definitely happened here. But is it something supernatural?” Miles pondered.

Deciding not to overthink it, he ventured inside the mall. As he crossed the threshold, his expression subtly shifted. An almost imperceptible, yet peculiar, odor drifted his way. It was a scent he recognized – the pungent, decayed stench of a corpse, something he’d encountered at his school just days prior.

His eyes took in the mall’s interior. Save for the area near the entrance, which was bathed in light, the rest was engulfed in darkness due to the temporary shutdown, casting a somewhat oppressive aura.

It might have been his imagination, but Miles felt as if unseen eyes were observing him from the store’s shadowy recesses.

Suddenly, the quiet stillness was disrupted by the echoing crunch of footsteps emanating from the darkness beyond. A silhouette gradually materialized, approaching from the distant gloom.

Instinctively, Miles stiffened, his breath catching in his throat. Could it be a ghost?

The figure advanced steadily, moving directly towards him without faltering.

“I apologize, but the mall is currently closed for reorganization. If you need to purchase anything, there’s a smaller market just a bit further up the road,” came the voice of a lean young man dressed in a security uniform emerging from the shadows.

“Why are you looking at me that way?” the young security officer queried, seemingly puzzled by Miles’s scrutiny.

Taking a moment, Miles responded, “Where were you just now, big brother?”

“I was in the restroom. Is there an issue?” the guard replied.

“Why didn’t you turn on the lights in there?”

“Well, electricity costs money. The boss doesn’t allow wastage. If you’ve no business here, please leave. We’ve had instances of people sneaking in when we’re closed. It’s a hassle. Last time a kid slipped in, and I nearly lost my job trying to find him,” the security guard explained.

“I’m not here for shopping. I’m looking for the boss,” Miles clarified.

“The boss isn’t in today,” the guard answered.

“Do you know when he’ll return?” Miles asked.

“The boss is away on business and won’t be back for a few days. Why all these questions? You’re not here to stir up trouble, are you?” the security guard challenged.

After a brief consideration, Miles answered, “No, I came here to apply for a job.”

“A job?” The security guard scrutinized him and then stated, “You do realize that there have been disappearances here recently, right? There’s an individual who vanished in this mall and hasn’t been found yet.”

“I wasn’t aware of that earlier, but now I am,” Miles responded.

“And yet, you’re still willing to work here?”

“With such an attractive salary, why wouldn’t I be? We’re talking about a disappearance, not a haunting,” Miles countered.

“In that case, come along. I’ll take you to Sister Pear, our recruitment manager,” the young guard offered.

Miles trailed him to a modest office space tucked within the mall. A small group of employees was sprawled out on a sofa, idly watching TV or engrossed in their phones. They seemed devoid of any pressing tasks.

“Sister Pear, there’s someone here for the job interview,” the security guard announced.

A middle-aged woman dressed in a work uniform looked up. Rising from her seat with a friendly smile, she said, “We’re planning on reopening the mall soon, but we’re currently understaffed. We’re not too picky about qualifications or experience right now, and we’re offering a salary of six thousand dollars per month, including meals and accommodations. However, the work shifts can be quite long. If that’s agreeable to you, when can you start?”

Miles considered briefly before replying, “I can start today.”

“There’s a probationary period of three days. Do you have a specific role in mind? We have openings in reception, procurement, cashiering, and security.”

As Sister Pear continued outlining the job specifications and work schedule, Miles’s mind began to wander. He hadn’t come here primarily to work but to meet the boss and hopefully earn some cash.

“I don’t have much experience, so I’ll apply for the security guard role. By the way, I noticed some flyers outside stating that the boss had hired spiritual practitioners, like Taoist priests, for exorcism rituals here. Is that accurate?” he queried.

Sister Pear’s smile faltered momentarily as she replied, “Yes, that’s true. But it’s not something that should concern you. Since you’re a new recruit, why don’t you introduce yourself so everyone can get acquainted?”

Her apparent evasion of the topic piqued Miles’s curiosity. He was left with the distinct impression that something was indeed amiss with the mall.