Chapter 5: The Siren Grows Closer

It took me a while to type everything out.

My hands were shaking as I tapped out the details, thumbs fumbling over the screen, double-checking the door locks again between sentences.

504 read it and was shocked:

[Shit, that’s terrifying! I knew that last message wasn’t from 402!]

I replied right away: [I’m calling the cops. Don’t even think about calling 402—let the police handle it.]

But what I didn’t expect was that 504 actually sent this message:

[I already called the cops. Don’t go wandering around, and definitely don’t snoop at 404 like 402 did.]

[The police will contact me when they arrive. Remember—don’t go out. Wait for my message, and then we’ll explain everything to the police together.]

I replied: [Okay]

Only then did I feel a little relieved.

Because as long as the police came, everything would be sorted out.

But the fact that 504 told me twice not to go out finally made me realize something—

I suddenly understood what had been nagging at me just now:

Because I clearly heard the sound of 404’s door closing, but when I looked through the peephole, I saw the face of the 404 man…

Somewhere in the building, a siren started to wail, faint but getting closer. The siren grew louder, echoing up the stairwell. I pressed myself against the door, phone in hand, barely daring to breathe. Outside, somewhere in the building, something—or someone—was moving.