Chapter 2: Jonas's Revelation
Agnes, Cholo, and Jonas convened under the cover of darkness to meet with Eric, the nightshift mall guard, in a secluded area near the food court. Eric, a burly man with a weathered face, eyed them warily before finally speaking.
"So, what's this about?" Eric crossed his arms, skepticism evident. "Jonas said something about ghosts and strange occurrences."
Cholo took a deep breath.
"We know it sounds crazy, but we've experienced something too. We need to understand what's happening in that food court."
"I'm not sure what you expect to find," Eric said, his voice gruff, "but if Jonas says it's worth looking into, I'll share what I know."
"We appreciate that, Eric," Agnes said, a note of determination in her voice. "Anything you've seen or heard could be crucial."
In the dim light, Eric began to recount his nightly patrols around the mall.
"It started a few weeks ago," Eric began. "I'd hear whispers near the food court. At first, I thought it was just people working late. But then, I saw shadows moving in the dining area, even when the mall was supposed to be empty."
"Shadows? Like ghosts?" Cholo inquired, leaning in with genuine curiosity.
"I can't explain it," Eric admitted, uncrossing his arms. "They didn't have a clear form, but they were there. And sometimes, the temperature would drop suddenly, and I'd feel a chill even on warm nights."
Agnes absorbed the information, her mind processing the eerie details.
"This is getting stranger by the minute. What about the food court itself? Any oddities there?"
"I've seen flickering lights, heard strange noises, like distant laughter, when no one was around," Eric continued.
"But the weirdest part is the security footage. Sometimes, I catch glimpses of things that shouldn't be there – figures moving when the place is supposedly empty."
"Figures? Like people?" Cholo pressed for more details.
"No, not people," Eric clarified. "More like shapes, shadows. It's hard to describe."
Agnes nodded thoughtfully.
"We need to see that footage. It might hold some answers."
"I can show you," Eric said, a mix of reluctance and determination in his gaze, "but you have to promise not to tell anyone about this. If Mr. Corpus, my supervisor, finds out, I could lose my job."
Cholo assured him,
"You have our word, Eric. We're only trying to get to the bottom of this mystery."
The trio followed Eric to the mall security room, a small and dimly lit space filled with monitors displaying various parts of the shopping complex. Eric pulled up footage from the food court on one of the screens.
As they watched, eerie shadows seemed to dance across the tables and chairs, flickering in and out of existence. The temperature in the room dropped noticeably.
"This is... unbelievable," Agnes remarked, eyes fixed on the screen. "Have you shown this to anyone else?"
"I tried showing it to Mr. Corpus, my supervisor," Eric explained, "but he dismissed it, said it was probably a glitch. I stopped talking about it after that."
Cholo acknowledged,
"We appreciate your honesty, Eric. This is crucial information."
Agnes concluded, "We need to keep digging. There's something deeply wrong with that food court, and we won't rest until we uncover the truth."
The bustling kitchen of the food court was filled with the savory aroma of simmering beef bones and meat as Jonas diligently stirred a large pot of soup. The rhythmic clatter of utensils and sizzling sounds created a symphony of culinary activity.
In the midst of the routine, an unexpected occurrence disrupted Jonas's focus. A sudden, tight grip seized his hand, sending shockwaves of terror through him. Panic set in as he attempted to pull away, but the unseen force held firm.
Jonas let out a scream, his cry echoing through the kitchen. The other crew members, initially immersed in their tasks, looked up in bewilderment. Maria, a young chef, rushed over to Jonas.
"What happened, Jonas? Are you okay?" Maria's concern was evident as she tried to make sense of the commotion.
"There's... there's something in the pot! It's holding me!" Jonas gasped, still struggling with the unseen assailant.
Maria glanced at the pot but saw nothing unusual. "Jonas, there's nothing there. Are you feeling alright?"
The other crew members gathered around, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion, questioning what was unfolding.
"What's going on here?" one crew member asked, while another speculated, "Did Jonas see a rat or something?"
Maria attempted to guide Jonas away from the pot, but the phantom grip inexplicably released. Jonas stood there, visibly shaken, eyes darting around as if expecting the unseen force to return.
"Let's sit down. You look pale. Maybe you're just stressed out," Maria suggested, trying to calm Jonas.
While the crew members attempted to comfort Jonas, their attention shifted to the arrival of Mr. Anderson, the stern supervisor of the food court.
"What's all this commotion? I can hear it from the dining area. Get back to work, all of you!" Mr. Anderson's stern voice cut through the chaos.
"Mr. Anderson, something happened to Jonas. He was acting strange in the kitchen," Maria explained, seeking to convey the urgency of the situation.
Mr. Anderson scowled, his displeasure evident.
"Jonas, what's the meaning of this? We can't afford disruptions in the kitchen."
Jonas, still shaken, tried to explain the bizarre encounter.
"Mr. Anderson, I swear there was something in the pot. It grabbed my hand. I couldn't see it, but it was there!"
The scowl on Mr. Anderson's face deepened.
"Nonsense! You're probably just trying to cause trouble. Get back to work, or I'll make sure you regret this."
With a reluctant return to his duties, Jonas feared further repercussions. The kitchen staff exchanged uneasy glances but resumed their work under Mr. Anderson's watchful eye.
As the day progressed, Jonas found himself on edge, glancing nervously at the pot he had been stirring earlier. The memory of the phantom grip lingered, haunting his every move.
Later that evening, after the last customers had left and the food court began winding down, Mr. Anderson cornered Jonas in the kitchen.
"You caused a scene today, Jonas. I won't tolerate disruptions. Now, prepare for the consequences," Mr. Anderson declared with anger in his voice.
Without warning, Mr. Anderson unleashed a torrent of physical aggression on Jonas. Kicks and punches rained down, and Jonas, defenseless and bewildered, tried to shield himself from the onslaught.
"Mr. Anderson, please! I swear, something happened in the kitchen. I'm not making it up!" Jonas pleaded amidst the blows.
But Mr. Anderson's fury showed no signs of abating. Maria, witnessing the brutal scene, rushed to intervene.
"Mr. Anderson, stop! This is too much. Jonas could be telling the truth," Maria implored, trying to shield Jonas from further harm.
"You stay out of this, Maria. I won't tolerate insubordination," Mr. Anderson threatened, redirecting his anger.
Despite Maria's efforts, Mr. Anderson left Jonas bruised and battered on the kitchen floor.
"This better not happen again, Jonas, or you're out of here," Mr. Anderson warned before storming out of the kitchen.
Nursing his injuries, Jonas found Maria offering a sympathetic gaze.
"We need to do something about this, Jonas. No one should be treated like that."
In the aftermath of the nightmarish sequence of events, Jonas and Maria were left questioning not only the supernatural occurrences but also the cruelty of those who dismissed Jonas's plight.