Chapter 3: Midnight Exploration
The mall, typically bustling with shoppers, transformed into an eerie labyrinth under the cover of darkness. United by a common curiosity and a mysterious message, Agnes, Cholo, and Jonas cautiously stepped into the shadowy expanse.
"Alright, guys, let's stick together and be on the lookout for anything unusual. We need to find out what's really going on in that food court," Agnes directed, her voice carrying a mix of determination and apprehension.
"Agreed. I've got the camera rolling, so we'll capture everything," Cholo affirmed, adjusting the smartphone that served as his recording device.
Nervous but resolute, Jonas nodded in agreement as they ventured deeper into the dimly lit mall. The only sounds were their echoing footsteps and the occasional creaks from unseen corners.
"Did anyone else feel that breeze? It's giving me the creeps," Agnes remarked, sensing an unusual chill in the air.
"Yeah, I felt it too. This place feels different at night," Jonas responded, his unease evident in his voice.
Cholo panned the camera around, capturing the eerie atmosphere. Suddenly, a distant whisper echoed through the hall, sending shivers down their spines.
"Leave this place," the ghostly whisper commanded, prompting the trio to exchange nervous glances.
"Alright, that was weird. Let's keep moving," Agnes suggested, attempting to shake off the unsettling encounter.
As they approached the food court, the once lively area now lay in complete darkness. Only the glow of the camera's screen illuminated their path.
"This is where it all started. Agnes, remember where you had the 'eyeball incident'?" Cholo asked, referencing the infamous moment.
Agnes nodded, her eyes scanning the vacant stalls.
"Let's check the Spice Haven stall. Maybe there's something here that we missed."
"This is bizarre. It's like a kitchen gone wild. Cholo, get this on camera," Agnes instructed as they reached Spice Haven. The once-tidy stall was now disheveled, with pots scattered and ingredients in disarray.
Cholo focused the camera on the chaotic scene, capturing the unsettling atmosphere. Suddenly, a chilling gust extinguished the flickering candle flames.
"You shouldn't have come," a whisper echoed through the stall, freezing the trio in their tracks.
A ghostly figure materialized in the corner, casting a spectral glow.
"Leave now, before it's too late," the figure warned.
"I saw it. This is not normal. We need to get to the bottom of this," Agnes insisted, undeterred by the spectral warning.
Ignoring the ghostly caution, they pressed on, determined to uncover the truth. Their next destination was the admin office, the place Agnes had been taken after her unsettling experience in the food court.
"I used to work here during the day, but it feels like a completely different place at night," Jonas remarked as they traversed the dimly lit corridor leading to the admin office.
"We're getting closer to the admin office. Let's find out if there's anything in their records about the food court," Agnes suggested as they reached their destination.
The admin office, cloaked in shadows and dust particles, appeared abandoned.
"Let's see if we can find any records related to the food court or if there's someone we can talk to," Agnes said as they began searching through files and documents.
"Look at this. Blueprints of the mall. Maybe there's something here that can help us understand what changed when the food court became famous," Jonas exclaimed, discovering a set of old blueprints in a dusty drawer.
Cholo focused the camera on the blueprints as they scrutinized the details.
"There's a passage here that doesn't make sense. It's not on the current mall layout," Agnes observed.
"Maybe that's where the ghostly figures are coming from. We should check it out," Jonas suggested.
Deciding to follow the hidden passage revealed by the blueprints, they navigated through darkened corridors. The air grew heavier with each step.
"I have a bad feeling about this, guys," Agnes confessed, her unease growing.
"We're in this together, Agnes. Let's find out what's going on," Cholo reassured her.
Reaching a sealed door marked as
"Restricted Area," Agnes pushed it open, revealing a pitch-black space beyond. "Get the flashlight, Cholo. We need to see what's in there."
Cholo fumbled for a flashlight, its beam cutting through the darkness. As the light revealed the room, they were met with a chilling sight – rows of storage shelves holding jars filled with an unknown substance.
"What... what is this?" Jonas questioned, a sense of horror creeping into his voice.
Agnes picked up one of the jars, her eyes widening in terror as she realized what was inside – preserved eyeballs. "This is beyond creepy. Why would they have jars of eyeballs here?"
"We need to document everything. This is evidence," Cholo declared, continuing to record the disturbing scene.
The room began to shake as the jars rattled on the shelves. Panic set in as the trio realized they had stumbled upon a horrifying truth.
"You've uncovered our secret," the chilling whisper echoed through the room. A shadowy figure materialized, its form shifting between the jars.
"You should have listened to the warnings. Now you're a part of this," the shadowy figure warned.
The room filled with an ominous energy as the trio braced themselves for the unsettling revelations that awaited them.