You’d think after five years doing 31 Ghosts I’d have the rhythm of the month down. You’d think that I’d know when things get crazy and when there’s a lull and plan stories accordingly… Yeah, not so much. The next two weeks look to be quite crazy for me and I have no idea what stories are going to look like. It’s going to be fun, though!
Also, I was going to find a new picture for this story, but I found this one I used… geez, forever ago and except for the iPhone that I’m sure is in a museum somewhere, it kinda works. But, OMG, that thing is ancient! Anyway, make sure to check your “For You” page…
“Hey Sis,” Tina said to Maria as she walked into the room through the wall. “Martin, how’s it going?”
“Just having dinner,” Martin said. “Want to join us?”
“Nah,” she said. Then, eyeing the amber liquid in the glass in front of him she asked, “What are you drinking?”
He picked up the glass and swirled the ice and orange peel. “Old Fashioned,” he said and took a sip.
“Wouldn’t you prefer a negroni. Sbagliato. With Prosecco in it,” she said in a pronounced accent.
Maria set her fork down loudly. “Christina Diaz,” Maria scolded, “Have you been obsessing on TikTok again?!”
“I mean… I’m not obsessing…” Tina said as she looked around the room, avoiding Maria’s hard stare.
“Tina, don’t you know they track you with that app? They use your viewing habits to determine a profile of you and then they know everything about you!”
“Maria,” Tina said conspiratorially, “I want to let you in on a little secret… I’m dead.” She nodded for emphasis. “They can track this ghost as far into the ether as they like.”
Meanwhile, in an office tower in AVIC Plaza, Beijing…
“Sir, we have a match!” The young man announced waving a paper in his hand
“Are you sure?” his boss stood up from his desk and took the paper, studying it.
“It’s a perfect match,” the young man said. “One hundred percent certainty.”
“Hmm…” his brow furrowed as he scrutinized the figures. Then he stopped, looked up and made eye contact with the young man. “Send it downstairs.”
“Down… downstairs, sir?”
“To the Zero Floor.”
The young man swallowed audibly. “Yes, sir,” he said and hurried back to his desk where he keyed up the profile that had been flagged, brought up the transfer screen and selected “Zero Floor” from the destination drop down. “Are you certain?” a popup warned. A chill ran down the young mans back. He’d heard stories about the Zero Floor, and about what could happen if you displeased those that dwelled below the basement… He drew in a deep breath, clicked “Yes”, and said a prayer for his soul.
Down below the basement where the elevators stopped was another floor. After it had been constructed and a ritual performed, the Zero Floor had been sealed up – there was no physical access to the Zero Floor. Not by the living, at least.
The light of a monitor turning on disturbed the sepulchral darkness. “New Profile Match,” flashed on the screen. A translucent hand moved a mouse and clicked the “Open” button. The name “Tina Diaz” showed up along with a number of trending numbers.
Another translucent figure floated behind the one at the desk and reviewed what the first was reading. The first figure hissed unintelligible sounds and the dark mass that approximated the head of the second figure nodded in agreement. Then it spoke, “Yes, she is one of us. We will track her down…”
