- 04.
**[Scarlett, could you please come down to the basement storage? This prop seems to be having an issue.]**
I looked out the window at the darkening sky. I left a message for my team, but still headed to the company’s basement storage as per Chloe’s text.
On the way, I noticed everyone’s eyes subtly falling on me. My heart stirred with suspicion, but I had no idea what trick Chloe was up to, so I decided to proceed cautiously.
The elevator doors opened, revealing the usually lit basement storage in complete darkness. I
couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
I instinctively recoiled, not stepping out of the elevator. Instead, I frantically pressed the close–door button, wanting to go back upstairs.
“Scarlett’s running! Grab her!”
Chloe’s sharp voice echoed from the warehouse, making it sound even more sinister.
Through the crack in the still–open elevator doors, I saw several burly men in black suits emerge from the darkness. The cold, white elevator light made them look even more menacing.
Their arms looked like they could knock out eight of me with a single punch.
“Press the elevator door, you idiots!”
Chloe shouted into a walkie–talkie at the men from the warehouse entrance.
My hands trembled as I frantically pressed the close button, but the elevator doors were maddeningly slow.
Finally, the moment the doors fully closed, I watched the figures trapped outside. My heart, which had been pounding in my throat, slowly settled, filled with the relief of a narrow escape.
The elevator opened again, back into the bright company floor, but my wildly thumping heart still
hadn’t calmed down.
4:07 am D
<
I looked at the crowd waiting by the elevator, suddenly recalling Chloe’s sinister smile just before the doors completely shut.
“What do you want?”
My back pressed against the elevator wall, I forced myself to speak in a cold voice.
They said nothing, but slowly advanced on me.
“Scarlett, I know you’re still unhappy with me.”
“I overheard you telling Alex you wanted to sabotage this plan. But everyone has approved it, I can’t let all our hard work, and the company’s investment, go to waste just because of you.”
“So, to stop you from causing trouble, you’ll just have to be inconvenienced and stay in the company storage for a while.”
My eyes widened. I could barely believe what I was hearing:
“I never once objected! I never even talked to Alex!”
Meeting my gaze, Alexander looked away, but then said in a deep voice:
“Even now, you’re still putting on an act!”
Seeing this, all the shareholders and employees instantly lost their initial reluctance and hesitation, casting strange looks at me.
Chloe immediately teared up:
“Scarlett must be mad that I gained everyone’s approval. It’s okay. For the company, let her yell at
me.”
“But the bigger picture is important. How can we treat a company project like a joke…?”
“Scarlett, why are you so petty? You need to have a broader mindset in business, don’t always target people. It’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, I genuinely think Chloe’s plan is pretty innovative.”
“Besides, our company is a true leader in the industry. We should be pioneers, break new ground! If
<
we don’t dare to, are we supposed to let smaller companies take the lead?”
“Exactly. For safety, I think we really can’t let Scarlett go. What if something goes wrong? If the company loses money, I’d have to kill myself!”
As they piled on the accusations, Alexander tenderly wiped away Chloe’s tears, then slammed down the gavel, as if pronouncing my death sentence:
“Then take her phone and lock her in the basement storage.”
A chilling dread spread through me. My blood ran cold, and I couldn’t stop trembling.
I slowly crouched down, covering my ears with my hands.
There was a ringing in my ears. Not the sound of a broken light, but that high–pitched whistle.from my memories.
When I was five, I was kidnapped and held in a place just like this.
No lights, no sounds, no people.
I almost went insane then.
Though I made it home alive, I’ve suffered from severe claustrophobia ever since. With light and a window, I can manage for a while. But in a truly enclosed space, after just ten minutes, I’ll completely break down.
Alexander knew about this. He had held me then, his face full of heartache, promising me over and over that he would never leave me alone in a place like that again, not in this lifetime.
“No,” I said, looking desperately at Alexander, who was coldly watching from the crowd. “Alexander, how can you lock me in the storage room? I promise I won’t do anything. Don’t lock me in…”
I was dragged inside by several grown men, my fingers gripping the doorframe tightly. The unfiled edges tore at my flesh, drawing blood, but I refused to let go.
In my terror, I abandoned my dignity, begging pitifully:
“Alexander, I can’t be locked in the storage room. I’ll die, I really will die…”
Some colleagues, seeing my horrific state, felt a pang of pity:
4:07 am D 5
<
“Alex, if it’s really necessary, just have a few people watch her. Don’t lock her in.””
Alexander’s expression softened, perhaps remembering my claustrophobia, and he was about to
give in, but the next second, a soft arm wrapped around his.
Chloe looked up at Alexander, gently shaking his arm, pouting:
“If we just have people watching, she’ll have too much freedom to move. What if she runs away?”
“Besides, we’re just restricting her movement, it’s not like we’re not giving her food. What could possibly happen? She’s reacting so violently, she must have some plan she’s trying to sabotage, right? Can we really just let her walk away now?!”
“No, Alexander, you know I have claustrophobia…“‘
My face was ashen as I tried to defend myself.
“Oh, come on, Scarlett. You’ve read too many novels. There’s a limit to making up stories”
“This basement has lights, it’s not even dark, what are you afraid of?”
“Besides, you should face your fears directly, it helps with desensitization. I’m doing this for your own good. Why are you so unwilling to go in? Is it because you’re planning to ruin the wedding we worked so hard on?“.
At that, everyone fell silent. Alexander himself pried my fingers off, one by one, and shoved me
inside.
Become S
