...Let's
get you home
then.
Just
to the front
door.
Right.
Sure thing.
Oh.
Um... do you
mind?
I
kind of have
a thing with
elevators... tight
spaces, you
know?
The
stairs? Is he
serious?!
I eye the doorway leading to the stairwell warily. The thought of being on those stairs again is unbearable... but admitting my reluctance to Oliver feels to vulnerable.
I hesitate, prepared to call this whole thing off when Oliver smiles.
Sorry.
You're probably
tired.
Let's
take the
elevator.
Feeling a surge of relief, I nod and release a slow, shaky breath.
If Oliver notices my nerves, he doesn’t say anything. He simply smiles again and gestures “after you,” but I insist he lead the way so that I can keep him in my line of sight. I can’t let me guard down just yet.
We arrive at the elevator. I notice right away that the only button is a down arrow, indicating that this is in fact the highest floor of the building. It fills me with such unease I can only stare at it. Oliver eventually leans forward to press it instead.
We wait in silence for the elevator to arrive. I watch Oliver out of the corner of my eye, gleaning what I can about his character from his outward appearance.
His shirt needs ironing, and his shoes are worn, but his hair looks clean, and his nails are neatly trimmed. I get the impression of someone who’s settled into a routine that prioritizes comfort and practicality over style. His broad shoulders suggest a once athletic build, but the extra weight he carries now makes him look less assuming.
Hey, by the way...
I ordered some
security cameras for you!
...For
me?
Um,
well, for the
building!
I don't
think anyone else knows how to set them up, so I figured I could do it...
you know, to be
useful.
They
should be here
in a couple of
days.
Videography
is kind of a hobby
of mine so I know a lot about
cameras...
DING!
The elevator doors slide open, revealing a compact box with vandalized wooden walls, a stained carpet and flickering fluorescent lights.
...I’m
beginning to see
the appeal of the
stairs.
Oliver looks uneasy as he squeezes inside, his large frame barely fitting through the narrow doorway.
TAK
TAK
TAK
The tiny dimensions of the elevator make it impossible to avoid physical contact as I wedge myself in and stand shoulder to shoulder with Oliver. The old doors drag shut, making the already tight space feel even smaller.
I don't
think I've ever
been this physically
close to anyone…
It feels like an invasion of privacy the way I’m acutely aware of him and every minuscule movement that’s shared through the warm press of his arm against mine, how his body heat spreads through my jacket and into my skin while the clean scent of his shampoo mingles with the stale air of the elevator and fills my every breath.
I'm not usually one for small talk, but I find myself grasping for something to distract myself from the onslaught of sensory information that’s all at once overwhelming and awkward.
...Shouldn't
the building already
have security
cameras?
Er...
yeah, probably...
But
I don't think
Malcolm really sees
it as a priority.
Malcolm
is a security
guard too… I remember
seeing his name in
Anne’s notes.
...Sounds
like someone who
doesn't want to be
held accountable.
Oliver shifts uneasily, unintentionally jostling me with the movement.
You know...
This place has
a pretty dark
history.
A lot of
people say they've
seen strange things
here.
You're
not seriously
suggesting I saw
a ghost...?
...You don't
believe in
ghosts?
You do?
Ha, I
don't know...
I guess
I believe there's
a lot of things that can't be explained.
DING!
We step off the elevator. Oliver leads the way down the hall as his words swirl around in my mind.
Why would
he say that? Is he
trying to make me
doubt what I
saw?
Oliver’s deceptively kind face could make him the ideal candidate to charm witnesses into a false sense of security while someone else eliminates loose ends.
A growing sense of unease takes hold of me as I realize I’ve failed to prepare for this sinister possibility.
Maybe I
can still convince
him to let me go if I
just agree to keep quiet
about what I saw...
But what if
it's too late?
should I have played
along earlier?
Maybe
you're right.
Huh?
It's...
been a long
night.
I... perhaps
I didn't see things
clearly.
Oliver nods slowly. I do my best to look sincere as his eyes search my face.
I'll, um...
I'll look into it
anyway.
...Better
safe than
sorry.
TAK
TAK
TAK
What
does he mean by
that? Doesn’t he still
not believe I
won't talk?
Please.
I just
want to go
home.
I don't want
to know anything
more about it.
Oh.
Um. Sure.
If you say so.
The doubt in his eyes tells me I've failed to convince him. I'm so preoccupied with trying to think of something to change his mind that I almost don't notice Oliver come to an abrupt stop in the middle of the hall.
Well, this is it.
An apartment?
Has he brought me
here to deal with me
where no one will
see?
Is someone
waiting inside to
do the job, or will
he kill me
himself?
I thought
you were walking
me to the front
door.
Huh?
Isn't this your place?
The journal implied Oliver is a threat but that's hard to believe from what we've seen of him so far even though something is obviously not right...
I should not have read this alone in a dark room. The audio was perfect for making me second-guess if I was hearing something in person or though my headphones. Also, I love that awkward look as the elevator opens. 😂 I'm curious what Oliver is thinking in all this, only adding to the tension.
Kogan’s playing 4D chess trying to navigate this conversation haha
He has reason to be - but the level of suspicion Kogan has about Oliver is always funny.
I'm really curious as to what Oliver knows since he seems to remember interacting with Kogan while Kogan doesn't remember at all. I wonder what exactly Oliver is thinking right now and what his intentions are. So far he seems good-intentioned. If anything, it seems like Oliver really does care about Kogan. But knowing Toonimated, that could also change later...
Omg Kogan's mom definitely never hugged him smh 😔
“I don't think I've ever been this physically close to anyone...”
Kogan’s never even been hugged before? Oliver will need to change that!
I'm so happy you're creating a new series! Room of Swords is by far my favorite comic ever! And I read a lot of comics. This is beautiful so far!