LOST FREQUENCY - PART 3

 

Antoine stood frozen in the dimly lit bedroom, his breath caught in his throat as Fred's voice continued to echo hauntingly through the room. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm in his chest as he grappled with the implications of what he was hearing. It was impossible. Fred was dead, his lifeless body left behind in that nightmarish scene at the office.

Yet, here he was, his voice emanating from the crackling static of the radio, as though reaching out from beyond the grave. Antoine's mind raced, struggling to make sense of the inexplicable phenomenon unfolding before him. Was he losing his grip on reality, or was this some twisted trick of the mind?

As if in a trance, Antoine found himself drawn toward the armchair where the radio lay discarded, its presence a sinister reminder of the events that had transpired. With trembling hands, he reached out and picked it up, his fingers tracing the familiar contours of the device. It felt cold and foreign against his skin, its weight heavy with the weight of unanswered questions.

"F-Fred?" Antoine's voice quivered as he spoke into the radio, his words barely audible above the crackle of static. "Is that really you?"

For a moment, there was only silence, the static buzzing ominously in the stillness of the room. Antoine held his breath, waiting with bated anticipation for a response that seemed unlikely to come. But then, just as he was about to give up hope, Fred's voice broke through once more, his words carrying an otherworldly resonance that sent a chill through him.

"I'm here, buddy," Fred's voice echoed through the radio, his tone laced with an eerie calmness that belied the gravity of the situation. "I need your help."

Antoine's mind reeled at the sound of Fred's voice, his thoughts spiralling into a vortex of fear and confusion.

"I don't understand," Antoine whispered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. "What do you need from me?"

There was a brief pause, during which Antoine could almost hear the cogs turning in Fred's mind. Then, with a sense of urgency, Fred's voice returned, his words laden with a desperate plea.

"I need you to come back to the office," Fred implored, his tone urgent. "There's something here...something evil. I can feel it pulling me towards it, and I'm afraid I won't be able to resist much longer."

Antoine's heart sank at Fred's words, his mind grappling with the gravity of the situation. If what Fred was saying was true, then the nightmare they had encountered at the office was far from over. And if he didn't act fast, he feared that he would lose Fred forever, condemned to whatever fate awaited him in the darkness.

"Alright," Antoine declared, his voice firm with determination. "I'll come back, but we must devise a plan. I can't charge in blindly."

Fred's voice crackled over the radio, gratitude evident despite the static. Yet, there was something unsettling in his tone that Antoine couldn't quite pinpoint. "Thank you, Antoine. I knew I could rely on you."

With resolve surging through him, Antoine set the radio aside and readied himself for the formidable challenge ahead. He contacted Rob, explaining the situation. In typical Rob fashion, he scoffed at Antoine's decision and pleaded with him not to go. "We can't leave him there, man," Antoine argued.

"What do you mean 'we'?" Rob interjected sharply. "You better not be expecting me to join you."

"Fine," Antoine retorted. "I'll go alone. God forbid you ever need anyone's help."

"Antoine! Don't be an idiot. Fred is dead. We saw it and the police confirmed it. What the hell do you hope to achieve?" Rob asked.

"I don't know," Antoine admitted reluctantly. "But I heard him, Rob. I have to see for myself."

"We both saw that... thing," Rob said sternly. "It wasn't Fred you heard."

There was a tense silence before Antoine spoke again. "I have to go," he said, ending the call abruptly.

As Antoine left the house, his mind raced with countless terrifying possibilities. He kissed Amber goodbye and stepped into the night, prepared to confront the horrors awaiting him at the office.

As Antoine made his way to the office, his thoughts raced, struggling to come to terms with the impossible reality. Fred couldn't be alive. He had seen Fred's lifeless body with his own eyes. Yet, there was something undeniably familiar about the voice emanating from the radio, stirring memories of their past camaraderie. Rob's warnings echoed in his mind, but Antoine found himself drawn back to the office, unable to resist the pull.

Standing before the towering 21-story building, Antoine hesitated. Thoughts of Amber tugged at his heartstrings, tempting him to turn back. But something compelled him forward, and soon he found himself ascending the floors, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridors.

As he approached Fred's office on the 17th floor, a chill swept over Antoine, shrouding the surroundings in an eerie silence. The darkness seemed to swallow him whole, muffling even the sound of his own breath. With cautious steps, he turned the corner and caught sight of movement within the office.

"Fred... is that you?" Antoine's voice wavered, betraying the mix of fear and hope coursing through him.

"Is that you, Fred?" Antoine's voice trembled, revealing the mix of emotions swirling within him—fear and hope intertwined.

His words were met only by a chilling silence that draped over the corridor like a heavy garment. Antoine's heart hammered against his ribs.

"Fred, please, if it's truly you, give me a sign," Antoine begged, his voice barely audible above a whisper. Yet the room remained still, devoid of any response.

Just then, the sound of the approaching lift broke the silence, heralding the arrival of Rob, his expression conveying annoyance.

"You made it," Antoine greeted him with a grateful smile.

"Yeah, you left me no choice, you idiot," Rob retorted, his irritation evident.

"Thank you," Antoine replied earnestly, embracing his friend.

"What's the plan?" Rob asked.

"I just arrived, but I brought these," Antoine said, rummaging through his backpack to reveal a box of pepper spray and a gun.

"That's all?" Rob exclaimed incredulously. "Pepper spray and a gun?"

Antoine looked sheepish. "I wasn't sure what we were up against, so I opted for the most potent options I could carry. What did you bring?"

Before Rob could respond, movement emanated from Fred's office once more. Both men fell silent, reaching for their weapons in anticipation.

A dark figure stood by the door. Tall and featureless. It raised its arm beckoning them to come forward.

"Oh hell, no" Rob exclaimed. "Antoine, I think we need to get out of here. Whatever that thing is, it's not safe for us to stay."

Antoine nodded in agreement.

As they approached the lift, a sudden gust of wind shook the windows, causing Antoine to shiver involuntarily. He halted, his eyes fixated on the dark figure, where shadows swirled around him like a vortex.

"Did you feel that?" Antoine whispered, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.

Rob nodded gravely. "We need to get out of here, now."

With a sense of urgency driving them, Antoine and Rob hurried through the building, their footsteps reverberating in the empty corridor as they aimed to exit. However, as they rounded the corner toward the lift, their path was abruptly obstructed by a figure standing before them.

It was Fred, or at least someone who bore a striking resemblance. Yet, a peculiar scent hung in the air, like the faint whiff of decay. The sound of heavy breathing filled the air, accompanied by an unsettling low hum, sending a wave of unease through Antoine.

"Fred, is that you?" Antoine questioned, his voice barely audible.

The figure remained silent, its vacant gaze seeming to penetrate Antoine's very being.

"Please, Fred, say something," Rob implored, his tone tinged with desperation.

But the figure offered no response, its presence serving as a chilling reminder of the unknown dangers lurking in the shadows.

Antoine's grip tightened on Rob's arm as he forcefully guided him away from the ominous figure that loomed before them. His mind raced with a jumble of fear and urgency, fuelled by a surge of adrenaline that pulsed through his veins.

"We need to go, now," Antoine asserted, his voice tense with urgency. "That's not Fred."

Rob's response was a mixture of frustration and fear, his voice rising in pitch as he echoed Antoine's sentiment. "I told you, damn it!"

Together, they spun on their heels and sprinted toward the stairwell, their footsteps echoing loudly in the empty corridor. Each step felt like an eternity as they raced downward.

Their escape was abruptly halted by the appearance of another figure, this time bearing a striking resemblance to one of the police inspectors they had encountered earlier. But there was something off about her, something unnerving in the way she moved with a predatory grace, her aged appearance belying a strength and agility that defied logic.

As she advanced toward them with an unsettling determination, Rob and Antoine exchanged a frantic glance, their hearts racing in fear. "Fuck!" Rob exclaimed, his voice trembling with urgency.

"Back up, come on!" Antoine urged, his voice tense with adrenaline as they both scrambled back up the stairs, the eerie figure of the inspector in pursuit. With each step, their breaths came in ragged gasps, their minds racing with fear and uncertainty.

As the dark figure closed in on Rob, Antoine raised his gun with trembling hands, desperation evident in his eyes. With a quick motion, he pulled the trigger, the deafening sound echoing through the building as the bullet struck the inspector square in the chest. The impact sent her reeling backward with a guttural cry, the force of the shot reverberating through the building.

But as Antoine's relief washed over him, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, his vision swimming as he stumbled forward. Rob, quick to react, reached out and steadied him, the weight of their predicament bearing down on them both.

"We need to keep moving," Rob said, his voice strained with determination as they continued their ascent, their footsteps echoing in the empty stairwell.

Reaching the 21st floor, they burst onto the rooftop, the cool night air hitting them like a welcome relief. With trembling hands, they dialled the police, their voices urgent as they relayed their desperate situation.

But as they scanned the rooftop for a means of escape, their hearts sank at the realisation that there was no way down. Panic surged through them as they faced the grim reality of their predicament.

"What now?" Rob asked, his voice hollow with despair.

"We'll figure something out," Antoine replied, rubbing his chest and wincing slightly.

Their conversation was cut short by a loud bang from the rooftop door. With weapons drawn, they braced themselves as the door swung open, revealing a horde of shadowy figures advancing toward them with menacing intent.

Rob's blood ran cold as he caught sight of the inspector among them, her hollow eyes gleaming with malice. With a surge of adrenaline, he unleashed a barrage of gunfire, but it was futile against the relentless advance of their assailants.

In the chaos that followed, Rob's greatest fears materialised when the inspector's shadowy form engulfed him, penetrating his being like water absorbed by a sponge, devouring him from within. Antoine stood in shock as he witnessed his friend's agonising contortions and heard his piercing screams reverberate through the night.

Tears streamed down Antoine's face as he fell to his knees, overwhelmed by grief and regret. The distant wail of sirens offered little comfort as he grappled with the horrifying reality of their situation.

But as he looked up at the remaining shadowy figures, he was met with a surprising sight. Instead of attacking, they knelt before him, their movements reverent and submissive. Like subjects kneeling before their king.