Chapter Text
You had been working at a weird old shop in town that sold movies and DVDs for about two weeks now, it was a lot like a Blockbuster expect it was owned by a man who probably just had a big collection of movies he wanted to get rid of or share.
Despite working here for a while now and spending most of the day in this place you had barely gotten a chance to properly get to know your coworkers, sure you had never been good at meeting new people, but the environment just wasn’t the best for it. The owner of the place, Mr. Smith, was a man possibly in his late 50’s, he only ever talked about old movies from the 80’s that were “criminally underrated” which didn’t really interest you, outside of that he’d only ever speak to you to tell you what your next task should be if you weren’t already doing something. There was also a teenage girl who only worked here part-time in the afternoons probably to make some extra cash after school, you think she’s the owner’s niece but you weren’t sure, the two times you had tried striking conversation with her she had just shot snarky and mean looks your way, an indication she didn't even want to know your name.
Oh well.
There’d be nights where Mr. Smith had to leave early to deal with whatever it was he did outside of running the store, and so he would task you with closing up. Tonight was one of those nights, he had to leave at around 6 for something regarding his daughter, you didn’t know what since you hadn’t been paying much attention, all you knew was that he had left you a copy of the keys and asked you to sweep the hallways of the store.
You were really procrastinating this task, sitting at the checkout counter you had spent at least two hours fidgeting with your fingers and playing games on your phone. You glance at the little clock at the top of the screen.
9:30
You didn’t understand why a store like this one that barely ever got clients was open until 11 pm, most shops around the area closed way before 9 leaving the streets oddly empty. Letting out a tired sigh you stay there resting your face on the cold surface for a few minutes not wanting to get up, sure you could get this over with and close early but why? It’s not like you had anything else to do or anyone to go hang out with, you couldn’t go shopping or do something fun specially at this time when most stores will have already closed. Eventually you convince yourself to get up and do the cleaning you were asked to do, maybe it’ll distract you from your boredom and how eerie the place felt when it was late and empty.
You weren’t even paying much attention while you cleaned the empty hallways of the store until the sound of something hitting the floor caught your attention, if you had your music even a little louder you would have completely missed it, pulling your headphones down onto your neck you get down and pick it up examining the rectangular object.
It was an old dusty VHS tape with a black case, there was nothing remarkable about it other than what looked like old peeled off sticker on its surface, you could see a few faded yellow and rainbow colors on it and bits of the letters from what you assume would have been the title, “We_c__ __m_” is all you could make out.
Considering the condition the case was in you didn’t expect to find anything inside but when you open it you’re surprised to see the VHS tape itself was in near perfect condition, you stare at it contemplating it for a few seconds wondering how it could have been preserved so well before the complete silence is interrupted by a strange,,, voice.
You should take it home, neighbor.
Startled you look behind you to take a look of whoever had just spoken to you only to find there was no one around, just like before, you were completely alone in the store. You look over the shelves surrounding you trying to find if someone had gotten in, but, that’s not possible you locked the door, didn’t you? being alone in the store at night freaked you out so to keep yourself calm you’d lock the door when you were sure no one would come around, maybe you had left it open?... you probably imagined it.
You look back down at the VHS still in your hand trying to calm down and not panic, trying to stop your brain from going crazy with the idea that “ a serial killer had gotten it to get you ” or “ the store is haunted there’s a ghost! ” you could sometimes be very paranoid and the overwhelming silence in the store wasn’t helping. “Doesn’t matter, gotta get back to cleaning so I can close and go home alread-”
Stop.
You heard it again. Right as you were putting the VHS back on the shelf ready to continue with your work the voice interrupted you before you even stopped holding the case. You are frozen in the spot, this time the voice had been louder and it almost sounded desperate for you to not drop the tape, it feels like an eternity goes by before you move closer to the shelf and try to put it down again, as you expected, the voice is there again, only this time it sounds more distorted.
I really wouldn’t do that if I were you.
Please neighbor, we’ve been waiting for you for a looooooooong timeeeeee.
Its words were dragged out as it spoke, you could feel yourself start to hyperventilate and what felt like tv static blur the edges of your vision and fill your ears, you tried making a sound yourself but it was drowned out by this odd annoying noise, despite it, the voice was loud and clear echoing in the back of your brain.
Come on neighbor, don’t you want to be friends? We’ll have lots of funnn.
You felt scared, “what the hell is going on? why is my mind playing such tricks with me!?” God the lack of sleep you’ve been getting the past few days was finally getting to you.
Please don’t leave us here.
“It's not real, it's not real, it's not real, it's not real, it's not real it’s-” You kept repeating these words to yourself in your brain, closing your eyes trying to calm your breathing but it was not working.
Don’t leave ME here.
You gave in and shoved the case in your jacket, you don’t even bother putting away the cleaning supplies you were using as you quickly turn the lights off and lock the place, before you know it you’re already out the door running back home.