Elevator
Trailer
It was morning time.
09:00 AM
VP
Today's ur first day, right?
VP
Let me share some good news
(hands a file to Xavier)
VP
I'm sending you to Germany next month for your Project X. A good Team leader will make it successful, and that's why you're here.
Xavier
(politely smiles nodding)
Scene Fades to employees talking in Office
Employee 2
I've been appointed for a new project.
Scene Shifts go a casual conversation between colleagues
Ria
That's good, isn't it?
Ria
Now you'll work here, right? Let's see.
cut to a heated Exchange in Canteen
Employee 1
If you want to move forward in life, listen to your senior. and right now, I'm your Senior.
Employee 2
You talk well, but I won't.
Employee 1
Don't you want to go to foreign?
Scene flash by showing office rivalry
Employee 1
I should be the TL (Team leader), but they made you. (Glares at Xav)
Never mind.
Final scene intensifies with a moment of decision.
VP
Okay, leave it.
(starts walking away with doc)
Xavier
What happened, Sir?
VP
(turns around to look at Xav)
VP
(Raised brow)
Are you sure?
Xavier
(working on computer alone in open Office area)
A chilling draft brushes the back of his neck, accompanied by a haunting, raspy huff from the shadows behind him.
ep 1
[Basement parking of CodeCove, an IT company in New York City.]
Xavier steps out of his car, adjusting his tie as he looks up at the towering office building. It's his first day after being transferred here.
He enters the building and takes the elevator to the 9th floor, where his office is located.
Xavier approaches the watchman’s desk, signs in his details, and is guided to the Vice President's (VP) office.
VP
/Looking up from his desk with a sharp, no-nonsense expression./
Ah, Xavier. Welcome to CodeCove.
Xavier
/Nods politely/
Thank you, sir.
VP
/Leaning back in his chair, clasping his hands together/
Look, in this office, there's no place for emotions. We value results above all else.
VP stands and walks around his desk, gesturing for Xavier to follow.
VP
Today's your first day, right? Let me share some good news—I'm sending you to Germany next month for Project X. It's a high-priority project, and a good team leader will make it successful. That's why you're here.
Xavier
/Nods again, listening intently./
VP
I’ve worked on this project myself. It's nearly complete, but there’s room for improvement. That’s where you come in.
Xavier
Understood, sir. Though I’ve heard there are some internal issues with the project.
VP
/Claps Xavier on the shoulder with a firm pat./
Ignore those rumors. Focus on the task at hand.
VP leads Xavier out of his office and begins introducing him to team members around the floor.
VP
/Introducing Xavier to his team members as they pass by desks/
Everyone, meet Xavier. He’s your new team leader for Project X. Treat him well.
The team exchanges polite greetings as Xavier acknowledges them with a composed nod
Before diving into his new role, Xavier is instructed to meet with HR to complete some formalities.
Xavier walks in, scanning the room. His steps halt abruptly as he spots Ria, seated at the desk, her attention on some paperwork. Recognition flashes across his face.
Ria
/Looking up, equally stunned/
Xavier?
Xavier
/Recovers quickly, his expression neutral/
yes
They had met months ago under unexpected circumstances.
Xavier is lounging on a bench, casually chewing gum, looking aloof. Ria approaches, holding her phone.
Ria
Excuse me, could you take a picture of me?
/She hands Xavier her phone and strikes a cheerful pose/
Xavier
Hm.
/Takes the phone with minimal interest, turns on the camera but switches to selfie mode. Blowing a bubble with his gum, he snaps a selfie of himself instead of Ria./
Ria continues posing, oblivious.
Xavier
/Hands the phone back without a word/
Ria
/Checks her phone eagerly and sees the selfie. Her expression shifts from excitement to disbelief/
What the—IDIOT!
Xavier
/Raises an eyebrow, popping the gum/
What did you say?
Ria
I said I asked you to click my pictures, not yours!
Xavier
Hm. /Extends his hand/
Give it back.
Ria
/Hesitant but confused by his calmness/
Uh… okay.
/Hands him the phone again/
Xavier
/With zero urgency, positions the phone like he’s about to take a shot, but fumbles and drops it into a fish tank below the bench/
Tch.
Ria
/Gasps in horror, covering her mouth/
My phone!!!
Xavier
/Nonchalantly leans over, as if considering retrieving it, but doesn’t rush/
Ria
/Snatches the phone from the fish tank before Xavier even makes an effort/
Are you kidding me?!
Xavier
/Deadpan, chewing his gum/
Sorry.
/He walks away without another glance, poker-faced/
Ria
/Shaking her phone furiously, water dripping everywhere, she yells after him/
YOU DOG!
Xavier doesn’t look back, a faint smirk playing on his lips as he continues walking.
Ria
/Smiling faintly/
Team leader, huh? That’s good news, isn’t it?
Xavier
/Shrugs slightly, his usual reserved demeanor in place/
Hmm.
An awkward silence fills the air for a moment before Ria slides a document across the desk for him to sign.
Ria
Here’s the document you need to sign. Welcome to CodeCove, Xavier.
Xavier
/Signs the document, his gaze lingering on her briefly before stepping back/
Thanks.
Ria
Now you'll work here, right? Let's see.
As Xavier leaves the cabin, there’s a flicker of something unspoken between them—
ep 2
Ria is stealing glances at Xavier, who is deeply engrossed in work with his colleagues. Despite her outward distaste for him, her eyes betray a hidden fondness.
Xavier remains oblivious, his focus entirely on the task at hand.
[Time Skip: 1:00 PM – Elevator Area]
Xavier
/steps into the elevator to head to the canteen/
Ria
/Ria joins him, along with a few other colleagues/
As the elevator ascends, Ria sneaks quick glances at Xavier, trying to be discreet.
Xavier
/Notices her glances out of the corner of his eye and smirks faintly but quickly masks it, maintaining his composure/
The elevator dings as it stops. Everyone steps out together. Xavier, however, quickens his pace, walking ahead of the group.
Ria
/Watching him rush off, her face falls slightly in disappointment. She had hoped for a brief moment alone with him/
Xavier sits alone at a table, enjoying his lunch quietly while a group, including Ria, sits at a table opposite his.
Ria's focus remains mostly on Xavier, stealing glances as he eats, while her colleagues engage in a lively conversation.
Employee 1
If you want to move forward in life, listen to your senior. And right now, I’m your senior.
Employee 2
You talk big, but I’m not buying it.
Employee 1
Don’t you want to go to the US someday?
Ria, uninterested in their banter, keeps her attention on Xavier.
He, on the other hand, seems disinterested in everything around him, his eyes on a TV mounted on the wall.
The screen displays an interview with a doctor discussing paranormal phenomena.
Doctor on TV: "A ghost can’t possess a sleeping or unconscious body. Possession can only occur when the person is sound of mind."
Xavier
/continues eating, unbothered by the surrounding discussion/
Ria is in the documents room, organizing papers and taking printouts.
While waiting for the printer, she takes out her phone to click a selfie, using a filter. However, the filter doesn't detect her face properly and instead locks onto something invisible behind her.
Ria
/Frowning, she looks over her shoulder, but there's no one there/
She switches the camera back to check again. The filter still reacts as if someone invisible is standing behind her on the opposite side.
Ria
/Growing uneasy, she wipes the front camera and tries again/
The door creaks open suddenly, and Xavier enters. Startled, Ria relaxes upon seeing him.
Ria
/Smiling to hide her nervousness/
Hi!
Xavier
Hi
/He replies in a neutral tone, walking toward the printer/
Ria
You came here to meet me?
Xavier
Nah, I’m here to take some printouts. Get aside.
Ria
/Playfully scoffs/
Tch. Why are you lying? Taking printouts is just an excuse, isn’t it?
Xavier
/Pauses, raising an eyebrow/
Do you talk like this to everyone in the office, or am I getting special treatment?
Ria
/Smirks mischievously/
Should I be honest? I like you.
Xavier
/Snorts lightly, shaking his head/
I don’t have time for useless things like ‘dying on the line.’ But if you want, I can make you my sister. Would you like that?
Ria
/Fuming, she slaps him across the face/
The printer beeps, signaling that the printouts are ready.
Ria grabs the documents, storms to the door, then pauses to look back.
Ria
Just like guys hate being called ‘brother,’ girls hate being called ‘sister.’ Keep that in mind!
She exits the room in a huff. Xavier, still standing by the printer, smirks slightly, rubbing his cheek where she slapped him.
Xavier
/To himself, with a faint chuckle/ Interesting.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the last of the employees leave, and the office grows eerily quiet.
Xavier remains at his desk, working on the assigned project. The VP walks in, holding a file.
Xavier
/Looking up from his screen/ What happened, sir?
VP
Glancing at Xavier, then at the file/
Got this new project just now. The client needs it done quickly, but… forget it. It’s late. You can head home.
/He turns to leave/
Xavier
/Without hesitation/
I’ll do it.
VP
/Pauses, raising a skeptical brow/
Are you sure?
Xavier
/Nods confidently/
Yeah, yeah.
The VP smirks faintly, leaving the file on Xavier’s desk before walking away.
The office is almost silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning. Xavier works diligently.
The Office Watchman enters, carrying an old ID card.
office watchman 1
/Politely/
Sir, I’m going for my meal break. Since you’re new, you might not have received your permanent ID card yet. Take this old one—it’ll let you open the other doors if needed.
/He places the ID on a desk near the door/
Xavier
/Distracted, still typing/
Hmm. Thanks.
office watchman 1
/nods and exits/
The room grows quiet again, with only the sound of Xavier typing and sipping from a coffee mug. He sets it down on the side desk.
Moments later, Xavier notices something strange. His coffee mug, which he had placed near him, has slid slightly further away.
Xavier
/Pausing his work, frowning slightly/
When did I put the cup so far?
Xavier
/Shrugs it off and continues working/
A few minutes pass. The office feels colder, and Xavier senses something unsettling.
A light brush grazes the back of his neck, accompanied by the faint sound of breathing—raspy and close.
Xavier
/Swiftly turns around, his eyes darting around the dimly lit office. There’s nothing there. Shrugging it off again, he mutters under his breath/
Just my imagination.
He resumes typing, but the eerie sensation grows stronger. It feels like someone is standing behind him, fingers brushing through his hair.
Xavier
/Turns sharply, this time his chair scraping the floor/
Hello? Who’s there?
The room is empty. A chilling draft sweeps past him, sending shivers down his spine.
Xavier decides to wrap up his work quickly.
Xavier steps into the elevator and presses the button for the ground floor. The doors close, and the elevator begins its descent.
Midway, it halts at the 1st floor.
Xavier
/Presses the ground floor button again, confused/
The elevator doesn’t move. Thinking there’s a technical issue, he steps out onto the 1st floor, intending to find the staircase
The hallway is unnaturally quiet, the fluorescent lights flickering occasionally.
Xavier looks around, his footsteps echoing eerily as he walks forward.
He spots something unusual at the end of the corridor—a shadowy figure standing perfectly still.
Xavier
/Pausing in his tracks, narrowing his eyes/
Download MangaToon APP on App Store and Google Play
