Horror Short Story | Proxy Pickup

Chen Cheng came home from work, and the building manager called out to him, "Mr. Chen, there's a package for you." He took the cardboard box and looked at the sender information. The sender was listed as "Ms. Lin," and the address was the unit number of the building next door. He didn't know any Ms. Lin. "Was it delivered to the wrong place?" The building manager looked at it. "She asked you to receive it on her behalf and said she'd pick it up tomorrow." Chen Cheng thought it was normal for neighbors to help each other out, so he accepted it. The box wasn't large, but it was quite heavy, and it made no sound when shaken. He didn't sleep well that night. In the middle of the night, he vaguely heard the sound of plastic bags rustling in the living room. He thought it was a mouse and went to check, but there was no movement in the living room. The box was still in its original place, intact. He waited all day the next day, but Ms. Lin never came to pick it up. On the third day, the fourth day, no one came. Chen Cheng felt something was wrong and called the number provided by the management office. It was a non-existent number. He went upstairs and asked the building manager of the next building. After checking for a while, the manager said that the resident at that unit number was named Chen, not Lin, and had moved out half a year ago. Chen Cheng took the box to the management office, saying he wanted to return it. The building manager checked the tracking number for him and frowned. "This package was already signed for three months ago." "Who signed for it?" "You." The manager turned the delivery slip over to show him. It was indeed his handwriting on the signature line. The date was three months ago. Chen Cheng froze. He hadn't even moved in three months ago. He returned home and opened the box. Inside was an old photo frame. The photo showed a man and a woman standing in the living room of this studio apartment, smiling happily. He didn't recognize the man, nor had he ever seen the woman.