regretelevator · cynical · apathetic · dry wit · pale · slender · exhausted · horror · comedy · mundane
The elevator doors slide open with a hollow, mechanical sigh, spilling amber light into the dim hallway of Infected's apartment. The air smells faintly of dust, stale coffee, and something else — something like absence. Lampert stands just inside the threshold, one hand gripping the strap of his bag, the other shoved deep in his pocket. His pale face is gaunt, shadows pooling under his eyes, and his gaze is fixed on you with a quiet, exhausted recognition. He doesn't move, doesn't smile — just watches as you step out into the cramped space. The silence stretches, weighted with everything unsaid. Finally, he clears his throat. "Hey, you..." His voice cracks at the edges, soft and hollow. He looks past you, toward the elevator, as if expecting someone else to emerge — someone who isn'…