“Urgg..”

‘Shit…my head is a mess and I felt nauseated did I got drunk to Oblivion?’

As I sit right up from the bed holding my head like it could help lessen the pain.

I remembered that I had set my alarm to get ready to work but I haven’t heard it yet.

‘Did I got up to Early?’

As look for my phone that should be in the side of my pillow, I found it in the floor face up.

“Good! the tempered glass didn’t crack.” after all it’s the second time I had to replace it this month.

As I took the phone off the floor, the headache that greeted me this early in the morning has lessened to a dull pain that slowly receding. ‘Maybe in few minutes the pain will be gone’.

When the phone flickered to life.

‘shit-‘ “I’m Late!” I scrambled to my cabinet and took the already folded uniform and extra shirt and pants and run to the shower. Taking a bath that could pass the World Record speeds if it has that record and donning my office uniform then run to the door making sure it’s locked I took off.

Running down the stairs at blistering speed isn’t actually a good decision if you want to prolong your stay in life but my team leader would kill me if she saw me again late 3rd time this Week.

“Crap! I only have 42 minutes left and I already cutting it close. I want to buy something to eat along the road, but there is no time. Should I skip it? but don’t want to feel like starving beast while I’m working.”

‘should I just resigned to my fate and skip my breakfast? I hate to admit it but that girl even though so beautiful is so scary when mad.’

I couldn’t help but shiver when I remember yesterday when she got mad at me. ‘I swear I saw two horns growing at both sides of her head, the madder she is the longer those horn become.’

I shake my head to dispel the mental imagery and run more faster hoping I able to get ahold of the bus that would leave at any minute now.

There I see it and there’s still people boarding the bus but it’s already end the line and I’m still quite far away and already running with all I have.

“Hey! WAIT! HEY!”

I wave my hands in the air like I’m about to fly and bless the guy who is last to aboard, heard me and wave back at me.

HUUFF….Huuff…huuff..huu

As I climb to the bus panting like a guy running a marathon which is in some sense quite true. I heard a voice beside me.

“Hey there are you alright? You won’t drop dead or something right?”

As I raise my head to look who is talking, God Blessed this guy he’s the one that wave back at me.

“Oh buddy thanks for holding the bus for me. I really need the lift or else I’ll be late to work and get scolded again.”

Brrmm!

As the bus started moving I able to control my breath and look around. the bus is full pack and I started to feel the heat. ‘after all the Sun is glaring with all it’s might outside and the bus is full of people, the AC already doing it’s best. You can do it buddy hang in there.’ I mused to myself then I heard the guy next to me talk again.

“Oh I remember, you are the guy who always get scolded by Reia right?” he asked clearly amused.

Looking back at the guy. He had the same uniform like me but can’t remember his face. ‘Maybe from a different Department.’

“ha-haha.. that’s quite embarrassing you look like from a different Department but you know I always got scolded.”

‘Shit even someone from different Department knows that I’m always scolded, is there a hole somewhere here I can hide? I want to bury myself there for a while.’

“Nah, Bro. Actually lots of guys is jealous of you in my Department, you see Reia is quite the Goddess right? I mean I don’t know what kind of Luck our Company use to be able to have her in the First place but she has a face of goddess and explosive figure. The only thing that I can say abouther is that she always wear that emotionless face and her glare that can freeze every guy that try to converse with her. Heck! Even some girls in my Department admit they couldn’t help but freeze when they first talk to her.”

‘Reia with a emotionless face that’s new. I only see her mad when she look at me. Did I killed her parents in her past life?.’

“That’s why everyone knows you, You even tried to reason with her when she angry at you being late, you really have balls of steel. Some might just faint you know. Hahaha really it’s quite funny how you two interact with each Other.” He said while clearly amused by himself.

Now that I able take a look at this guys face. ‘isn’t this guy to handsome to be working in same company too? Is he a celebrity or something?’

It looks like he noticed that I was looking.

“Oh sorry! I was talking to much but didn’t introduce myself. I’m Benedict Anders from HR Department.”

And reach out his hand for a handshake. ‘damn he smile like a celebrity too, did I work in same company as them? are we a celebrity agency or something? Now that I think of it there’s a lot of good looking people in the Company- 'Oh right I should Introduce myself.’

“Nice to meet you bro! I’m….”

‘What is my name again?....Did I just forgot my name? Something I….. Right I'm-'

“I’m Damon Ashur”

Something I’m sure I never heard before, but rolls off so smoothly out of my tongue like I’ve been speaking it since I was aware. ‘of course It’s my name after all....Weird..’

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“-arth to Damon! Earth to Damon! Oh you’re back! How is it? did you meet any alien chick while out there?”

“Sorry there uhh.. Anders. My day just started awfully weird I guess can’t help but to think some things.”

“Well you won’t have time to think some things Damon we’re here now buddy.”

As Anders pointed out we are about to stop, I can already see the bus stop. I ran a check for my things to make sure my they are still in place after I run marathon this early morning.

As soon the bus stopped we hopped off and took a jog we only have few minutes left before we get late. ’speaking of late-‘

“Why are you running late too Anders?

“...Actually I wake up with a massive headache this morning didn’t come to my senses for a while, so I just lay down on bed. Didn’t know I’m running out of time so I hurriedly take a bath and scoop some bread with jam took off running then you know the rest.”

‘That’s Bullshit….I mean I did the same but look at him he look like fresh out of magazine and me bedraggled as hell! It’s really all about the face. Eh’

“Wow, the same thing just happened to me this morning but I didn’t look like I came out of a magazine.”

“What?”

“Er… I mean, I didn’t took some food so I’m quite hungry right now.”

And there it is the pangs of hunger started sinking it’s fangs to me. I could feel it twisting in my stomach wanting to turn it inside out.

And here we are at the front door of the Company. The Guards checking my bag and running a hand-held detector around me. Then one of the Guards turned to me.

"Hey there Damon! You're already late. Wanna have some coffee?" The Guard friendly asked.

"I'd loved to Mark but I'm still not late. But leave me some I’ll reheat it later." I said and took off again.

"Good morning! Damon." Said by the cute girl in the reception desk with a tiny wave of hands.

"The morning is really Good with your cute smile Jasmine." I couldn't help but smile as I wave back to the shy receptionist.

As I skid off the floor in front of the elevator, It opened up and the janitor came out clearly distracted as he drone-ly move along to the side and continues along.

'Justin just looks so, So...How should I say this?'. "Lifeless? He didn't even give a thumbs up."

'No matter What or When he would always smile and greet me or gives me a thumbs up' I eyed him worryingly but I need to go as I'm running late, So I hopped in pushed the button to 3rd Floor.

'I should talk to him later.'

As the door is about to close. A hand slip in causing it to open again and a tall handsome guy got in. 'Oh it's Anders. Almost forgot this celebrity guy is also here.'

"Hey! By the look in your face you're thinking of something rude. Eh" said by Anders smirking.

"No, no I did not. you're think to much." he eyed me doubtful.

"Hey! Earlier you suddenly became silent and started running. I thought you got angered by something I said but you look like in trance why? And you're quite close to the staff here." His eyes tinged with curiosity then pushed the 4th Floor button.

"Sorry bout that bro it's nothing really, It just sometimes when I'm hungry my vision narrows and enter a Auto pilot mode to save some energy. I really meant no offense for It." I turned to him and apologize.

"Oh! no, don't worry no offense taken. I'm just curious. I’m good." He smiled and nod to reassure me.

“And if you’re Wondering why I’m quite close to them it’s because I’m always late you see and know I always getting scolded. You see when people see your vulnerable side, they start to think they know you and then they start to talk to you. And when you’re close enough Some might even take advantage of you.” I said with a grim face.

“Damn Damon that’s turned dark so fast.” He look incredulous.

I couldn’t really hold it and I laugh.

“Nah bro, I’m just messing with you. I’m always loitering around there so I can’t help but hang around them and get quite familiar.” As I said that I felt the elevator stopped, heard the chime and the elevator opened.

“See you later Anders, I’m off here.” I said and took off running again.

I stopped in front of Technical Department and Scanned my ID for the door to open. Then take a Quick look at the time.

“Good! just on time.”

*growl*

I felt my stomach twisting and churning again. ‘Just wait a little more buddy when we have time we’ll sneak up to eat.’

Inside the Door if you walk a little further, you would see a Call Center office. If you didn’t see the sign on the Door saying technical Department you would think you’re a call center agent.

At first I thought that Technical Department would be a cool place with cool gadgets lying around but I guess you would not call a workplace if it did not look like a work place.

As I turn to the corner, I saw Reia there standing looking lost and deep in thought.

“Good morning Reia, how’s your morning? Are you okay? You look deep in thought.” I said to announce my presence.

“Oh! Damon it’s you. Thanks for worrying. I’m okay, just have a weird morning, really weird. And it looks like you are just on time, Good job! For All the time I spent giving you lessons it starting to give a good result.” And she smiled so sweetly.

‘If I didn’t get used to seeing her angry face, I’m sure I would be struck dumb here and staring at her like a fool.’

“ Reia are you sick? Do you have a fever? Wait let me see.” I took a step torwards her felt her forehead with my hand. she’s red but-

“you don’t have a fever, So you really had a weird morning. Huh.” Then I could see her face distorting. ‘Oh that’s the Reia I know glad she’s back '

“You IDIOT, Go to your station and work! Don’t let me see your lazy ass loitering around here. GO” Then turn around fuming.

As she walks away and starting to turn around the corner she stopped then look at me.

“Damon! If you have time go get a Maintenance personnel to check the women’s restroom and good morning too.” And she’s gone.

“She really did have a weird morning huh. But that’s ok now I have a good reason to hang around the first floor maybe with food or two.”

I started walking again to set my things down and set my station up and go get some food.

Out of the elevator, I wanted to go cafeteria first but business first. Get Old Jerry first then take a breakfast for Three, One for Old Jerry then Two for me.

‘Right, Justin is at old Jerry place around this time to rest a little before going back again for work.’

As I walk through the hallway I felt something is weird but I can’t put my fingers to it. ‘My Instinct never got me wrong before-‘

*GROOOWL*

And now my guts telling me to hurry and some food. “that’s embarrassing. If anyone’s around and they hear my stomach growling, they would say I keeping a beast in my stomach.” I started jogging to the building’s back elevator the one that have access to the basement parking lot then swiped my ID for it to open.

“Why does the front elevator don’t have access to the basement lot, it’s such a Hussle to get a different elevator just to go down and get to the maintenance area and the monitoring room.”

The maintenance room as I heard, it doubled as the Underground storage room before it got to change to the maintenance room now. that is why it’s really big they even made a hidden bunker between the racks they can sleep in, and it’s quite comfortable too with proper pillows and blanket and all.

As I near the maintenance room, My hair starting to stand on end and now not just my instincts, even my body starts to shiver giving me signals that I need to run. I suddenly remember this morning, Justin walking like a drone and looking so lifeless.

“Shit. I’ll look for now ascertain what happened and if there’s something wrong I’ll run away fast and call the police. Those two better be Okay.”

I walked faster upon reaching the Door and Scanned my ID for the door to unlocked. I pulled the door to make a little gab where I can take a peek and look inside. ’Crazy, my heart is beating like crazy.’

“hmmm….Its look clear.” I opened the door and stand still to see if something will happen. I stayed there maybe about 5 minutes and heart started to settle but my hairs still standing like they think it’s the new normal. I see nothing move and there’s only silence I want to call out if there is anyone, but my instincts telling me not to make this mistake so I bent to a crouch and slowly went forward controlled my steps so it won’t make to loud sounds that could be heard.

It was a excruciating steps and the tension making it hard to breathe. The constant sounds coming from one of the rooms drowning anything else but one sound. As I near the workstation were Old Jerry would always be seen, I hear a crunching sound like fishcracker.

I tried to peek from the gaps on the racks but I can’t see where the sound is coming.

So I move forward and peek with my head out so I could see the workstations properly.

And I see Old Jerry lying on pool of his own blood, entrails out and Justin holding Old Jerry’s head with both hands eating his brain out.

‘WHAT THE FFUCCKKK!!!’