Chapter 5: Work Joys (And Other Delusions)

--- Harper Everette, Before The Event ---

(All around her the undead wandered about in search of another victim to fill their bloody thirst.

She’d thought she’d found somewhere safe, shelter from the monsters where she could rest until day break when it’d be safe to travel the streets once more.

Unfortunately, when she’d gone down to the first floor to try and scour food or some other supply from the old coffee shop she ended up knocking over a container of stale muffins, the glass shattering loudly on the dirty tile floor.

Investigating the noise a trio of vampires shoved open the front door just as she dropped behind the counter before pulling a vial of holy water from her coat. A rare but valuable weapon against the undead, that while unable to outright kill them could stun them long enough for her to stake them through the heart. (Just have to hit all of them.)

Above her a set of claws gripped the counter edge as one of the vampires began to climb over and weighing her options. Instead of splashing it with her holy water she instead unsheathed her stake from her belt, and waited for an opening.

Just before the bloodsucker could notice her she grabbed it by the head and slammed it against the counter before staking it through the back of its chest and turning the monster to dust.

One of the remaining vampires hissed at her before lunging for her, only to receive a face full of holy water sending it stumbling back as it grasped its sizzling face.

Not one to let an opportunity for survival go she rushed forward and ducked under a blind swipe from the vamp before uppercutting it, sending it flying back into the wall. And as the vampire began to pick itself off of the ground she staked it dead.

A slow clap filled the air as the final vampire clapped.

“Impressive, girlie.” The pale monster who had no right to look so pretty told her.

“Don’t call me girlie.” She growled, readying herself for a fight.

“Oh, and what would you have me call you, beautiful?” The vampire smiled sinfully.

She narrowed her eyes. “You can call me Killer, because that’s what I’m about to do to you!”

“Really?” The vampire asked, stepping forward unafraid. “That would be such a waste though. After all, someone as impressive as you could do so much more than that.”

“W-what do you mean?” She took a step back from the monster and hit a wall behind her.

“I mean that you would make a truly extraordinary vampire, pet.” The vampire admitted, placing hand to the side of her head and running a clawed finger up her throat. “And all it would take is one… little… bite.”

She swallowed.

“Why… I’ll even let you decide where I bite you.” The vampire whispered into her ear. “HARPER!”)

She blinked, glancing around the empty coffee shop.

“Harper, quit daydreaming already and go clean the bathroom!” Her boss ordered her, shoving a mop into her hands.

“Oh… right, uh… On it boss.” She saluted with a weak smile.

Her boss glared at her for a moment before marching off to his office.

“You know you really should quit daydreaming on the job.” A rugged redheaded woman in an apron warned her. “One of these days he might just fire you for that.”

“I know, but this job is just so boring…” She whined to her coworker. “How do you stay focused with everything so dead, Frankie?”

The other woman gave her a smile as she offered a cup of coffee. “All the coffee I can drink, it’s probably the only perk of working here.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like coffee…” She groaned, taking the cup before forcing herself to take a sip. “Ooh, this is actually kind of nice.”

“It’s also more sugar and milk than actual coffee.” Frankie admitted, before glancing around their empty workplace. “So what was today’s daydream about?”

“Oh, I was this kickass vampire hunter.” She answered, punching the air in front of her and pointedly not mentioning where her dream had been heading.

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“Ha! Sounds fun.” Frankie smiled, before shaking her head. “Still you should finish that off and then get to cleaning the bathroom. I like you Harps, but I don’t like you that much.”

“Don’t think anyone does.” She agreed with a sigh as she sipped at her drink. (Well… Like she said, at least I get as much coffee as I can drink.)

--- Aurelio Hermenez, Before The Event ---

“Hermenez, take this trash out!”

“On it!” He told his boss as he grabbed the bag and took it into the alley out back.

His current job as a janitor at some dinner wasn’t the most glamorous of employment, but it paid enough for him to be able to afford the studio apartment he’d managed to get without having a high school degree. (Going to have to get a GED or something if I want to move up.)

Oh, his life was significantly better than it was back in the hell hole he’d escaped from, what with him now having his own place, (though I’m pretty sure I got ripped off on the deposit.)

That didn’t matter to him, even if the probably-ripping-him-off-apartment was built under a train track meaning every morning and night he was woken up by a train passing nearby, the rattling making half of the building shake.

Most people would find this a problem.

It would drive the people from his old town crazy.

But him, he couldn’t help but laugh as he realized, “The city is so loud!”

He absolutely loved it.

(And to think this is just the beginning!)

Today he was taking out a bag of trash to a dumpster, already a recent experience, tomorrow who knew?

For the sake of his good mood he decided to ignore the rat screaming at him from the dumpster.

--- Jessica, Before The Event ---

“I thought I’d find you here.” She noted, moving between Vanessa and the community room’s TV. “We have a demonstration and you’re going to be late.”

Vanessa had the gall to roll her eyes as she took another bite out of her meal. “Unlike the idiot duo, I know that the inspectors aren’t going to be here first thing. So I’m grabbing breakfast first.”

“It doesn’t matter if the inspectors won’t be here for another half-hour we need to be present, accounted for, and ready for evaluation the second they arrive!” She argued, as Vanessa simply laid down on the couch to keep watching the screen behind her.

“Trust me, I understand how this works.” Vanessa told her, likely thinking that because she’d been to multiple facilities she was the more experienced of the two despite only being here for seven years to Jessica’s ten. “We’re going to show off our stuff and they’re going to pay off the bosses or cut us off.”

She shivered internally at that last line, remembering what happened to the last squad to fail their inspection.

Instead of showing that, she straightened out her uniform, making sure her sleeves and skirt were all in order. “Meaning you understand how important this is to remaining here.”

“I’m going to be honest the only reason I haven’t tried to cut and run yet is this TV you’re keeping me from watching.” Vanessa admitted, earning herself a golden eyed glare.

With a sigh Vanessa sat up. “Look, we both know that Cyn isn’t going to be cut. She’s too valuable to them and even crippled she’s this project’s largest success.”

She couldn’t help but grimace, knowing there were… other reasons Cyn wouldn’t be cut given what her predecessor told her about the girl’s Fracturing. Reasons she was pretty sure would have her fired if she were to ever bring up with anyone other than the girl in question.

“We know I’m not going to get cut, because even if I’m not on Cyn’s level I’m the most versatile and in turn most used of our team.” Vanessa pointed out a very valid reason for the girl’s pride given just how many solo assignments she’d been given over the years compared to the rest of them.

A record that she had held until just the year prior. (Which means nothing. The company has just had more need for an infiltrator over my own talents. I’m still an asset that they value… I have to be…)

“Nicholas… Well, he’s a clutz but he’s also the only thing keeping half of us sane.” Vanessa continued unaware of her thoughts. “Can you imagine what Cyn would do if they tried to get rid of him? Or worse Mathias?”

This time she didn’t bother hiding her shiver. There was a very valid reason they all had an unspoken -as well as blatantly spoken- reason to keep Nicholas happy. (And it’s not just because he’s a puppy in human form.)

Vanessa finished off her meal before hopping to her feet and tossing the remaining filth to the side as she neared. “Which means the only person they can cut is… you.”

She inhaled deeply, feeling the skin on her hand tighten before grabbing subject V by her throat and picking her off the ground. “You forget I’m the one keeping you in line.”

V’s eyes turned gold as she gave Jessica a smile full of fangs. “Then what are you worried about?”

Her other hand shot out and caught V’s tail before her stinger could reach Jessica, not that that stopped it from shooting out and scratching the already tightening skin around her throat.

While she was distracted with this, V kicked her in the chest, freeing herself and sending Jessica skidding back half a meter as the other woman flipped over the couch.

They stared each other down for a moment before V leaned forward and lounged on the top of the couch. “See, as long as you keep that spine, you’ve nothing to worry about Angel.”

She looked at her hand where bone was beginning to bloodlessly push through her skin, before exhaling and pulling it back inside.

Turning to leave she told subject V. “Inspection is in twenty minutes. Do not be late.”

She paused at the door as rather than moving, V hopped back onto the couch to finish her program. “And thanks… Vanny.”

“Anytime sister.”