The clerk sat at the front typing on his computer, then looked up at me. “Hello Sir, can I please have your name?” He said, smiling. “Also, that is a very cool bat tie.”

“It’s Karlo. Nice to meet you,” I said, lifting my tie and flipping it in the air. “Also, thanks, this is my favorite tie.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Karlo. Who is your appointment with today?” The receptionist said.

“I have an interview with the data warehousing and server manager.” I said, now standing in front of the desk. The receptionist was now within arm’s reach.

“Hmmm, that’s strange. We only conduct interviews online. Let me call him. Maybe there's a miscommunication.” The receptionist said, picking up the phone.

I looked at my watch. Fuck, I’m wasting time. “There is no need to call him. Just tell me how to get to the server room.” I said, opening my suit jacket flap and flashing my pistol at him.

The receptionist's eyes grew wide. He slowly lowered the phone, putting it back on the receiver. “Sir, let’s stay calm. You don’t want to do anything you’re going to regret.”

“I agree. Things won’t get out of hand if you cooperate. Just give me the directions to the server room and I will be on my way.” I said, putting my coat jacket flap back down.

“Of course, I can take you there…” He said. That’s when I saw his hand was already under the desk. Fuck, he hit the silent alarm.

“Ugh, come on man, I told you I didn’t want this to get out of hand.” I said. Before he could say anything else, I reached over and grabbed him by the tie and slammed his head on the counter. After falling back in his chair, he had a bloody spot on his forehead and was completely knocked out. Whoops, that was a little too hard.

Going around the desk, I searched through his pockets. There was a key card in the left part of his jacket. Looking around, I found the door it opened. Before I left the desk, I noticed there was a map of the facility.

The server room was on the 3rd level basement underground. However, the stairs only go down one level at a time, with the next stairwell on the opposite side. Why are architects such difficult weirdos?

Looking at the map closer, after I go through the employee only doors, there’s an elevator I can take all the way down to the floor with the server room. I folded up the map and put it in one of my suit jacket pockets.

I walked over to the employee only door and swiped the receptionist key card. The light on the door turned green, followed by a click. Pushing the door open, it led into an open hallway. At the end of the hallway, there was a connecting hallway that went in either direction. Taking out my pistol, I walked towards the end of the hallway.

Reaching the end of the corridor, it split in two directions. I leaned against one wall and peaked to see down the left hallway, only to be greeted by more hallway. When I turned around, there was the elevator I saw on the map. To the right of the elevator, there appeared to be another hallway.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

I ran to the elevator and pressed the button for down. It lit up, and the number counted down from 10. I felt a buzz from my phone. Pulling it out, I looked at the notification and it was a ghost chat from Luana. Fuck, she’s awake, I need to respond before she….

The lights in the hallway turned red all at once. The light on the elevator button turned off and the number at the top stopped at 5. “The target is at the elevator; he is on level one in the 1st corridor. He’s knocked out the receptionist and is armed. Use force to capture or terminate if necessary.” Said a voice over an intercom.Behind me, I could hear the clamoring of boots on the ground.

Shit, it’s never easy, is it? With nowhere else to go, I ran down the hallway in front of me.

After running for quite some time, I sat in a supply closet, on the ground, out of sight of the window on the door. I pulled out the magazine from my pistol. Great, I only have half a magazine and my full spare magazine. If I’m going to make it to the next level, I need to get a hold of another gun.

My brilliant plan to get in and out unnoticed has completely gone to shit. If only I didn’t get held up by that receptionist, I could have gotten to the servers before Luana woke up and sent a ghost chat. Oh fuck, I still haven’t looked at it and responded. She’s going to notice some things off. I reached for my phone, but stopped when I heard voices approaching the door.

“Start checking the supply closets. According to surveillance, he is somewhere on this level and hasn’t left the building. We also need to make sure there are people around the stairs.” A voice said, approaching the door. Guest I have no other choice.

Bursting out of the door, I slowed their perception of time for 3 seconds. It was just enough for me to shoot one of the two-armed men in the chest and then again in the forehead. While the other man was still in shock, I holstered my gun and got in close. Grabbing his wrist with the gun, I pointed his gun at the ceiling, and it fired. Punching him in the face, his grip on the gun loosened. Taking advantage of that, I disarmed him and shot him with his own gun.

I dropped the magazine in the pistol and searched him for his spare mag. Taking both of them, I loaded one into the gun and put the other in my pocket. I searched his corpse again. He was carrying a couple of flashbangs. These guys mean business! Why is there so much security for a messaging app? I took a flashbang just in case I needed it later.

I need to make it to the stairs before there are too many guards. Pulling out my map, I looked for the stairway. There was only one stair well on each floor. Given the level of security and layout of each floor, this is much more structured than I originally thought. I take it back. Not all architects are fucking weirdos.

Folding up the map, I put it back in my pocket. Stepping over the dead guards, I walked toward the stairs. Reaching the edge of the hallway, I heard some murmuring. I pulled out my map. From where I’m standing, the stairwell should be around this corner.

Taking out my flashbang, I threw it around the corner. “Look out!” a guard screamed, followed by a large bang. Jumping into the hallway, I shot two of the guards in the side of their heads. The last guard must have closed his eyes quick enough, so he was unaffected by the flashbang. I sent two bullets in his direction, but the guard used one of his comrades as a meat shield to block the shots. Damn, that mofo either hated that guy or he’s a sick fuck.

Throwing his comrade to the side, he rushed me, knife in hand. Now too close for me to fire, he swung at me with his knife, and I blocked it with one hand. I went for a pistol whip, but he pushed me back, knocking me off balance.

While I regained my balance, he swiped at my face. I slowed his perception of time by 3 seconds to move back, then leaned in to grab his arm. I put his arm on my shoulder, turned and threw him down, then shot him in the face while he was still on the ground.

I reached into his pocket and grabbed both his flashbangs and walked towards the stairwell.