Adem Lewinsku was running late for his weekly game of Dungeons and Dragons, which he would play with people that he used to work with at PaperClips. He was working a long shift at the gas station, and had to stay later to talk with the police regarding an incident that left him feeling a bit anxious. Every Friday they would all gather at Octavian Glaze’s apartment, as he would run their campaign. Everyone was waiting patiently, until Adem, drenched in sweat, furiously opened the door and ran up the stairs. Octavian, along with Cage Yam, sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by books, assorted beverages and several bags of chips. Octavian had a large collection of dice laid out and Cage was just commenting on a new set that he bought.

“Sorry I am late, but I have to tell you guys what happened today!” interrupted Adem.

“Yeah, you said you had to talk to the cops or something?” asked Octavian.

“It was insane!” Adem sat down to stop his hyperventilating. “Where is Mikeal?” he asked.

“He is still on the phone with his parents about that break-in we told you about,” said Octavian. “I think they are still trying to figure out if the police are going to do anything about that.”

Just then, Mikeal Zucchini came out of one of the bedrooms. He looked tired as he was still in a temperate headspace—dealing with his mother and father.

“What did your parents want?” asked Cage.

“Oh, they just wanted some more information or if we would recognize the guy and I told them that I couldn’t think of anyone,” said Mikeal, frustrated. “I know Cindy gave that description already and I said that it sounded like the same person Racquel saw that other night, so the police are still canvassing the neighborhood, but they haven’t found anything yet.” Mikeal then finally noticed Adem’s presence. “Where were you at?” he asked.

“I was waiting for you, so I could tell everyone,” said Adem. “Remember Tim, the printer guy, that wackjob who assaulted me at PaperClips? Well, he came into the store and tried to attack me again.”

“Oh my god!” exclaimed everyone, practically in unison.

“Was he stalking you, or something?” asked Mikeal.

“I think he just came in to get gas and saw it was me, and started freaking out,” explained Adem.

“That guy was always creepy and weird,” said Cage.

“Remember when he would always take pictures of us?” asked Octavian.

Mikeal shuddered. “Yeah I never understood why he was always around,” he said.

“Oh!” Adem remembered. “He also was shouting at me that I did not deserve the ‘Adonises’ of PaperClips or something…”

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“What?” asked Cage.

Octavian and Mikeal laughed.

“Adonises of PaperClips?” Octavian restated. “Is that supposed to be us?”

“I have no idea…” said Adem. “He tried to hit me and I pressed the panic button below the counter and the cops came.”

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“Did they arrest him?” asked Mikeal.

“No, he ran off, so I think they are still looking for him,” said Adem.

Octavian grew worried. “I really hope he doesn’t know where I live or tried following you or something…” he muttered.

Adem shook his head, exhaustedly.“Yeah I don’t know, but that was all a while ago, so hopefully they found him or caught him,” he said.

“Didn’t Jamir start working at ProSales or something?” asked Cage.

“Yeah, I think he started that after we all left the store…” said Octavian.

“Wow, imagine working with a guy like Tim,” said Mikeal, with another chuckle.

“I told you about him!” chirped Adem. “That guy always seemed like he hated me but would always creep around you guys. Then, I remember he told me that I don’t have to do the courses any more. Next thing I know, he jumped on me and scratched my face.” Adem pointed at the bandages, still around his head, which covered his slowly healing wounds.

“He did ask me about you and then said a bunch of anti-semetic stuff,” said Octavian. “I just had a bad feeling about him, and I know I mentioned it to Christian.”

“I am just happy we all got out of PaperClips after that,” said Mikeal. “I mean, I think they still use that company to do that training or whatever… Didn’t he also come into the gym?”

“Yeah!” exclaimed Octavian. “He was saying some strange stuff and then got his ass kicked by these two guys in the MMA area. It was actually pretty funny, but at first I was freaking out, thinking that he would sue.”

“Do you think he was stalking you or followed you to the gym?” asked Cage.

Octavian laughed for a bit, but then started to think about it. “Probably…” he murmured.

Mikeal then angled his head upwards and started to think back. “Can someone refresh me on what he looked like?” he asked.

Just then, a buzz could be heard. Adem reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. “My mom said that she found an article about it. It looks like the cops got him!” he exclaimed.

Everyone rushed around Adem’s phone as he pulled up the article from the local news. There was a video right before the article, so Adem clicked on it and they saw a clip from a local news TV segment.

“Breaking news, a man wielding a sword was apprehended by police at an office building on Westbury St.” said the anchor. “Authorities say that the man, claiming to be an ex-employee, came into the office with the sword and attacked his employer. The man, who police identify as Tim Nakadai, was making wild threats and eventually was shot by police. At this time, both Nakadai and his employer are in intensive care.”

Footage then showed Tim the Printer Guy being wheeled out on a gurney. He looked almost dead and though the camera was far away, all the guys could see a large cloth or bandage covering Tim’s right shoulder. The clip cut to paramedics inside of the office building, crouching over someone else, cradled on the ground—limp and receiving oxygen through a hose.

They all took in the news like a punch to the face.

Mikeal stood up and went right back to his phone. “I gotta call my parents!” he exclaimed.

Octavian covered his mouth, while Cage just had to muster out some words to break the tension. “Jesus Christ,” he whispered, throwing his head in his hands. “That guy was around us and knows where you work… And where Mikeal lives…”

“I think I am going to be sick,” said Octavian.

Mikeal returned to the other room and was exasperated in getting the information out. The others could hear him through the closed door and through the walls. “Dad, I am sending you this news story, we think this is the guy… this has to be him!” he bellowed.

The anchor continued, “Nakadai has been taken into police custody, though more information is still yet to be released…” She then turned towards her co-anchor to exchange some light banter. “Wow, a sword, that’s a different one!”

The other anchor chuckled. “Imagine hating your job that much…” he said.

The video came to an end and everyone was still reeling.

“Well, it looks like they finally got him,” said Octavian.

“Did you see his arm!” exclaimed Cage. “They shot him!”

Adem remained quiet and still. He clicked off his phone screen and stared back at the black glass, reflecting the bandages on his head. Octavian and Cage paused for a moment to look at him. Adem took a deep breath and slowly put his phone back in his pocket. He then picked up one of the 20-sided dice that Octavian was showing to Cage and rolled it across the table.

The dice landed on an 18 and Adem smirked. “Good riddance,” he said.