Chapter Text
I still remember that bus ride. The creature hung on the rusted billboard sign like some sort of pagan crucifix. I remember the smell of that store burning, all the terror, the fear I couldn't shake the moment the sky turned red. I remember them clapping, for me.
I did my job, I did it well. I was a good boy. I could go home, or whatever it was I wished to go. I don't know anymore, I can't remember my own name. I would've thought I'd have a pit in my stomach now, but nothing I stocked the shelves with I longed to eat. The tacky sodas, the alcohol I wished I could use, whenever I thought to take it off the shelf, my hands would never allow me. It wasn't mine. I knew that. I know better. All I need is sleep, and that's ok. The new store is quiet, peaceful. No sign of that… thing torturing me anymore. Peeking around from the corner of my eye, cornering me in doorways, looming over my shoulder with that twisted grin. Break free? Game? Was that all this was? Of course no one cares about me, that's not their problem. I'm an employee, the only one, and that's just fine. I tell myself that anyway.
It was another morning, cold as always, but I was used to that now. Stepping out the door and checking my pager. Snow-shoveling. It was my favorite thing to do here, before everything would get weird. I didn't hear those dogs anymore, no distant gunfire, just… peaceful. I've been starting to think maybe the last store was just a dream. Maybe I slept in on the day I got here. None of the horrors matched up now. This was my store, and I ran it well. Eventually I set down my snow-shovel, proud of my cleared parking lot, and got to restocking. The cooler room was loaded with stock, not that I forgot to use it, but I've long since gotten in just about every item I could fit in the store. Box after box, everything stocked fully with care, I was a good employee after all. After that, it was back inside to clean, mopping floors, sponging windows, and the occasional dusty corner.
With that, I was about to unlock the doors, when the monitor started flickering. It wasn't buzzing and violent as it did in my dream (I've long since decided that's what it was), but instead it simply flickered now and then. Curious, I walked over to take a look. To my surprise, there was a new application on the monitor, “Employee Wellness.exe”. I felt my brow raise, but I didn't hesitate to click on the newfound icon. As the application opened, I was immediately met with a video, a bright neon title at the top in bold letters saying: “Employee's First Information Video!”.
It immediately started playing, the application switching to full-screen, cursor disappearing off the presentation entirely. I was taken aback, but before I could think much, a chipper, southern twang came buzzing through the monitor. If it wasn't so loud, I would've thought it'd be trying to sell me a rusted Ford. “Hello dearest employee!!” I jumped slightly at the sound, I didn't recall there being such loud speakers on this hunk of junk… The video played, showing a man in a purple suit and a wide grin. He had the most ridiculous snakeskin boots, and a black, flat brim Stetson hat to cover his clearly overly gelled brown hair.
“Welcome to your new job here at Hellmart-™! I'm your district manager, Randy Dallas!! I oversee all- [REDACTED] locations of Hellmart-™ in your district!” A map flashed over the monitor, showing a rough geographical landscape of wherever this was. A bright red dot in the middle of it with a flashing “You are here!” text just above it…and it was the only one.
I felt myself get an unsettling feeling in my stomach I haven't felt in a long time. I should be opening right now, I still have a quota to achieve but I can't look away. The man on screen appeared again, his smile almost faltering a little, which I tried not to notice. “Well! Since I get to manage a single store, it must be a special joint huh?! Lucky you! Now I know what you're thinking, why would I need this video, I'm a capable adult and I got the brief!” Randy chuckled cheerfully, but quickly stopped, looking at the camera with a sobered expression. He dropped the act real quick, but the accent stayed. “I'll be honest. I know they lied about alot… I… know the feeling myself. But you're a tough son of a bitch ain't ‘cha? I know you tried to talk yourself out of that madness, out of what you saw… but pal… that ain't even the start of it. I'm here to warn you- plead with you, trust your senses. You know that wasn't a dream kid. You know it's been too quiet, and you're right. When you answer that phone, I need you to wake up–”
The video cut out with a hum and click, computer shutting off completely. “What the fuck is going on?!” I exclaimed, the panicked wire arcing in my chest once again. Not a dream I thought, not a dream at all. That did happen, I am stuck, I am alone, it's not ok! It is not ok! The phone started ringing outside. My head snapped up from the dark monitor screen, where I've been staring at my own sleep deprived face. My heart raced in my chest, gripping the pager in my pocket as I looked at it. It's a small, rectangular screen showing a simple command- is that what it was? God I'm losing my mind already. Answer the phone. That's all I'm supposed to do.
I stepped outside the staff door just beside the check out counter, winter air cooling the heat of panic that flushed my skin. The phone still rang, trill, repetitive, haunting. I stood in front of the payphone, taking a deep breath as I took the handset and held it to my ear. “...Hello?”–
-“I believe I should specify some things we've previously discussed.” My boss's voice came through, more cool toned than its usual genial nonchalance. “As for tonight I would like you to be extra picky with who you let in. The pager will keep you updated, follow the instructions and I'm sure no oddities will occur. Now, you have opening to do, that will be all.” The phone disconnected with an audible click through the receiver, and it didn't ease much of my anxiety. I can't believe I'm anxious. Anxious over what? The monster is gone, that… thing is gone, I'm fine. I just need to open the store and get this shift over with.
I headed back inside and unlocked the doors. Customers started walking in as usual. Their dark silhouettes stark shadows amongst the pale snow. It was foggy today, not too much more than usual mornings, but still made me uneasy. It wasn't foggy everyday, or not much anymore, but it was weather. Nothing more.
As expected, chips, cigarettes, beer, and soda were the main purchases. It was comforting seeing familiar faces and scanning the same items over and over. It got a little busy too, good for the larger quota today. It almost made me forget about the anomaly of the morning… almost. I was quickly pulled out of my trance when I heard the most annoying, cigarette smoked, degrading voice I wished I could forget.
The one and only Karen was back in my store, tsking at the mud tracked in at the door. “Do you see this?! The whole store is covered in dirt!-” I didn't let her finish. “Out of my store! I'm so tired of your bullshit, don't even start! Don't even! Get your damn chips and cigarettes and get the hell out of my store!”
I took a deep breath, maturely easing my rage before (god help me) I lugged the bottle of whiskey I was scanning over the counter. Karen, of course, was so shocked at my audacity she was speechless. It looked good on her, I thought smugly, and went along checking out my customers who didn't so much as bat an eye. They were fed up too I'm sure. Some even said as much before. But to be frank, I could care less upon any of it.
Customers came through, scan after scan with no issue. The orange beams of sunset started to beam into my eyes through the window. I sighed and stepped away from the register, stepping outside quickly to fill the generator with fuel before locking back up. I took a deep breath as I served the last handful of customers. After they left I locked the front door and went about cleaning. My nightshifts were much quieter now, no shadowy figures. No foul smelling anomalies scattered about the store that I swore made me crazy. I finished mopping the floors, moving to the windows, cleaning away the dirt that always accumulated on the murky glass.
I was about to return to the register to check the cameras, when I heard the jingle from the lock of leftside staff door. I immediately grabbed my axe from behind the counter, frantically scrambling out my pager. Unlike before, the words “Survive the Night” didn't appear. The green screen lit the words in a dull emerald light: “Eliminate Intruder”. My heart lurched as the lights flickered overhead, dimming the store in almost total darkness. I gripped my axe, shoving my flashlight between my teeth like a mechanically glorified cigar.
Silently, I stalked out from behind the counter, the opposite direction of the clacking footsteps that entered. The door shut behind the intruder, the padlock clicking back into place. I didn't even notice I was holding my breath until it got knocked out of me from the firm hand I felt on my shoulder. I jolted forward, then in a crazed arc, my axe came hurling down at the arm of whatever took hold of me. The flashlight fell from my mouth as I was shoved back into the wall. My axe made slight purchase upon some part of the intruder, as I heard a loud curse and the recoil of the impact. I felt the intruder grab the handle of my axe, shoving me into the wall along with it. I coughed as the intruder slammed themselves, and the side of the axe handle into my chest. The back wall of the store is unforgiving against my already stiff spine.
The green glow of my pager was seen next, illuminating the eyes of a person I couldn't quite see within the darkness. To my horror, the pager was thrown to the floor, crunched under the boot of the intruder. As soon as it was, the lights fizzled back on giving sight to who was holding me back. It was the man from the video. The district manager himself! My axe did a number on his arm. The left sleeve of his purple suit now blooming red and reeked of copper at my current proximity. Randy smiled, but it was strained with pain and something akin to guilt. I couldn't bring myself to speak. I almost murdered a man! All because of an unspoken, written command I still couldn't explain the knowledge of. I felt embarrassed at the almost fatherly understanding in Randy's eyes. He smelled exactly like he looked. Some sort of musky office carpet, mixed with cinnamon and hickory. Or maybe that was spilled liquor. It was clear the suit he wore wasn't dry cleaned for a long time. Or taken care of for that matter. I was pulled out of my daze of shock when I felt him gently pulling away the axe from my hands. It clattered to the floor, and he still looked at me with that easy smile. Speaking softly as if I was a frightened animal or whatever pathetic thing I looked to be now. Not that I'd admit I felt just as scared or anything... “Hey kiddo, sorry about that, probably should've made myself known a bit better huh? That piece of shit didn't help much either.” Randy chuckled, and I couldn't help but be comforted by a voice so… human. I pulled myself out of my sentiment real quick, seeing the blood pouring out of Randy's left arm. Panic flared in my chest again. “Shit! Hold on, I have a first aid kit somewhere! Holy fuck-” I quickly stumbled away and ran to the counter looking in the dusty cubbies beneath frantically. I swallowed a lump in my throat but kept moving my stiffening arms. Randy's sigh was audible even across the other side of the store. When I bolted up again with the red case in hand, eyes wide with frantic worry I was met with Randy's easy smile and a chuckle as he set his hat on the counter.
He slowly took off his suit jacket, then ripped off the thin sleeve of his once white collared shirt from where it was already torn by the blade of my axe. He winced and held the wound slightly closed with his calloused fingers. His hands were large, along with the rest of him, but they were also notably unclean. Stained with oil and what I hoped was just rusty colored dirt. From the scars littering the muscle of his left arm, it probably wasn't mud dried on his hands as I hoped. “Open that for me kiddo, would ya?” Randy spoke once more, gentle as ever. I nodded and opened the kit more jerkily than I meant to, earning another pain laced chuckle from Randy, which deepened the guilty pit building in my stomach. I pulled out a needle and thread, fumbling it through the eye in a fruitless attempt. To give myself some justification, it was working against the clock for a man I really didn't want to be the cause of murdering. Though, I was soon to find the clock was no issue. Randy's calloused palm stilled my needle fumbling hands, my gaze flicked back up to meet a pair of weary, whiskey brown eyes. Randy took the needle, threading it with steady fingers. I watched him go about cleaning the wound with a careless splash of disinfectant, which earned a hiss from Randy on contact. With the clearly pained set of his jaw, it was rather impressive seeing him suture his wound shut neatly. Not his first time solo, I didn't guilt myself for inferring. Randy tied off the sealed wound with a grunt and sighed heavily, giving me an easy smile. “I'm sorry.” I found myself speaking before I could stop it. I internally smacked myself in the face. God, I'm on a pathetic streak today aren't I? “Oh don't even start kiddo. You ain't done nothin’ wrong. You're just followin’ what you think is gonna keep you safe. No harm in that… well, maybe a little.” Randy chuckled, reaching his good arm over to pat my shoulder. It was a soothing feeling I'll admit. Real human interaction. I haven't had that in months now. I could only nod in response. Randy's smile softened. “Let's get you some rest, yeah? It's been a long day for both of us.” Randy pushed off the counter, wincing at his arm as he threw his suit jacket over his shoulders. Deep, tarnished violet now draping over the stained fabric of his dress shirt. I looked outside the frosted windows. Dawn was rising over the mountains once again. Safe. Randy was safe. I was safe. I woke up.
I need to go the fuck to sleep.