Vermilion Skys

Vermilion Skys (Chapter 1)

VERMILLION SKYSCHAPTER1 BOREDOM and CRUELTY

With a chilling breath spreading dread like ice through my veins I lifted my fist and struck my coworker straight in the nose I took in the overwhelming spike of feel half guilt and pleasure as my knuckles ran into their nose fracturing it and spreading blood on my hand, that ran off my knuckles, or I could only imagine I sat there at my desk in a worn-down chair playfully spinning my pen between my fingers staring at my coworker whom I had included in my quote-unquote "episode" as my therapist likes to call them. Her name is Sam and it's not that I hated her or anything it's just my mind often has gruesome thoughts of brutality and violence especially when I was bored.

Surprisingly working a desk job does that effortlessly. I sell soap dispensers in bulk to companies so not much excitement ever made it to my life. After leaning back in my chair with a lifeless enthusiasm I averted my eyes from Sam and aimed them towards my computer monitor. I looked at a list of possible clients sent to me by another guy named Alex who also worked in my department. He knew I had never really been the top salesmen so now and then he would send me all his easy "clients" to help me out. I appreciated the gesture but I never showed it And, to be honest, I wouldn't know how to.

"Hey pat did you get the list I sent you," said Alex cheerfully as he leaned onto my cubicle grinning at me. I took one look at Alex and said "yeah of course you sent it to me " and stood up to shake his hand. I'm assuming Sam had overheard Alex greeting me and decided to come and say hi in my head I wanted to tell both of them to get the hell away from me even though I enjoyed their company a little instead I turned to Sam and said "hey so what are you up to over there" she tightens the grip on her coffee mug and replied "oh just printing out papers" she looks tired and I had the feeling she wanted us to notice it or acknowledge it in conversationBut before I could say anything Alex asked

"Hey, have you guys heard of this new bar and grill at the plaza we should all go tonight "I knew I wasn't going. Coincidence or not me and sam both said the same thing "no" shortly after I noticed Alex's dissatisfied face I grinned a little.Alex sighed and blurted out that it was our loss and left back to his desk Sam rolled her eyes and looked back at me "well I'm gonna go check on my copies "she said taking a sip of her coffee as she walked away.

I scratched my eyes with exhaustion, yawned, and with hope, I checked to see what time it was on my watch luckily my shift was over. Now all I have to worry about was a constant stream of invites from Alex to go to the bar and grill. I picked up my sweater from underneath my desk, pulled a USB out of my computer, stretched my arms out a little, and headed to the stairs. I usually take the stairs since no one would use them. I like the unbalanced tempo of my shoes stomping on the steps echoing in the stairwell. While walking across the parking lot in search of my car I thought what if I went to the bar and grill would Alex and I even have fun this rattled my brain a little and I had A feeling I'd be wondering about it all night. I finally reached my car and sat in the driver's seat, started the engine, and drove off heading to my apartment. I parked along the sidewalk next to my apartment building. Once the car was shifted into the park I pulled my phone from the cup holder in my car and saw a text from Alex asking me to come as I predicted, but this just made me shove my phone into my pocket. I started looking at the fading sky as it turned to night. The cool breeze brushing past my face completed with the beautiful color-soaked sunset were the kind of things that made time stop still reality likes to lurk in the corner of my mind. After gathering the rest of my stuff from the passenger's seat I went into the apartment lobby heading toward the stairs. As I unlocked my door I noticed my neighbor outside their door having trouble " hey ken trouble getting in " smiling I looked at him waiting for a response " fuck off " he said as he managed to unlock his door " a little tip " he then looked at me " stay out of other people's business " flicking the cigarette at me as he went into his apartment slamming the door behind him " good to see you too " I mumbled under my breath walking into my apartment. I looked around the darkness with very little light seeping through the shades on my window. sighing, I threw my sweater onto the couch and headed toward my room which was right around the corner. Plopping into my bed face first was all my body could manage. The only time of day I ever smiled was at this moment when the cushion of my mattress caught me. I flipped over on my back to switch on my lamp which stood on the nightstand left of my bed with various trash and cups scattered on it. To my surprise, my phone buzzed then again...and again and again.