Late-night Graveyard

Chapter1

Mia's POV:
I wake up from my after-school nap like normal and check my clock, it was 10:44pm. My shift starts at 12 and lasts till 4. I just lay in my bed for a little until I realized that I was going to be late and finally got up.

"Maybe I shouldn't volunteer to clean up after the band so often.." I say to myself grumbly.

The place is a little over a hour from my apartment and it's already 10:52, I gotta hurry.
Thank goodness my roommate ,Oliver, pre-made my night lunch bag. I honestly wouldn't know what I'd do without him. I grab my car keys from the coffee table and leave the apartment building, making sure I was quiet enough not to wake Oliver. In the parking lot I search for my 2015 Subaru Legacy, that used to be my mom's car, so of course it was a little beat up.

My mom's real name is Maria Luis Vargas and she moved to the states from Puerto Rico when she was in Highschool. When she got her first car, my current car, her license was suspended because of her 'crazy driving'. But that's how they drove back in the islands ,who can blame her? Also meaning that there were scratches here and there on the girl and maybe the engine took a little longer to start up, but she still works. And that's all I need.

It was February in South Carolina at 34°. My hands were covered in two pairs of grey dollar-store gloves since one wasn't enough and my black winter coat was over a black hoodie. It wasn't snowing but I still wore my favorite brown fluffy boots and tan sweatpants. Maybe my parents' cold sensitivity passed to me because I was still cold even while driving with the heater on.

On the way I saw a new Starbucks open 24hours and pulled in the drive thru. I got a simple Cappuccino and left, back on the road at 11:36.

Going through that recent event I remembered seeing a help wanted sign.

"Maybe I can ditch my grave job and work there.." I contemplated while turning on my right-hand signal.

Finally, I pull into the almost-empty parking lot of the main building just outside the graveyard. I leave my car and walk inside double checking if my car is locked. It might just be me, but it relaxes me when I hear the beeping of car doors being locked.

Looking around inside the building is the same muted turquoise walls, grey and white counters and floors, with of course the painfully obvious fake plants in the corners. "Seems there's no one here.." I thought until I heard heavy footsteps coming my way from the back room.

"Mia, came just in time"

It was Steve. My manager. He was always there when I came to clock-in but left right after because of how late it was. We had small talk here and there but never a full conversation. You could say we were being friendly, that's all.

Coming back to reality, I check my phone and it read: 11:59. I really did come just in time.

I give a dry laugh and say "well, I try" as Steve was walking out from behind the counters. I start to walk to the back to officially clock-in when Steve said,
"Be carful tonight.."

"What?"

"Yeah, I've been hearing from all the others tonight that they hear some weird noises from the graveyard. Especially the back left corner.."

"Oh, Steve. Do you really think I believe that stuff?"

"I'm not saying it's a ghost, Mia. I'm saying that there might be someone lurking out there."

"It's probably some teens playing pranks" I wave it off, "It's not like I can't protect myself either. Go home Steve. You must be tired."

"Just be careful..."

"I've been doing this for 5 months. I've got this."

Steve leaves and I can see him get into his car. I go into the back and clock-in. I check my phone again: 12:02. Steve made me a little late. I put 11:59 anyway since that's when I should've clocked-in at if Steve didn't tell me to be carful.

While grabbing my flashlight, golf cart keys and other things for the night I can't help but think over what my manager said to me. I can feel the goosebumps crawling on my skin and I try to shake them off.

"I did this so many times before, what's there so different this time?" I try to pump myself up.

Eventually, I also leave the building and start up one of the golf carts behind it and start driving to the graveyard gate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~End of Chapter 1~~~~~~~~~~