Hyacinthus and Apollo

Chapter 3 - Lysanias

The air conditioning was immediately noticeable. It felt as if Lysanias had just entered a snow globe. The hairs on his arms stood on end and a shiver rushed down his spine. It was as if he had just entered a movie theater and the quick change left him feeling somewhat ill, though that could have also been nerves again.

Taking a cursory look around the office space, he didn't notice anything odd. Or, he didn't think that there was anything odd about the lobby that he was standing in. It was definitely larger than he had expected when he had learned about the position (and from the impression he had gathered from the outside of the building), there were far more windows than anyone could ever need in his opinion, too, and it was rather empty. But, it was probably not all that different to what any other office would look like.

Fleetingly, however, Lysanias noticed the blinds were pulled down on every window. It was weird for there to be as many windows as there were, but none were allowed to let in any light. Why would they keep the sun out?

He shrugged lightly to himself and walked to the desk set up in the middle of the lobby. A pretty girl with pale, blonde hair sat in an office chair, her feet on top of the desk. She seemed strangely overdressed for the oppressive heat that he had just left behind. She had on what seemed to be an icy blue, knit sweater with thick fleece leggings and snow boots. It didn't make any sense. How could anyone wear all of that when it was as hot as it was outside? He could barely even wear a hoodie in the Arizona heat.

Even though it didn't make any sense, Lysanias chose not to question the odd girl. After all, who knew what effect she could have on whether or not he got the job. She could be related to the interviewer for all that he knew! It would be best for him to simply ignore the small amount of concern he felt for her, given the unbearable heat outside, and act as if what she was wearing made complete sense.

Nodding to himself lightly, he cleared his throat. He hoped that it would alert the girl to his presence without him needing to do anything more elaborate, you know, like talk.

"What?" She asked, raising an unimpressed eyebrow at him before looking back down at her phone.

Lysanias, caught off guard by her tone, felt himself shrink back from her cold words.

"Um," He said, the words caught in his throat. "I, uh," He pulled at the collar on his shirt, a flush starting to take over his face. Was he just complaining about how cold it was in here? Nope, now it was most definitely too hot. It was even more stifling than it had been on the drive over. He cleared his throat before continuing, "I have an interview?" It came out as a question, but he would take it. It was probably as good as he was going to get.

The girl rolled her eyes at him before turning to her computer and typing away at it for a minute, completely ignoring him. Lysanias could feel sweat roll down his forehead and he found himself uncomfortably warm despite the freezing temperature of the lobby. Nerves and anxiety were beginning to take hold of him.

What if he didn't have an interview? What if they had already filled the position? What would he do then? His parents would likely kill him.

Before he could spiral any further, the girl spoke up once more, "Head on up that way, Zep is expecting you." She pointed at a staircase off to the side of the lobby that Lysanias had missed in his original perusal.

It was a little weird, now that he'd noticed it. It appeared that there were four staircases that led to the second floor of the building, but each was in a different area. There was one on what he guessed was the Northern side of the building, one on the Southern, one on the Eastern, and one on the Western. The staircase that the girl had just pointed at was the Western staircase.

Nodding in thanks to the girl, Lysanias took a deep breath and walked towards the staircase. The closer he neared it, the more and more dread seemed to fill him.