♤《 𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖜! 》♧

[ 𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙻𝙾𝙶𝚄𝙴 ]

The liminal buzz of fluorescent lights loomed above me as I timidly stepped out of the restroom stall I had previously occupied. I glance around, scanning my surroundings and quickly ensuring nobody remained in the restroom.

However, I feel I already knew my answer. It was approximately 3:41 AM, The Twenty-first of October, 2013. I worked the night shift at an odd company. "C&M Ent." That was what it was named. I never knew what it meant because nobody else remained in the building when I patrolled. I never got the chance to ask.

Gazing deeply into my own eyes through the water-stained mirror, I contemplate my decisions and how I landed this job that pays virtually little to nothing.

Almost a "slap" back to reality, The A.C. turned on, a large bang coming from the unit. Startled, I yelped and jumped back, splattering water everywhere onto the restroom mirror and staining it further.

Finally catching my breath, my damp hand on my chest, I stare into the mirror again, grabbing a crappy brown paper towel, barely drying my hands.

Grabbing my virtually prehistoric flashlight, It flickered on as I fearfully began to patrol the liminal hallways. The noise of crackling, aged lights sounded above me as one completely broke, sparks emitting from the rectangular panel above.

Speed-walking out of the area to avoid getting blamed, I heard a loud thump from behind. Petrified, I sped out of the area into an odd room labeled "OFFICE" with a beige-ish stick-on-note on the door. It read "Pipe leak!!! Do not enter! - Management". Sadly, I did not have enough time to read that as I entered the room. The immediate smell of mold and damp carpet overpowered my other senses. The rectangular fluorescent lights above were utterly broken and shattered.

Wandering around, shining my light on things, I come across a V.R. headset. Curiously, I inspect it.

Turning it around, it seemed to be a prototype from the workplace, seemingly abandoned in the office. Though, it couldn't seem to hurt to... Test.. it?

Swiftly, I slid it over my pin-straight strawberry-blonde hair.

As I placed the prototype headset onto my temple, millions of thoughts began to drain yet fill my head, overwhelming me. It felt like I had entered a high-speed downward spiral, my consciousness slipping away from reality. My identity, personality, friends, thoughts, and opinions had escaped me, agonizing, horrific pain surging through my body.

until everything went blank.

{ PROLOGUE: END }