Tranquil Chills

Pay Day

  (Author's note: And this will be when the story actually begins! Everything before is more of a chaotic interlude.) 

    To be honest...Today is still different from my usual workdays. After I finish making another batch of ice cream with Matti, I will head to Rod's office, in which he actually pays me salary. And it's actually a generous amount, because I am literally the only human worker here. Rod is the boss, and I am thankful of that, of course. But honestly, I rarely experience normal human contact these days now, and besides from talking to Rod on the professional side, the last people I've interacted with are just another group of his victims. My job here is simple. It's just helping Matti in the kitchens (basically mixing ingredients and taste-testing) and acting sweet to potential victims. Though I can't help thinking how ironic these things are. Robots are built by us humans, yet I am Matti's assistant. Does that mean, I am less than these robots? No. It can't be. At least I still have my own Mini-Rod to keep me company. Apart from that, I also lure the victims to his van whenever we head out. Honestly, interacting with our victims really disgusts me...I shot that intrusive thought down, just like what I've done with the others. I never felt lonely, to be honest. And the...interesting part is that I was drawn to it anyway. 

    I smoothed out my apron once more, and headed to Rod's office. I better be quick. Who won't run for money in this corrupted, sonorous world? Everything is filthy out there, this factory is my forever and only sanctuary...Can it also be my prison? I sometimes wonder. But honestly, if it is, I wouldn't mind being held for eternity. 

    Rod's office consists of mainly gray and white. A depressing combination that somehow fascinates me. I see him with his mask on, as always. A trophy in his hands, he examined it carefully. I approached his side, not saying a word because I know they sometimes fail here. 

    "Reane," He said my name, "Tell me, how's the next batch coming?" I looked into the eyes of his mascot mask. They were a shade of charcoal black, matching with my honey brown eyes. I then looked at the envelope in his pocket, which contained my salary. 

    "A batch of vanilla will soon be ready. Should we add in...the secret ingredient?" I whispered the last bit because I've seen how it was created. The process was extremely nauseating. I begged in my mind: Please say no, please say no... 

   "No need for that. I still remember how you reacted to the extraction when you were...5? I really don't trust you when it comes to this. You clearly don't know how to handle stuff like this." He deadpanned, which made me no longer tense, "And here's the salary, take it or leave it." I snatched the envelope from his hands, muttered a thank you, and left. 

    I made a fool out of myself. How do I earn his trust like that? Might as well exit the scene. I handed the envelope to my mini-rod, who followed me here. I decided to take a walk, since Rod always allowed me to roam around. 

    "If you get stuck in the vents, or slapped by Boris, you'll know what to avoid next time." Thanks.