Spirit Of The End

Stranger in my home

::The same day somewhere close, in the mind of someone close by:: :: :

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now. The screen is snapping black and red. The waiting animation is pretty entertaining; it's a swirl of white that creates multiple little pictures: a star, a heart, and a half moon.

brr, brr, brr. A buzzing followed by a sweet tune.

5:30 a.m.

<A stranger is in your house.>

The screen stayed like this for a while. I'm not sure what to think. I don't think this is directed at me. I think. I have nothing interesting in my house. My most precious possession is already in my hand. The swirls come back again.

<Welcome>

<S.T.E is glad to have you>

<Start now> <Start later>

I choose to start now. I like that there are two options. It eases the small bit of skepticism I held; I'm desperate for this either way.

<S.T.E  corp's Spirit of the End>

<There are only 3 rules> —- <that you must know>

<To choose accept is to be done, in every occurrence>

<Complete all tasks in due time. Failure results in penalties.>

<Always follow instructions exactly. Deviation nullifies progress.>

<Accept> <?>

I move forward.

<Task 1> —-

<Leave door unlocked now, until the day ends>

<50$>

Ahh, that explains the earlier message. Still, I don't get why it is out of order. I finally get out of bed. I've built multiple habits over the years but never once broke my sleep pattern. I sleep by 9 and wake up at 5:30 religiously. I take my backpack and put everything I care about in it.

Today will be a good day.

::

I finished my second session on early development. Now I sit silently eating my dried-up nacho sandwich. Lacks spice.  I check my phone once more, half hoping there's another task for today.

"Still sitting alone, huh?"

I don't say a word. We aren't in high school anymore. I don't know why it's still necessary to bully me after one small event, even if it was throwing up on my 'date.' It's not even just one, two guys block my view. 

I know of them but might as well call them dumb and dumber. They're both on the volleyball team and both studying social work.

I don't get it at all, I get the impression they're in it for the parties and the low-workload degree. Since the accident, they've been using me as a fetch dog.

I was on my way to the bathroom on a normal day, when one of them was waiting next to the urinal, the other came up behind me, a terrifying experience. At the time, I thought something a hell of a lot worse than a fetch quest was going to happen. I am grateful it is just that. Yet I can't shake the fact that they're the Loki's of my existence.

Eh... never mind more like troll 1 and troll 2. My situation is worsened by the fact that they howl very loudly to the world about what a wimp I am.

I do tend to go cold in the presence of danger, not numb but like some kind of malfunctioning android.