Search for SMOS: A Deep Spiral

Chapter 1: Epipelagic

Author's note: Please read the warnings before continuing onto this chapter. Thank you. Stay safe. Your health matters.

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"OASIS!"

I jumped at the sound of my manager screaming at me. I sighed, shutting and putting down my book. "What?"

"Your fifteen-minute break was over fifteen minutes ago!" She walked over to me, looking slightly frustrated. Paper Towel Dispenser--everyone calls her PTD for short--bless her heart, but she really does not know how to approach someone without giving them a heart attack. "Have you just been reading the whole time?"

"Um... yeah." I mumbled, adjusting my leaves to keep them out of my eyes. "Just lost track of time, my bad."

PTD groaned, glaring at me. She rubbed her head in annoyance. "Okay. Consider this a warning. Just... don't do that again, okay?"

"Mhm, mhm."

I got up, adjusting my nametag and heading out of the breakroom with her. I sighed in relief, I thought for a second it was completely over, especially since that was my... third offense? 

"Okay, we need aisles three and four restocked." PTD explained. "Try to finish that up as quick as possible."

"Got it."

"Don't drop anything this time."

"Gotcha."

"Seriously, don't-"

"I heard you, I heard you! God." I rolled my eyes, heading towards the other side of the store and hearing her scoff as I walked away. I glanced back at her, noticing the confusion and slight frustration on her face. I clenched my stomach, feeling it ache and twist.

She really can be bitchy sometimes, huh?

No, don't think that. She just doesn't want to fire you. 

Not yet.

Do you want to get fired, you dumb bitch?

Heading over to the back, I bumped into one of my coworkers, who immediately flew backwards, dropping their food supply boxes. "Oh my god! I'm so sorry, are you okay?!" I yelped, quickly grabbing one of her hands and helping her up.

"Yeah! Yeah, I'm- I'm good, I really am. It's okay, accidents happen." She mumbled, quickly turning to the mess of scattered chips and pretzels. "Oh boy..."

"Hold on, lemme help you." Scrambling onto the floor, I swiftly picked up as many bags as I could, making extra sure I didn't crush any under my feet. "Again, I'm so sorry."

"It's okay! Happens a lot." She repeated, slightly louder than before. "I mean, if I had a nickel for every time someone bumped into me while I was carrying stuff..." She laughed a little, trailing off before turning to me. "I'm Lily, by the way."

I looked down, noticing her hand. I reached over, shaking it and dropping a few bags along the way. "Oasis."

"Oh, that's such a lovely name! Never knew there was a kind of beetroot called that."

"I'm not a beetroot."

"Oh sorry, um," She squinted, sucking in her lips. "Not to be offensive, but what are you, exactly?"

I sighed in frustration. "Honestly I don't know at this point. Just- forget about it, I have to work on restocking."

"Three and four?"