American Pyramid

Attack

Victoria

The man that Zak told his security and general manager of the museum came through for the same tour the next day, and I was on edge because I was fully expecting him to come through again today, but I didn't feel as uneasy as I did the first time. Zak and I were supposed to be at the museum for only a few hours before we were supposed to go home and pack for our next filming location for our newest episode: Skinwalker Canyon. 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared to go there, but a part of me was really excited! It was something new and absolutely terrifying, and an investigation that took place outside and wasn't focusing on one building. 

We decided to start filming for it early since we had a break from the season after our most recent episode, giving us roughly a month to shoot and have our new episodes ready to go by mid June. 

While the museum wasn't as busy, I decided to help Nancy with restocking the gift shop while Zak went to run an errand. We only had a few employees working today, and they were more than happy to hang out with me while also helping restock the gift shop. 

"How was it looking out there, guys?" I asked them, tossing the now empty box to the floor while I put its contents back onto the shelf after I wiped it down just in case dust settled. 

"Nobody in line when I checked a few minutes ago. They'll probably show up all at once like they did yesterday," Lacy answered me, and I was very proud of her for coming out of her shell a bit after her first few days working here. She seemed to be very shy when I interviewed her, but I could see her potential, and she was really showing it. I never had to "tell" her to do anything. She always had ideas to keep herself and others busy when we were going through our slow spells. The other employees were great, too. They all got along with one another and there was never any drama that unfolded between them. "I swept the front lobby already, but all I have left to do is mop." 

"We'll do that after we close tonight," I answered her, retrieving another box from her that she had in her hands. "But thank you, sweetheart." 

"You're welcome. Do you know when Mr. Richard is coming in today?" 

"Your buddy will be here in about an hour. He worked late last night, so Zak told him to come in later." 

"He's not my buddy." Lacy giggled, and I couldn't help but give her a playful side-eye. 

"You and him go at each other like siblings!" 

"Yeah, because it's funny." 

"And that makes you two buddies. You know, he doesn't have kids of his own and he talks about you like a daughter. It's so sweet, but if you were around when he talks about you, he'd deny it." 

"I'm not surprised. He's hard to get through." 

"Sounds like someone I know." I giggled, referring to Zak. 

"You don't even have to say who you're talking about!" Lacy giggled. "I've been a fan of his for a long time, and I just know you two are meant for each other." 

"Well thank you, I appreciate that. We've been through a lot together, that's for sure!" 

"Oh, I'm sure. He seems happy when he's around you." 

"I think he is, too. He certainly makes me happy." 

"Hey, Tori?" Nancy called to me, and I was quick to address her by looking her way. "Did Zak tell you about any electricians coming in today to work on the cameras?" 

"I don't think so? But I'll go and talk to them." 

Did he tell me that we were having electricians in today? I can't remember. Fuck, what if my brain is doing this crap again?! 

"Okay, they're at the front in the lobby." 

"On my way." 

"I'll finish up here, Miss Victoria. I'll cut down these boxes and put them up." Lacy informed me. 

"Thank you, honey. I'll be right back." 

When I made my way up to the main lobby, I was greeted by two men who looked like local electricians, but one of them stuck out. "Oh, hey, I remember you. You've been coming in as a guest for the last three days." 

He huffed, "Yep. Was off work. Had to have something to do." 

"I see. What're you guys working on today?" 

"Mr. Bagans called us about a wiring issue with your security cameras on the back end of the building. We're here to isolate the problem and get it fixed." 

"Ah, okay. Though we usually don't have utility workers come in on days we're open unless it's a major issue, and I don't remember him telling me about it. Wait here for just a second, please." I nodded, pulling my phone from my back pocket and immediately pulling up the app that had our camera feeds on it, not seeing any evidence that our cameras were even faulty at all. 

Reason being was because we got an all-new system a month ago... 

That uneasy feeling didn't take long to seep into my stomach when I realized that the same man that had been coming in for the last three days was "coincidentally" an electrician claiming to be here to fix something. 

Immediately, I went to call Zak's phone, but my thumb couldn't even tap his name before both men lunged at me, pinning me against the wall before one of them aimed a gun at the receptionist, threatening to take her life if she called the police. 

"You scream once, I'll gut you like a fish all over this floor, you understand?" He growled into my ear, holding a switchblade against the front of my throat. 

I nodded subtly, tears welling up in my eyes as he gripped my face, forcing me to look him in the eyes. "See, I told you she wouldn't recognize me," he breathed, his breath rotten with cigarette smoke and decay. "just like when she was a kid. Still the same fear in those eyes, I see." 

My blood ran cold. This was my sorry excuse of a father. The same one who did those God-awful things to me as a child. He was here - looking at me the same way he did when I was a child. He laughed in my face when he knew I recognized him, keeping a painful hold on me as he forced the door behind me open, restraining me against him as he forced me through the narrow hallway. My arms were extended to their sides, desperately trying to grab onto something that would stop him, knocking down photos on the walls in the process, my panic and fear not letting me realize that I did the one thing that could possibly save my life in this moment: 

I pulled the fire alarm.