Encased

7. Down To Business

I stand just in front of the elevator, staring ahead of me with a hard glare. Maybe I was just using this job to escape but it's still my job and I will complete my Tasks.

With my gloved hands I grab the broom and start sweeping with all I've got. Swish, Swish, Swish. What a satisfying noise, but alas, music is better.

I pull out my phone, press shuffle and place my ear buds in my ears. I get back to work, dancing to the music and sweeping with the dance.

A box tumbles from its stack, papers cascading all around. I stare in shock, now I have all of this to clean up. Great, just great. I groan and get down onto my knees, slowly stacking the papers.

By the time it's the end of the day there are still tons of papers lying around and only a small stack of papers which I was able to pick up.

I pull out my ear buds in frustration. I'll finish tomorrow, if I stayed my parents would worry. I stop my music and get into the elevator, peeling off my gloves as soon as the elevator starts to ascend.

Finally it makes that beautiful dinging sound and I step out onto my floor, pulling out my keys as I go. Yeah, that's right, they gave me a key to access the lower floors. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get down there, that's how restricted and closed off it is. You need a key to even go down there.

As I think about it my lips can't help but form a grin. I am the one who has been trusted with this task. I am the ultimate Abodean. I know that's all in my head but it makes me happy so I think I'll stick with.

The next day I return, this time a mop and a bucket filling my hands. I place them on the ground and slump onto my knees. Time to finish stacking these papers. Yay.

🎶 ain't it fun, ain't it fun, livin in the real world 🎶

I sing along to my music, temporarily distracting me from my sore feet and cramping hands.

By the time the papers are stacked and in their boxes, the floors are swept, and the windows are cleaned, I still have half an hour left. I take this opportunity and get onto the elevator. Instead of going up I go down. I make my way to the very first floor. Ground level.

My heart pumps in anticipation and thoughts of worry fill my head. What if I'm caught, what if it's radioactive, what if...

Ding.

I take a deep breath and step out onto the ground floor. It's dark in here, shades had been drawn and no lights were turned on. But other then that, the room was empty other then a few chairs and a large desk near the doors. The doors.

I take a deep, slow breath and steadily walk to the doors. When I reach them I slowly outstretch my hand, reaching for the handle...

No, I can't do it. I need more time, a plan.

Instead, I walk around the room, pulling back the curtains and switching on the lights. Once I'm done I walk up to one of the windows and look outside.

My mouth falls open, for as far as I can see there are Hills. Beautiful, green, flower covered hills. I run to the other side of the room. On this side a huge sand covered beach then a sparkling ocean. The sun hangs high up in the sky, shining down on the world.

For the next fifteen minutes I simply drag a chair over to a window and gaze out into the real world. When I check my watch and see its time to go home, I sigh, not wanting to leave this amazing room.

I pick myself up and off of the chair and get into the elevator. I lean against the wall, thinking about everything I saw and looked at.

Wow, just wow.