10.42 AM,
Monday,
27th November 1989,
Diorama Publications,
St Casper City,
Babylonia, Novus Stellar
Layla was checking her hair in the small mirror on her table when the intercom suddenly buzzed.
"Layla, can you come here for a second?"
[Sighing]
"Wonder what she wants now.."
She put the mirror face down on her table before picking up her notepad and pencil.
[Knocking on the door]
"Please come in."
"Yes Miss Kind...." She was sort of interrupted towards the end of that question.
"Do you know what an Ankou is?" Felicity was sitting behind her desk with her face covered by a big book that she held up towards her face. The words, "The Ultimate Guide to the Supernatural World", was on the cover. Layla suddenly felt stumped.
"Uh..Should I?"
"You just answered my question with another question, Layla."
"Sorry Miss Kind. I mean..I..I..don't know what that is.." She was smiling awkwardly, even though her boss can't see her at that moment.
[Slamming sound]
Felicity suddenly slammed the book in front Layla, baring the pages that she had been reading since she arrived this morning. On one of the page was a picture of what appears to be a drawing of a skeleton pushing a cart. Layla was once again stumped.
"Um..that looks creepy Miss Kind..is it a new story for the column?" Felicity just gave her a weird look.
"It was said that whenever this thing appears, it means that somebody was about to die. That cart or sometimes a wheelbarrow was sort of where he collects the souls of the dead." Felicity had been always been serious about her work but at the moment, she sounded really "dead" serious. Her voice itself was enough to frighten her assistant.
"Uh..ok.."
"Quick! Say something else!"
Layla wanted to break the odd moment immediately so she was trying to come up with something smart to say. But before she can open her mouth, her boss suddenly stood up and started to walk towards the front of the table. Layla actually shifted a step back, even though there was ample space between her and the table. Ever since this morning, she noticed something different about her boss. Almost as if she was "glowing" or something. Felicity rested against the table before smiling at her assistant.
"How are you Miss Jennings? How was your Thanksgiving?"
"What? She's using my last name? Oh my God! Don't tell me she's drunk!"
"Uh..it's fine, Miss Kind..it was fine..[Startled].." Her words were once again, cut short. Felicity suddenly moved forward before hugging her assistant tightly.
"Oh no..she's going to fire me!..that has to be it!..no!..I just got my hair done!..mum is not gonna be happy with this..[Crying].."
When she was done hugging, Felicity moved back to her seat behind the table.
"How long have you been with this company, Layla? A year at least?"
"Uh..yeah..about a year..it'll be a year this month.." Felicity was still looking at her, almost as if she was expecting something else.
"And..?" asked Felicity.
"And..uh.."
"That's it..I'm so fired..[Crying].."
"It's exactly a year today Layla, I hope you didn't forget that, cause I certainly didn't."
"I didn't forget..[Crying].."
"I suppose this calls for a raise, don't cha' think?"
"What?" Layla looked shocked.
"Uh..a raise?..Miss Kind?..uh.."
"Yeah, I already gave my recommendations to the Human Resource Department. By the looks of it, I'm sure you'll get it." There was a big smile on Felicity's face.
"Say something!" Layla was drawing a blank.
"Uh..thanks!..I mean..thank you very much Miss Kind!..I..I really appreciate it!.." In her mind, Layla already fainted from all the suspense.
There was that awkward moment again where none of them spoke.
"It's ok Layla, you can go now. And oh, before I forget, take this.." Felicity suddenly threw something at her.
Layla automatically dropped her notepad and pencil when she had to catch the big black packet. There was a red label on it.
"Supposedly the strongest coffee in town, enough to keep you up for days, or at least that's what they say, I'm just here trying to prove them right or wrong." Layla was still standing there with the bag in her arms.
"Well, don't you have something else to do, Layla?"
"Snap out of it!"
"Uh..yes..yes..I do..lots of it.." With an awkward smile and a renewed vigor in her career, Layla immediately head for the door before closing it. The door suddenly opened again.
"Sorry..sorry..I forgot my...notepad...and...pencil..sorry..I'll be back with your coffee Miss Kind.." With that, the door was closed again as Felicity witnessed the whole thing from her seat, smiling like she just won a million dollar.
"Feels like I was born again.."
Felicity then picked up a small note from her table before grabbing the phone and started dialing a number.
[Dial tone]
[Ringing tone]
"Hello?"
"Hello? Yeah, I'm looking for Henry Ackerman?"
"This is him..I mean..speaking."
"Oh great, this is Felicity Kind from Diorama magazine..the Creepy Spaghetti?...you called earlier about a ghost story you would like to share? Lets see..kidnapped by 5 ghosts while playing hide and seek..chased and eaten alive by werewolves..did I get that right?"
"Oh my God..it's you!..I mean..yeah I did call a few days ago..I just didn't expect that my story will be picked..[Excited].."
"Yeah..exciting right?..so..um..you wanna tell me what happened so I can write down your story?"
"Uh..yeah sure..but..I hope you won't laugh or anything cause I don't think anyone would believe me anyway.."
"Try me Henry..and oh..believe me..when I say..I've seen stranger things.."
