One Page Stories.

Rushed.

It was too early to be dealing with so much and I am so late to work that they might as well fire me. I woke with a start this morning because I heard my neighbors banging on the door, and Maggie would not stop barking at them. I looked at my watch and started swearing under my breath. I began running around in circles trying to find a clean shirt and something to call shoes while I was trying to get the knots out of my hair. I was buttoning up the shirt when I heard a key click into place and the building manager walk in. He huffed and gave me a curious look, I kept buttoning up my shirt and quickly jumped into my formal skirt. He began talking about how I was late on rent and that I promised him Maggie would be quiet. It wasn't my fault the drug addict neighbors started knocking on my door at the asscrack of dawn, I think to myself as I slide into a pair of black flats. I glance in the mirror and groan quietly as I start to pull my hair into a bun. As I run out the door, I open the fridge and grab out a pan of left overs. It was rice with chicken last night for the tenth time in a row. I set the pan down and whistle for Maggie, the great dane comes sprinting in right as I slam the door. I hurry myself out of the building and the second the bright sun and the wind hits me, I get a phone call. I only make out a few of the words from the loud office room, Coffee.. Peanut Butter cookies.. Mint Aero bars... I nod to myself once the man on the line hangs up and I copy every item I think I heard down into an open page in my notes. I start quickly walking down the street and try to push pass people while going to the small coffee shop that is closest to the office. I practically run in and start telling them the entire order for the whole team and they nod along as they press the little buttons on their computer. I walked over and sat quietly at a small table in the corner and waited for my name to be called out. I checked through my phone and after seeing there was barely anything to look at, I set it face down on top of the table. I guy across the shop was staring at me and I could feel his eyes burning into me. I stood up and walked to the bathroom, closing and locking the door I let out a heavy sigh. There has to be more to life than being the girl who goes on coffee runs for everyone else, right? I thought to myself as I splashed cool water on my face. As I look back at my gray face in the mirror, I shook my head and sighed softly. Things were messy and all in the wrong order. My skin looked sickly pale, my hair looked like it hasn't been washed in weeks, my eyes were tired and dull blue as usual. I step out of the bathroom and go back to my table, someone had set a note on top of my phone. I sat smoothly in my chair and unfolded the note slowly to see that written in neat script someone had written 'Get out of here while you still have time'. I looked around the shop and tried to see who had put the note there. The coffee shop was crowded and noisy, they only had about half my order ready and they were calling out other names. I got up, slid the note and my phone into my pocket, and started to make my way to the door. I heard a slight ticking sound and it was faster than a regular clock. I sped up and started to almost run out the door, it happened before I heard or saw it. I was on the ground under a large body that was masked in red and black. I started coughing and my ears were ringing. Everything smelled like smoke and my vision was blurred. I looked at the man who was on top of me and he was panting. His skin was a deep red and small horns were slowly coming out of the top of his head like a goats. I tried to squirm out from under him but he was too heavy. Trying to scream was useless too because his large shoulder was jammed into my throat. He heaved himself up and dragged me along as if I were nothing more than a bag to throw over his shoulder. He held me at the back of my knees and the center of my spine. He looked down at me and shook his head like he was disappointed. "I told you to get out." His rough voice scratched and I passed out on the spot.