Demons and Diners

Friends and Fiends

A knocking catapults my muddled brain into fully-awake mode, and I jump from the bed before the events of last night manage to find their way back to me. I take a few steadying breaths in an attempt to calm my racing heart, but am, again, interrupted by an impatient knocking.

"Uh, yeah, coming!" I announce, opening the door to a smiling PJ.

"Ready for your first day?" I shrug at his question, still generally unsure of, well, pretty much everything that's going on right now. "Excellent! Here is your uniform, I'll give you the tour, we can grab some food, and then you can change. You're on shift this evening." I nod, setting the clothes on my bed and following PJ as he traipses down the hall toward the diner.

We pass the doors I'd seen the night before, and I pretend not to stare as we pass Phil's door. I just want to know where he's at, so I can stay away if I need to. Just trying to stay safe, the rational part of my mind reasons. I can't help a tiny smile, though.

PJ points out his own door as we pass. "If you ever need anything and can't get ahold of me on the phone, I'm in here," I nod my confirmation, then furrow my brows.

"I, uh, don't actually have a phone," my voice is low - it's one of the things I'm most embarrassed about, not being able to afford the things people just assume everyone has.

"Oh! No, of course you don't!" He smacks his forehead, and I blush and stare at my feet. Wow, is it that obvious how broke I am? He resumes his walk down the hall, and I shuffle behind him.

"Of course you don't have one!" He repeats, pushing through the door into the diner hallway. "I forgot to grab one for you," I'm confused, then, pausing as he continues down toward an open doorway I haven't yet been through. As he disappears, I'm pulled from my paralysis to follow. What, do I get a free phone or something?

The doorway leads to the kitchen, and I recognize the flop of curly brown hair belonging to my guide near the opposite wall. He catches my eye and beckons me over, so I pass around the perimeter, eyes on the floor, to stay out of everyone's way.

"Here ya go, bud. Your 'regular' phone won't work here, so we had Phil make these for everyone." He presses a pretty standard-looking smartphone into my hand, clicking it on. "Hold up, okay, go ahead and pick a password. Works just like an iPhone." I contemplate my password for a minute before entering it.

"I told him we should call it an 'iPhil'!" I hear the northern accent across the kitchen and glance up, catching sight of the other guy - Chris? - who'd been with PJ last night. He makes his way over to us, beaming at his own joke, though PJ is shaking his head in embarrassment.

"Please excuse this guy's awful jokes. Dan, this is Chris - I believe you've met before, but here's a proper introduction," I shake the proffered hand, new phone still clenched tightly in the other. "Anyway, go ahead and open your phone, there are a couple apps you should know about. First is the schedule for the diner - yep, that one right there," he points, and I click it. "Preset to your schedule, but you can check other people's if you need to." I nod, confirming that I'll be on shift for the evening.

"Next one is the map," I click the icon, expecting some kind of geographical map, but I'm brought into what I have to assume is the map of the diner.

"A serious life-saver," Chris chimes in, hovering over my arm as I scroll around on the screen.

"Yeah, it's got your room pinned, same with the kitchen and diner, and you can drop any other pins you might need. If you do get lost, pull it up and pick a location, it'll direct you there." I scroll around again, then zoom out. The place is less of a simple diner and more of a labyrinth, and I make a note to do some exploring later.