Behind The Glass

Chapter 6; The Gift

     I couldn't just move him over all in one go, he would definitely wake up. If I tried to pry the keys from under him, he might feel it and awaken. This was a tricky situation.

     "If only you were sleeping on your left side..." I whispered to myself.

     He must have heard me. Almost right after I spoke, he mumbled something incoherent and turned over. It was a miracle! I was sure I would have to figure out some sort of elaborate plan in order to move him. But there he was, and his keys just within my grasp.

     "Thanks Mr. Janitor." I said while I slid the keys off his belt. This was going great!

     I had a suspicion about cameras near the 'Employees Only' door. I carefully took the janitor's hat off and placed it on my own head. Then I made my way to the his closet. Thankfully, the keys were labeled. I opened the walk-in-closet and the smell of mop water and an assortment of different cleaners greeted me. I was overwhelmed with all the strong scents, and covered my face with my shirt and coughed. It was not pleasant at all. It was like different flavored sharpie markers being shoved into your face, and you could still smell it even if you plugged your nose. As luck would have it, the janitor owned a second suit. It hung right in the middle of the room. He must have had it for emergencies. I was a little taller than him, but it was baggy on him anyway. I took the clothes off the hanger and relocked the door. I didn't want to change in there. Since it was a large one-piece, I didn't have to take off my other clothes in order to put it on. I slipped the suit on and zipped it up on me. Then I tucked my hair into his hat, and started to ascend the stairs.

     This was kind of an intricate plan just for getting into one door, but it was nothing like the spy movies and books I read as a kid. Legs wearing out, I finally made it to the fourth floor. There were five different rooms to choose from that I could inspect. But one door had a package under it. I wasn't planning on opening it, but I was curious to see who it was addressed to. As I got closer I realized that it was addressed to me! A letter attached to it read:

     Hello Em! If you're reading this, than you are just as adventurous as I thought! I felt bad about you not coming today, and I wanted to do more than just cover for you. I was supposed to give this to you this morning, but after that breakfast fiasco, I didn't think you were in the mood. Hope you like it!
                                                                                                                                                                                        -Jenna

     Interesting. I peeled open the paper packaging and inside was a small box. It was much smaller than I was expecting. I grabbed my pocket knife and cut the tape on the box. Inside was a pink hexagonal piece of glass with a metal piece attached. And it was ... glowing?? There where tiny lines pulsating, like veins, on the glass. I brought it closer to my eye so I could see them better. All of a sudden the glass latched onto my face, hovering a short distance from my eye. I tried to pry it off but it wouldn't budge! I was thrown into a panic, what was it going to do to me?! Then some sort of map appeared in front of me. It was projecting from the glass. The map went away as soon as it came, and left me with an enormous headache. I felt drained and sat against the wall. I tried one final attempt, with what little strength I had, to get the thing off my face. It flew off, and landed on the ground beside me, not a scratch on its surface.

     When I regained my energy, I sat up and put the pink thing back in its box. That was intense. I had been so occupied with the gift, that I had forgotten my original plan. Time had passed quicker than I thought, the moonlight shining in my eyes from a window across the room. I flipped through the keys on the janitor's keychain, discovering that there was only one 'Employee Room' key. I picked the first door on the right, and put the key in the lock. The lock didn't turn. I tried the next door. It also didn't budge. I tried every door except the one the package was under, and all of them didn't open.

     "Awe nuggets. Why did it have to be this door." I sighed.

     I put the key in, and it turned. The door swung open revealing... a break room. A completely normal break room. To be honest I was expecting something better. Like cameras set up all over the building, watching our every move. Or a safe with gold bars in it, or at least a break room with a bunch of guards in it. Instead it had a couch and some chairs, a coffee/soda machine, and a dart board with a few darts still in it. Totally ordinary, and totally not worth everything I did to get here. But the sodas were free, so I guess that was something at least. I got a cup from the cupboard and filled it with a mix of Dr. Pepper and Sprite. I stayed in there, playing darts with myself, until I heard something from outside. The bus must have come back.

     I put everything the way it was when I came in, and locked the door. I took the box with me and went down the steps to return the janitor's hat and second suit. I had already taken it off in the break room earlier, rejecting my previous thought of cameras everywhere. I flew down the steps and put everything back in its place. The only thing I didn't know what to do with was the box. I sat in the lounge area, with the box on my lap, waiting for everyone to come in. But no one did. I looked out the window and the bus wasn't even here yet. So what was that sound I heard?