Jake waited on a cold metal chair that creaked every time he moved. His uniform was stiff, gray, and smelled like it had been in a closet for years. The office was quiet. Where there should have been a secretary was an empty desk and an ancient computer. He was surrounded by dark paneling covered with frayed papers, each displaying, in bold lettering, what looked like rules.
DURING YOUR WATCH: DO NOT LET ANYONE IN.
DURING YOUR WATCH: DO NOT GIVE ANYONE THE ADDRESS OF THIS BUIDLING.
DURING YOUR WATCH: DO NOT OPEN THE VAULTS.
Jake thought it was all a bit like adults telling little kids not to take candy from a stranger, but today was his first day, so what did he know?
He had been waiting in this little room for a half hour. When he arrived, ready to start a job he had applied for online and was told he had gotten over the phone, a man, who stood no taller than Jake's chest had scuttled off to find Mackey, whoever that was. Either the little man's legs were too short or Mackey was hiding.
The building seemed tiny from the outside; a square, gray brick building, and on either side of the pebbled glass doors stood two stone deer with enormous antlers, cracked and pale from the sun.
He entered this room and watched the little man disappear through the only door, which was beside a rickety bookcase. He didn't see how there was much building behind that door to be taking so long.
He stood. Stretched. Glanced around.
On the desk, beside the whirring monitor and flickering screen, Jake found a pile of wood shavings and a whittling knife. A freshly cut, wooden apple sat in a cleared spot.
Jake picked it up. Soft and smooth, and smelled like fresh cut wood.
"Do you mind?" a scratchy voice scolded from behind.
Jake dropped the apple, it bounced, he caught it, and put it back in its place. "Sorry."
The little man stared up at him through tiny spectacles. "Mackey is waiting through the door."
"Thanks. Sorry again." Jake left with the little man's glare following him.
Through the door Jake found a very fat, very short man. He was closer to Jake's height, but at least three times his width. He wheezed and wiped his face with a polka dotted cloth, and stuck out his hand.
"Mackey."
"Jake."
"Follow me and pay attention." Mackey waddled, and Jake followed. They walked down a short hall with the same paneling as the waiting area, and then through a door and down a set of stairs. The stairs went far, were steep, and Jake worried that Mackey was going to fall and disappear into the dark nothingness below. Each time they passed a dimly lighted scone, another one further down would light up while those behind went out. Jake stayed close to Mackey.
"Before we reach the vault you're probably wondering why you were hired for this job when you got no experience and why we're so secretive?"
Jake nodded, realized Mackey was facing away from him, and cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah, I was."
"Well, to be honest, I don't know either. About the secrecy I mean. You were hired because you applied, and we needed a new night guard. But the secrecy, no idea. I got this job when I was about your age, and the guy who hired me told me the same thing I'm about to tell you," Mackey stopped, turned around, and stared hard at Jake. "Government conspiracy."
