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chapter 3

(reeee)
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Your mind was in auto pilot as you let the words flow from your mind to the computer, the music coming from your headphones just quiet enough to let you focus on your work. Most people would be distracted, having two things in your mind at once, but you were pretty good at multitasking. At first you were absolutely stumped on what to write for your story, but after the incident a few nights ago, the words flowed from your fingers like.... Well.... Something that flows I guess. A river mayhaps?? (Author Chan is just trying to get a higher word count sorry)
Sleeping didn't come easy to you after that night. You were paranoid almost always now, and any loud sounds sent you flying. Thank God work is pretty quiet so far-
  
"HEY Y/N-"
 
"R E E E E"

Your  smol ginger friend had a nak for scaring you out of your socks just to get a scream out of you. I mean, sure you sound like a squealing piglet on helium, but that doesn't mean it's okay! Your eyebrows furrowed in anger, and you proceeded to scold your wonderful friend.

"Sorry sorry sorry gosh heck jeez (y/n). Lol." Chuckled your pale buddy. He grinned a cheeky grin and patted your head. You swatted his arm, but his smile was contagious, and you giggled. You couldn't stay mad at him. He was just too ginger. (Look at author Chan, being hair racist smh)
He let you turn back to your work, but grabbed a chair and flipping the back towards you so he can sit like those "cool dudes" in the movies and such.

After plopping down and watching you write for a while, the quiet beats straining from your headphones, William sighed and poked you arm. You turned to face him, only to be greeted with a worried expression.

"What really happened last night (N/N)?" (Nickname)

You contemplated the question for a second. William was  your best friend. You would tell him everything. But.... this was... alot. You furrowed your brows, and slowly glanced around the room for any side eyes and listening ears. Sighing and  leaning in close, you whispered about what really happened that night. The forest, the fall....
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The monster.

You even pulled up your baggy pants to show your patched up knee. William latched on to every word, not wanting to interrupt your story.

When you were finished, you gulped and looked away.

"....you probably think I'm crazy..." You whispered, your voice barely audible. 

"Nah." He quipped. "We've been friends for a while now (N/N). If you had gone crazy, I would've known."

He was quiet.

"Is that ..... Did that really happen (N/n)? I mean.... I believe you but.... That's kinda...-"

"Yeah it's a little farfetched I know. But it happened!! I saw it! It was terrifying!"

"You don't seem very terrified. You're blushing."

Slowly, you raised your hands up to your cheeks and noticed that they were indeed warm. Squinting at him angrily, you puffed out your cheeks and laid back on the chair once more. He  chuckled at you before getting serious again. He looked at you with sad eyes.

"Hey..." He whispered, leaning in close and gently resting his hand on your arm. "I believe you. I do. And this... Thing, it doesn't seem friendly. Just... Please be careful (Y/N). You are my best friend. I don't want to see you hurt."
His eyes drifted towards the ground, glazed over, deep in thought. You had never seen your rambunctious friend like this. Something was wrong. After a moment passed, he opened his mouth to speak again, until your slowly approaching boss caught his eye. William nodded at you before walking away towards his desk.

Your boss, Mr. Mandel, was a tall, kind hearted middle aged man (he says he's old as  time, but he's probably only in his early 40's) with short, shaggy white hair that he kept combed back with too much gel. His circular, half rimmed glasses sat on the bridge of his nose and he wore a grey turtle neck and sweat pants at all times. His deep brown eyes hid many mysterys. He was a hippy honestly.
He was like a father to you.

Though, something seemed off about him. His usual chipper additude was replaced with a grim cloud hanging over his head. His eyes were half lidded and his eye bags were more defined. The courners of his mouth were turned down and his face was pale. You quietly removed your headphones and got up to face him.

"Sir, is everything okay?" You asked quietly. He looked at you with pain and regret in his eyes.

"(Y/N)... I um... I need to see you in my office." His voice seemed empty. There was no sign of happy in him.

Something was wrong

"Um... Yes sir." You started to walk past the cubicles to his small office in the back of the building, letting him open the door for you to pass through.
Once you were both inside, he quietly shut the door and made his way to his desk. Usually, it was covered with scattered paper and pencil shaving, Coffee rings and sugar packets. Now it was clean. Completely void of stains. This wasn't like him. Even his clunky old typewriter that he insisted on using because it was "an antique" was tucked away neatly in the corner of the room, Along with stacks of paper tied together with twine. Taking in a sharp breath, your legs made their way to the chair in front of the large wooden desk. Sitting, you knitted your hands together and asked once more.

"Is everything ok sir?"

Mr, Mandel sighed and removed his glasses to rub the lenses on the edge of his shirt.
He was stalling.

"(Y/N)...I'm leaving."

The coldness of his voice is what shocked you, not so much the words. You didn't much understand it in fact.

"Leaving sir??" You sputtered.

"I'm retiring. I'm leaving (Company Name)."

((bc author Chan is p unoriginal))

"Retiring sir!!?? But,,, you can't retire! We need you here! I need you here! Who's gonna-"

"I want you to run the company (Y/N)." Said Mr. Mandel, his expression soft.

"...me sir?" You asked, slipping back into your seat. You couldn't believe what you were hearing. "Why me? I don't know how to run a company."

Your boss chuckled at this, though you failed to find the humour in your statement.

"(Y/N) my child, you've been running this place since you got here. I don't even do anything. All this-" he motions to the room, and to the many pictures depicting successful books from the past hanging on the walls, "-all this was you. You may never understand how much you contribute to this company."

You sat with a blank look on your face, your mouth agape. You couldn't believe it.

This place,
This company...
It's yours now.
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Holy cheese balls.
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Y'all: Alex you've been gone for like 3 months-
Me: shhh my child, all is well.
Y'all: you are still on the third fricken chapter of this Mediocre ass story-
Me: HSHhhhHHhHHH sh Hshhshhgg *strokes your hair* shhhh hush sh. All is well.
Y'all:
Me: :)

Yes!! I am alive!! I'm sorry I don't update more. I hate myself. And sorry I didn't get to the
"Meeting the monster again" part. I wanted to but the story was getting to long and I'm tired. Next Chapter maybe. Uh.... Yes.
Also you have been working at the place for years, longer then anyone else there. ;)