Conflicted

Chapter 1

Ada Johnson's P. O. V

A screech forces its way out of my mouth as my arms simultaneously reach up to wrap around my head, wanting the force of what to come to be absorbed by my limbs and not my head. My eyes snap shut not wanting to witness what's about to happen as my morale plummets deeper and deeper into oblivion as I try to shut everything out. I can feel multiple objects hitting my body one by one and before I know it, my eyes are forcing themselves open as I lose my balance on the mini ladder and end up lying flat on my ass, covered by numerous books and other miscellaneous objects as they scatter around me. A low groan escapes me as my arms give out and my head bangs against the carpeted floor causing me to wince some more.

This is how I find myself on a Monday morning, laying on the rough carpeted floor of my first job of the day and that too within the first twenty minutes of it. Blowing a breath of air through my pursed lips, I place my elbows on the floor about to hoist myself up but stop in my tracks when the old wooden door creaks open and someone pokes their head through the gap in the door. Their eyebrows immediately raise as she catches sight of me sprawled out on the grey carpet, books and boxes splayed out all around me with the small step ladder toppled over onto its side.

Denise looks around the tiny stuffy room, crammed chock full of various items ready to be displayed on the sale floor for customers to pick at. Hesitantly she steps into the room, brown eyes full of disdain as her red painted lips curl down into a frown. "Oh dear." She muses as she props one hand on her hip and taps her foot on the floor. The woman dressed and readied to the nines seems rather out of place in this dusty room which is in dire need of a clean up crew consisting of four people but alas she has me, a person who barely manages to keep her own self in order.

"What happened?" She asks, tone rather impatient but eyes holding a hint of amusement as she waits for me to respond. I blink back at her still in shock from what just happened until it registers in my brain. My mouth falls open as I let out a small squeak and hurriedly remove the books off of me before standing straight and taking multiple steps in Denise's direction. Shaking my head vigorously as I refuse to go back near that shelf again, barely suppressing shivers as disgust laces through me. This makes Denise even more curious as she looks around the room before turning to me once more. "What?" She questions as I near here.

"Cockroach ." Is all I mumble out as I suppress another shiver, nearly gagging at the word and the thought of those brown insects. Denise's brown eyes widen at my words and before I know it, she's turning on her high heels and high tailing it out of the stuffy room and leaving me all alone in there. A gasp leaves me as I look back, spotting the insect still nestled on the book I was reaching for that is till I see its translucent wings fluttering causing another shriek to leave me as my feet find themselves racing out the door and not even once looking behind me till I set foot into a safe room where cockroaches dare not enter.

I huff a little, feeling winded from running which earn me odd looks from the various customers mulling around the store, poking at objects here and there to buy which we already know they won't. I catch sight of Denise whispering furiously to the other only co worker besides me who glances in my direction with an amused expression. I already know Denise is blabbering to her about what happened causing my cheeks to heat up a little. Venturing towards them, I clear my throat to gain their attention to which I do as I shove a thumb in the direction of the back room.

"I was taken by surprise." I say nonchalantly as I tuck a strand of my black hair behind my ears, ignoring the way my co worker smirks at me. "It's not funny," I hiss as I wedge myself behind the counter they currently stand in front of. Sam gives me an incredulous look as she raises a pierced eyebrow in my direction, the same smirk still on her face.