ILLUSION

**Chapter 3**Unshattered

20-03-28
"Why is the customer service so trashy!?" A lady dressed in the brightest colour of green looked at Kiki, making eye contact with her. She tried to make herself to seem threatening, but to the employees she looked like a total druggy.

Eight years had passed since the incident. John had been arrested and charged for attempted murder against the Thompsons, who lived in an apartment across them. Supposedly, Mark Thompson had heard the multiple gun shots and called for 911. Although John was arrested, Kiki was nowhere to be found, until days later when the search party had returned to the apartment.

She couldn't remember a single thing after that incident when she woke up, it was like her mind had been erased. Although, when she closed her eyes she could feel the floating sensation, like she was on top of the ocean just floating away. It seemed to her that time had never passed, but three days had gone by without the appearance of Kiki.
Kiki's grandmother had taken custody of her, making her to move from Florida to New York.

Life in the big apple wasn't easy. "The city that never sleeps" everyone says and of course it was true. Kiki spent her high school to college days there.
High school was never easy for Kiki, she avoided trouble most times, but when trouble came she had to fight. The first fight she had gotten in was the last time she had lost. Apparently she was jumped by at least four girls which had left her with a broken jaw, broken ribs, concussion and amnesia.
After the whole incident, her grandmother had enrolled her in taekwondo and jiu-jitsu classes.

"Miss, we are doing our best to satisfy our customers." Michelle, one of Kiki's colleagues said.

"Well your best isn't enough," she cuts him off. "I want to speak to the manager. Where is the manager!?"

"I would need you to lower your voice miss." Kiki kept a straight face though she wanted to burst out laughing.

"Why is this bitch talking to me? I asked for the goddamn manager!" She screamed at the top of her voice. Her nostrils all flared up and steam seeping from her ears.

Kiki couldn't believe what she had heard but she managed to keep her composure. "Miss we don't raise our voices here."

"That's mrs for you"

"I bet you have the best married life." Julianna, another one of her colleagues laugh out. A slap landed on her face and without a second thought punches were being exchanged. "How dare you lay your hand on me!?" Julianna shouted as she aggressively punched the woman beneath her.
Everyone knew that Julianna would beat anyone and everyone who dared to mess with her. She always said she came from the hood and a part of Kiki was happy that the woman met her match, but also she was mad that Julianna would loose her job.
"Yeah Jules! Beat her ass"

Kiki and Michelle pulled her out of the fight. "Stop you'll loose your job," Kiki said in a disappointed tone. She wasn't getting paid enough to do this shit.
All she wanted to do was to settle her student loan. After graduating with honours in Business administration, all she found was a job selling nasty obesity-causing sandwiches to rude customers and she wasn't too happy with it.

"Goddammit Julian!-" The manager ran out of his office.

"Julianna sir." Michelle cut him off.

"Save it Michael."

"Michelle sir..." he said quietly.

"Are you the manager?" The woman asked as she got up and dusted her dress.

"Yes I am and I'm so terribly sorry for the actions of my employees." He looked at them, he was clearly frustrated.

"I can't believe you leave your employees unsupervised, acting like a bunch of wild animals-"

"Lady you started it." Kiki gave her a smile as she cut her off, which angered the woman more.

"I want this girl fired! You think you're smart? Sweetheart do you think you're smart?" She poked Kiki's forehead aggressively.

The manager caught the woman's hand, which surprised her. "Do not touch my employees ma'am."

Kiki smiled to herself as she watched the woman walk out. But she knew trouble had already met them. "My office now!" The manager shouted. That's when they noticed that all the customers were watching and some had recorded it. And it sure wasn't a good look.

After having the manager scream at their faces and threaten them, they continued work until the next three hours were over. It was already 8pm and that meant it was time for them to close.
Kiki decided to stay behind so she could help Julianna clean up. "Girl you could've lost your job".

Julianna laughed, she was that kind of girl that would make you fall in love without even trying. She was like every other tanned latino beauty but she had that aura that could pull you in. "Babe! You already know I'm about that life. Mr Richard likes me too much to fire me." She said as she cleaned a table.

"Don't think I won't fire you Jules" The manager walked towards the door. "Goodnight ladies." He left.

But it did seem strange. Julianna had gotten into more than five fights but the manager only warned her. He didn't even shout at her like he would to everyone else.

"Goodnight Julianna, I'm going the other way." Kiki motioned to the narrow street.

"Okay. See you tomorrow." Waving her hand in the air, she walked off.

The cool evening air was relaxing, that's if you didn't consider the pollution in the air. Kiki walked down the alley street, she wanted to go through the shorter path this time. Attending lectures, working and trying to pay up debts wasn't the easiest combo.
As Kiki got closer to the end of the street, she noticed how she wasn't only hearing her footsteps. Someone was walking behind her at the same pace just a bit quicker. She began to walk faster, her backpack swinging behind her. But as she walked faster, the footsteps got louder.

She stopped.

"Who's there?" She listened but the street had gotten quiet again. Not a single soul was in sight. "At least it wasn't that dark" she thought to herself.
Something dropped in a corner close to her making a loud thud. She was reluctant at first but later decided to find out.

She paused in shock as she saw a man in white covered with blood stains. It was most likely that he had fallen from a high window since blood was seeping through his head. But she noticed holes in his shirt which looked like cuts from a knife.

She quickly took out her phone and dialled 911.

Out of nowhere a hand covered her mouth. The phone dropped.

"911 what's your emergency?"

Silence.

"Hello?"

*****
Well... Kiki is in a tough situation. Who told her to take the goddamn alley?
Nah. I'm just kidding 😂 things are getting interesting.
Please share and vote.
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