*LOUIS' POV*
The voice wasn't one I wanted to hear. It was dark, an imitation of what was once a wonder to
hear. It was cold and extremely inhuman.
I look around me, where I am standing stationary and bleakly stable. There's nothing, no one
within sight or hearing range for me.
I abandon my station after gathering my belongings and jogging towards the storage room marked
'Employed Personnel Only' and push through the door. My locker, as promised, is tucked away in
the corner of the room with a black metal casing. The combination lock is open and brand new. I
throw in my stuff and lock it with the digits of Phoebe's birthday.
The door opens and I jump from the abruptness. Two laughing men walk in and I am quick to
camouflage my panic.
They stop upon seeing me, deferring direction and approaching me.
"I'm Seth." A balding but twenty-something guy offers me his hand and a smile.
"And I'm Roger. Welcome to Dayton's." His accompanying friend does the same but waits his
turn.
"Louis." I smile back weakly. "Nice to meet you both."
"Did Paul give you the look-around?" Roger asks as he follows suit in my act of unceremoniously
throwing his items into his locker.
"Yes, he did." I reply.
"Here's your badge, kiddo." Seth throws a pin at me and I almost throw it back unlatched in
anger. I suppress my urge and pin it on the right side of my chest.
"You can handle the counter today." Roger walks out with us. "It's pretty simple."
"We're open!" Seth tells us as he turns the sign. Oh boy.
The partners disappear in the back of the store and I can hear their boisterous laughter
complimented by cries of pain. I shake my head at their behavior.
"How's it going?" Paul strolls past without glancing at me so I don't answer.
It's 10h30 and I've been here since 09h00. I study the workstation I'm awarded. There's only one
till-station so what do they do when there's a rush? The technology in use is pretty up-to-date and
may even give me a hassle or three.
The door rattles, the bell atop the entrance indicating the arrival of someone who wishes to spend
time and cash in this place. I look up and watch a little girl hold onto her father's finger as they
waltz in.
She sees me in her flowery pink dress and waves innocently. I wave back against her father's glare
and they continue into Isle One - Decorations. Twenty minutes later they show up before me with
a trolley of goods. I politely scan each item and let them pay for it.
"Thank you, Mister." The small girl says sweetly before turning around with her father who
struggles to hide the fact that his packets are weighing him down.
"Can I help with that?" I offer and he nods stiffly.
YOU ARE READING
Hide and Seek
Mystery / ThrillerHarry is Middleston's shut-in, feared and hated by every member of the county. Harry isn't tormented by inner demons nor was he the victim of an abusive childhood. Harry is a serial killer. He is driven by a malevolent intention: revenge. An unortho...