Pleaser To Meet You

Chapter #4

Entry number 4, date is September 12th, 4052
Hey, Ember Rose here. Just to let you know you look good today, just saying.

Why is waking up to a alarm clock worse than waking up on your own? Like now I want to punch a wall. So it is time to go to work down at the local pet shop. I have about twenty minutes to get ready. I went into my kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. I sat there for a minute wondering what to wear. There was some pants that were dirty and I'm not really sure if there is any clean ones. So I wondered around my dresser and there was one pair of pants that were clean. They were black baggy pants but they were the only one. I looked for a not fancy shirt but not a old ripped shirt. I found a grey v-neck and dicided why not. Then I found my old sneakers and put my hair into a braid. I looked at the time and it was time to go. I locked the door behind me as I left and went on my way. I was walking down the side walk and the day was kind of cool. Clear skys and a small breeze. Suddenly I hear heavy boots behind me. Chills ran up my spine and my hair stood on end. I stiffened like ice and dared not to look behind me. I started to walk faster. The shop was in my line of sight and I almost wanted to run. I looked behind me to see a man a foot taller than me in a black hoodie. He was wearing all black and had his head down. My mouth got dry and my breathing got faster. I was shaking like a leaf in a windy storm. I took a deep breath and turned completely around to face him. He was gone. Out of thin air just poof. My eyes got watery. Where did he go?
I heard someone yell out my name. I turned around to see Jane waving her hands around trying to get my attention. I chuckled and walked over to her. She was smiling and her old wrinkled eyes were twinkling. I gently said.
"Hi Jane"
I leaned in for a hug and she hugged back just as hard maybe even harder. She gently said.
"I thought you were not going to show"
As we released our hug I sighed before saying.
"Am I late?"
She shook her head no before opening the door for the shop offering me in. I said.
"Thank you"
In a chippy voice. Then walked in. The shop was just opening so the lights were off and the light from the windows were all that was there. Lightly illuminating the objects closer. I heard Jane flip the switch and then the lights flickered to life. I turned around to watch her flipped the sign to say open. The room was all metal, the floor was scrap metal. The lights were little holes in the walls. On the ceiling was a single fan. Made of plane blades. I took a deep breath and it smelled of vanilla and fish. I asked.
"What's first?"
She stopped and squinted her eyes.
"Feed the creatures"
She said it in a long and slowed voice trying to make it sound scary. I just smiled and shook my head. She lead me to the back of the room. When she opened the door to the back room. It smelled of rotten fish. I coughed and she chuckled. She turned to me and said.
"Not the best smell but it does the job"
When she reached the back of the room she opened a freezer. I looked in to see feeding animals frozen in blocks of ice. Small fish some small skitters. She grabbed some fish and said.
"Follow me"
She walked back into the main room to where the fish were. There was a big fish and she said.
"These get fed these"
Pointing from the fish to the frozen fish.
I nodded my head. Then followed her back into the feed room. She grabbed what looked like grain of sorts and then headed to the rabbits. She poured it into their tray and said.
"One scoop for them"
Then grabbed another grain and fed it to the mice and filled their tray.
"Fill to brim"
She said in a monotone voice. She headed back to the freezer and got a mouse then headed to the snakes. She threw on in and said.
"One every three days"
I nodded my head. Then she said.
"Your job today is just to watch."
I nodded my head. Then she headed to the cash register and pointed to the chair by the wall. I sat down and watched.
The day ticked by pretty fast and before I knew it I was walking home again. The night was cold and the wind made it a little worse. I forgot to grab a jacket. So I hugged myself as I walked down the sidewalk. I made it to my apartment and unlocked the door. I closed and locked it behind me. I looked up and Sage was asleep in my bed. How did she even get in? Whatever I'm to tired to even care. I went into the kitchen and got some more top ramen and started eating it. I looked up to see Sage just staring at me. I started choking on it. She started laughing. After about five minutes I could breath again and I glared at her. I gently said.
"Why, how, when?"
She looked down at the floor. Then looked at my only window. I thought 'of course'. She got up and under her breath said.
"I can leave"
I nodded my head no. She smiled a little and laid down on the floor.
"Get back on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor"
I said in a angry tone. She did not move. I put my bowl in the sink and walked over to her. I stood above her and crossed my arms while looking down at her. She looked up at me and her face got red. I pointed to the bed and she shook her head no. Ugh fine I got in bed and then laid down. I took a deep breath then closed my eyes. I fell asleep.