It all began on a Tuesday. A boring old Tuesday working her usual 9-5 in retail, a brutal line of work she wouldn't recommend even to her worst enemy. The days would always start the same, numb robotic procedures never changing, the same monotone thank you's and Have a great day! That was all tolerable, until that one lucky person of the day would set her off, breaking the cycle, that familiar feeling of anger finally burning inside. Today it was a regular, a heavy set woman in her late forties, fried short blond hair she must of paid so much to maintain. The girl was certain if she reached over for a moment and grazed the locks they would snap right off and fall to the floor. Are you stupid? I think you're actually stupid! You young kids never know anything - you have certainly lost my business! Of course this being over an expired coupon, it was always something so idiotic, out of her control but always her fault. She quickly grabbed the printed receipt, wanting so badly to crumple it up and throw it right at her smug face, but she wouldn't, she couldn't, she was better than that. Handing it over she smiled, Have a GREAT day.
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Her pale blue eyes welled up with tears, but not tears of sadness, those of anger and frustration. Brushing her dark brown hair into her face, it was time to put on the mask she wore so well. She had to remind herself daily that she was more than this, this was only a rough patch, the start of her great story. Everyone had to start somewhere. For her it just happened to be the worst place imaginable. But it would just make her stronger. She was meant to do great things, to find a meaning much greater than that stupid bitch could ever fathom. Offering a quick glance to her coworker nearby, she quickly darted towards the private employee bathroom, needing just a few moments to collect herself.
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Slamming the heavy door shut behind her, she planted herself in front of the mirror, finally letting the salty tears flow down her pale cheeks. She usually didn't react so badly, maybe this had been the last straw, the sign she needed to move on and start that unknown journey to finding her purpose. She had always wanted so badly to throw away the norm, to travel the world, seeing and experiencing things she had never experienced before. That was impossible, her parents always reminded her that you had to work hard to get anywhere in life, to please them. Working hard didn't include taking time off, finding your purpose, or even doing the things you enjoyed. Working hard was pushing yourself to the limit at a job you hated, and if you were lucky you would rise up the ranks and make enough money to support yourself in thirty years.
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Shaking the thoughts away, she tried her best to ground herself, wishing a single happy thought would replace the bad, making all of this worth it. Sniffling once or twice, she wiped the now icy tears away, the sniffling only irritating her nose more. A troubling smell now made itself apparent - summer bonfire? Burnt popcorn? Maybe just maybe rotting flesh? The smell grew stronger, a heavy pressure in her chest. FIRE. The eery alarms began to blare, flashing lights and the soft hum of their broken sprinkler system.
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Panic set in, running towards the door she expected her strength to fling it open, but it didn't budge. Fuck, fuck, fuck! Putting her weight into it now she pulled and pulled but it was locked tight. This door doesn't lock from the outside, what the fuck. She slid onto the ground, back up against the solid metal door, giving herself entirely into the fear. Smoked danced through the small cracks, thick and black, smelling of death itself. She heard the horrifying screams and cries in the distance, none approaching, only moving farther and farther away until they silenced completely. Of course this is where I die, I was a fool to think this was the beginning, this is my end. The smoke gradually filled her lungs, forcing out thick coughs and gasps. Her eyes grew heavy and she chose not to fight the feeling, it was easier to give in and drift away peacefully. With chaos unraveling around her, she felt a small buzz in her back pocket. Phone, my phone, how could I have forgotten? She weakly pulled it out, hovering it in front of her face. The buzz revealed itself, a short text from an Anonymous number - Lay your head down, love. Give in to the darkness, rest those weary eyes, you will be alright
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She couldn't speak or react, the phone fell from her hands with a loud thud and she did as she was instructed, slumping her body down onto the now burning hot floor, she closed her eyes and took one last painful breath, slipping into the darkness, no longer experiencing the fear.
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When she regained consciousness all memories of that mysterious text were gone, not only from her mind but also her phone. Any concrete evidence of that encounter disappeared in the fire.
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"Alice, I know this is a lot, and I don't want to frighten you anymore - I know how difficult this must be, but being in that bathroom saved your life. The others well... they weren't so lucky. But you're alright, you're going to be okay, now let's get you looked at-"
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In that moment she didn't feel lucky, quite the opposite. I should have died, why didn't I die?
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But little did Alice know, this was the beginning of what she wanted for so long. This was her beginning, a mysterious set of trials where by the end she would find her purpose. It wouldn't be easy, he wouldn't play easy, her only clue being a small piece of paper.
ns 18.68.41.146da2
