Theo places a cup on the edge of my desk, it’s his coffee. “Drink this, I will make another.”
I try to get up and stop him, seeing as it technically is my job to be the coffee bitch, but one look from Tobias makes me shrink back down in my seat. Tobias sits on the edge of my desk. He reaches to grab my hand, but I pull away. Hurt shines in his eyes but he quickly masks it. Why would he feel hurt? His reaction seems a little out of place, considering I’m his secretary, not his friend. I must have imagined it.
“Are you okay?” He questions me, that warmth still in tone. It’s so uncharacteristic of him. I expect that from Theo, not Tobias.
I would be if people stopped trying to touch me. Knowing I can’t say that, I simply nod while turning the phones over to take them off voicemail. We sit in silence with me pointedly ignoring him. I refuse to engage in any sort of discussion with him. He can’t just treat me differently because I lost my mother. After a time Tobias gets up and walks to his own office. I breathe a sigh of relief and throw myself into my work.
The day flies by and neither one of them asks me to do anything all day. I remain at my desk, answering calls. I want the distraction, a task, anything instead of being left to my own thoughts. I wish the work day will never end.
Theo pokes his head in the door, his arms filled with files and I grin at the pile, eager for it. He looks relieved at my smile and plops them on the side beside me. I thank him, then get to work.
By the time I have all the paperwork sorted into their allocated files, it’s already late again. My time to be distracted with work is drawing to a close. Theo and Tobias have left without preamble, a fact I’m grateful for. I don’t need them hovering over me afraid I’d crack. I need more clothes, it’s time to take the walk to my storage shed. I don’t want to drive, not while in this state.
I need to be back by 9:00PM or I’ll be locked out. It’s 7:30 now, so I still have an hour and a half, plenty of time to get there and back. Ducking out to my car, I snatch the storage locker key from the glove compartment, along with the empty vodka and tequila bottles. I plan to discard them on the way. I won’t be able to keep hiding the bottles from Tom if they keep building up.
Making my way down to the bottom floor, I pause. The hairs on the back of my neck rise in warning and I can’t shake the sensation of a pair of eyes on me. I glance around but I can’t see anyone else. The garage is just as deserted as always. I shiver, trying to push away the feeling and walk faster. I make my way outside walking up the “in” ramp. As soon as I’m outside, I toss the bag of empty bottles into the trash for the garbage man to collect tomorrow.
The skyrise I work at is on the outskirts of the city, which is convenient for me. Everything is at my fingertips so to speak. My storage locker is two blocks from where I am now. Next to the skyrise is a park that leads into a small wooded area. I like to walk through it. The park is a shortcut to my storage locker. It’s also where a lot of people have picnics and hang around.
Cutting through the trees, I can’t shake the feeling I’m being watched. It’s dark out already. I usually don’t come through here at night, but I don’t have time to walk the long way. Not if I don’t want to be locked out. Shaking off the feeling yet again, I continue walking, faster this time. The moon is my only light, the shadows in the trees stretch over the pathway. Is there someone behind me? I whirl to check but there’s nothing there. Just the shadows playing tricks on my eyes. Something dashes through the trees, and it has to be big for me to hear the rustle and breaking of twigs. Swallowing, I pick up my pace. I follow the path that leads towards the industrial area. After about five minutes, I’m deep amongst the trees when I hear a deep growl coming from behind me.
Spinning around, I trip, landing on my ass and come face to face with a huge beast. Its black eyes stare directly at me. Shaking my head, I close my eyes. I must be seeing things.
My eyes snap open when its growl resonates through the air. Staring at me is a huge dog or maybe a wolf, but it’s massive, like the size of a small bear. It’s easily over half my size, its fur is jet black, paws bigger than my head, and its claws look like they can rip me to shreds. More like a tiger’s claws than a dog’s. I’m going to die.
I’ve never seen something so magnificent and terrifying at the same time. I hold my breath as it stalks towards me. I try to scoot back, but it growls at my movement. I’m forced to stay still. My heart hammers in my chest. It’s going to attack me. I’m going to be mauled to death by the huge beast of an animal. I suppose I had a good run. I’m sure there are worse ways to go than being eaten alive, right? But surely the universe is out to get me. First my mother and now this. Have I run over a black cat? Broken a mirror? My luck can’t be this terrible.
“Well, if you’re going to maul me, can you hurry up and get it over with?” I snap. The beast stops growling and cocks its head to the side like it understands what I said. I raise an eyebrow at it.
I get to my feet, prepared for it to attack, only it doesn’t. I stand there unsure if I should turn my back on it. Time keeps ticking by. If I don’t get to my storage shed and back, I’ll be locked out. Will this creature follow me the entire way or will he rip into me the instant I expose my back to him? The shiny black fur shines strangely in the moonlight. Its fur has blue undertones. The color shows whenever it moves, catching the moon’s light, almost entrancing me with its beauty.
Maybe it’s somebody’s pet? It seems a little too smart and tame. It walks over to me, sniffing at me. Its fur brushes against my leg. I can’t resist, I reach out and run my fingers through it. It’s thick, soft and long. The animal nudges at my hand. I guess it likes being rubbed.