When I first got my job as security, I thought it’d be simple. A safe, boring job of sitting behind a monitor for a few hours overnight to get a very thick paycheck. It sounded perfect. Especially at the thought of not having to do anything. Maybe just call emergency services if someone broke into the building.
But when they locked me into the surveillance room, I started to get nervous. Although I was new, nobody gave me any directions. I didn’t even get a tour! When I started, a few minutes before my shift, the TVs were static. They buzzed irritably until the last door was shut and locked. Then, suddenly, then snapped on with views of the entire building. Assuming it was some sort of timer, I didn’t think much of it.
How wrong I was.
At first, I was right. It was tedious and excruciating to sit there in a creaky chair and stare at nothing happening. What’s worse is that my phone and music weren’t working at all. My phone even began buzzing and then going static after a while, so I turned it off.
After spending a few minutes trying to entertain myself, I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I whipped towards the monitor, but saw nothing. When I turned again, though, a dark figure darted by on the screen. I turned around with a gasp, but nothing was there.
This went on for a while. After about the fifth time, I decided it was a trick of the eye. Though, when it neared midnight, the creature came back and stood in the middle of one of my screens. I’m not sure how long it was there before I noticed, but even when I looked, it didn’t disappear. It was a slender, shadowy figure as if a person stood on canine legs under a black sheet. I went to go open the door, but it was still locked. The creature didn’t move.
I tried to call someone, anyone, but nothing worked in the tiny office, not even my own phone. My heart was beating in my eardrums, but after an hour of freaking out, I sat and stared at the thing. It walked back and forth, from screen to screen, so much so that I named it The Walker.
The Walker seemed confused. Lonely, maybe. It never looked my way or towards the office I sat in. Instead, it just strode back and forth, swaying its head side to side. As it neared sunrise, the office door swung open. The Walker’s head snapped my way and I could see it just around the corner. I didn’t freeze or run, though. I sat and tilted my head at the creature. It huffed and took a step once and then twice towards me before turning and running off.
An hour later, my shift ended, and the manager came back instead. However, when he saw me, he screamed and turned, running out of the building.
“He lived!” he yelled to the heavens and anyone who would listen. “He survived The Walker!”
I am not proud for much in this life
I haven’t got a home, a job, or a wife
I’m not a celebrity or someone important
Actually, I’d consider myself quite boring
But I am proud of one main thing
One accomplishment of my well-being
That I didn’t end my life that night
And that I stayed to see the morning light
My praise to myself is for not letting go
I feel dignity even if it was so long ago
I’m glad I didn’t give up to that blade
And my last choice was that I stayed
“I think I just met the happiest person in the world!” I thought as the doctor finally handed over the flushed child, wrapped in a blue blanket. Tears dribbled down her chubby cheeks and her bottom lip quivered with effort, but she didn’t make a sound. She instead stared up at the ceiling with big brown eyes and blinked curiously. I had never met a baby who didn’t scream and whine after birth. But this one seemed quiet and content with the life she had been put into. Hopefully, it would stay that way forever and ever. Though she would only have me and I would only have her for eternity, I decided I would make sure she would be happy every step of the way, no matter what. If a newborn could be this wonderful for me, I would try to be just as wonderful to her. “Bea,” I said out loud, not tearing my eyes away from my greatest creation. “Her name is Bea.”
I never used to enjoy the forest Danger lurked in inky shadows Snakes slithered silently underfoot The trees blocked out the beautiful sun Sticks left small cuts on exposed skin So every time I was back inside I wasn’t scared anymore
But now I spend all my time in the forest Because danger stalks me back home Snakes stab me in the back for one mistake My dark thoughts block out all of the light And I leave the deep slashes on my arms So even if I’m terrified to be outside It doesn’t even compare to the peril that awaits me inside
