Beep, beep, beep! I hit snooze and contemplate staying in bed. But no, the bills won't pay themselves. So I crawl out of bed, pull my black tee and work trousers on and wonder where I Ieft my headphones. Trying to brush my shoulder length, dull brown hair I stare at my plain features in the mirror. Small, bright blue eyes behind thick glasses, a small nose and pretty pink lips. "You're no oil painting Karrie, but you'll do", I think.
Grabbing keys, bag and phone I pull my headphones on and head out the door. Forty minutes later I pull into the parking lot of my local supermarket, Carnes, and prepare myself for another day at the job I both love and hate.
I hit the clock machine and, despite my dumpy chefs coat and apron, head of to my work station with a smile on my face. That is until I pass my manager who grunts out, "Karrie, you're on your own today and you'll have to stay late." My face drops as it's the busiest day of the week and I know I'm going to be crazy busy. But what can I do?? I need this job to keep a roof over my head. The last thing I want to do is move back in with my parents at twenty three and admit I can't make it on my own.
The day flies by in a whirl of sandwiches and sliced ham and I find myself still cleaning up as the lights start to go out around the store. Grabbing the bulging garbage bags I dash into the stock room as the lights flicker off there too. "Crap! Good thing I know this place like the back of my hand." I mutter as I inch myself towards where the shutter to the stock room should be. Bumping my shins on a pallet of abandoned boxes I finally reach the back wall and grope for the shutter key. "Is that faint growling I hear or just my stomach?" I chuckle as I turn the key to open the shutter. Bright moonlight filters in as the shutter starts to rise. "Must be a full moon" I think, "explains all the crazy people and why I'm talking to myself". Peering into the yard I notice large shadows moving and the growling getting louder. "I don't get paid enough for this" I think as I step out towards the bins. Just as I lift the lid on the nearest bin a shadow moves and the biggest dog I have ever seen lopes out into a patch of moonlight. Teeth bared and grey hackles raised it stalkes towards me, yellow eyes watching my every move as it stops to sniff the air.
I drop my bags and start to back up as more and more of the shadows coalesce into hulking, snarling grey dogs as big as wolves. Starting to panic, I dash for the stock room. Running is always a mistake, not only am I not good at it but as soon as I turn the dogs started to chase me. Stumbling in the dark I head in what I hope is the direction of the shop floor. "Gotta get a door between us" I think as a realise too late that I've run in the wrong direction.
Hitting a wall instead of the door I turn to face the three closest beast as they pad towards me snarling. Heart racing, I search the gloom for some escape when a deep voice growls, "take my hand."