"Mr Bernstein," my boss was saying to me but sadly, I was not listening. I'd only just heard my name, and instantly, wished I could hit on a 'backward' button. "Do you agree?"
"Sorry?" Confused me asked, and Mr. Pitt let out a low growl. He did that a lot, creating a sound that resembled some hungry and angry wild NaGeoWild predators.
"If you do not comply to this, you can save yourself the stress and don't bother resuming tomorrow." He said, hinting no sign of emotion whatsoever.
"Wait, you would fire me if I don't join your secret illuminati club?"
"Yes." He replied and even though I couldn't see much in his darkened room for an office, I saw his head shake as a nod.
"Mr. Pitt, this is absurd. Completely." I panicked, because who wouldn't? Ever since my wife left me, my life had been a wreck. Not that I used to be wealthy, but that was the more reason I was broken. My job was the only thing that fetched me little incomes. Call it pride, but I chose not to depend on her for almost anything ever again (except for the house I lived in. Rents were expensive these days). As long as I got my paycheck from Mr. Pitt, I would manage. Getting fired would mean running back to her.
"But reasonable if you asked me, what would you even loose? We will not murder you or ask for a sacrifice from you. It is only for a simple tradition."
I thought hard. I had no time to waste for silly hang out and get together. My life was already a mess with his ridiculous idea of speaking to the mirror, summoning some Satan. Joining his club would warrant other more eerie occurrences, and who even knows, perhaps more dangerous ones. But, I would still have my job.
Was crawling back home to my wife a much better option?
"Mr Bernstein?"
"Huh?" It was a hard choice to make. I was already dealing with enough.
"Do you agree?" He asked again, much more slowly this time.
Do I agree? Do I...
"On one condition." I thought for a while what I wanted my condition to be, and as my mind raced for ideas, his mind did so as well. He was not ready to grant my condition.
"No. No conditions, Mr Bernstein. No worker get such opportunity. This is a gift, I assure you. And compulsory for all of my workers-"
"And what if one happened to stop working abruptly, perhaps for some reasons?"
"Then they die." He said harshly. Almost immediately that I wondered just how serious he was.
"Die?"
"You have to be initiated and all members will be present. You'd swear an oath that you would never resign unless after death. Or something unfortunately or unavoidable, happens. If you run, you die."
"Or if you spill...well, anything about the secret cult to non-members?". I said, hoping that was what he'd meant to say. "That's a more plausible reason, right?" The room was silent. "Mr. Pitt?"
"I hadn't taught about that huh?" He scoffed, muttering the himself.
Must have meant that many innocents had been killed because they resigned. I've been working at the Cafe for ten months now and more than seventeen staffs had resigned, or left work. Mrs America fell I'll and...died.
"Well thank you very much for that new idea of yours," he said, his voice more cheerful now. "You see, this is why we need smarty panties like you now. Join us!"
"Oh, uh- well," what was left to say? "Fine. I'll join your cult thing."
"Very smart of you, Mr Bernst-"
"But, I still have a condition."
"I have told you, you do not get any conditions."
"Yes, perhaps. But I need this week off. Like a leave."
"Leave?" He questioned, sounding just as surprised as I was.
Yes, I needed a break. I needed answers. Some "me time."
"Just this week, and I'll resume back next Monday." I said, hoping to sound convincing. That was definitely a big 'if' in the story. 'If' I were to still be alive and somehow, conquered my evil twin.
He didn't seem to have liked the option because Mr Pitt did not bother to utter a single word.
****
The thought of going back home to my haunted apartment did not seem to amuse me in any kind of way. On my way back, I thought of getting a new roommate. It was a hard decision because my evil twin was still out there. No one was safe around me. Not even a new Sam triple zero nine. Or a ten.
Minutes later and I was sitting on a bench in the open area. Fresh air enriched my nose as I inhaled and exhaled slowly. Some pigeons held a conference meeting just beside my feet (or whatever pigeons did in the sunny afternoon).
People walked around minding their businesses. The fiery midday sun shone relentlessly, shimmering the heat of it's blazing gloriousness. The whole universe betrayed me. Robbed me off my happiness and left me alone and confused and heartbroken.
Just few feet in front, a man was staring at me. Extremely tall he was, as two average people that happened to walk past him were like dwarves beside this creep. A shade concealed his eyes and blocked rays of light from contact, so he appeared almost spooky. Obvious that his presence was beyond normal. He was on full suit, making him pass for a simple guy in a suit and a sunglass. Once you ignored the fact that he was a giant.
Then, just almost immediately, I heard a voice. He said his message and it sounded like a threat. Wasn't it?
"You can't run from me. I will end you. If you do not do the needful."
The needful?
My vision blurred for a little while and this headache began to attack. When I could see clearly again, this man was already in front of me. My heart seized immediately and I feared I would collapse out of a heart attack.
"I will kill you!"
"Hello sir?"
"What!?" I jumped up the bench and even the blind would had seen the terror on my face. My eyes scanned around me and I feared my time had come. He would kill me, hadn't he said so?
The woman before me frowned, thin brows arching up. She was shorter than me and had curly blonde like my great aunt Selena used to have. I heaved in a deep breath, trying to recover from the horrid trance I'd just experienced. She was still standing, eyes observing me like she was contemplating on dialing a psychiatric home to leave a report.
"Hello, I just met a man and I think he needs help. Urgently."
She must had thought so and wondered if I was that important to earn her attention, or maybe she should just ignore. Or perhaps she was a thief, judging from her all-black attire and big boots. She must had several weapons hidden under those hoodie's pockets. Who wears a hoodie during summer?
"Hello sir, can you understand me?" She called again, and I wondered why I was being addressed by the title; "Sir". I wasn't that old, and she didn't look twenty something either. Her hair lines were thin and round her eyes, were ancient wrinkles that made her face appeared tired and lifeless, like she never slept. Her blue eyes that shone a bit more, filled with beauty. Pointed nose and dazzling dimples appreciated her looks. She was slim and petite. "Do you speak English?" She was saying, much slower like you would do when talking to a dummy. Or an alien. "Can you understand-"
"I do. I, I can understand you."
"Oh, great." She smiled, a rather brilliant one. Her eyes squinted slightly, revealing more wrinkles round the corners of her eyes. Angelic dimples crinkled as her lips parted, flaunting sparkling white teeth. Staring as her rosey cheeks brighten up , she did not look so much unattractive as she once appeared to be. "I'm Carolina Bards, and it is my pleasure meeting you." She stretched out her hands forward for a handshake and typical me gracefully refused.
"I'm a bit busy, I should be on my way now." I turned around and ignored, thinking she would observe my rude gesture and instantly hated me for my actions, thus, leaving me alone.
Humans were so funny at times. Denial was a huge problem for a lot.
"I understand you don't want to interfere with an ugly old lady like me—"
—But you're not ugly—
"But, if you could just hear me out." She said, jogging behind me. Her tiny legs probably couldn't keep up. Which was supposed to be a good thing, as long as I outrun her. "Sir, sir? Sir, I have an offer. Please, hear me out." She was gasping already.
And I was nice. I wouldn't want an old woman passed out only because I refused an audience with her.
Lord gracious, what was wrong with people!
"Madam," I turned my face to her and perhaps my movement had been too sudden, she had no time to halt her motion. She bumped directly into me, and we stood face to face. Her astonished eyes shone vigorously on me, causing some discomforting feeling inside me to stir up. Her eyes were big with long lashes, but they were mesmerizing. Much impressive that you wouldn't want to take your eyes off them. My mouth parted to say something—anything. Words became hard to construct.
"Sorry," she finally said, breaking off the rather strange moment.
"Yea, sure. Okay." I mumbled, glad the nightmare was over.
"Sorry, yea." She nodded a little too fast I prayed her head wouldn't fall off. Clearing her throat, she spoke. "I have an offer, sir."
"Sir? We're probably almost the same age." I blurted out. "And who are you? How would you have an offer for a man you do not even know his name?"
"Oh, I know you." She said, her voice sounding more sonorous than I'd remembered. "I'm Carolina Bards, I've mentioned before,"
"The name does not strike any resemblance, thank you."
"Maybe, maybe, alright. But hear me out here." She said, and somehow, convincing me. I folded my arms, my eyes fixated on her. "Oh, not here. Not here, your house."
"My house? Are you perhaps insane?"
"Not a right word to use for a lady, but no, I am not."
"You expect me to go home with a total stranger? A woman for that matter?"
"You're gonna wanna hear me. I promise."
"I don't know what your mouth is running up on, but perhaps we fix another time. Another day, don't worry. I'll contact you and fix a meeting."
"I'm sorry, but are you insane?" She asked, folding her arms as well. "Contact me? And just how would do that, through some sorcery? Abracadabra!?" She must had seen my eyes widened in surprise because she instantly rolled her eyes. "Look, just listen to me. I bring you a very tempting offer-"
"What? What is it about?" Not that I was curious, I just wondered why she was risking her female dignity and still talking to me after my rude behavior. Also, maybe I was a but curious.
"I can't say," she said, eyes now carefully scanning her environment. "We may not be alone."
"Some spy show going on here, huh? Or a prank. I detest pranks, you should know."
"Nope. No pranks. Listen," she whispered, fighting the urge to say anything. "It's about, " she was saying, then paused. For two seconds, she pondered whether it was safe to tell me her mysterious offer or not. Finally, she tiptoed and brought her mouth to my ears, whispering.
"What?" I had not heard her at first, so she repeated her little show all over again. This time, her words were loud and clear.
Secrets I wished I never heard. I wondered just how much the universe hated me that day. Was it not bad enough, all that has already happened? My enemies must had thought in their head I said; "is this the best you can do?" And they gave me a reply. They said, no. This is only just the beginning.
Welcome to a new world of misery, Elmer Bernstein. We hope you die soon.
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