"It's your turn now," the morning shift worker said with a stretch and a yawn. His name is Max and although we didn't talk much beyond these short shift exchanges, he was always friendly enough. We worked different hours, so our conversations were mostly limited to brief greetings and casual small talk.
"Yep, hopefully more customers would come in," I replied, adjusting my uniform as I glanced around the store. Yana usually arrives before me, often by now, even though it was still just before 7 PM. It was strange not to see her here yet.
"Yana's not here yet?" I asked Max as he grabbed his things.
"Mmm," he said with a shrug. "I guess Yana's not the one accompanying you today so, good luck while you wait for your partner to come."
He waved goodbye as he walked out, leaving the store to me. I glanced at the clock then at the dimming sky outside. 'Who's gonna be my partner today? Kristoff or Xavier?'
The early part of the night was surprisingly busy. Five customers came in one after the other, filling the store with the usual bustle of selecting snacks, drinks, and basic groceries. I tried to focus on helping them and ringing up purchases, keeping my mind off the strange occurrences from earlier.
The first customer, an elderly man, grabbed a few packs of cigarettes. The second was a college student who browsed through the instant noodles section for a while before deciding on a cup of spicy noodles. The third, a young woman in business attire, quickly picked up a bottle of water and a sandwich, clearly in a rush. The fourth and fifth customers came in together—a couple—who were mostly interested in the snacks aisle, chatting quietly as they selected chips and sodas.
I rang them all up one by one, making casual small talk. By the time the couple left, the store was quiet again.
As the door closed behind them, I leaned back against the counter, letting out a deep breath. I scanned the now-empty store and glanced at the clock. It was only 9:15 PM, and the store was already falling into a lull.
By 10 PM, the store was silent again, and I found myself glancing at the clock more often than usual.
"When will that person arrive? I'm starting to get bored," I muttered under my breath.
While waiting for customers and my coworker, I spent of my time reading magazines, scrolling through my phone and fighting myself not to fall asleep.
Ting!
I quickly stood up and wore a smile, "Welcome-" There was no one. Again. I frowned and glared at the door.
"What is wrong with that shitty door?" I looked at the clock thinking it was already 3 AM but my breathing hitched when it was still 12:23 AM. 'Huh?'
I suddenly felt chills behind me so I turned to look but there's no one there. Only me. I looked at the door again, 'When did it get so cold here?'
Suddenly, a cold, invisible force seemed to tighten around my neck, cutting off my breath as panic slowly seized my chest. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out all other sound, as I clawed at my throat, desperate to break free from the unseen grip.
I was choking. Tears flowing out. 'What's happening?' I was slowly losing my consciousness, my eyes closing and that's when I heard the door open. I struggled to open my eyes and call for help but it was all blurry.
"Don't take your anger out towards an innocent person, touch her again and I'll send you back to hell," It was a voice of a man.
The weight around my neck slowly disappeared and that's when I coughed violently while holding my neck.
As I gasped for air, my vision slowly came back into focus, and through the blur of tears, I saw a man standing in front of me. He was tall, his expression calm and composed as he gazed down at me.
'This must be Kristoff,' I thought to myself, recalling Yana's description of him. She had said something about him having a "bad boy" personality—sharp features, always a bit rough around the edges, but with an aura that drew people in. He definitely fit that description. He's also a little weird and Yana kept emphasizing that he can see 'ghosts'.
"So..." *cough* "Y-you're Kristoff?" I asked, my voice still a bit shaky and trying to catch my breathe.
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Yana must have mentioned me." He crossed his arms, leaning casually against the counter, but his gaze never lost its sharpness.
"W-what happened just now?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Kristoff didn't respond right away. Instead, he pointed to my neck, his expression darkening. "Take care of your neck. It's bleeding."
I instinctively reached up, and as soon as my fingers brushed the skin, a sharp sting shot through me. My fingers came away sticky with blood, and I felt the distinct ridges of claw marks across my throat.
Kristoff glanced back at the door once more before turning to me. "Next time, if the door starts acting up again, it's best to ignore it. Don't stare at it or curse at it. Just let it be." His voice was calm, but there was an edge of seriousness that sent chills down my spine.
Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked away, heading toward the staff room to change. I stood there for a moment, still shaken from what happened.
I tried to calm down, ignoring what I experienced just a moment ago. 'Maybe I was just dreaming earlier.'
Creak.
Kristoff emerged from the staff room, and I couldn't help but notice how effortlessly attractive he looked, even in the simple convenience store uniform. The black shirt fit snugly over his lean, muscular frame, and his sleeves were slightly rolled up, revealing toned forearms. His dark hair, tousled in a way that seemed both casual and intentional, framed his sharp jawline perfectly. His piercing eyes—dark and full of mystery—had a dangerous allure to them. There was something undeniably magnetic about him, the kind of charm that would make anyone do a double-take.
As he approached me, a playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. Without warning, he gently took my hand and leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the back of it. The gesture caught me completely off guard. 'Are all the night shifts here crazy?'
"Sorry for the late introduction," he said, his voice smooth and teasing, "my name's Kristoff."
My thoughts scrambled as I tried to make sense of his sudden change in demeanor. I had barely caught my breath from nearly choking to death, and now he was casually flirting?
I blinked, completely taken aback. A moment ago, he had been so serious, his presence intense, and now he was teasing with a smirk and acting so casually.
Noticing my bewilderment, Kristoff leaned in, his face inches from mine. His smirk grew as he teased, "Hmm? Do I have something on my face?" His deep voice was playful, but the proximity made my heart race.
Flustered, I quickly stepped back, feeling my cheeks heat up. "O-oh, nothing! Haha," I stammered awkwardly, trying to compose myself. "My name's Cici. Nice to meet you, Kristoff."
He chuckled softly, straightening up and giving me a look that made it clear he had noticed my reaction. "The pleasure's all mine, Cici," he said smoothly. His gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, "You still haven't treated your wounds yet," he pulled me softly to him.
"Come here, let me treat your wounds before a customer shows up."