Episode 1: Dawn of a Nightmare (Part 1):

TICK TOCK
TICK TOCK
TICK TOCK

The office room was dull. The only natural light source was that from a small window. Luke found it hard to believe that this was the manager's office of the regional gallery, the room contrasted with the bright openness of the showroom downstairs.

The young man shuffled in his seat nervously. The interview had only just begun as he sat across from the manager. He was a slick haired man in a suit, with glasses. Luke guessed his age to be somewhere in mid to late forties. This meant that the manager had long time experience in his field, whereas Luke was two years out of college and hadn't had any opportunities. He knew he had to land this job. "You can do this man", He whispered softly to himself. "Just don't fuck up…"

The manager was finishing writing and signing papers, leaving Luke to sit in complete silence for several minutes before he was ready to address the young man.

"So…" He began as he shuffled through the papers on his desk, trying to find the right resume for Luke. "Mr…"

[Porter.]

[It's just Luke.]

[(Hand spare resume)]

[…]

"I was never one for formalities", Luke joked warm heartedly. "It's just Luke".

The manager shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. He looked down at the resume he had finally found, slightly raising his eyes to peer up at Luke from over his glasses. "Well, I am one for formalities Mr. Porter", he replied snarkily. As the man looked back down to the resume, Luke couldn't keep his brows from furrowing. He luckily regained his happy exterior before the other man looked back upon him.

"So you majored in Art History?" The manager asked with lack of impression. Luke was trying not to grit his teeth as he spoke, he was caught in the purgatory between wanting to and trying not to punch this asshole in the face. Luke was never violent, but the way this man was belittling him was pushing Luke's temper.

[Yeah, two years ago.]

[I've always been interested in the subject.]

[I just haven't had opportunities yet.]

[…]

"Yeah, uh—yeah, two years ago".

"Two years", the manager pursed his lips in thought. "And in those two years you haven't managed to get a job in the field".

[I've been trying.]

[I've been busy.]

[Some things came up.]

[…]

"Some things came up… I just never had the opportunity to pursue my dream", Luke shrugged. "You know, I guess life got in the way—I, uh… Got stuck in a dead end job because of it".

"What were these issues?"

Luke sat in silence, staring blankly at the other man.

"I just need to know. I don't want to hire you at the risk of issues arising", the man smirked unkindly. "I hope you understand".

Luke narrowed his eyes but managed to keep his cool. He knew that telling the interviewer his personal issues was probably not relevant, but he needed the job.

"Well…" Luke shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "I was engaged".

"Ah", the man sighed. "Women have the tendency to come into your life and screw things up".

[They sure do.]

[Just this one.]

[I'm still screwed up.]

[…]

"They sure do", Luke cheekily grinned. The manager gave a slight smile, looking back down at the resume.

"So… you are aware that this is a regional gallery, so the artists are from local Georgia provinces", he raised an eyebrow, causing Luke to dart his gaze quickly to and from the man in angst.

"Yeah, course I do", he smiled with a lack of confidence. Luke was dreading this part of the interview. He knew he would be questioned on local artists but for some strange reason the young man had decided to 'wing' his interview.

"So what are some local artists you are familiar with?" the manager yawned, not even with subtlety.

[Well… um.]

[I don't actually know any.]

[I know the works when I see them.]

[…]

"I don't actually know any…" Luke admitted shyly. The manager dropped the resume to his desk and leaned back in his desk chair, folding his arms. "Really?" he asked unamused. Luke quickly raised his hand in a gesture to defend himself. "But, I—I can learn them, you know. That's why I think I could benefit from working here. Being amongst the local artists. Able to learn along with the visitors…" Luke was trying to justify why he had no knowledge of the regional artists, but as he listed defences off the top of his head, he realised how ridiculous he sounded.

"So, let me get this straight…" The manager leaned forward and firmly placed his elbows on the desk, his hands together under his chin in thought. "You want me to hire a lecturer for my gallery", his tone darkened. "When the lecturer doesn't fucking know what he's lecturing about".

Luke just widened his eyes in response to the man's tone.

[I want to learn.]

[Just give me a chance.]

[I can do it.]

[…]

"All I'm asking…" Luke began calmly. "Is that you give me a chance. I promise that in a week, I will know this gallery inside and out. All the artists—the artworks. Dates. Region of origin…"

His facial expression implored the man to reconsider. "Please. I promise I won't let you down".

The manager was about to speak when he was cut off by his own hacking cough.

Luke sat patiently, but the man's coughing showed no signs of settling.

[Are you okay?]

[Sir…?]

[So, about the job…]

[…]

"Are you okay?" Luke asked in concern. The manager gave a few more final coughs before clearing his throat and looking back at Luke. "Yeah", he nodded. "Some crack heads or something attacked me last night… bit me on the arm. Guess I probably caught Hepatitis or something".

Luke just frowned at the man's story, but the manager had continued to speak.

"I'm just gonna come right out and say this", he looked up with a blank careless look to his face. "You're not right for this gallery. There's no position for someone such as yourself here".

[Such as myself?]

[What's that mean?]

[Okay…]

[…]

"Okay…" Luke lingered awkwardly.

"I don't need another lecturer who isn't passionate about the work and thinks it's second best to work at a regional gallery"—"But I don't think that" , Luke tried to interfere.—"For four generations, my family has run this gallery… and for what? People like you to treat it as 'experience' so you can move on to your so called, 'Greater things'. Well I'm sick of it!" He began a harsh, dry cough.

Luke stood to assist the man but he raised his hand up to motion the young man to stop. "Just leave", he barked. "Don't come back here… you're not worthy of this gallery".

Luke made his way out of the gallery and stood on the curb. He stood in puzzlement before pulling his phone out of his pocket.

"So apparently, I ain't worthy", he texted.

Several seconds later he got a reply.

"WTF?" his best friend, Nick, texted back.

"I can never enter Georgia's regional gallery again. The manager said that I am not worthy".

"HAHAHA man, that's great".

"Wanna grab a beer?"

"Fuck off, you ain't worthy of my time".

"That a yes then?"

"Yeah, see ya soon asshole".