Chapter One - Work and No Door

"You don't know pride, you don't know fear, you don't know anything. You'll be perfect." - Glados (Portal 2)

XXX

My alarm blared alive, scaring me from my dream. I rolled over to hit the clock and lazily kicked my covers off. Standing and stretching, I shuffled to my closet to pull out some gray skinny jeans and an orange hoody. Gingerly, I stripped off my old, sleeping tank to pull on a fresh green one.

I hated my morning routine. It was always the same; wake-up, get dressed, head out. It was boring. I sighed as I struggled into my pants (buttoning and zipping them), and as I left my room I slipped into my sweatshirt.

I head to the front door of my small apartment, picking up my small black backpack on the way. Strapping the bag around my left shoulder, I nudged on my dirty converse onto my bare feet before twisting the handle of my door. I passed through the threshold and shut the door and locked it with the keys hiding in the planter.

As soon as I locked the door and returned the keys to the soil of the pot, I turned and grabbed my bike that was laying around the corner against the wall. I hefted it down the concrete, metallic stairs down to the lowest level. I got it to the street before I straddled it and started peddling down the street.

A couple of miles later I came to a stop in front of a large, neighborhood grocer. I quickly locked the bike to the convenient bike rack located just right of the sliding doors and walked into building.

Immediately, I groaned at the sight of the chaos inside. The check-out lanes were all in operation with very long lanes of irritated shoppers and their were hundreds of people scrambling around in an attempt to gather last minute supplies before the big Turkey Diner the next day. Grumbling under my breath about the awful management of the store, I made my way to the back of the building into the employee locker room. I changed into my work clothes and deposited my bag into my locker before closing it roughly with a loud 'bang'.

"Jeeeezus!" A high whining voice spoke behind me. I sighed and closed my eyes in exasperation. It was Amanda, one of my many co-workers. I couldn't stand her. She w the epitamy of every cheerleader that pranced around in back in my high school.

Without turning around and leaning a hand on the lockers I spoke to her, trying to make some kind of civil conversation. "I thought you had the day off today." It wasn't a question, more like a statement. I knew my bad luck was bad, but I had looked forward to not seeing her face for once.

"I know right!?" She giggled. I heard her open her locker and go through the things in there. "The manager called me last night begging me to come into work. Rambling about something like 'to many incompetent people' and 'no one to trust.'" She lowered her voice to try and match the managers. "I just couldn't refuse!" The locker slammed closed.

I felt my anger flare. I pinched the bridge of my nose between the my middle finger and thumb, trying to calm down. "Well, good for you." I commented, moving away from my locker to leave the room.

"Ah, hold on!" She intercepted me, standing between me and my escape. "Why didn't you come to my party last night?"

Thousands of excuses flew through my mind, however, none of them seemed plausible enough to actually work on the prima-Dona in front of me. "No reason. I just didn't feel like going." I shrugged nonchalantly. Parties had never really been my scene, even when I entered the adult world after college. While everyone else was addicted the social scene of college and high school, I was busy studying and working to pay off my family's debts.

"That's the stupidest excuse ever." Amanda jutted her hip out and landed a clenched fit on the top hill of it.

"Excuse me?" I struggled to keep my voice calm. Why was I being so pissy today? I felt like everything around me was weighing down on my shoulders.

"You heard me." She scowled. It wasn't a pretty look on her face, it made her look like a mad clown with to much make-up. "I mean it's no wonder you don't have any friends! Your a depressing, emotional, angry wreck!"

"Emotional, angry what?!" I snarled. How dare she! If anyone was emotional in this room it would definitely be her!

"And your ugly."

I struggled to comprehend what she said, however my anger was getting the best of me. I was angry because she had the audacity to say that. I was angry because she had the ability to get under my skin. I was angry that I could let it affect me so much. But most of all, I was angry because it was true.

The next thing I knew I was on top of her sadistically pounding my fists into her face. She took on the shape of everyone who had ever wronged me. Every blow destroyed one image uncovering a brand new one. My family, my friends, my roommates, classmates, teachers, co-workers, bosses, random people on tv, all the men that never took an interest in me; they all took a turn in my wrath.

Her face was covered in blood while she screamed for help. Soon, someone did satisfy her pleading. Rough hands wrapped around my bisepts, lifting me from her and depositing me on the other side of the room, away from the hysterically bleeding woman. I fought against them, trying to get back to her, wanting desperately to finish the job.

A hand came from nowhere and collided with my face with a sharp slap! I panicked, what I had done was wrong. I stared at Amanda, who was sprawled on the floor, blood coming from her nose and mouth in thick streams. Tears streamed from her eyes, smearing her makeup all over her face. She looked like a beat up clown.

Crazed from my fear, I ran from the room. I ran and ran and ran. I didn't stop running until I got to the front door of my apartment. On the door was a yellow envelope. Dread filled my mind and I exasperatedly pulled the offensive thing from my door and roughly opened it. I unfolded the paper within it and stared at the contents within. On the top, in full, bolder letters spelled out 'Notice of Eviction.' I quickly crumpled the paper and stuffed it into my pocket. I dug through the planter for my room key.

After a moment of panic, I procured it from the soil. My hands shook as I unlocked the door, opened it, and closed it behind me. I leaned the cold wood, my eyes closed and tearing up. I knew the cops would soon be after me. I had to pack and get away. But my body was heavy and unresponsive. I sat there crying, in the bright light of my home. I just wanted to lay down and sleep.

XXX

"Should I take this opportunity?" A tenor voice penetrated the blackness that surrounded me.

"No! You should not!" This voice was slightly higher and more mechanical.

"I agree!" Another mechanical voice inputed.

"Your opinions are not needed." The tenor said simply. "Who knew I would ever get this chance! I thought humans were extinct!"

"Your a human."

"Whatever, go clean something of mine. Leave the genius to his work." The tenor voice said, his voice filled with stress.

"No, we're tired of you always bossing us around!" The computerized voice whined.

"Ya, we want to help!"

Someone sighed. "Fine!"

XXX

"What do you think the doctor has planned?"

"I don't know, but, whatever it is, it won't end badly."