Chapter One ~ Having a Laugh
Staring around the newly restored, and opened, restaurant, the girl saw small children playing and laughing around the animatronic figures on the stage, as they played their metallic instruments. Their eyes, opened wide and unblinking, stared into an empty void, sending a shiver down the young girl's spine. She shook her head of the thought, and walked up to the cashier at one end of the restaurant.
"Good evening mistress, what can I do for you?" Asked the woman behind the counter, pleasure in her tone, and a brightened smile presented on her face that made it seem like she glued like that.
"Er," Stammered the girl, dazed by the woman's attitude, "I was actually wondering if there were any job offerings here, because I hear it's new." She continued to glare at the woman, and shortly gave out a small smile.
The smile on the cashier seemed to grow slightly, making the girl wonder how this woman could manage to smile like that. "True, this is a fairly new restaurant. And as a matter of fact, I do believe there is an offering. However," she tilted her head, "My boss is out on a business meeting at the moment, and you'll required to speak with him first, to get the job."
She seemed a bit too excited, all for some girl simply looking for some work to do. "Oh," the girl looked at the cash register and seeing her reflection, she immediately looked away from it, and back to the woman. "Do you know when he'll be back?"
"Before he left this morning, he'd told me that he would be back by around six-ish. You can come back then." Her teeth flared out, shining with shimmers of light.
The girl, again dazed by the actions of the woman, thought, 'This lady can't be for real.'
She simply nodded, "Alright then, I guess I'll comeback later." She smiled, saying, "Thank you," and turning around, she left the building, for she did not want to stare at the woman any longer than she had to.
~A Few Hour Rolls By~
The young woman sat on the bottom steps, in front of her apartment building in she had accompanied. Her knees were strolled onto her chest, and her head rested on top of them, while her arms were wrapped around her legs. Her stubby, short nose lay between the cracks of her legs, and her night colored eyes were softly shut. The warmth of the wind blew her darkened, purple and blue hair across her face. She had a lean body, that most girls her age would die to have.
Although doing well in school, she was only eighteen, and was still inexperienced to the outside world. She wasn't prepared enough for what was to come for her in the future. And because of the things she's done in the past, she has lost the support of her parents, who moved away, leaving their daughter on her own, to thrive on the loyalty of those who mourned for her. That was only reason why she was still here. And now, with the new pizzeria opened, she will be able to support herself, and repay those who have brought her the accomplishments she's achieved, that is, if she gets the job.
She opened her eyes and sighed into the wind, her glance fixated on the pavement ahead of her. Within every few minutes, she saw multiple legs pass by her in silence. Waiting a few moments longer, she decided to sit up, and look around. She noticed that she rays of the sun were lingering behind the multiple buildings, on their journey beneath the Earth.
Figuring it was time, as she didn't bother checking the time, she stood up from her spot, and started back towards the restaurant. Shortly upon approaching it, she noticed that it had seemed to he deserted, as the parking lot was abandoned, apart from a single, lonely black car. 'That must be the owner of this place,' the girl thought to herself, and pushed forward, coming to the door, where she cautiously stepped inside.
Immediately, she was greeted by an animatronic bunny staring straight at her, with it's whitened eyes locked with her dark ones. She jumped, and let out a quiet shriek, before realizing that it was only the robot. She calmed down and looked around. All of the animatronics were located in different areas than she had remembered, and she couldn't seem to find that Fox anywhere.
"Why hello, miss." A mans gentle voice sprouted from the midst of the dim lights, "Sorry, but we're closed as of right now." The girl pivoted her glance to her left, and found semi-stout man standing there. His face was bare of any hair, and atop of it was a short tuft of black.
Not thinking, she busted out, "Are you the owner of this place?" And immediately regretted the demanding tone in her voice
The man simply smiled, "Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"
She took a breathe in and exhaled it, then smiled, "Earlier today, I had one of the workers if there were jobs available here, and she told me to speak with you."
Seemingly deep I thought, he placed his fingers on his chin. The girl looked around slightly, feeling a slight breeze. Her attention was reverted back to the man once he said, "So, you want a job here?"
"Yes, please," she simply answered
Again, the man looked deep in thought, although this time, his eyes danced across the girl, as if he were scanning for something important. After some time, he spoke up, "Well, normally, I wouldn't hire a civilian with... colored hair, but, you seem special, different, o why not?"
Ignoring the fact that this man straight up insulted her in front of her face, her eyes still lit up with joy "Really? You're gonna hire me jut like that? I don't need to sign any papers or something?"
"There are plenty of other people looking for jobs, so if you don't want it, I guess I could hand it~"
"No, wait! That's not what I'm saying," she quickly interrupted him, "It's just not what I'd figured you'd do."
He smiled, "Alright then, consider yourself hired."
"Great! Thank you so much!" She shouted with excitement and gratitude. "You have no idea how long I've been searching for a job." They were silent shortly, until she spoke up again, "Anyway, when do I start?"
The man seemed to have grown a devilish grin, "You can start right now." He looked into the girls darkened eyes, "Come with me, I'll show you to your office."
The eighteen year olds eyes widened, "Right now? But it's dark out."
The man, seemingly not to have heard her comment, said, "Follow me if you'd please."
Making a discerned face, she reluctantly followed him into a hallway.
"What's your name, miss?"
"Alikki," was her short reply.
The stout ball of flesh hummed, as if deep in thought, "Good." They shortly approached a door, and entered it. What Alikki immediately saw first, was a set of complicated looking control consoles in the center of the small room, with it's screens showing carious other rooms from within the building. There was a medium sized window directly in front of the console, and behind it, was a darkened room. From where she was standing, Alikki found two doors on either side of the console, the one she just entered through, and another on the opposite side. She turned to the man, "What is this?" She asked I shock.
"It's your new job, your office." He looked at her, "You'll be this pizzeria's new night guard, watching over this place. Your job is to sit at this console, checking any mishaps, and make sure everything's ship shape here." He spoke with a tone that sent a shiver down the girls spine. The man seemed to have noticed this, and asked, "Why the strange face?"
"I thought I was gonna get a job making pizza or cleaning or something like that," replied Alikki, "Not become some night nanny for this shop."
The man scoffed slightly, "You asked for a job," he stated, "I gave you one. This one." Seeing that the girl wasn't convinced into taking the offer, he continued, "It isn't that bad anyway. All you have to do is sit here, in this room in front of these consoles, and watch over the cameras. Simple as one two three."
Alikki breathed in, and let it out. She shortly came to a conclusion, We'll... If that's all I have to do, I guess it'll be alright."
"Wonderful!" The man rejoiced, and became deathly silent a few more minute of awkward science was exchanged between the two, until the owner had said, "Well, have at it. Good luck!" He said matter-of-factly, and started for the door, stopping was in the entrance. "There is a uniform and flashlight in the locker located behind the console. Also, a recording has already been taped by the previous night guard. Just tap on the button, and listen to it. Who knows, you may find it important." And with that, he quickly disappeared.
Alikki stared dumbfoundly at the door. "What" she said aloud. "Um, okay?.." She slowly turned around, and looked behind the console, locating the locker. Opening it, she found a uniform,her exact size,and a small flashlight. "How did he know my size? And how did he?" She shook her head, "Whatever, never mind," and turned to the console. She sat down on the chair,and scanned the various screens, trying to find the recorded message. Her eyes were soon met with a flashing light, stating a new message was available. When she pushed it, a male's voice rang statically into the room.