Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

The combined sound of the ringing phone and his ever helpful next door neighbors banging against the opposite wall made over sleeping not an option. Muttering a curse, Mike finally bangs against the wall, swearing wildly to get a small amount of peace and quiet from the next door neighbors. As if that damnable phone wasn't enough to shorten his patience, he didn't need to hear the playful quarrels of two lovers as old as he was so early in the bloody morning. Next was the phone to whom again he could guest was calling. Picking up the phone the same sarcastically sweet voice came into earshot.

"Good morning Michael, I heard you found something and you are going today." His eyes narrow in annoyance. He knew the old woman had a habit of snooping in others business, especially if she felt it was her obligation to dig up something that could make her more money on the spot.

"Yes I am hoping for the best…"

"Well you better," Her tone turning menacing for a moment before turning back to its artificial sweetness. "I will pray for you to get it immediately…" He could hear her voice trying to cover up the fact of not really knowing where this place was. A part of him was actually enjoying the fact that she didn't have that piece of information on him like he was a pawn in her sick game of being queen. "If you want, my husband can drop you off."

"That's very nice, but my interview is in a few minutes and I have to hurry. Have a great day…" with that he hangs up the phone and hurries back to his bedroom, taking out one of his old suits from his glory days. He dusts it off, brushing away a spider or two before ironing it and spraying it with some febreez to cover the smell of the apartment and his own shame in doing this and hurries off to get to the car. The sky seemingly on the verge of mischief as the scent of rain became heavy on the air and clouds slowly began to cover up the once blue sky. Mike could have sworn one of the clouds was in the shape of a hand giving a signature sign of flipping him off before rain began tumbling down in torrents. No one could hear the curses he was muttering as the rain drowned him out.

"Just stay calm; this can't get any worse…" He tells himself, only t be answered by the bus driver pass him buy and splatter mud all over him.

Rushing pass the mixture of sugar high and completely frightened children, Mike hurries toward the back area to a large door as if his life depended upon it; in many ways it did; taking a moment to slow down and breathe calmly before knocking on the door. A very irritable shout came from within for him to enter, nearly shaking his calm demeanor away within moments.

'Come on Michael…don't wimp out now….' He thinks as he opens the door only to be greeted by the deafening sounds of the phone ringing and lots of shouting on both ends. He stood there for a few moments, shuffling his feet before the sound of a phone slamming onto the receiver.

"Mr. Schmidt, you're late…" The sound of pounding rain on the old metal roof and lightning weren't enough to keep him from trying not to stare at the deadpan expression the woman had on her face. Though she seemed to be the same age as he, she already had the stern face of a royal queen who was quite displeased with her newest subject. He almost felt like he was back in college dealing with his most favorite elderly teacher, Ms. Adams and her gaze of disappointment towards him. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"There is no excuse for me being late Ms. Thompson. I can only hope this doesn't make my chances of being hired wash down the drain." He said feeling a mental smack at the pun, and the ever souring gaze the woman gave. Putting a nearly silver strain back in place, she adjusts her glasses from the tip of her nose and huffs glancing at some photos and other documents that were quickly put away. She seemed torn between concede and annoyed as she pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Under normal situations I would have you thrown out. But you should consider yourself lucky, Mr. Schmidt that I am willing to give you this chance to redeem yourself. As of a few moments ago we were left with the night position open. Take the duty tonight and I will allow your belated situation to be forgotten." She gives him yet another glance of distaste before dismissing him from her office, to which he quickly obliges and hurries out not wanting to risk her taking away his only stepping stone towards normality and a new life. That's if he could call working at this place normal.

"I cut it a little too close…" He sighs walking over to see the security room. A part of him shivers a little as a feeling of dread could be felt from the small office, and yet part of him felt curious to look around, clearly seeing the place wasn't in any better condition than his own apartment. The only place that didn't have dust was the chair that sat near the middle of the room with a folded up uniform in it. Old decrepit pictures of the pizzerias mascots that were drawn by kids over the years were posted on a cork billboard with many spider webs that hung from there yellowing edges that were just as dusty as the rest of the place. 'Home sweet home' He thought sourly before noticing the two large buttons on both sides labeled light and door. "Why would they have something like this hear?" He was just about to press the button for the door when.

"Hey what are you doing in here, this is for…" Turning around he saw the expression on the old man's face turn from annoyed to anxious within moments. "It can't be…"

"Ah, sorry… I was just coming in to scope the place out since I will be coming in tonight." Scratching his head as if he were caught doing something super wrong. Yet the old man seemed dead set on just stuttering and nearly pointing a shaking finger at him.

"Get out…" He huffs jaggedly.

"Excuse me…"

"It's your fault you…you…did this…"

"Sir what are you…whoa!" Dodging the random item that was thrown at him, he hurries out of the room, rushing by the other employees and was just barely stopped by an oversized man who had too many pizzas. Simply ignoring the booming voice of his new manager and the screech of the old man, he hurries back out into the rain and back into the world of liquid confusion.