I woke up without any sort of noise to signal the time so I looked over at my bedside clock quickly.

8:30 a.m.

"Shit!"

I kicked the sheets down with my feet and jumped off the bed to put on my clothes. I didn't want to go looking like I was going to change the garbage this time so I went for a pair of slacks and heels with a white blouse. It is a company that likes to be taken seriously so the dress code for their regular employees must be strict.

I rushed into the kitchen area and found Lizzie sitting at the table.

"Hey Lizzie…I need to be at work by 9…how are you feeling today girl?" I placed my hand on her forehead.

"I'm fine" she said as she continued to eat her cereal.

She seemed to be in better health and that made me feel less terrible about leaving her.

"That is great…now I don't know how late I am going to be there and hopefully it's not too late but…I got a new job!"

She smiled up at me and jumped off her chair to hug me. I hugged her small frame and patted her back.

"Yes I am happy too…maybe things will get better now, I don't know but I have to go now…k…so again, I have my phone"

"Okay…please don't be back too late Julie"

"I know…I hope I get to come back early"

I really did hope that I would be returning home just as early as my previous job but I wasn't sure if I am able to ask for more. My mixed feelings of Quint has left me with some challenges…I still have to deal with his surprise visits and requests. If I ask for more, who knows what he would have me do. One night spent with him already revealed much to me so maybe I just wouldn't be able to get anything else. My mind was full of questions but none of them could be answered until I arrived at Antigen.

Looking at my phone again it read:

8:48 a.m.

I said my goodbye and rushed over to the sliding door.

…

I jogged my way to Antigen, stopping right in front of the building. Before going up the millions of steps, I walked around to the side to the familiar plant pots. I stood in front of the exact location where I had hid my gun long ago and as I stared down at the dirt I saw something white sticking out. With my right hand I dug deep to pull out a piece of paper.

You'll have to

do better than

this

-Q

I crumbled the note in my hands with such anger and shoved it into my pocket. Looking at my phone I noticed that in 2 minutes it would be 9, so with that I jogged my way up and through the front doors.

Using the badge I had before I checked in and walked down a hallway to look for Quint. I've seen his father work in this area before so I felt I was going in the right direction.

I found myself in front of heavy doors that had two circular glass windows that offered a view in. Stretching up, I peaked in to see if could find any of the two.

"Right on time…how nice of you"

I twirled around on my low heels to take in the sight of Quint. It felt different to see him wearing clothes from head to toe and I couldn't help but blush the tiniest bit. Pulling the paper from my pocket, anger took over all current thoughts.

"Knowing you, getting here even a few minutes late might cost me and oh by the way…"

I shoved the piece of paper in front of his face.

"Where the fuck is my gun?"

"Ah so you found my note…well just like your little knife idea, hiding your gun under a few inches of dirt is pretty stupid so come up with something better and entertain me"

I scowled at him as he stood there rubbing it all in my face. I still held on to the paper as he began to move on.

"When you enter the lab there will be a lab coat on a chair for you…put it on and wait there…my father will meet you shortly"

He walked back down the hallway and I was left alone.

I went through the double doors and I instantly walked over to the chair and pulled the coat on. It felt so good for a change. Smoothing down the front of the lab coat I was rather happy to be dressed up for a job again.

Footsteps approached me as I heard a voice.

"Ah so you must be Ms. Julia Cross…pleasure to meet you" he shook my hand with a smile.

"Yes…same…" I said as I was trying to dig for connections to his son.

"I've heard a bit about you…please come I will show you what you will be doing"

I didn't know what to say, I wanted to ask if he knew about his son's plan to keep me around. I kept my mouth shut and refused to ask. My eyes wandered around the large white space as we walked around to the other side.

"Here we are my dear..." he said as he waved a hand over a large table of equipment.

"These are what you will be familiarizing yourself with for the time being…whatever we need in there you will bring to us after preparing it in the fashion we ask you to…"

I nodded in understanding.

"Now, I will not be showing you how each tool should be prepared, instead, Ms. Green will spend some time teaching you and showing you around"

A woman with red hair slowly walked over and stood beside me with lips sealed straight and no smile.

"Alright, well tomorrow the real work begins…Oh and Ms. Cross I will be giving you all the specifics then as well"

"Thank you sir"

He turned and walked back through the doors without a second glance.

"Hello Ms. Cross my name is Doctor Norma Green; I'm going to show you around first before diving into all these wonderful lab tools"

She wasn't smiling; she kept a very forward and strict approach with me as she led me around the room.

"This is where you will be at most of the time…"

"What about the lab he went into?"

She came to a halt in front of me and said, "That lab…that room you will ONLY go into when asked or called"

"Okay…so what about the other rooms?"

"Ms. Cross the only room you are allowed to go into in this section of the building is the equipment closet where you will have access to all chemicals and extras…have you ever worked in this particular area before?"

"Uh no…no I was practically a janitor…"

She let a 'pst' and crossed her arms.

"Right…seems like it's going to take some time then"

"Well I am a fast learner…Doctor"

"Further down the hallway are more labs following offices so you need not go in that direction…you may venture into the lobby area, all of upstairs and the offices located in the front of the building…I'm guessing you don't need to be reminded since you've changed those garbage cans before"

She turned on her red heels to walk across the floor.

First day, new job and already making a new friend

I thought to myself sarcastically.

"Now back to the table…"

Her long skinny fingers held up each lab utensil while saying their accurate and scientific names. It felt like a class in high school but having no experience I was ready to learn and take in as much as possible. My eyes remained focus on her every move and after an hour of going through most of them she stopped to pick up a clipboard from a desk nearby.

"I went over the most important ones that might be needed for tomorrow but this clipboard has a list of all of them"

Her long fingernail moved down the list and tapped at the bottom of the page.

"Now, down here are the instructions on the cleaners each of them require…those you will find in the closet that I had mentioned"

"Where's the closet again?"

"Well it is listed on this page…the equipment closet is across this room…you can't miss it"

"Alright…"

"Since you have worked here already, all of your personal information is still fresh in the system…if they are in dire need of assistance in the early morning they will call you"

"Oh…um how early do you suppose they would call?"

Letting out an annoyed sigh she replied, "Ms. Cross if they really need you…they might just call you in at midnight or even 3 in the morning…whatever time they call, you need to be prepared to get here"

I wanted to blurt out the fact that I didn't feel comfortable with that but I knew she wasn't exactly the right person to say it to.

"Understood…so what should I do for the time being?"

"I went over what you needed to know, Dr. Lane didn't say anything else to me so my guess is you are finished for the day…feel free to wander in the lobby"

"Oh…okay and last thing…where should I set up?"

"You don't…the locker room you used before will be the same place you are able to store all personal items if you need to"

I nodded and remembered instantly.

"Good day Ms. Cross"

She didn't choose to wait and hear my goodbye; instead she took off back into the lab and continued her previous activity.

Looking down at the new coat, I undid the row of buttons and slipped it off my shoulders. I wish the day would have been much busier but it was nice knowing that I could leave early just like Lizzie wanted. Slipping my phone out, it was only 11:00 a.m.

Digging out my wallet I opened it to see how much was in it. I had enough money for a couple of groceries.

Well, I might as well take advantage of the early day, I told myself.

I walked through the lobby and walked outside to go down the steps.

"Busy day?"

I heard a voice behind me as I reached the bottom. Turning around, I found Quint leaning against a stone wall.

"Well it could have been better but I can't complain about having some extra hours for myself"

He pushed himself from the wall and got closer to me.

"Good…"

"Your father…is he…is he like you?"

"So where are you going now?"

He completely ignored my question but I didn't care to insist on an answer.

"I need to pick up a few groceries for Lizzie and I…I am not going back to your place if that's what you are hoping for"

He laughed at me and looked out towards the street.

"Lucky for you I have some…things… to do as well"

Whatever he planned to do must be of a secretive nature; one that kept me curious.

"Lucky I am" I began to cross the street until he pulled my arm. I turned to face him as he took a gun out of his jacket.

"You forgot this…like I said Julia…you're gonna have to try harder"

With a grin he walked away. I took the gun and shoved it in my purse looking around before crossing the street and down to the small stores.

…

A short chapter to keep you waiting for more. I appreciate all the reviews and I want to say thanks to those who have kept up with the story so far.