Chapter 1: Closing Shift

A/N: Good day Murder Drone fans, readers, and writers! This is an updated version of a MD story I wrote. Includes fixes, an extended plot, and overall a better flow in my opinion. I'll keep the old version up on my profile but I recommend this version for the time being. Chapters will be added later on. With that said, enjoy and hope to hear from you soon! - Poshil

Uzi Doorman, a young worker drone from the colony of Outpost 3 decides to take on a part time job a local coffee shop for a bit of side cash. A month in, she already proves to be a valued employee by her manager and boss's eyes. With that, her manager assigns her to a closing shift since another employee called out being sick and is confident of her skills to close without trouble, which she doesn't mind the later hours for its less people to deal with. What she didn't take account of is the recent kidnappings and mysterious murders taking place in that very neighborhood the coffee shop she's working at. What awaits her in the Closing Hours?

"Okay, I'm officially bored."

Only a few hours until her shift is over, and Uzi is already itching to leave. After serving the last five or so orders to her customers, not a single soul came through those doors for the rest of the evening. The street beside the shop is rather quiet this time of day with few cars rolling back and forth while pedestrians walk back to their homes or whatever destination they have in mind. The sun setting beyond the adjacent buildings blind Uzi's eyes for a bit only to reveal the approach of dusk, a reminder her night is only about to being for this shift. The closing shift wasn't so bad at first, the big selling point being she didn't have to interact with many customers due to slower business later in the day and her social ineptness. Something she's trying to overcome with some good results to boast. "Some." Now as the evening progressed, she longed for some interaction. What overcame her to even consider that notion is anyone's guess. She see's herself a lone wolf, the main character in an anime with a cool backstory, a fallen goddess to peons, okay she may have a god complex but it doesn't stop reinforcing that mindset with how wacky her mind works from high school and the internet plaguing every braincell.

Was this job worth her sanity? The pay is decent and the tasks on hand are manageable, her only reasoning to stick around in this coffee job gig was to make enough money to buy a nice present for N's birthday. She's so close to reaching her goal and the thought of seeing N's joyful smile drives her to stay. Her eyes started to blush along with her core humming to the songbirds of joy at the mere mention of the Disassembly Drone.

N along with two other drones from a neighboring colony moved into her hometown a while back as part of a foreign policy audit and cultural exchange program with another Outpost as a means in developing good relations, trust, and commerce between the two colonies. The deal went without a hitch and the two colonies began thriving in prospering times with the exchange of goods, labor, and camaraderie.

Since then, N and the two drones that tagged along with him, V and J, lived at Outpost 3 with their parents after offering to work as ambassadors between the two outposts along serving the community as prominent company figures that supply her town with various goods and services. They're up there when it comes to the social heirarchy. When Uzi learned that N would be attending her school her curiosity got the best of her after hearing from another drone that N wasn't a worker drone. A Disassembly Drone, built to oversee and overcome, modified with weaponry and combat ready for any threat. Sounds like a badass in her books. And out of character of herself, she approached N and offered to be her friend. To her delight N happily agreed and the two grew as fast friends. N's other friends V and J didn't exactly start off on the right foot with her, but they eventually grew to "tolerate" each other's company over the course of time to the chagrin of N and his bright, puppy-like optimism. All in all, the group was inseparable.

Then there was the kicker, N is rich and she's dirt poor.

Her father works tirelessly at several jobs to make enough to support her education and their small apartment, with little left in his account to support her daughter with any mild luxury aside from basic hygiene and clothing. That left Uzi nothing with no spending money and when hanging out with rich friends as a low-income drone, it certainly makes you quite the elephant in the room. Even as far as going to places to hangout that doesn't need one to spend a dime, Uzi still is left out of the circle due to her empty pockets.

That didn't matter to N.

That sweet boy and his kind heart, he didn't see her for her wealth as her character was plenty rich, that along the way he spoiled Uzi since they started hanging out with meals covered, access to premium events, and clothes of her desire with nothing asked in return except her company. Uzi insisted she'll pay back N somehow and much to her annoyance, N replies with "Don't worry, I don't mind. You deserve it." Uzi though does mind. She hated the idea she was taking advantage of his kindness whether intentional or not. But no matter how she protested, N persisted in his ways.

Uzi would ask V and J for help on the matter but even the two drew blanks on why N was so generous. In the end, they reluctantly accepted that N is just like that, with some parameters in place. The three females pressured N to stop spoiling Uzi when she insists on not spending for her in which he agreed. Another part of their so-called friend pact is Uzi to stop looking so dark and dour around them. That however needed to be worked on. The trio of Disassembly Drones never understood Uzi's taste in clothing and music, which she argues is the best out there. The goth vibes are where she thrives the most, which meshes well with her angsty teen behavior.

Still, the four drones make it work.

Which brings Uzi to this day. It's been a year since their friendship and Uzi wanted to get something special for N's upcoming birthday. However, what she had in mind was rather pricy and unfortunately for her, V and J were also racing to wow N with gifts of their own. They have an advantage over her in funding, but that won't stop her from trying.

"Hey freak! I'm ready to order!"

Uzi's temper flares a bit on the rude remark after she shook her thoughts aside. She presses against her apron and straightens up before making her way to the counter for her next customer, a groan escaped her lips upon sight of the drone entering the shop.

The pink cheerleader uniform under the varsity jacket, leggings, and boots is the first giveaway of Lizzy, captain of the school's cheerleading team and possibly the most popular drone in her grade. By that stature, Uzi knew the day she met Lizzy that school was going to be hell. There's a running gag about something with cheerleaders picking on the goths but Lizzy is an odd anomaly. Lizzy bullied Uzi day in and out, but the strange quirk of her is how she knows when to stop and drop her teasing when it goes too far. At least she has some redeeming qualities.

Maybe if you would stop bullying me…

"Hello? Anyone home in that dome?" Lizzy called out to Uzi.

"Welcome to Brewster's Brew and Crew, how can I serve you?" Uzi asked through tight lips, trying her hardest in keeping her cool in front of her bully.

"Yikes, you're working here now?" Lizzy recognizing Uzi from the other side of the counter, Uzi barely keeping it together as Lizzy's sneer grew. "Still, respectable. Pocket money is always a nice thing."

"Come on Liz, lay it off." Thad spoke up, another drone in Lizzy's entourage. A jock of sorts but at least someone Uzi can respect, not the brightest but a kind drone nevertheless.

"Right, right." Lizzy said while waving her hand as to dismiss Thad from her sight. "I'll get a Brewster Pump King Ice Latte with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel, regular."

"I'll get a Night on Malt Mountain with a shot of expresso, large." Thad adds in.

"I'll get a Brewster's Sweet Cider of Lime!"

"Just a regular tea for me."

"And this-"

"And that-"

Lizzy and her crew piled their onslaught of orders at Uzi without a moment to pause. Thankfully for Uzi, her training is finally paying off when it comes to attention to detail. Uzi went to work in completing their orders, Lizzy and her troop of friends standing in shock and awe as Uzi glided back and forth with her hands swift and calculated across the counter and bar from brewing coffees and teas to packaging delicate pastries and treats with care. Even Lizzy is in awe of Uzi's skill, a feat rarely on display. Not long after the massive order is complete and Lizzy hands Uzi her card to finalize payment.

"Sweet moves Z!" Thad shouted from his table, Uzi simply waving back and taking the compliment, a small smile creeping across her lips.

The order completed, Uzi started to clean her workstation from the prior storm, her audio sensors picking up various conversations from Lizzy and her gaggle of friends. Most of the conversations cover superficial ramblings about school, boys, and whatever tickles their interests. One topic being discussed however, caught her attention upon the hushed tones and contained squeals.

"So, you heard of the meet up tonight?" one teen drone spoke.

"Who hasn't?" another said.

"Totally, tonight's going to be awesome!"

"Yeah, I can't wait for the eclipse."

Eclipse, Uzi read up on a post earlier that tonight was supposed to be a lunar eclipse taking place over her colony. It happens more often than on most planets, making said event not as special. But even still it's a sight to behold. That being said, Uzi had no intention of going. Not with how sketchy the area can be in the later hours. It beckons the question why she took a closing shift in the first place knowing the danger. Then again, she tends to magnetize to danger wherever she goes.

"But supposedly tonight is going to be extra, some folks saying good things will be happening during the eclipse!" the conversation continued.

"Or horrible! No thanks but I'm staying home tonight."

"Aw come on! Cedar Cove has a special on chips and batteries today for tonight's eclipse! You don't want to miss that."

The conversation raged on between the drone customers, Uzi slowly dulling out the noise with her thoughts when her customers mentioned Cedar Cove. Cedar Cove is one of the most popular hangout spots in Outpost 3. Decent food with a great view of the coast, the perfect spot to view tonight's eclipse. Sounds romantic. The thought made Uzi blush with her mind forming a fantasy of finding herself beside N watching the eclipse. Small butterflies formed in her gut as her core hummed the songbirds once more. Herself and N, no care in the world but each other, the gleam of the eclipse reflecting the off her joyful face and N's positive glow. Uzi shook the dream away rapidly and went back to work while muttering mad ramblings to herself in hopes of distracting her mind from that prior idea. Heaven forbid someone heard that.

Lizzy, Thad, and their friends eventually finished their beverages and snacks before leaving the shop, Thad waved goodbye to Uzi and in return waved back weakly. Like that she was alone again minus a couple of drones walking by the shop's entrance to browse and leave. A sigh slipped out of her lips as her eclipse idea with N still lingered in the back of her mind. Deep down she really wanted to see it with N. The eclipse is tonight and seeing she's still working a closing shift, that plan is not likely to happen. By the time her shift ends she'll miss the eclipse. Another sigh escapes her lips.

Now I'm regretting taking a closing tonight.

"That's a lot of sighing little chickadee. Daydreaming on the job again?"

No banshee would come close to the unfiltered shriek that bellowed from Uzi's lips. Pure terror at its finest. Uzi could've sworn her entire inside leapt out of exoskeleton when she jumped and screamed before crashing back down on the floor. She finally settled on the ground from the shock and calmed her throbbing chest and head to spot the identity of the sudden voice. Her jolly and upstanding boss and manager.

"Sir! You know I hate it when you do that!"

The older drone simply chuckled before taking a seat on a nearby stool by the counter after his fit of laughter. He couldn't help teasing the skittish teen. "Sorry, sorry Uzi, it's just you're such an easy target!"

"Whatever Brewster." Uzi muttered, her boss still laughing at her expense. "Look, I'll finish sweeping the tables then I work on the kitchen."

"Atta girl. But that's not what I'm here for."

"Hm?"

"Look lass, I'm no stranger when it comes to being lovestruck. You got someone in the drives and I for one find that adorable."

"Tsk." Uzi could feel her cheeks flaring again, why is her boss good at probing at her?

"And I know that eclipse is a big deal. So tell you what: I'm just wrapping up paperwork and clearing the bins. Once you finish the kitchen, we can close shop early tonight, deal?"

"REALLY?!" Uzi shouted gleefully before composing herself from further embarrassment. "I mean, are you sure?"

"That kitchen doesn't look close to clean yet."

"On it!"

Uzi darts pass the counter into the staff area for the kitchen, already starting with dishes and scrubbing the burn tops before jogging over to other equipment that needed a good scrubing. Brewster couldn't stop his laughter as he made his way back to his office to finish his work.

"Ah, young love."

The rest of the day went without a hitch for Uzi. Several more customers stopped by to order drinks and snacks that Uzi had no issue preparing. Though one customer gave her a headache with how often he kept coming back for free water. Still, it could be worse.

Dusk soon rolls in, and the number of customers dwindled from a few to one. As the last customer makes his way out the store, Uzi wraps up for the day to begin her final cleaning sweep of the store. Her hope quickly diminished when the ring of the entrance door catches her attention. The entrance opens for one more customer, a particularly peculiar one at best with a brown trench coat and fedora hiding some of its features. Shady putting it mildly.

"Welcome to Brewster's Brew and Crew, please do order soon sir as we'll be closing soon." Uzi spoke, trying to hide her annoyance with customers that arrive minutes before closing time.

"Evening miss, I'll just have a Brewster Bold Brew. Light on the cream and sugar, to go."

"Coming right up."

Uzi jogged over back to the other side of the countertop to work on the customer's beverage, trying to avoid making any unnecessary messes she'll need to clean for later. She did notice something about this customer that raised a flag or two in her mind. First being the newspaper, the outline titled "Another Victim Found by Delve Gulch." That place mentioned being almost a street down from this shop. The News and media going nuts for a month now about some murder taking place in the gulch with no witnesses or leads. All sorts of theories everyone comes up with vary from conspiracy ploys to aliens, all the talking about it never drew any light to any form of truth or whatever fact being the victim was killed in a bad neighborhood, plain and simple.

The second concern is the handgun tucked in his coat pocket. Uzi recognizes it of being a Glock and is certain he's not an officer. She continues to keep a wary eye on the customer in which didn't go unnoticed by the customer.

"Oh this?" the drone said, pointing towards his weapon. "My apologies miss, didn't mean to frighten you, I'm a detective for the WDPD. Detective Branner."

"Charming." Uzi replied, her skepticism still apparent across her face.

"Forgive me if I look so dour, I've been a tad overwhelmed with work."

"Not a problem sir." Uzi replied.

Ugh, don't need your life story.

"Anyway, thank you for the drink." Detective Branner states, a small bow as he receives his purchased item before handing Uzi the money owed.

"My pleasure, enjoy the evening Sir." Uzi replied.

The detective salutes as he tucks the newspaper under his arm to open the exit with his shoulder. He stood by the exit hesitantly, turning to Uzi with a rather stern gaze that almost made Uzi tremble with Branner's eyes piercing her system.

"Not to frighten you Miss but please be sure to head home immediately after your shift. Please report to the WDPD should you notice anything unusual." Branner states before exiting the shop to leave Uzi alone and confused about what transpired. Weird fellow Uzi thought. Bet he's a blast at parties, not like I would know better. Ugh, I just dissed myself.

In record time Uzi finishes cleaning the shop's kitchen before she returns to the main dining room to finish sweeping the floors and wiping the tables. Chairs neatly placed beside their assigned table, booths immaculate as the day they were purchased, she couldn't help but smile at her handiwork. At the rate she's going, she might finish before her boss which gives her some time to herself to relax in the employee backroom to freshen up. But before any of that, one important task remains: texting N. This drove Uzi mad with how a simple text is so difficult to do, especially to N.

"What the hell Uzi get a grip."

Uzi musters all the courage she could find and pulls out her phone's contact list for N. Her core skips a beat when her notifications post a message stating N just texting her now. Without hesitation she opens the text from N, nothing. Confused, she refreshes her phone and checks her inbox again for N's message, still nothing. A third time and this go around she receives three different images from N.

The first is a postcard with a picture of Cedar Cove and several drones relaxing along a patch of grass overlooking the coastline. Her initial guess is N inviting her to Cedar Cove to hangout, at least saving her the trouble for asking. The second image, however, leaves her wondering what N meant when he sent her a screenshot of Doug, a dog from a movie called Up. The last image is a simple "Y/N" which Uzi assumed he meant yes or no to the invition.

Unsure with the need for an elaborate approach, Uzi quickly texts N yes for Cedar Cove, praying he meant for an invitation and not some other meaning. Heaven forbid Uzi embarrasses herself any further for misunderstanding what N meant. She tucks away her phone and makes her way to the shop's entrance to flip over the open sign to close. She reaches down to flip the door locks in place when a glimmer from outside catches her attention. She peeks up and Uzi freezes up in terror to what's standing across the street.

Across the street towards an intersection several meters away from the shop's entrance is a lone figure standing under a single streetlight. It was too tall for it to be a drone and too slender to be human either. Its arms lanky and thin with what looks like oil dripping from its palms. Tattered clothes covered the figure's body, and a heavily bandaged mask shrouded its face. The figure swayed back and forth as a gentle breeze caused its clothes to flutter a bit to reveal its body, or what it supposed to be its body. Uzi could spot under the dim light many intersecting hands and limbs forming something of a leg and torso. Each individual hand slowly opening and closing to the beat of a heart as if each appendage is trying to grab hold onto something.

Every red flag screamed at Uzi to run. But the sight of this horrifying creature planted her in place. It was both fascinating and terrifying for Uzi to see such a thing. Her feet refused to move like cement to the pavement. Oil flowing in her system suddenly pumped faster and faster the longer Uzi stared at the abomination. It was when the creature lifted one of its arms above its head and broke the streetlight it was standing under, completely blacking out the street and intersection. Then came a screech. A guttural cry so otherworldly that made the impulse to scream and cower out of instinct.

In an instant Uzi slams the lock of the shop's entrance shut and sprints over to the counter on the other side of the shop.

"Brewster!" Uzi cries out for her boss, with no response coming from his office door. To terrified to move from her hiding spot, Uzi switches to her phone.

She flashed out her phone to call for help only to struggle calming her shaky hands in tapping out her passcode to unlock her phone. In her panic the phone slips out of her fingers and skids across the floor towards a nearby booth, Uzi swearing a storm as her core continues to beat faster and faster with the danger approaching her.

Tap tap tap

Tapping on the glass window catches her attention. The creature's face is pressed against the front door, two closing orbs serving as eyes glared into her soul as if it was trying to rip it out of her body through sight alone.

"B-Brewster!" Uzi cries out again. Her boss did not respond to her plea. Only the sounds of her core racing and the tapping of the window near the entrance were her responses. Uzi peered over the counter and spotted the lurker standing by the entrance, struggling to open the locked entrance with its long limbs. It reached over to the side for a nearby window for entry, a window Uzi forgot to close. Without a moment to lose Uzi races back towards the entrance to shut the window. The moment she reaches the window, the creature snags her hand in a vice grip, lifting her off the ground towards its face with unnatural strength. A toothy grin reeking of malice widens across its face as its maw opens to reveal rows of razor teeth and dripping saliva.

"Help! N! Brewster! Somebody, HELP!"

The creature lowers Uzi's head into its maw, and she screamed and kicked, begging for anyone to come to her rescue. It was when Uzi's audio sensors picked up audible laughter from the monster's throat. A very familiar laugh.

"…Gotcha."

Uzi took a hard second look at the creature, and immediately recognized the smug grin across its face hiding behind the bandaged mask. A rage so unbridled even the very ground quaked in fear.

"V!"

"HAH!"

The lights of the store entrance flash on blinding Uzi before she was gently tossed to the floor of the shop. Uzi snaps her head to find two drones entering the shop bearing wide grins and phones pointed at her direction. V and J, of course.

"Consider that payback from the other night Uzi." V spoke, a Disassembly Drone from another outpost and friend of hers. Friend being used loosely. After setting Uzi down V simply tosses the costume she wore earlier at Uzi before fixing her shorts and white crop top of any wrinkles. Satisfied, she pulls over a short sleeve leather coat and red tinted glasses over her eyes, the grin still beaming from her face.

"Ah, delightful, got all of it on video too!" J added, Uzi's other "friend" and a Disassembly Drone like V and N. J enters from behind with her phone finishing a recording, most likely a video of Uzi screaming for her life as V held her dangling in the air. With the prank done J stuffs her phone into a purse she has slung over her teal dress accompanied with a jacket similar in design to V's. Two delinquents in crime, stylish and petty.

"Fine, great, we're even." Uzi said sarcastically, already plotting a prank to get back at her friends in the future. Though she hated to admit, they got her good.

"Honestly you two, that felt a bit too far." A third voice entered the conversation.

"N…"

"Hey Uzi, you alright?"

"Y-y-yeah…"

All previous anger Uzi held immediately vanished upon seeing N enter the shop sheepishly, his hand extended out to help her up to her feet. She gladly accepts and is back right up facing the taller male drone. Unlike their last time they spoke Uzi notices N wearing a tad more formal clothing than usual. A black blazer over a pressed light blue shirt with clean trousers held by a belt. If she would've guessed, N was going on a date. Date? Text?

Uzi immediately puts two and two together from N's previous text and buried her face behind her hands, sheer embarrassment seizing her to no avail. Was N asking her on a date? No, if he was why bring along V and J. But why was everyone dressed nicely? Oh no, she was overthinking again.

"Gah, this is so freakin…sorry N for catching me like this."

"Oh, don't sweat it!" N replied, shaking his hands to calm put ease to Uzi. "If anything, I think SOMEONE or TWO needs to apologize." N said while eyeing V and J with an infuriated twitch, the two drones rolled their eyes in annoyance before letting out a sigh of defeat. N is getting good at guilt tripping.

"Sorry for you scaring you Uzi." J responded.

"But I'm keeping this video." V added in. "Don't worry, I'm not cruel enough to upload it. But blackmail sounds more appealing..."

"BITE ME!"

The drones shared a laugh which eventually won Uzi over as she joined in. It was a great feeling to embrace. She's never been more thankful for friends like them.

"Uzi!"

Brewster storms out of his office with his apron disheveled and cap almost falling, his face stricken with panic.

"I heard screaming and crying like a child was soiling themselves! Did you leave the coffee pot on again?!"

"BREWSTER!" Uzi cried, to her dismay only added more fuel to the uproar of laughter from N, J, and V.

A misunderstanding resolved later, Brewster dismisses himself to finish the last of his paperwork and tasks. At the same time Uzi decides to prepare a few drinks for her friends while they're visiting. A hot chocolate for N and V while J settles with a raspberry slush paired with bits of fruit. The three drones thank Uzi before settling down on a table to relax, watching Uzi at work with small smiles in amusement. For someone so small, Uzi is quite nimble working around the shop and performing outstanding skill and grace with something mundane as cleaning. N especially as he couldn't stop smiling.

"So, I take you three are heading to Cedar Cove for the Eclipse?" Uzi shouted from the other side of the counter after wiping down several empty pitchers and cups.

"That's right, we thought you be interested in going but sucks to hear you're got put in a closing shift." V replied, stirring the contents in her cup absentmindedly.

"Yeah, sorry. I didn't know you were working tonight Uzi, didn't mean to send that text." N added, guilt across his face that only served Uzi to almost tripping from her core leaping out from the cute aura N's emitting.

"N-No no! It's okay, if anything, I'm down to go. The boss is letting me leave early tonight once he finishes up his paperwork and trash run. I'm almost done on my end, so I can freshen up a bit before heading over to Cedar Cove."

"Oh that's wonderful to hear! Now you can arrive looking less barbaric." J commented, finishing her beverage before tossing her cup in a nearby trash bin.

"Hah hah, classy J. But I'm still here for like 30 minutes before Brewster finishes up. You three can go ahead to the Cove. I'll meet you at the entrance." Uzi said after tossing her last batch of used towels into the bin.

"You sure?" N asks as he and the others make their way towards the exit. "I can wait for you Uzi if you want."

"I appreciate but its fine N. It's not far from here anyway. Plus it'll help me stop staring at you…" Uzi muttered that second half, thankfully not catching any notice from the Disassembly Drones.

"Okay then. I'll see you at Cedar Cove, call us if you need anything!"

With that the three Drones leave Uzi alone with her thoughts and chores. A brimming joy in Uzi almost sends her floating in the air with tonight's plans. Sure, it's not a "date" per say but spending time with N regardless of the company tagging along is always a pleasure. With plans to look forward to, Uzi finishes the last of her tasks for the night with the only thing to do is wait for Brewster to finish his last bit of tasks for the night.

Uzi makes a quick trip to the restroom to wash up before heading back to the backroom for her locker and backpack. She ruffles through some contents in her backpack for her spare set of clothes after stuffing away her work clothes for a much needed cleaner look. Her go to attire, her favorite black and purple hoodie with tuffs of fur lining the collar and bottom, a crossbones and battery logo etched on the front of her jacket. She then pulls up a pair of shorts around her waist and long socks with black and purple strips before lacing up her modified WD boots to fit her size and style. After fixing her hair and her beanie, she was ready to go. She then pulls up a chair and waits for Brewster.

One minute turned to two, then three, before long it was twenty or so minutes passed. Uzi continues sitting nervously as not that she would expect Brewster to screw her over on his promise, but she's cutting it close to running late for the meet up at Cedar Cove. And knowing J, she'll tear her up for running late for a planned event. Finally fed up, Uzi hops of her chair and stomps over towards Brewster's office, knocking quickly while politely to her best ability to get her boss's attention.

"Yo Brewster, everything good in there?" Uzi called out.

A few knocks later the office doors swing open to a well-lit room lined with a desk, a few chairs, two monitors, and rusty filing cabinets pushed against the back wall. But no Brewster. Uzi walked over to the desk to find stacks of neat paperwork varying from receipts to purchase orders for products and supplies all sorted. Everything seems in order.

"Paperwork is done but where…"

Uzi quickly hops onto Brewster's chair and rolls it towards the CCTV monitors for Brewster, finding her boss in the back alleyway throwing away the last bit of trash into the bins. With a satisfied smirk, Brewster dusts his hands and makes his way to the backdoor. He reaches for the door to realize he locked himself outside, the drone simply facepalming himself as he shouts for Uzi for help on getting the backdoor for him through the CCTV, his muffled voice also heard coming from the backroom of the store. Pleased to find her boss done with his work, Uzi hops down from Brewster's chair and races to the backroom for her boss.

The exit door in sight Uzi reaches for the handle and presses down on it only to find the door refusing to move. She presses down the handle again to end up with a similar result. Another attempt and the door still refuses to budge. Uzi peers to the side of the door handle to find the bolt not in sight, by all accounts the door should open. She wiggles the knob to find it operational like any handle. But the door remains closed in its place like something was pushing it on the other side. The door's peephole is out of reach for her due to her shorter height but she manages to spot her boss's shadow emitting from the underside of the door. His shadow's pacing matching hers to why the door is acting up now out of all times.

"Hey Brewster! You okay over there?" Uzi shouted. The thick door almost mutes Brewster's voice but Uzi could make out a few words from her boss shouting "Front Door."

"Got it!" she replied.

Uzi sprints back towards the entrance with her phone in hand. Five minutes after 10, she's going to get an earful from J. After entering the backroom, she rounds the corner pass Brewster's office towards the counter and entrance to the kitchen of the coffee shop. The lights are off. Uzi was certain they were still on after she finished cleaning the dining room. She had no clue on switching them on or off, something Brewster forgot to train her on though it never crossed her mind since she wasn't the last to leave the store on any closing shift she's taken on. Carefully navigating pass the tables and chairs, Uzi reaches the entranceway and opens the door.

"Hey Brewster! Come on man, I'm going to be late!" Uzi cried out towards the side alley.

"STAY AWAY FROM THE-!"

Sounds of rushing footsteps catch Uzi's attention coming from the other direction of the alleyway towards the main street. Someone's moving towards the alley, very fast. The steps are too far apart for a regular drone, spaced by quite a margin. Something big. Its footsteps plodded and wet like it ran through a small bog or swamp. Uzi shifts her head towards the noise to spot a tall, cloaked figure shuffling quickly down the street towards the shop. Long limbs with dripping palms and a bandaged head with two piercing crimson eyes.

"Okay it's not funny the second time guys. Look V if you-"

"UZI SHUT THE DOOR!"

Uzi catches Brewster sprinting out of the alleyway and shoving her back inside the store. Screaming, blood curdling screaming. Uzi scrambles up to her feet and slams the door lock, her eyes wide in horror and her jaw locked mid scream to the brutality before her. A large feral creature straight out of a movie, too unnatural to even call it a creature. Monster, it was a monster. Now standing there hunched over Brewster, tearing at his stomach and limbs with vicious claws and teeth like tissue paper. She finally got a glimpse of its face when it turned its gaze towards her.

RUN

What was supposed to be a drone's face stopped after the nose and eyes. The lower jaw of the creature resembled the muzzle of a large dog, rows of canines dripping in oil and metal flesh from its recent kill. The crimson eyes lack any emotion, a zoned-out gaze like someone was drunk or daydreaming. But instinct drove it, as it pushes off Brewster's corpse looking towards Uzi with its teeth twitching to sink into another drone.

RUN

Uzi grabs hold of the inner security gate adjacent to the front entrance and slams it over the entrance door with all the strength she can muster. The monster approaches the entrance with curiosity, its head tilting from one end to another as it shakes the door handle to the shop. Uzi quickly backs away from the door, feeling her back slamming against the opposite wall and her panicked breaths coming out in rapid succession. She couldn't find it in herself to calm down. Right before her eyes, something so horrifically put together she would believe this was all a dream. The second gate was designed to stop theft but she's certain it won't hold against something that big. The monster in a taunting manner started tapping the window with its clawed hand over and over rhythmically until cracks formed around where its claw tapped. More rows of cracks formed on the glass door around the area where the monster's claw is placed. The front door on the verge of shattering.

Uzi races back for the backroom and tries the exit once more, pulling down the handle and futilely slamming her body against the door repeatedly to escape. Cries for help turn into sobbing and begging for anyone to hear her pleas for help. God don't make me die like this! No one heard. She quickly fishes out her phone from her pocket and calls the WDPD (Worker Drone Police Department), the line ringing with seconds ticking away feeling like hours as Uzi shook with anxiety for operator to pick up. Finally, a voice.

"This is the WDPD of Outpost-3 what's your emergency?" the sound of a female voice on the other line.

"Help! Please send officers to Brewster's Brew at Timber and Delve Street! A monster just killed my boss and it's inside looking to-"

"Please, slow down. Deep breaths now. Monster? And Timber and Delve Street you said?

"You don't understand! Please sent help now-"

click

The line goes dead with the humming of a dropped call. Uzi glances down and punches in the number again, only hearing nothing but the cold white noise of her phone. No one's coming. No one heard her pleas.

Glass shatters with the sound of metal twisting and bending like a horrible orchestra of chaotic violinists. A small quake shook the store with the more crushing sounds of tile and cement echoed from the entrance. It's inside. Uzi doubles back into Brewster's office and closes the door quietly before locking it. She dives behind the desk and huddles as close she could towards one of the desk legs out of sight while managing to keep a view of the only door to the office and monitors of the CCTV. She finally understands why she couldn't escape. The monitor she was watching Brewster from earlier revealed the alleyway completely in shambles. Trash bins and debris tossed all over the floor with a large dumpster turned sideways in the corner of the screen, Uzi guess its blocking the door. The exit is a no go. She needs to sneak for the front.

Her breath hitches as the plodding of large footsteps made their way towards the employee area of the store, just on the other side of the office door. Uzi shifts deeper away from the desk towards the back of the room, slowly crawling away from the door's view to squeeze into Brewster's personal locker. She quietly shuts the lid closed before shrinking back down as far as she could behind Brewster's personal effects and boxes. She quickly ruffles through her phone and calls N, hoping her call doesn't drop like her attempt with the WDPD.

The office door swings open.