Tiny Terror Tuesday: First Day

“Ding!” The elevator opens on the lobby floor. Harold enters, and presses the number forty-seven. The elevator has always been dimly lit, but today, it feels darker. I jump on and press sixty-four. As the doors close, we both observe the unwritten rules about strangers in the elevator, give each other a polite nod, and stand there quiet for a minute. Why does the elevator feel slower than usual?

Since neither one of us had signal, we started chatting among ourselves. It was the usual banter about the weather, and the headlines of the day. At floor eight, the elevator dinged, and a hooded figure joined our company. I gave him a polite nod, knowing only the most powerful come from floor eight, and I didn’t want to be rude.

“I see someone is going to the same place I am,” the figure spoke in hushed, conspiratorial tones. I just smiled, while Harold seems to be a bit more nervous than usual.

“I can smell a newbie.” The figure turned towards Harold, “we’re going to have some fun with you.” Then, he turns to address me. “Ah, Mr. DeSade, nice to see you here. Didn’t expect you back so soon.”

“You know us in collections, sir,” my tone showing pride in my work. “We try to be below budget and earlier than expected.”

I notice the fear coming off Harold, “so, you work in col-collections? What’s that like?” His voice cracks.

“It’s not bad, once you get used to the smell of death. Sometimes, they come willingly. And the other times, well, let’s just say I’m not a fan of the paperwork involved.” The figure and I both laugh. “Plus, no matter how many times you see it, you never get used to soul death.”

“Wait, souls can die?”

The hooded figure spoke, “Yes, Harold. We’ll get to that in orientation. What to look for, when it’s time to kill a soul.”

The elevator flew past floor forty-seven.

“I guess I’m up first. Off to the old pressure cooker. Will you be joining us this afternoon, Lucifer? It’s the company pot luck, and I know a few people who are looking forward to what you bring.”

Lucifer looks back at me, “Of course. I might be a few minutes late. We have to have our fun with Harold over here.”

We both laughed as the elevator dinged and opened on my floor. I turn back around to Harold. “Good luck, maybe we’ll catch up sometime. I mean, we have all eternity.”

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