Amazon apocalypse, p.2
Amazon Apocalypse, page 2
“Myrina… is that you?”
She pressed her hand to my lips. “It's me, Carter. I'm sorry I had to leave so suddenly. Our time on Earth came to an end unexpectedly when our clan went to war back home, and my education had to be accelerated. But I'm here for you, now; I'm here to warn you. The System that came to my world so long ago is headed for yours. Life as you know it will come to an end, and your world shall be drawn to mine and those like it. When this happens, most of humanity will die. Only the strongest of you will survive to see the end of the integration, and I want you to be one of the survivors.”
I gulped. “What do I need to do?”
“Fight, level, and conquer,” Myrina replied. “And take this. When the day finally comes, I'll be able to explain more.”
Myrina reached into her pocket and withdrew a gold medallion the size of a quarter. It had a small hole punched through its top and a strip of leather tied in a loop ran through it. Myrina looped the leather string around my neck and tucked the medallion beneath my shirt.
“Keep that safe. Survive long enough to activate it, and I’ll be able to explain more then. Just remember, the integration is coming, and the end of the world is near. The System will bring an apocalypse to your world with its arrival.”
I felt her lips press against my cheek, and I reached out to touch her. But my hands found only empty air. Just like before, Myrina was gone.
But this time, she'd left something behind for me. My fingers wrapped around the medallion Myrina had given me, still warm with her touch.
“So... a system apocalypse, huh...”
Years had passed since that day. I graduated from college, found a job, and moved on with my life. But I never forgot Myrina or what she'd said to me on that beach. There were plenty of things out there we didn’t understand, but those few minutes with her stood out more vividly than anything else in my memories.
Sooner or later, this apocalypse would come to Earth.
So, I prepared. I picked up a few survival skills here and there and explored the wilderness in the town I found work in after graduating from school. It even motivated me to spend a little extra time in the gym. I’d never been what you might call athletic. Hell, without the looming threat of an apocalypse, I probably would have spent my days on the couch instead of pumping iron.
I think that, without Myrina’s warning, I would have wasted away. I would have become just another face in the crowd, dying one day at a time as I wasted my life. But every time I looked at Myrina’s token, I felt new determination flow through my veins.
I would survive this apocalypse. I would kick its ass, and then, when it was over, I would see Myrina again.
Chapter
Two
“You’re late,” Sakura said as she pulled open her door without looking up from the electronic tablet in her hand.
Sakura was my boss and also the daughter of the company’s owner. She was a slim woman of Japanese descent on her father’s side, though I wasn’t sure if she’d ever been there herself. Her hair had a gentle curl from her mother’s Italian heritage, and she wore glasses that made her look like a schoolteacher. In public, she talked with stiff formality, and she walked like she was constantly trying to prove she was worthy of her position for her competence, not just because of her father. All in all, she was a little bundle of ferocity, and positively adorable—in a mousy sort of way.
“So, what’s this super-secret meeting all about?” I asked as I closed the door behind me.
The moment I did, Sakura’s stiff back melted, and she closed her tablet’s screen. She was a little too obsessed with making sure she projected the perfect image of a hard-working supervisor to the rest of her employees. But somehow, I had won her trust.
“Craig,” she said. “He has to go.”
“Oh, boy, what did he do this time?” I wondered out loud.
Craig was the office asshole. He was our security guard, but not a real one. He’d been a nepotism pity hire after he’d flunked out of police academy. He’d only been hired because Sakura’s father had owed someone a favor. It turned out there was a reason he’d flunked out of police academy, and it wasn’t because he got framed for smuggling drugs, like he claimed.
The man had a chip on his shoulder and was convinced that everyone should cower in his presence. Maybe he mistook the fear for admiration, or perhaps he was just a colossal asshole—right down to his shriveled little heart. Whatever the case, he was a constant thorn in the side of everyone around him.
Problems with that idiot had been shuffled up the chain of command all the way to Sakura at this small branch of her family’s company. And now, I suspected she was trying to pass the buck to me.
“He’s been harassing that new intern, Bridget. You know the one. Blonde hair, pretty eyes. Cute girl. Firm ass. I saw you looking last time she went on a coffee run,” Sakura said, speaking as plainly as though she were talking about the weather.
I raised my hands in a gesture of innocence. “Hey, I may or may not have looked… I admit to nothing!”
Sakura pushed her coffee cup aside and placed her hand on top of mine. “I know you were just looking. It’s fine. Craig finds her attractive as well. But you aren't a pig in the shape of a man. Craig is the one I'm worried about.”
I sensed this was taking a dark turn. “What did he do?”
“Nothing… yet. But he’s been harassing her every time she enters the building by herself. Bridget hasn’t made a complaint, but I’ve been watching the security camera footage and know she’s been dodging him whenever she can.”
I shook my head. Sakura really needed to learn to relax. Not only did she run half the department by herself, but she also watched the security cameras like a hawk, keeping an eye on everyone in the office, at all hours.
“So, you want to get rid of him before it becomes an issue?”
Sakura nodded. “The trouble is, Craig is a big man. And his file from other departments says that he can sometimes be aggressive, especially with women. I’m sure he’ll try to intimidate me if I fire him.”
“I see. So you want me to kick him to the curb, instead? I’ll have to warn you, he’s going to demand to see you anyways.”
Sakura shook her head, readjusting her glasses as they slipped down her nose. “No. I’ll fire him myself. I just want you to stand behind me so he doesn’t think he can scare me.”
I chuckled. “You have a higher opinion than I do of my intimidation factor.” This, at least, would be a lot easier than having to give Craig a stern talking-to, like I originally feared.
Still, it was a tall order. I wasn’t in terrible shape, but Craig definitely took steroids. You didn't see his build on anyone short of movie stars and other folks who worked out like it was their full-time job. That was probably part of the reason he did the constant dick-measuring alpha-male-bravado posturing he was so fond of.
“I just don’t want to be in the room alone with him. Especially when I know I’m going to make him angry,” Sakura said, lips drawn tight. “I need someone I can trust to have my back.”
I gave her a pat on the back. “Well, you’ll have to make do with me.”
Sakura smiled. “And after this is done, I have another favor to ask. My father is hosting a social event, and it will look odd if I show up alone. I’ll give you double overtime to keep me company.”
I shook my head. “Sakura, if you need an emergency date, just ask. I can’t say it sounds like it’ll be fun, but I’ll do it. And you don't have to bribe me, either. I may be your employee, but I’d like to think that we are friends, and I don't mind keeping you company outside of work.”
Sakura's laughter joined mine, though hers was a bit forced. “Right... an emergency date. I’ll email you a reminder and set an appointment for you to get a good suit. The party is in three months, so you have time to get something tailored. I’ll lend you a company card to pay for it.”
I spent a few minutes teasing her a bit about using Daddy’s money for a date, but she took it in stride. She needed some mental preparation before firing Craig, as whatever he was likely to do afterward would probably ruin the rest of her day—mine, too, if he was enough of an asshole about it.
Eventually, though, we could delay the inevitable no more. I sighed as I picked myself up off the corner of her desk where I'd been sitting and headed for the door.
“All right, let’s get this over with,” I said. “I’ll call Craig in and stand behind you while glaring menacingly.”
Hunting Craig down proved rather difficult. He wasn’t in his office, which explained why Sakura was watching the security cameras. He clearly didn’t take that part of his job very seriously, since he didn’t even have the program open. Usually he flipped between a bodybuilding forum and a social media feed filled with women a bit too scantily clad to be checking out on the company’s laptop during the workday.
Today, he was up to something a little more difficult, it seemed. He was watching a YouTube tutorial on how to put together a handgun from its individual parts. It looked like he'd watched the video multiple times, and the gun depicted lay in pieces on the table in front of his monitor.
Yeah, he was definitely getting fired. I was pretty sure rent-a-cops in our area weren't supposed to walk around armed. Good thing the gun was in pieces, otherwise Sakura might need to call the cops before she felt safe kicking this idiot to the curb.
If we were in high school, I would have called Craig a typical jock—he certainly fit the stereotype. He was like every other kind of asshole you’d see in movies, but didn't think could actually exist in the real world. I could envision him bullying kids out of their lunch money with perfect clarity.
Maybe those movies had something to them, after all. I guess he was the rare asshole jock who had enough connections to keep on being an asshole after moving out into the real world. If I were an asshole who didn’t hang out in my supposed office, where would I be?
From what Sakura said earlier, I thought to check for Bridget. Sure enough, she was out on a coffee run, and people were wondering what was taking her so long. I was pretty sure I knew what had held her up. She was the reason Craig wasn't in his office.
Bridget had been using the rear entrance to avoid him up until now, but he must have caught on to her tricks, because that was where I found him.
“These are getting cold. Please move,” Bridget huffed.
“I’m just saying, it’s rude of you to bring coffee for the damn keyboard jockeys, but not for a hard-working man of the law like me,” Craig said. “It’s downright disrespectful.”
“You didn’t ask,” Bridget replied. “Everyone is expecting me to bring back their orders, so please, let me through.”
“I think you need to apologize. Make it up to me. And in the meantime, I’ll be taking one of these.” Craig snatched a coffee and took a swig.
He regretted it a moment later, instantly spitting the coffee back out on the ground. “The fuck is this? Peppermint? Yuck.”
“That was supposed to be Sakura’s coffee...” Bridget grimaced.
“Well, she can have it. I’m taking this one. And then afterward, you can clean that shit up… and polish my boots,” Craig said as he gestured to his spit and peppermint coffee all over the ground, some of which was indeed on his boots. He grabbed another cup of coffee, this one of a more acceptable variety.
This idiot was a real piece of work. A veritable douchebag, to be sure, but even I hadn't expected him to be quite this much of a prick.
Perhaps Sakura hadn't been joking when she’d warned me that he was even more of an ass when alone with women, than when he was with the guys in the office. I reckoned it was time to step in and put a stop to his crap. After today, neither Bridget nor anyone else would have to deal with it again.
“Bridget, there you are! People have been wondering where you went. Come on.” I waved as I descended the stairs, and Bridget ducked under Craig’s arm to escape.
When she passed by me, I plucked Sakura’s coffee—now covered in Craig’s spit—and took it from the tray. “And you can keep this.” I thrust the tainted coffee back into Craig's hand.
Craig glowered at me. I sensed him lean forward onto the tips of his toes. In doing so, he loomed a little taller. “Who the hell do you think you are?” Craig snarled.
I raised an eyebrow and cocked my head back toward Bridget's fleeing form. I could see her peeking at us through the door as it closed. “Do you always talk like that to women?”
I wasn't all that fond of seeing people getting fired. In my opinion, most companies didn't value their employees enough. And while Sakura seemed to value me, I couldn't say this place was really any different than the other corporate mills.
But this asshole? Yeah, he deserved to be shown the door. The sight of him packing his belongings in a cardboard box and turning in his ID would probably result in a cheer from just about every section of the office.
“And? So what if I do?” He smirked. “Do you think you run this office just because the slut in charge thinks you’re her friend? Have you even fucked Sakura yet?” Craig moved closer, pressing his chest against mine.
He was admittedly half a foot taller than me and twice as wide, but I held my ground. Bridget was waiting for me just up the stairs, and I’d positioned myself in front of a security camera. I knew Sakura was watching.
“It's no wonder you have such a hard time finding love. As for Sakura, that’s not any of your business. But I suggest you stop worrying about my personal affairs, because you’re about to have some bigger problems of your own.
“Follow me. Sakura wants to see you in her office.” I turned and started up the stairs, not bothering to check and see that he was following me.
Something primal seemed to realize I’d gotten the better of Craig in that exchange. I’d beat him at his own game, and it made me feel a little smug. Mine was a mild reaction, but enjoyable, nonetheless. Perhaps I could see why Craig played his little power-trips after all.
But Craig’s reaction was anything but mild. He cursed up a storm. I’m sure he thought it was under his breath, but it was more than loud enough for me to hear half-a-dozen f-bombs that questioned my manhood, the legality of my parents’ marriage, and something I didn’t quite catch about a bow-legged goat.
When I held the door open for him, he wore an expression of pure fury on his face. Bridget scurried out of the way, and I led Craig to Sakura’s office. But like a beaten dog, he followed with his head hung low.
I held Sakura’s office door open for him as well, and closed it once we were both inside, much to the chagrin of everyone in the office. Bridget’s nervous look and Craig’s furious scowl drew everyone’s attention in the otherwise boring course of day-to-day affairs.
“So, Craig,” Sakura said, prim and proper with her glasses square on her brow and her lips drawn tight. Gone was the playful and friendly look she’d shared with me. This was a serious businesswoman, ready to tackle a serious task. “I’ve gotten several reports of troubling behavior from you.”
Craig snorted. “Save me the bullshit, Sakura. Your dad owes my dad, that’s why I got this job. And what’s he still doing here?” He jerked his chin at me.
“To make sure you don’t do anything even more stupid,” I said.
Craig scowled, then turned to Sakura. “Tell him to get lost or to go fetch you a cup of coffee, like that stupid intern forgot to do.”
“Craig, you’re not in any position to be making demands,” Sakura said as she closed her laptop and pushed it aside. “You’ve been passed off from department to department for way too long. I’m going to break the cycle. You’re finished here.”
“What?” For the first time, Craig looked surprised.
“You’re fired. Pack your things and be out of here before the hour’s up. Your employment here is terminated, effective immediately.”
“You can’t just fire someone without reason!”
“Actually”—Sakura smirked—“I can. You’re employed at will. At my will, specifically. And I will it that you no longer work here.”
“I’ll get a lawyer,” Craig threatened. “You’ll be out on your ass, and your daddy’s company will have to write me a fat check for wrongful termination.”
“Hmm... wrongful termination, you say? How is it wrongful termination when I’ve got records of multiple accounts of sexual harassment from female coworkers, and two reports of violence from your male coworkers? And I bet if I asked, I’m pretty sure a few of your fellow employees would have things to add that aren't already on the record.”
“I want to speak to your father,” Craig said.
“Why? Is speaking to the ‘slut in charge’ not enough for you?” She narrowed her eyes at the man.
For the first time, Craig’s face paled. Sakura had been listening to our conversation out in the hall.
“Look… uhh… being a slut isn’t… all bad. I meant it as a compliment, really. It means--”
Sakura held up her hand to shut him up. “Just get out.”
Craig turned, threw me a look that could kill, and then stormed out of Sakura’s office.
As soon as the door locked, Sakura dropped the fierce look and she sagged into her chair. “Whew. That was a scary one. I thought he was going to tear up my office for sure.”
“You did great. High five!” I congratulated her. I bet a lot of people in the office were going to be doing that soon.
But before we could celebrate, a message lit up before my face. The text glowed, surrounded by a blue box that filled my vision. No matter how I turned, I couldn’t see anything except the message.
Welcome to the Arcadia Multiverse.
Initializing… this process may induce some discomfort.
Chapter
Three
I couldn't even begin to describe the agony I experienced next. 'Some discomfort' was a damn lie. My body was torn apart, scanned, and put back together again. The sensation was like nothing I'd ever felt before, and through all the unnatural pain I was nothing more than a disembodied ghost.
