Dangers

Chapter One

The sounds of thunder and rain pounded Alice's window. She shot up from a deep sleep, she never liked the rain, especially during the night. She just woke up from a nightmare. Curling up against her headboard she tried to relax, not able to get the dream out of her mind. She was working at a small diner and flirting with a tall man. He felt abnormally tall and so handsome it felt impossible. He looked at her from the booth and smiled. His grin alone made Alice feel both fear and excitement. She didn't understand this emotion. She didn't remember what she said to the man, all she knew was that he was flirting with her and she was flirting back. She remembers writing her number on his arm. She remembers that smile.

The next morning Alice listens to her alarm go off at six. She never went back to sleep. She turns it off and drags herself out of bed. After getting ready for the day she opens her door to the fresh smell of rain and fog. Driving to work in morning traffic feels harder this Thursday morning. The car horns gave her a headache and her ankle started to get sore from stopping and starting so much. After an hour she pulls into the parking garage and steps out only to have stepped into a puddle. Finally getting to her cubicle, she takes off her shoes to let them dry. Logging on to the computer and opening her email felt more difficult this morning. She reads the update on how her parking garage will be closed for the next week. This means she will have to wake up earlier, park in the west side parking garage, and walk four blocks to work. Alice lets out a sigh and continues on reading emails. She finds one from Susan Wash, the head of marketing, Alice's department. After a lengthy and redundant intro, Alice finds out Susan will be out for a one to two months. Something about a family emergency. A substitute will be sent in on the fifth. Tomorrow. Alice checked the status of her latest assignment. Everything was finished, except for Susan's sign off. Alice felt discouraged once again. This Thursday morning was sent from hell itself.

Lunch came and Alice signed off her computer. Alice remembers what she packed her lunch. Leftovers her mom made for her, homemade meatballs covered in her secret marinara sauce. She then remembers how it is currently sitting at home in her refrigerator.

"Fuck this" Alice mutters under her breath. She gets up, grabs her wallet, and marches across the street to a overpriced hamburger restaurant. Alice would kill over and over for a bite of the triple cheeseburger with bacon from The Cave. After waiting in line for a fourth of her break she gets to the front and places her order.

"Can I get the Triple Dipper with bacon, onion rings, and an extra large coke please"

"Sure thing, do you want to add a milkshake to make it a monster meal?"

Alice did not need to think about her answer. "Yes"

After paying $30 for her lunch she walked back over to the office. With 15 minutes left to her lunch she eats half her burger, her onion rings, and sticks the milkshake into the freezer. Sitting down in her noisy chair, feeling awful, now physically as well, Alice does not come back from break. She takes her left over food, forgetting the milkshake, clocks out, and drives home. Susan isn't here to tell her no.