Tadhg Burk

The Night Shift

It was the dawn of a new day all the employees had long since left their stations to be home with their families it was at this time that next shift takes over. The last shift gives the daily report of what had happened throughout the day eager to go home to get prepared for the next day. The story begins with our protagonist Sam, A nimble office worker who has no aspirations for a better life. Sam come on Duty for most likely the 100th time of the 100th day of the 10th year. They are accustomed to all the formalities that the Night Shift brings along with it including how to manage the floor and how to perform their tasks. This night however was different from the standard Nights they normally work. Sam got changed and hurriedly got busy already sitting behind a desk filing paperwork. As they sat behind filing more of the unchanging paperwork the lines start to blur and distort until they had finished the first stack. It was then at this rate our hero stands up to stretch. They had finished the work that they have normally done at the same pace they had for the last few years. Sam went to the breakroom where their bosses and co-workers normally congregate. To their surprise no one was in the breakroom today but easily shrugged of as a busy day. Upon sitting down at the desk once again and beginning to work Sam began to feel unable to focus. Sluggishly they had written out reports and closed accounts but as they continued. Sam lost traction until finally the took another break. It was at this time Sam need to stretch their legs; Sam went down to the desk where their friend works only to find them absent. As they were about to check to see if the boss knew anything about this. Sam caught a glimpse of the clock. It was midnight and not a second over. Sam then seeing they had not gotten any work done had began to make their way back to the desk as they begin filing once more. All that could be heard was the scribbling of a pen to paper. As Sam drew close to finishing the second stack, they noticed that the normal events the normally occur have not happened yet. The security officer had not walked by doing his walkaround and there was no sign of the janitor who had worked here far longer than anyone else could remember. Sam was steadfast they swore to themselves that things were not as they seemed. Sam looked around for any sign of sentient life in the office complex glancing out the office windows as she walked by. Only unlit darkness filled the outside space as they walked past the many windows of their office. Sam was determined to find the cause of their paranoia they looked through the rooms in the office even going so far as to look down at the main entrance for a security officer or receptionist. For a second, they even contemplated leaving but remained resolute that the hour was not ended. Sam looked at the clock on the and still reading midnight began to panic for Sam time had stood still not moving forward nor backward Sam attempted to leave but upon opening the front door all they could see was a deep dark void that as far as they could tell was all consuming. Sam had nothing to do aside from hyperventilating. In the many years they had preformed their job they had never ran into an obstacle like this. They try to remain positive before giving into complete denial. Nothing can be done except repeat the steps they had taken that had led them to this situation. Sam sat down at the desk and continued to stare off into space. Sam sat for what seemed like years at the dreary desk as soon as they completed paperwork more started to appear around the clock. As soon as they felt hungry food appeared in the office fridge with all her coworker’s names on it. when they needed water. Coffee was always ready and waiting Sam became accustomed to this new bleak life. As the eternal night drew on her coworkers watched as the once bright prospect became a zombie to their job Sam had become abstinent to the world around them life continued but Sam remained glued to their work. Year after year, Day after day, Night after night.