"We're all Happy Here"

"We're all happy here"

The first phrase I heard at my new career filled me with hope and optimism. This year has been extremely challenging for me, between the stress of navigating the pandemic while losing my grandmother April and my bakery business closing.

Despite every obstacle and setback that occurred, I put on a smiling face walked past the security desk.

A strange feeling of anxiety and excitement filled me. It was mostly excitement but the anxiety was like a deep dark pit with a gut wrenching pull in my stomach.

I grabbed the doorknob and introduced myself to my new boss "Terry"

Hi, My name is Jonathon. It is a pleasure to meet you.

"Same here. We've been looking forward to this ever since your resume appeared on my desk," said Terry

Before I could say anything else, he told me of how understaffed the location was and how being here was such a huge help for them.

I followed him into the workshop area where he informed me that I would be working there until my office was ready.

I took a glance around the area

The place was empty, it looked like everyone who was once there just vanished; like abandoned everything and left for good. I couldn't help but notice the half-eaten mold-filled sandwich swarmed with gnats "someone should have cleaned that up" I thought.

Before I could turn my head back to Terry... he was gone. I felt like a was left in an abandoned ghost town. That feeling of excitement was gone and what replaced it was full-fledged anxiety. I can't explain it but it felt like I didn't belong here.

I should have turned around and left but I didn't. I headed over to the desk labeled with my name and sat down.

The computer there had a play button displayed. I took a heavy gulp of my water and pressed play...

The video started completely normal. It was one of those generic company commercials explaining the in and outs and what they do. One phrase stood out to me, the same phrase I had heard just before "We're all happy here"

The screen cut black and a screeching noise arose from the speakers--

BOOM...

The screen cut back on with a lifeless man laying on a carpeted office floor. The office looked familiar. It was the same office I was in. There were at least half a dozen people in the area and they were all screaming with terror. I could see tears rolling down their cheeks...

There was another BOOM!

Another person hit the ground. With that second shot, everyone fled out of the office.

At this point I was confused and terrified. I quickly decided whatever is going on here I do not want to be a part of

I sprang out of my chair and sprinted towards the door

I grabbed the doorknob tried to open it. It was locked.

I noticed there was newspaper articles framed on the door

"Tragedy strikes award-winning Phillips company office in 1984"

Another one that said... "Phillips office abandoned company bankrupt and closed"

But wait I applied for Phillips... How are they bankrupt? I work here...

Then I saw Terry walk in, I immediately ran over to question him... His eyes looks empty as he pulled out a gun and uttered one gut wrenching phrase "we're all happy here"

Terror struck me and before I knew it a loud bang rang out and Terry's lifeless body was lying next to me.