Chapter 5: Night Calls and New Terrors

The next day, Lauren probably couldn’t hold out and took leave. Her cubicle was empty, her computer dark. The office felt quieter without her nervous energy buzzing around, and someone had left a passive-aggressive sticky note about cleaning the fridge.

But on the third day, when she came in, she was clearly much better, joking and laughing again. She even told me she’d gone to St. Mark’s Church and got a prayer card from Pastor Dave that really worked, so now she was definitely fine.

She waved the little card in my face, grinning. “See? Pastor Dave said a prayer for me, and I feel a hundred percent better.” Her usual spark was back, and for the first time all week, she looked like herself.

I rolled my eyes, but I was glad to see her smiling. “You’re fine, just get caught up before the boss notices you’re behind. Remember last time he flipped out over a missing staple?”

That day, we didn’t interact much, just focused on our own tasks. When I got off work, Lauren’s desk was still piled high with files. I figured she’d have to work late again, headphones in, her old Bon Jovi playlist blaring.

At home, I ate microwaved mac and cheese and watched some YouTube videos. My eyelids started drooping—the past few days had been so busy I hadn’t even had a chance to breathe. Anyone would be exhausted. Outside, the rain tapped against my window, and the city lights glowed through the haze.

The glow of the screen blurred as I scrolled through my feed, half-watching a cooking channel. I barely made it through half a video before my head started nodding.

But just as I closed my eyes, my phone buzzed—it was Lauren calling. I squinted at the screen, surprised. It was almost midnight. I hesitated, but picked up anyway.

I picked up, a bit impatient, and said if it was about work, let’s talk tomorrow. But she was incoherent, crying and sobbing, just begging me to come to her place. Her voice was high and panicked, words tumbling over each other. “Please, just come, I need you here. Please.” I could barely make out what she was saying between sobs.

I felt a jolt of adrenaline. Whatever this was, it was serious. All my annoyance vanished in an instant. I threw on a hoodie, grabbed my keys, and was out the door in less than a minute. The night air was thick and humid, streetlights buzzing as I hurried to my car, nearly forgetting my wallet in my rush.