"Dawn, I see you made it."
I groaned as I watched Kimberly walk over to me with her hand on her hip. Immediately, I got a bad feeling.
"Since you're here, don't forget to wipe the table and take out the trash in the front because it's overflowing—"
"Don't forget about the dishes!" Summer reminded her while busy scrolling through her phone.
"Oh, and the dishes."
You gotta be freaking kidding me!
Why was the garbage overflowing when they should've taken it out before I clocked in?!
"Wait! Why am I washing dishes? Isn't that Christy's job?" I asked Kimberly, only for her to shoot me a look of annoyance. But before she could answer, I felt someone standing next to me.
"Christy called in sick today. Everyone needs to work together. So, Dawn, please take care of these chores, and Kimberly and Summer, be prepared to cover for Dawn next time. We had a tight shift this morning, and unfortunately, they couldn't manage it."
Lies! Lies! Lies! He always did that!
My boss, Eddy, was standing right next to me. He was in his early thirties, had no wife or kids, and gave off a vibe of being a pushover and people-pleaser. He was a very plain-looking man who was overweight but was the world's biggest gossip. Despite his role as manager, he had a bad habit of playing favoritism amongst his employees, and his favorite two were Kimberly and Summer.
"But—" I got ready to protest.
"Are you really going to cry about such an easy task? Just do it. It's not that hard," Kimberly interrupted with an attitude in her voice, making her annoyance clear as I tried not to roll my eyes.
At that moment, I felt a strong impulse to snap back and ask her why she couldn't do it herself if it was so easy. Tight shift, my ass! They always used that excuse to get out of doing their chores!
"Oh, Eddy, that reminds me!"
My frustrations raged as I watched Kimberly and Summer pulling Eddy into his office, likely to talk about the latest gossip. Left alone, I clenched my fists to contain my anger and proceeded into the dining area.
Armed with a pair of latex gloves, I cautiously approached the garbage bin. Its contents had spilled onto the ground, emitting a horrible odor as I held my breath.
"Just great. Ten minutes into the job, and I'm ready to go home." I groaned.
As much as I hated it, my job options were limited, and I couldn't afford to leave this job, seeing as it was my only source of income. But despite my situation, I had hope. I hope that one day, my web story will rocket me into stardom, and when that happens, I'll leave this rat nest behind without a second thought.
Oh, to live a life of luxury, peace, and quiet… and my books. It was these thoughts that steadied me through the challenging weeks.
It hadn't been long since I moved out and started working at Mama D's Diner. Despite how selfish it may have sounded, I was ready to break free from this dull place that did nothing but overwork its employees. Despite the job being easy to handle, it was draining the happiness from my soul.
Since I decided to move out.
Nothing about me had changed. I was nothing special. A girl too afraid of change and the world. I was nothing like the brave and encouraging heroines I wrote in my books. After taking out the trash and making sure the dining room was spotless, I started washing the dishes.
Up front, behind the counter, I spied Summer, Kimberly, and Eddy. They were grouped together, laughing it up while looking at their phones. Those bastards! Didn't they see we had a customer who looked very annoyed as he waited for them to notice him?
I scrubbed the plate in my hand so hard I almost broke it.
"Easy there, kiddo. You don't want to break the plate. You know how Eddy is. He'll deduct that from your pay," said a deep baritone voice from our main cook, Mr. Barry.
Mr. Barry was in his late forties with an imposing figure and deep mahogany complexion that mirrored my own.
He may have looked a bit intimidating, but he was a softy once you got to know him. He was a big man with a heart of gold and the only person I respected and admired who worked here.
"I know; they just get on my nerves," I muttered, hearing him chuckle as he prepared the order.
The sound of the knife slicing through the ingredients filled the air as he diced and fried the vegetables and meat. The sound of his pan sizzling filled the kitchen with a mixture of aromas that had my stomach growling.
"Didn't say I blamed you. But keep your head cool. Play smart, not stupid. If you throw a scene, you are the only one who would get hurt."
He offered me his advice, and to my dismay, he was right. The temptation to take them down was strong, but I knew it would jeopardize my job.
Finding employment in Mist City was a challenge, particularly for someone who hadn't completed college like me. It wasn't easy to acknowledge, but while I hated this job, I was grateful for it, and it ensured I had my own place to live and food to eat.
"You're right." I sighed in defeat.
This was how life worked for some people, but I couldn't help but wonder if this was how I was destined to spend the rest of my days.
What if my story didn't end up being a success? Was this the future waiting for me? Working at a run-down old diner?
It felt like I was stuck with no way out.
After I wrapped up my work shift, my mind kept returning to the same thoughts. I stepped outside the diner with my mini backpack strapped to my back. I gazed at the gray skies of Mist City, mind in deep thought, before running to catch my bus.
Upon returning home to my one-bedroom apartment, I collapsed on my bed. My body was tired from doing more than my fair share.
"Why can't something exciting ever happen to me? You know, like some grand adventure or epic romance?" I lay on my bed and rolled onto my side, staring at my desk. Sometimes, I wish I could be like the characters in my book.
Fearless, Brave, … and Free.
Unable to fight the drowsiness any longer, a yawn escaped my lips as I surrendered myself into a deep sleep.
In my dream, it was as if the world had ceased to exist. I lost track of time, drifting down an endless abyss of darkness that was neither haunting nor beautiful.
All I felt was peace.
The tension and stress in my body evaporated, leaving me in a state of pure bliss. When suddenly, my peace was shattered by haunting and eerie images like a movie flickering to life.
The city I now lived in was engulfed in flames, an unsettling sight that defied comprehension. Above, a horde of malevolent beasts, their forms unfamiliar and menacing, descended upon the city.
Mist City was in ruins, with buildings and streets torn apart. The sky burned, and clouds of smoke blew in the air. My view suddenly changed to that of the entire globe, which had come under siege. I was horrified at the widespread chaos and destruction that had spread across the continent.
Then, all of a sudden, the scene changed again. I was in a different place—a place that looked nothing like my Earth but some strange battlefield land. My scream of fear got caught in my throat as I watched beautiful yet terrifying winged creatures battle in the sky and on land.
The battle between the two opposing sides spilled a sea of blood onto the ground as they were locked in an intense fight using swords and magic. As if one was playing chess, one side was decked out in white armor and matching majestic wings while their enemy was decked out in the opposite color, sporting ominous black wings and horns.
The air crackled as the two forces clashed, shaking the very foundation of the land.
'The dawn of a new battle is on the horizon. A battle that will shake the very existence of this world. The hands of Fate are upon you, little one. For everything you have ever known and who you are will be questioned and tested.'
I was startled as a mysterious female voice emerged from the chaos to deliver this ominous warning.
This… This was a nightmare!
I screamed, clutching at my head, desperate to get away.
I gotta wake up!
Wake Up!
A blood-curdling scream scattered my dream into fragments like a broken puzzle, jolting me awake.
As I lay there, my heart raced so fast I thought it was about to jump out of my chest. Sweat trickled down my face.
"What kind of horrible dream was that?!" I asked myself, staring at my hand that wouldn't stop trembling.
It all felt so real.
With a dream like that, I was all set to get out of bed, eager to clear my mind, but when my foot hit the floor, I could hear warning bells going off in my head, signaling danger.
"Something isn't right."
There was this overwhelming feeling in my stomach, yelling at me to run, screaming at me that my life was in danger. But why would my life be in danger?
I asked myself these questions, but my instincts took over as I placed my feet on the floor and slowly walked to my window. I stretched out my trembling hand and drew back the curtain beside my bedside.
I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I wanted to scream, but my body felt as if it had frozen over. Chills ran down my spine. I couldn't bring myself to accept what lay before my eyes right out my window.
"Nononono! Please tell me I'm still dreaming…!"
Outside my window... just like in my dream...
...the world was on fire.