Arin quietly sat in his seat with a cardboard box in his hand. He sat in a relaxed manner.
He was staring straight through window, lost in his thoughts.
Thinking how had things came to this. He had done everything he was asked for.
Study diligently, follow the rule and getting better. Just to get a good stable job but now even that was gone.
What puzzled him most wasn't loosing the job, but the lack of any sadness.
Some of his co-workers broke down and wept but why didn't he feel bad.
May be because, It didn't happen like messy break-up. And it wasn't like company can do anything, another massive corporation had taken over it. And they decided to let go of majority of the employees.— Arin told himself as train kept moving underground.
It was evening but still had time before the shift of corporate employees ended.
So, when people noticed a young man in slouched posture with a cardboard box in his lap. It wasn't hard to guess, what had happened.
Although it wasn't rare, It had become more and more common to see people losing their job.
As train stopped in a station. Arin felt someone touching his shoulder. He turned his head to look.
"Don't worry,Young man. You have plenty of time. This is just a minor setback." kind looking old woman said to him as she got off the train.
Arin first got confused. "Sad? Who? Me?"
Then he noticed his own sitting posture and cardboard box on his lap. He understood what must've happened.
He only smiled inwardly and sat properly. As train moved again. He looked inside his cardboard box to pass time.
There were some books, stationary, a framed photo, few small trophies and a desk plant.
Books were about how civilization had evolved over the long period of time. The sense of progress always fascinated him.
Framed photo was from the time when he and his whole team was on vacation. It always brought smile on his face.
And the last things was a desk plant. It's tall and stiff leaves stripped in dark and pale green stood as if act of defiance. It wasn't much to look at but the reason Arin liked it, was it's survivability.
"Next stop, East Weller. Transfer for blue line and residential sectors." Pre-recorded voice sounded through speakers.
Arin pulled his thoughts from his snake plant and stood up. He got off the train.
As he walked, he noticed the breaking news flashing across the station's screens.
[News — Local]
[Third disappearance this week. Police urges all citizens to remain indoor after dark]
"This makes... 5th case just this month." he stared at headline for a moment with brow slightly furrowed.
As he kept walking he kept hearing nit bit of news about the case how person disappeared from home. No break ins. No security footage.
He exited the subway station. The city hadn't changed. Same pavement, same faded and ripped posters. But it all felt strange with no exact purpose.
Arin took a deep breath and sighed. "I guess, I should just walk home today."
It's been years since he felt this free. He admired things as he steadily walked.
Sun was dipping behind the skyline, painting the clouds saffron. Streetlight buzzed up to life with sluggish flicker.
People would soon start arriving from their shift and roads would bustle with activity.
Arin took his time. He didn't need to rush. No more deadlines for him anymore. At least not for now.
Soon after walking for around an hour he finally reached his colony. He walked inside and noticed something.
Where are the guards?— he thought.
He walked towards the building he reside. He noticed two older women stood by the entrance talking.
"I'm telling you, he resigned. We have to find new watchman."
"What are you talking about? What else can he do to earn money. It's not like we mistreated him in any way."
"He said, he didn't need job any more. His son landed a High level job, in some government adjacent company apparently."
Hearing this other woman just sighed.
What is happening nowadays? Some people are vanishing while some shooting up like rockets.— Arin thought to himself as he entered his building.
Inside, it was just as like as he left it. Dull beige walls. Elevator humming in shaft. And slight smell of old air freshener.
He took the stairs.
***
Arin entered his apartment and with soft metalic click door closed behind him.
His apartment wasn't big but it was functional. Single sofa and table. A foldable desk and chair near the window to enjoying beverages and do some work.
He dropped his key in the trey by the door and cardboard on the table. He took out his desk plant and put it on the table.
He took shower and changed into comfortable t-shirt and sweatpant. Next he moved toward his fridge. He just took leftovers from fridge and reheat it.
While microwave hummed, he opened his laptop and connected his headphone to it. He opened the video sharing & streaming platform. Trying to find something to watch while he ate.
"Welcome back guys it's day 5 of the survival with Zombies in hardcore mode." said the streamer in raspy voice. "I have reinforced the west wall but I am running low on wires and ropes. I hope I can bait crawlers into the trap."
Arin sat down with his now reheat food and water. He chewed mechanically while he watched.
At start it seemed to go everything as the plan of streamer but soon as he made a small mistake. Everything started to fall apart like Domino effect.
In last the streamer even spent some real life currency. At the end the streamer survived the hord of zombie till the morning. But his shelter was barely standing.
"Livin' by the edge of the spoon." said the streamer while taking a deep breath. "Man, this game is brutal."
As he finished eating. He put the bowl aside and close the app without watching rest of the video.
He took controler from table drawer and boot up the same game.
He played the game few hours. The survival, strategy and progress of these type of game always fascinated him. Maybe that's why he was better at this game. Well atleast better than the guy he just watched.
After playing the game, he opened a spreadsheet. It had record of all of his past play-throughs. Some boasting success while some failure. He swiftly recorded today's strategy and build.
He wasn't obsessed with this game. He just liked solving puzzles with consequences and recording them. At least thats what he told himself.
He saved the file and shut down the system. He dimmed the lights and walked towards his bedroom.
As he walked heard something break. He checked and it was his desk plant, lying on the floor.
Arin picked it up and looked at dirt and pot lying on the floor. Feeling lazy he thought, forget it, I'll clean it in the morning. And moved towards his bedroom to sleep.
***
Arin layed in his bed with his phone in his hand. He was clearing his calendar and alarms. There was no need for them. At least for now.
He put his phone on side table. His thoughts drifted from one topic to another not anxious but planning.
I need to update my CV. Ohh God! It's been years since I saw it. I don't even remember in which folder i put it. he thought as he stared at his ceiling.
But there is no need to worry. Maybe I should just take few weeks off. Stay home and just rest. With my savings it won't be any problem. his mood started to get lazy.
As his thoughts kept drifting he kept getting more and more confidence that nothing was wrong in his life.
Just like that nice old lady said. This is just a minor setback before my major comeback. Arin's body relaxed and for a moment the world felt simple.
After unknown period of time.
[Candidate selected]
[Initializing soft teleportation]
[Candidate #11249 prepare for transfer]
Arin felt something hard press against his back. He slowly opened his eyes.
Still in half sleep, he tried to look for clock on the wall but everything was blurry. He rubbed his eyes. But when he opened them.
There was no clock. Confused, he looked around but there was no phone, no table and there was not even the bed he was sitting on the white floor.
As he slowly got up. A thought creeped in his mind. —Did I just get robbed blind. B..B..But how did they took the bed.
He grabbed his forehead. He felt like his head was spinning either due to sleepiness or the shock. He wasn't sure.
"They got everything, even my official documents. What should I do? Let's just inform the police." Arin muttered as he moved toward the road.
Did they not have anyone else to rob? Could this be a personal revenge or some joke. Arin kept thinking, trying to make sense of his situation.
Arin Stop with his hand on door knob and took a deep breath.
"No point getting panic, just stay calm." Arin told himself.
"The Worst has already happened, there is nothing that can ..." his last few words died down in his throat as he observed the unfamiliar white hallway after opening the door and realised something.
"F#CK!!!" Arin curses aloud. He finally understood what happened. "I became the 6th one."