This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.

The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/Aftermire on 2026-05-14 12:33:01+00:00.

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"Mike, did the employment agency call you back yet? “ Susan asked, unloading clean dishes from the dishwasher.

I felt an unpleasant twist in my stomach.

A month ago, I lost my job.

That subject instantly sent a wave of uncertainty and fear through me.

I had been the senior regional manager at a large security company.

Unfortunately, the company went under, and overnight, we were cut off from any way to support ourselves.

Sitting at the kitchen table, I answered “ Yeah, I’ve got a meeting at ten, I need to head out soon. Apparently they found only one position that pays weekly, but there are a lot of people going for it. They’ll give me more details once I get to the office “

Susan didn’t say anything. For the past few weeks, it had become taboo between us.

I took my last sip of coffee and placed the empty mug in the sink.

Susan shot me a dirty look “ In the dishwasher, Mike… I’ve got enough cleaning up after the kids without you adding to it “

Obediently, I did what she asked and headed toward the bedroom.

I changed into a dress shirt and a pair of slacks. I need to make a good impression - I thought, fastening my leather belt.

“ Mike, take the trash out on your way out “ - Susan shouted.

I glanced at my watch. I had about fifteen minutes to get there… I could make it.

“ alright, babe “ I said, hurriedly fixing my hair.

I walked into the kitchen, opened the cabinet under the sink, grabbed the trash bag, and it ripped open, scattering everything across the floor.

I froze, and a wave of heat spread across my face.

“ goddammit “ - I shouted, crouching down and stuffing the trash into a new bag.

“ Mike, what happened? “ Susan’s voice called from the other room.

“ Nothing, babe, the bag ripped “ I said through gritted teeth.

Susan appeared in the doorway “ Because you do everything in a rush. It’s fine, don’t worry about it. I was gonna mop the floor anyway “

I stood up and headed toward the door with the bag.

I put on my overcoat.

“ Mike, it’s the middle of winter. You’re gonna freeze and get sick “ - Susan said, looking out from the kitchen.

“ It’s just the walk to the car, I’ll be fine “ - I said flatly, grabbing the handle.

Susan walked over and kissed me on the cheek “ You got this. You’ll charm them “

I nodded and headed toward the car.

Getting in, I glanced at the digital clock. It read 9:54.

A shot of panic ripped through me.

“ no way… I’m gonna be late “

I pulled out almost squealing the tires, and ten minutes later I was already at the building.

The door was open.

I ran inside and saw a small, dark hallway with four chairs and an entrance leading to another room.

I stopped outside the office and felt sweat running down my temple.

I knocked, grabbed the handle, and stepped inside.

A woman in a turquoise turtleneck was sitting with her back to me, and on the other side of the desk sat a thin, sharply dressed man with an irritated look on his face.

“ Mike? “ - he asked, staring straight into my eyes.

I forced a smile and answered “ Yeah, that’s me “

The man glanced toward my hand “Nice watch you got there. Does that thing tell time right?”

My stomach twisted, and I felt an uncontrollable nervous twitch in the corner of my mouth.

“ I’m really sorry, I had a little accident this morning…”

The man cut me off halfway through my sentence with a mocking smile

“ If your watch works, then walk out that door and learn how to use it “

I froze.

I stood there staring at him, my voice trapped in my tightened throat.

This was my only shot. I knew I had to get this job.

“ Please, it’s only a few minutes. I’m highly qualified “ I said, nervously loosening my tie.

“ Mikey. Time is the most valuable currency in the world, you know? Tell me... If your head was underwater. Completely out of air. Would you still use the words “it’s only a few minutes”? “ he said, leaving a long, unsettling pause after every sentence.

My throat went dry.

The man stood up with his eyes locked straight onto mine.

He didn’t blink, and a thick, pulsing vein appeared on his forehead.

“ Get the fuck out of my office and wait your turn “ - he shouted, and I jumped, stumbling backward.

I lowered my eyes to the floor, and from the corner of my eye I noticed the woman in the chair hadn’t even moved.

She looked like she wasn’t even breathing.

My heart was hammering against my ribs.

The man sat back down and added cheerfully “ I’ll call you, Mikey “

This guy’s insane - I thought, quickly walking out and shutting the door behind me.

I leaned against the wall and felt my shirt sticking to my soaked back.

I took a step toward the exit, struggling to catch my breath.

Being around him filled me with strong, panicked fear. It wasn’t the yelling. There was something unsettling in his eyes.

My survival instincts were going crazy, like I was standing in front of a predator that could lunge for my throat at any second.

Suddenly I froze. I saw Susan in my mind, and the disappointment on her face.

I can’t do this to her. These past few weeks had already cost her, and our marriage, far too much.

I turned back toward the office, sat down, and waited.

I had been sitting there for a good three hours. Freezing winter air kept blowing into the hallway through the open front door, making my body shake. I wanted to close it, but I was too afraid to do it without permission.

I looked toward the entrance and realized no other applicants had shown up at all, even though there were supposed to be a whole lot of them.

I moved my toes inside my dress shoes. I couldn’t feel them.

“ I’m gonna freeze to death out here, but if I leave I might lose this opportunity.” - I thought and stood up.

I walked decisively toward the office door and was just about to knock, but I remembered his stare and froze completely, with my hand only millimeters from the door.

Suddenly, a voice came from inside

“ next! “.

I jumped away from the door like I’d been burned.

With a trembling hand, I grabbed the handle, pulled it down, and nervously stepped inside.

I stood in the doorway, blankly staring at the empty chair.

“ What’s wrong, Mike? Didn’t get tired of waiting? Sit down “ - the recruiter said, pointing at the chair.

I slowly looked around the room and scratched my head.

There was only one door in here. No other exit.

Where’s the woman who was sitting here earlier? - I wondered, slowly walking over to the chair and sitting down.

It felt surreal. I would’ve noticed if she had walked out. I’d been right outside the door the entire time - I thought, but kept it to myself. This job meant too much to me to risk it over stupid questions.

The man picked up my resume from the desk and leaned back in his chair, saying “ So, Mikey…” he paused and looked at me. “ You’ve got a lot of experience in security… a long work history, and you were even a manager… Bravo. “ he clapped his hands.

I stared at him in disbelief.

Where the hell am I? - I thought, swallowing hard.

Suddenly, the man shot upright in his chair “ This job is perfect for you. You’ll be a manager here too “

I flinched.

“ that’s fantastic news, I was afraid I’d have to start over from scratch “ - I said, genuinely excited.

“ You’ll be your own manager, because you’ll be alone on the night shift. Mikey. “ he added after a longer pause, laughing without taking his eyes off me.

Heat rushed through me. I felt like an idiot, and suddenly I was embarrassed by how excited I’d sounded.

This guy had given me hope for a split second and crushed it without mercy.

I clenched my jaw and asked “ Sir.. “ I looked at his name tag “ Affron. What are the terms of employment, what are the duties, and what’s the pay? “

The man suddenly stood up, slamming both hands on the desk.

Instinctively, I ducked and shielded my head with my arm.

The recruiter walked over to a cabinet, pulled out a document, and placed it on the desk, saying “ There’s nothing to be afraid of. Mikey. Sign the contract. You’re getting 50 bucks an hour to park your ass in a chair watching monitors. You’ll make sure no homeless people or other unwanted guests wander around the building. You start at 8:00 p.m. “

I looked at him, my eyes widening as far as they could go.

Conditions like that right from the start?

Maybe it was because I had a firearms permit and because of the nature of the night shift, but the pay was still very impressive.

I didn’t ask unnecessary questions.

In our current situation, I didn’t care.

I looked at the contract laid out in front of me “ What kind of property will I be guarding? And is the pay weekly? “

Affron’s expression turned serious, and he looked at me, leaning over the desk “ Mike. If you last 5 days, you’ll get cash in hand right after that, and if you do a good job, the owner will throw in a pretty big bonus. The property is a renovated pizzeria from the ’80s. “

I saw a flash in his eye, and chills ran through me.

I picked up the contract, checked if the numbers matched, and while signing it, I asked “ When can I start? “

The recruiter stood up, placed a small folder in front of me, and extended his hand toward me “ Inside is your keycard, the address, and your locker key. I already told you, you start at 8:00 p.m. Don’t be late. That could end badly “ he said with a mocking smile.

I instinctively shook his hand and felt a shar...

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