The dim glow of the monitors glanced off freshly minted five o’clock shadows.
The scent of coffee hung heavy in the air-- punctuated with airs of fast food grease.
Clicking keyboards were only interrupted by the occasion burble of the water cooler.
Dullness coalescing into the monotonous malaise of another day at the office.
In one cubicle, among an endless, ubiquitous sea of beige boxes, sat Jeff.
Jeff didn’t drink coffee-- not after what he was used to.
That was like eating pork rinds after a life of eating caviar.
Jeff sat in his chair, clicking a pen, and stared at the digital clock in the corner of his screen.
4:15 PM
Jeff chewed anxiously on his lip.
Just five more hours... you can do this.
He checked his email, filed a few reports, then looked back at the clock.
4:16 PM
Jeff sighed, rubbing his temples.
He was struggling in this new life-- plagued with old temptations.
You don’t need it, last time was THE last time-- you promised yourself.
After a walk around the office, and an extended water cooler break, he sat back down.
Taking a deep breath, he smiled.
See? That had to kill some time I mean look now it’s--
4:19 PM
Okay... just one more time-- but THIS is the last time.
Jeff stood up, and headed towards the elevator.
“Hey! Jeff! Where you off to my man?”
Jeff froze, and turned to face a smug grin in a vomit green tie.
“Oh... hey Pete, just... just taking my lunch break.”
Pete’s crooked mustache twitched as he let out a brief chuckle.
“A-Okay by me, just as long as you aren’t sneaking out early!”
Jeff put on his closest replica to a smile.
“No, just... just getting... food.”
Jeff let out a sound somewhat similar sound to a laugh, and quickly headed into the elevator.
As the metal doors closed, Jeff let out a breath of relief, and pulled out his phone.
Jeff>Hey, meet me in the alley by the coffee shop on 5th
Steve>Whooooooaaaaa!! looks whos back in it!!!
Jeff> Come on, I gotta be back at work soon.
Steve> HAHA putting in some overtime eh? ;)
Jeff> Just hurry, alright?
Steve> ok ok on my way
Jeff stood in the alley, tapping his foot impatiently.
“On my way,” my ass...
He looked at the clock on his phone again.
4:30 PM
Jesus, I’m not getting fired waiting for this--
“Yo! Jeff! How you been?”
Jeff looked up to see a man in a white wife-beater, and faded blue jeans.
“Steve, finally, what took you?”
Steve set a metal case on the ground, and bowed in an attempt to feign an air of class.
“Hey, I need time to ensure the finest quality for my longest standing customer!”
Jeff picked up the case, and handed Steve a roll of bills.
“Sure, sure. I’ll only be fifteen minutes-- if I’m gone for more than 30 minutes they dock my pay.”
Steve shook his head as he counted the money.
“Another classic example of capitalism bringing us down.”
Jeff couldn’t help but smile, “Yeah, I’m sure that’s what it is.”
He headed towards a moving truck parked in an empty lot across the street.
Jeff opened the trailer door of the truck, and stepped inside.
He flipped a light switch on the wall, and set the case onto a small table.
He put on the white cleansuit hanging on a hook.
Opening the case, he set out various scalpels, surgical saws, and a small ball-peen hammer.
In the middle of the room was a man, fastened to a refurbished dentist’s chair.
The man struggled against the restraints, and trying to scream through the tape over his mouth.
Jeff walked over to him, and gently set the blade of a scalpel against his chest.
“Sorry about this, it’s just... I need that midday pick-me-up, you know?”
Ribbons of crimson flesh lay scattered like discarded Christmas wrapping paper.
Glittering white specks of broken teeth floated in a pools of glimmering blood.
The only sound was the slow drip of essence off of a lifeless hand.
Jeff sat in his cubicle, a smile of contentment on his face.
He clacked away at his keyboard, with a newfound peace of mind.
“Hey! My man! How was lunch?”
Jeff looked up at the same smug grin, and the same vomit green tie.
“O-oh, it was great...”
Pete chuckled, “I can tell-- you got a bit of sauce on your chin there!”
Jeff quickly wiped at his chin, and looked at the red stain on his hand.
“Oh! Thanks...”
Pete walked away laughing, as Jeff turned back to his computer.
That was close... TOO close. This seals it-- that was the last time.
Jeff sat in his cubicle, clicking his pen, and stared at the clock.
4:15 PM
He chewed anxiously on his lip.
No. You’re done-- that was the last time. Never again.
Jeff checked his email, filed a few reports, then looked at the clock again
4:16 PM
Okay, maybe just one last time...
