The Beast’s Exception

Beep, beep, beep "That will be $20." "I bought a can of beer, a pack of gum and some toilet paper," the fat white man stared down at me in disgust, as if I had set those prices myself. I kept my smile on my face, and shrugged. "Sir, if you have a problem with the prices you're going to have to take them up with management." I point at the door to my right, a large printed paper that said "MANAGEMENT," stuck by a thumbnail. "Just give me my damn stuff." He throws a fifty at me, and although I wanted to throw it back at him and ask him to do it again, but nicely, it just wasn't worth it. I cashed him out and sat back onto my stool. The Red Label grocery store was awfully slow today, and I wouldn't complain normally but it has been like this all week. If the store didn't pick up, then I honestly wouldn't want to see my Cheque at the end of the month. There were three of us who worked here, Maggie, an older woman who I'm pretty sure showers in the sink before she heads out to the streets to p********e herself, Era, a pretty blonde who's always getting herself in trouble with the law, however takes her work here pretty seriously which is why she's still around, and Me, Venus. There's not much of a fun story I could tell about myself. No backstory, no record, no drugs, no superhero by day, grocery story cashier by night, none of that. Just a tall, awkward 20 year old black woman, who lives alone in a shitty apartment with her two dogs. Yamhead and Meatpie were two rescues that I had gotten from the pound and both of them were the same breed; golden retrievers. I got them about two years ago, as pups, but they sure weren't pups now. They were my children, and I lived and breathed for them. They gave me purpose. "Venus, Sarah wants you to mop aisle four before we close." Maggie chewed lazily on her gum, a lanky hand on her hip as she stared at me with a raised eyebrow. I'm pretty sure Sarah, our manager, told her to mop, but I didn't have a problem. When we weren't working at the cashier's table, we could use our headphones. I've been dying to listen to some Melii today. "Gonna take care of your v****a in the bathroom sink now, Maggie," Era taunts, tilting her head to the side, her blue eyes sparkled with amusement. Maggie only shows her the middle finger before in fact, descending into the girls bathroom. I retreat to the 4th aisle with the Mop and the bucket, shoving my phone in my apron. Samsung headphones stuck in my ears, I began mopping what seemed to be soda off the floor. 'See me,' by Melii starts playing and I close my eyes for a second in content. There was just something about the reverb + slowed versions of songs, it did something to you. Melii sang me away, the mop swishing out of rhythm, chaotically but I didn't care, I was having a good time. Speaking of Chaos, tell me why I hadn't noticed a group of masked men barge into the store? It started off as confusion, maybe Maggie was trying to steal a bottle of liquor again and it fell and broke? Maybe Era was screaming at Maggie because it fell and broke. But the bottle crashing and screaming just didn't seem to stop, even when I tried to mind my business and just turn my music off. I let out an exasperated sigh before removing my ear plugs. This time everything became clearer. The screams were screams of pure fear and terror, and it was just Era screaming. Maggie was screaming, deep voices were yelling, and shelves were being rattled. I was indecisive at that moment of what to do. There was a terrible feeling in my gut, and my stomach dropped to my ass. I looked around quickly, my heart rate speeding up in my chest. I wondered if Sarah wasn't didn't hear any of the commotion going on inside here, or maybe she was watching on those stupid cameras inside her office, and refused to come out. "Shut the f**k up!" One of the men screamed, Era yelped one more time in fright before she fell silent. I hear footsteps come closer, and my eyes widened as I take a step back. The mop drops instinctively, and the footsteps stop for a split second before they sped up. Where could I run? It didn't matter, because I turned at took off. I tired to open Sarah's office door, but it was locked. What a b***h. I sprinted down the other aisle, just to find another man who began walking towards me. He was big. I turn around just as quickly, and attempt to flee down the last aisle and out the door that waited at the end of it, but alas, that almost never happens in the thriller/horror movie. I'm grabbed from behind, and my entire body filled with dread. He was so strong and burly, I didn't even attempt to break loose. I just let him drag me. We ended up back at the front where the cashing stations were, and he basically flung me along near the girls. There were four of them, all masked with guns bigger than my two feet. They stood in front of us swaying from side to side carelessly, tilting and rotating heads. "W-what's going on?" Era speaks first, her hands held out in front of her. They don't answer. She looked at me for a second and I looked right back. I definitely wasn't going to say anything, if any of us were getting killed, I wouldn't be first. Maggie looked like she was going to urinate in those tight leggings she had thrown on, and well I? I was awkwardly standing there, hand on my other arm. We waited in silence, wondering if it was a robbery, a r**e attempt? It didn't seem like they'd let us know soon, they just . . . Stood there. I eyed the door as customers walked up to it, they went to push the door open but one of the goons slammed it shut. They looked confused but their confusion seemed to clear up as he knocked his gun on the glass door. They ran as quickly as they came. Finally, the door open by someone else. I would've said he was a customer, but just not him. He was dressed in an expensive looking black suit, his silk black hair black hair braided back. His eyes passed over all of us, but time seemed to slow down as his eyes locked on mine. His eyes were dark, his skin complexion mixed. We continued staring at each other till he came to stand in front of the men. I resisted the urge to look away, afraid I would break the connection. His eyes leave mine and I felt like I could breathe again. I took a quiet deep breath and averted my eyes to the floor. I hoped that he would shed some light on what was happening right now, because at this point I wasn't even nervous anymore. He eyes Maggie and Era, before disappearing again this time to Sarah's office. The door was locked but he pulled out his gun, and shot off the lock. I could hear Sarah's Yelp. By this time I'm pretty sure Maggie was trying to flirt with the men using her eyes, and Era was silently crying. There was a quite murmur, but nothing that I could hear or understand even as I was practically straining my ear. I heard the screams though. It was as if she was being tortured, she just kept yelling "No," and "help," but even if I could, I don't think I would've helped her after she locked us out of her office. If her screams weren't traumatic enough, try hearing silence followed by a loud gunshot. Era's hand immediately flew to her mouth, while Maggie jolted. The men didn't even flinch . I wasn't sure how to process it, everything was just happening so fast. I stood still, eyeing the door waiting for the man to come out, and he did. He walked back over to us, wiping his gun. "Where is Atulo?" He asked, his eyes yet to lift from the death machine he was holding. "A-Atulo? Who's that?" Era speaks first, as always and he chuckles. "Oh God!" Era screamed and I flinch as he presses the gun against her forehead. "Don't play stupid with me, Atulo Fox, he works here." My throat dries up as Era sobs helplessly, mucus dripping down her lip. Her eyes were closed and she shook her head from side to side, Maggie looked onto her in horror. "N-no one named Atulo has worked her before, it's always just been us." My voice sounded rough and raspy, he slowly turned his head onto me. He eyed me for a moment, before narrowing on his eyes. It takes a split second before Era's brain comes flying onto my face and body. I gasp in response, frozen as her lifeless body falls to the floor with a thud. It was if I was jolted awake, gasping for air. My chest heaved and my fingers felt tight, and stiff, as if I was loosing control in them. My body felt scorched where the blood rests. Bile rose from my throat and I struggled to keep it down, "I'm sorry," I forced out as I gagged, and Maggie slowly started to cry as well. I gagged again, feeling the vomit reach closer and closer. My vision blurred as I swayed on my feet and my first thought was, 'I'm moving, I can't control myself, they're going to shoot me,". My heart palpitated in my chest and I felt overcome with emotions and sensations as I dropped to my knees. My eyes roll back into my head as I collapse completely. At least if I was shot, I'd already be asleep.