warns

He's leaving work. Another hard day of sorting files, making phone calls, and generally attending to bullshit he cares nothing about. It's just a job, a way to get by, a way to pay the bills. He's not even sure that he's managing that last part.

He's lighting a cigarette as he passes the gas station, billowing nine dollar smoke out of the corner of his mouth as he tugs his headphones tighter over his ears. He doesn't have them plugged in, he just wants to look like he's too engrossed to talk to anyone.

He's stomping down the sidewalk, head down as cars whiz past him. He wonders if he should get a different job. He heard somewhere 'love what you do and you'll never work a day in your life', which really just sounds like a phrase that corporate bosses tell their employees to keep them complacent.

But there's value in it, right? If you trully love and enjoy what you get paid to do, then you won't feel as miserable, right? You'll be that much more likely to want to wake up and want to go to work, right?

I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Leo freezes in the middle of the sidewalk as the eerily familiar voice fills his head, overwhelming his senses. Someone bumps him from behind and mutters a curse word as they stumble past. Leo doesn't see them. He's too preoccupied at this surreal experience.

Are you...in my head? Am I tripping right now?

You would know if you were tripping, don't you think?

I mean, I guess...But that still doesn't explain how you're...how we're talking right now.

Do you really want an explanation? Or would you rather hear what I have to say?

Leo lets the pause speak for itself.

You must be more careful of the company you keep. Trust no one.

What the fuck are you talking about? 

You'll find out soon enough. 

What? What?

There's silence on the other end.

Where did you go? Can you still hear me?

More silence.

He flicks his cigarette butt into the road, too stressed to even finish it. "Goddess fucking damnit. I hate them so much."