The Drop Off

"NEW ORDER DELIVERY- No 8 Mawar Street! The package has been left on your doorstep."

Duke groaned as he reached for his phone to silence the speaker. He hated how cheerful the lady sounded. There was no need for Duke to keep alarms anymore since his new job had been making it a point to deprive him of his peaceful slumber.

Duke turned on his mat, facing the other side of the wall. He knew it wouldn't be long before that lovable voice threatened him.

3… 2… 1…

"Thirty percent of your salary will be deducted if the package hasn't been delivered by 9 AM."

There it was, the only motivation he needed to get his ass off his mat. He sprang up.

He traced his hand on the small table nearby in search of something. His search came to an abrupt end when his hands got hold of it: his glasses.

He picked them up and roughly shoved them on his face. The rough impact made one of the hinges fall off once again. He groaned in dismay before keeping the fallen hinge on the table and wearing the worn-out pair.

His eyesight wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that great either. Duke was one of those people who would walk around without glasses, knowing full well they had not-so-great eyes. It was only recently, when he got a job, that he found his way around the lenses he now had.

Living in a single bedroom with just enough space to fit a single bed, a stool, and his luggage was enough for him. He owned a TV that hadn't been turned on since it was bought and mounted on the wall. Duke had gathered most of what he earned delivering packages to get the television. He didn't bother turning it on yet because he was still waiting to get the new gaming console he wanted. But he was happy today.

He knew if he got paid in cash after the delivery, it would cover the amount for the gaming device he wanted. And then he could get junk food and beer afterward.

Duke didn't waste time in his bathroom. He did his business quickly and headed for the neatly ironed shirt he had placed on the stool where his phone was.

Duke came out to find the package still on his doorstep. It wouldn't bother him if someone stole it. Everyone was pretty much busy trying to level up their tiers and get the government to notice them. Duke had to admit he kind of liked the change a little. Everyone was focused on one aim, while he was simply trying to get enough money to afford what he wanted.

Nevertheless, the world had changed. It started when everyone began talking about the government proposal after the apocalypse. It wasn't a zombie apocalypse, nor a treacherous airborne infection spreading and killing people. No, it was the government. The government had formed an unusual alignment with supreme beings, proposing a task to humanity. Anyone who could reach certain tiers after completing tasks would receive a huge reward.

Ever since then, the world had turned into a semi-graveyard. People started disappearing without cause, and others remained, whispering amongst themselves about the so-called "tiers" and their soon-to-be "wealth."

At first, it started as a bloody rumor. No one was quite sure if the rumor was valid. Then they started seeing friends exhibiting great skills they could only dream of having. It started with the parents, who wanted what the government had promised to make their lives and their kids' lives better. Then the teenagers and young adults followed. Soon after, the adults started quitting their jobs when they realized that their friends who had joined the game were now rich and could afford all they wanted.

Except for Duke.

The news had thrilled him just like everyone else, but Duke was much more excited to be the only one doing delivery work so he could get a good amount of money, more than he usually got paid.

The fellow who worked with Duke before joining the crowd for the pursuit of fame to the unknown had called Duke a smart, selfish man. He even joked about not letting Duke have all the glory of working alone. But after some days away from work, when Duke hadn't seen him, he realized the guy had joined the race for fame.

Duke unlocked his motorcycle before rolling it out from the corner where he usually concealed it from view. The bike was given to him by the company he worked for; their logo was engraved on it.

Duke had joked to himself about him and the company being the only ones who hadn't given up on their natural work. He later figured it wasn't the company running the business anymore. It was the government. Since he was the only one working under the company as it stood, they gave him an apartment and a bike so he could be steadfast in his job.

Duke rode down the deserted road from his house to the main road where he could navigate to the street he was supposed to deliver the package. Luckily, it wasn't far from his house. He started to make his way toward the said location, and in less than five minutes, he was there. He gave the man the package and immediately received the payment. He grinned with delight. As he turned his back to head back to his bike, the man hollered for him to come back.

"Hey, bro," the man greeted as soon as Duke came closer. Duke simply muttered a "hello" in response.

"I'd like you to deliver this same package to this location," the man said, handing a note to Duke. But Duke had already started to protest, saying that the company was the only one that tasked him with deliveries. The man was quick to dismiss Duke's words.

"I get that, bro. But you see, they make us wait for another ten days before we can send out packages. And there isn't anyone else really to plead with to do this. But seeing that you are here, and you don't have a package to deliver at the moment, just do me a solid and help me drop this off. I'll pay you double the price of what was given to you. So, do we have a deal?"

Duke's ears perked up on hearing "double" of what was given to him. His mind raced while he kept a calm expression, thinking of what else he could buy for his room. The only thing he needed was what he was getting today, but there was no harm in having extra cash.

Duke sighed as if he had no other choice before he spoke. "I'll do it because I don't have a package to deliver at the moment."

The man grinned before handing the package back to Duke, who collected it effortlessly.

"Well, you know how it goes: you get paid on delivery once the recipient has successfully affirmed receiving their package. But since this isn't the usual, he'll be giving you the payment himself."

Duke nodded before veering around to make his way to his bike. He smiled when he felt the money he had collected from the delivery. Now he was going to have two more of the same amount.

"Sweet!" he mumbled before zooming off to the location written on the piece of paper.