2 1. LILY ADAMS

Taking a deep breath, I followed him outside. He was moving a bit too fast but I had to keep up. My heart was beating so fast because I wasn't sure why I was following him. I glanced around the compound and the compound was looking kind of empty because people were busy performing their various duties. He entered into his office and I followed.

"Lily Adams" he called out my name, I feel uncomfortable when people call my name in full because I knew it had to be that I've done something really wrong or that what they are about to say was really important. It had to be one of the two when you were called out in the middle of the meeting and asked to follow him when he was going to his office. Let me explain, I am working with Frisco Dairy company. It's one of the best, if not the best dairy company we have around here. I graduated last year, studied business administration in the University and was referred to this place by my friend after service year. It was one of the best thing that had ever happened to me. Anybody I tell I'm working at Frisco would stare at me with their mouths open asking how on earth I got the job. I still can't believe it myself. This place is a place everybody wanted to work. The pay is f*cking high and the company has high standards.

Then I remembered he called my name and I haven't answered yet and replied "yes sir" I was standing with my hands behind me, playing with my fingers and looking at his desk. This was the first time I was having a personal encounter with the boss after working here for almost 3months now. He's the CEO of this magnificent company. Who wouldn't be nervous talking to him? He sat on his chair and motioned for me to sit on the chair across him so the desk is between us, so I did.

"I heard you just graduated last year" he began. Oh my goodness I was about to get fired. He thinks I wasn't qualified enough. I really thought I had succeeded in life by working here. I knew everything couldn't just go easily like that. They say, life wasn't all about ice creams and unicorns. I think this was the end for me. I already had plans. This can't be happening. Oh my goodness, why me????

He cleared his throat and I looked up. My fingers were cold now and I was shivering a little. "Lily, didn't you?" Now I wish I hadn't graduated last year. I should have graduated like ten years ago, done my MSc, PhD and just everything. Who was I kidding? I'm just 21, it couldn't have been possible. I knew I wasn't qualified for this job but I thought it was my luck but I guess I wasn't so lucky after all.

"Yes I did Sir" I answered realizing I still haven't answered him yet. He traced his fingers along his jawline twitching his beards. He was a man in his fifties, though he definitely doesn't look fifty. He had this large eyes with his nose pointed. He was actually a good looking man and with money he just looks handsome all the time. Money is just something beautiful, too bad it didn't think I was beautiful enough to own it because I was about to get fired in the possible place I could have made lots of it.

He cleared his throat again and said "we pay visits to the farms that supplies us with milk annually and I heard you are very hard working, since you just graduated, you haven't really been exposed to lots of things and in this company we need people with experience. So you will be going to this trip along with few other staffs. Hope you don't have any problem with that?"

How could I have a problem with anything you say if it wasn't about me getting fired. So I was staying and even going on a trip. Yippie!

I still haven't replied him yet, I needed to stop over thinking and reply people first. I said with a big smile on my face, "of course I have no problem with that" he smiled and said, "get ready, you'll be leaving on Friday with the other staff and will spend the whole weekend there. Talk to the HR manager to give you more information about the trip"

"Okay sir" I replied before I'll forget not to again. He fixed his glasses and looked at his computer, pressing some few buttons and dismissing me telling me I could go. Today was Wednesday, which means the trip will be the day after tomorrow. Yay!

I stood up, thanked him, and left.

Back at the general office with my colleagues, Mia, assistant to the HR manager who is also my good friend here in the office was standing close to my desk with few other staff. I'm sure they were also curious as to why the boss had called me to his office.

I smiled at them to let them know everything was fine. I told them about what I discussed with the boss and they told me about how interesting the trips used to be. I was really looking forward to it. To add more icing to the cake, Mia was going too. It wouldn't be just me and other people I wasn't familiar with.

After working for few more hours, it was time to close. We close at 5pm. I packed my things and said goodbye to my colleagues.

I got to my apartment, locking the door behind me, I lived alone. My family lived far away from here and this job was what brought me to this town in the first place. When I was given the job, I decided it was time I moved out of my parent's house because I wasn't about to miss this kind of opportunity.

After taking off my clothes, leaving my underwears on, I laid on my bed and checked my phone for any notifications from WhatsApp and also checked for any missed calls. There were none. Not that I was expecting any. It wasn't a surprise. Don't get me wrong, I have friends and we talk once in a while. We just aren't close enough for them to send me messages every minute of the day. Well, except for one person, Daisy.

As if on cue, my phone started ringing and it was Daisy. I smiled and answered the call. I wasn't so alone after all.

Smiling into the phone, I said, "Idiot, I was just wondering whether I no longer have a best friend".

She laughed and said, "Cow, I was just waiting for you to get back from work before I called you". "Well, your timing was perfect, I just got home" I said

She knows when I leave and get back from work, she knows every little thing about me. From what I eat in the morning to what I wear to work everyday. From when I have my monthly visitor to when a random cute boy smiles at me on my way to work. Yes, we were that close.

Except for one thing I couldn't tell her yet. Not that I didn't want to, I just couldn't. It gets stuck in my throat each time I tried talking to her about it. I didn't even like thinking about it myself.

After talking to Daisy for few more minutes, telling her about the company trip I was going to on Friday and some other other little talks, we ended the call. I had to find something to eat before going to bed. I checked the time and it was 8pm already. It was nighttime and dark. The power was on but it was still dark outside. How I hated darkness.

I decided I'll just make myself some noodles since I was too tired to make any other meal.

I'm not trying to be an egotist but I know I make decent meals if I really wanted to. In fact, I should be working in a kitchen of a five star restaurant. I'm that good!

I was going through my phone as I ate, checking the latest updates on social media. This had kind of became a routine. This is almost how my day goes everyday.

It was time to sleep. It's 10:30pm and I needed to be at work at as early as 9am tomorrow. I climbed and laid on my bed. A cold shiver ran down my spine. I was scared for no reason. Or maybe there was a reason.

For two weeks, I've been having strange dreams. It all started when I saw a cat in my dream standing in the middle of nowhere surrounded with bushes and it only got worse after then. I started seeing other animals like dogs,(did I mention that dogs terrify me? Oh well, they did), snakes, vultures and creatures I don't even know their names or recognize. It was becoming too real. It felt as though I was living two lives at the same time. A different life during the day and another at night.

I forced my eyes closed and felt darkness overcome me.

I woke up from a tap on my shoulder, when I opened my eyes there was nobody in sight. And I was lying down in the middle of a forest with only tall trees and bushes in sight. It was the same forest I've been dreaming about for weeks now.

Not again!