Chapter 1: The beginning

The cold embracing wind shattered through the warmth of the simmering campfire. The rooftop was overflowing with colleagues and workers alike. All to celebrate this short time we had from working at the MBS company.

What a hell of a drinking spot!

With beers and boose and tired old men, this month truly has been the worst for us. The mindbreaking work they put us through, and another pile is coming next week. Some of us get very little chance to go home, while others just don't get to even leave.

Sitting with my colleagues, I notice a new face. He doesn't have the signature eyebags most people have here, and his eyes are still full of fiery passion i used to have. I glaze over his nametag, seeing..

"Hey Elliot!

Drink up some more," I said, shoving another beer in his face.

His unnerving eyes and twitching hands pushed the beer way

"i – um don't drink, sir" he replied

"Well, you're gonna need to"

I patted his back as I continued to fill his juice cup with liquor. He couldn't refuse, seeing how his senior openly gave it to him.

He reminded me a lot of myself. Back when I was just a fresh graduate. Before working here. I thought I'd hit it big working at a tech company, only to get crushed with rejection upon rejection of job applications

"How's the first week of working here? Ask another coworker.

"Terrible"he said

His eyes looking like they're going to burst with tears, Elliott holds up his head, trying to calm himself down while saying

"E- Everyone was so nice at the orientation….. Bu- but then I just kept getting more files, then the upper management assigned me to something I'm not qualified in, and then the work just kept piling up until... until…"

He said finally crying. Jon, the person who asked him, comforted the young man, covering Elliott's head in his arms while patting his back.

"They've broken him," another colleague replied, cackling.

"That's why I'm telling him to drink. Better drunk than sober, I always say," I said before grabbing another one.

But before I could chug it, a hand stopped me. Looking to see if it was.. Mike. The oldest in the current office that's been working here. I glare over to see His clothes ragged and torn, while his face is more bruised than it usually is.

"Management chewed you out?" i asked

"Same old, same old

He said throwing the beer I was grabbing while taking a seat

I couldn't care less anymore

"Well, seeing that you're finally leaving… They probably thou- "

"Fuck them honestly, 5 years of this hell hole and they're asking me to renew my contract?

"Did they tell you that they'd give you a raise?"

"They PROMISE to give me a raise, and then I told them about the unpaid overtime I've always had"

A silent nod emerges, as if they just understood something. Everyone here finds out pretty quickly that saying something that triggers upper management never works out. All it does is make you work more

"Anyways, enough about me" he says before grabbing two beer bottles in each hand and screaming.

"LET'S GET THIS DRINKING PARTY ON!"

The hours passed by, and the moon howled deeper. Each miserable person enjoying each other's company, comparing which one of us had it the worst, who had it better, and anything they had to say about the company. With each beer comes another story to tell. Some had to leave early, and some didn't leave at all. Leaning on the broken handrail, Mike and I decided to stay.

The 15-story building really puts into perspective how big the city is. The city light crowding over the stars, the high-rise buildings, the bustling crowd, and the never-ending traffic. I guess that's why they call Lethin the city of opportunity.

"Thanks for doing this kev-

"We didn't do this for you, dumbass

We've been planning this for weeks now, and you leaving was coincidental."

"Sureee, coincidenceee"

I hate it when he acts smug, because he's right. He'd always remind everyone how close he was to ending the contract. Even having space on the whiteboard for the number of days he had left before leaving. I told everyone else that we needed to have the party on this specific date because we're just gonna have more work on the date that they decided. Surprisingly, everyone agreed

He takes a deep breath and sighs

"Putting up my 20s for this….

What a fucking waste" he says, throwing the empty beer can

"You know when i-"

"Not this kind of talk Mike" I said as we both laughed.

Trying to sober myself up, I grab down for a beer, only to see the alluring height. How small those people are down there, how it makes me feel that they're insignificant. The rusting and broken handrails never truly stopped anyone from crossing further. Mike simply pushed on the handrail, and it fell over.

He took a seat right on the edge.

"He- hey!

You're gonna fall Mike," I said grabbing onto him.

"I'm fine, he said, chuckling.

"Sit with me, Kevin."

Hesitantly, I sat right next to him.

"Leave this place, Kevin,

"What?

"I said leave this company, you only have a year left, right?

I laughed nervously, thinking he was joking, but I saw his serious eyes glaring over me. I turned away, looking again below, noticing the terrible cable management they did for the lighting in this sign.

I look at my clothes now all wet and battered. I realized I hadn't even taken a shower in a week. Fiddling with my pocket, I grabbed out a paper, it was a picture of my dad. I don't know how it got out of the wallet, but I didn't put it back. I looked at it for a while, thinking about what to say to him.

"I can't"

"I'm serious, Kevin" he says, grabbing my shoulder.

"I can't quit here Mike...

"Why then? You're going to work another 5 damn years for what?"

"Even– Even after 5 years of my contract, I just can't"

His grip tightening, and his voice now louder, he asks

"Why?

"You Know this….

You know exactly why I can't," I said with the same tone facing him.

He notices the picture in my hand, and slowly he lets his grab go and clutches his fist at the sky.

"I'm sorry"

"It's fine"

A long pause ensues as we both continue our gaze towards the city.

"How's your dad doing?"

"Terrible"

"Worse than before?"

"Far worse

You'd think it was just some bumbs, then suddenly you're in the ER and have to go in for surgery," I said pulling the picture closer.

The bills just kept on coming, and..

I don't know what to do."

"Damn.. " Mike says

I'll find you a spot in the place that I'll be working in.."

"Thanks, I guess."

"Well...he says, grabbing another can of beer

"Here's to us then, to everyone here. I hope somehow we get out of this hell."

I clicked my beer along with his and gulped it down. Even with a tipsy feeling and blurry vision, I continued to drink, worsening everything. Then I felt it

I fell

Maybe I leaned over too much, or maybe I'm too drunk. But at that moment, I fell headfirst towards the ground. They say it takes about 4 seconds for someone to fall 200 feet in the air. Not enough time for anything.

3 shocked and dazed and still over halfway down. I tried to process what had just happened. The ground kept coming closer and closer until

2, what. What. what. Was all I could say. My heart beats faster and faster, and my eyes widen, looking for anything.. Something…. I expand my arms outward, trying to slow the fall until

1, this isn't half anymore. Everyone that once was so small now I can hear them, the people on the ground, the cars, the musician playing across the street, my stuff falling off my clothes, the pen, the crumpled up paper, my wallet, and the picture of my dad.

Please

Please

Not yet, Not now…

NOT YETT

N–

SPLAT,

—-

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"NOT YET!" I screamed, pushing myself back, completely braking the handrail behind us

I immediately sobered up, my heart still beating fast, my ears ringing, and my whole body shaking. I look around to see that I'm still on the rooftop. Seeing Mike's worried face

I couldn't hear anything, I couldn't say anything, all I could see was Mike's face trying to find out what's wrong.

He's trying to say something, yet I couldn't decipher what it was. My eyes close as I faint at the rooftop floor

[Oh god]

[I Died] an unfamiliar voice says, with the body on the ground yet no one to notice.