Holiday Job.

Cockroach part 3.

After the whole episode with red, I heard many different rumours. Some said I was the son of a herbalist, some said I was actually a deity, some people even found scientific methods to explain how the wounds appeared. I was rather impressed as to how many versions of the same story existed. In one version, the whole arm came off. I never knew I could hear a story about myself and have no idea what would happen next. It was like I didn't even know my own story.

Either way, everyone gave me space. The cultists avoided me. All of them. The people in my fellowship started looking at me funny. Some looked at me with fear and some looked at me like they were expecting a miracle to happen at any moment. So the rest of the first semester went by with peace of mind and calmness. As exams came around, I started reading for the next semester. My ability to read for long hours was something I constantly upgraded. I realized that answering every question correctly and precisely might raise suspicion as to examination malpractice, so I decided to get a few things wrong here and there so the seventy-two over hundred would look like I barely made the "A".

After my final paper, I was walking into the hostel when the security man walked up to me. He was a man of average height. His hair was turning grey, and he stood looked like he was constantly in pain. I always wondered why a man of his age would still be in employment at all. The skin on his face seemed weak from age, and his eyes looked like they needed more sleep that he gave. He walked with two hands behind his back and slightly bent his back as he walked. He approached me slowly but steadily and spoke in a voice that was both weak and clear. It reminded me of the sound air conditioners make as they blow out cool air.

"Do you have a holiday job? I have one that you might like"

Our holiday was supposed to last about two months and a week. I planned to spend that time reading books on business and economics, while reading for the new semester as well. A job wasn't something that came to mind, mostly because my parents were still alive and they provided for my basic needs. So why did this man think I would be interested in a holiday job? As this question roamed around in the hallway of my consciousness, the clear and weak voice spoke again.

"You don't need any degrees to qualify, just my recommendation. I'll let you think about it"

Slowly and steadily, the man walked away with his hands behind his back. I stood there as though I had heard something strange. My mind was calculating, what was with this old man that meant more than his words? I walked into my room and sat on my bed, I checked through my brain for any reason to decline the offer, but despite my analytical prowess, I couldn't come up with a single reason to decline the offer. So I got up and went over to the security post. After a brief discussion, I pulled out my phone and decided to speak to my mother. It was true that she might have had the skill of bringing up hell in the Pacific, but sometimes she could detect danger miles away. Somewhere in my heart, I hoped she would say "no". She never really liked most of the ideas I came up with.

The call ended. I looked at the old man sitting in his chair and informed him of my decision. The next week, I resumed at my work post as one of the security guards for Peace Banks. I would work the night shift. So my plan was to sleep during the day and stay awake all night, reading books.

It was 2:00 am that Thursday night. As I read in complete darkness; it was something my eyes could do, I heard the sound of some people jumping into the bank's premises. I stood up and turned on my torch to see two men wearing all black with masks on their faces and guns in hand. I spoke as though I didn't understand the situation.

"Could you please jump back outside the same way you jumped in?"

The two men cocked their guns and sprayed me properly with bullets. A stream of blood began to flow on the ground.