Mass Transportation: Ignorance Is Bliss

"And I quote, 'You are a sorry bastard.' And I said, 'Too bad for you I actually have a father!'" Laughter and applause filled the decent-sized office. The older man who told the not as funny as they acted joke, smiled and basked in their false praise. A beautiful young woman who stood near him spoke up first. Her eyes fluttering as she subconsciously drew attention to her well endowed breasts.

"You are so mean, Mr. O'Malley." her tone a sultry mix of flirtation and admonishment. The man only interested in having more attention, continued his arrogant attitude.

"Oh, you're right, but I just can't help myself." He shrugged and laughed, sipping on his water, while the crowd continued to fawn over the narcissist. But as narcissistic as he was, he had a reason to be. He was a very handsome man. His shoulders broad but not bulky, his face exuded masculinity but with a touch of softness. His eyes a green you would not see unless they were contacts.

Far to the back corner of the office, two men sat working away. One was older while the other was younger. Fifty-two and twenty-two. The older man would occasionally look over and point out the young man's mistakes. And the younger man would quickly fix it. And sometimes the young man would ask questions, and the older man would answer with grace and poise, and with a touch of humor. It was easy to see how the man doted on the younger one. These two groups were not the only groups, the office was filled with the diligent and the playful. However, the office would maintain this semi-peaceful atmosphere for the entirety of the workday. Ignorant of the chaos that would soon befall them.

As the day wound to a close and before the first person could leave, twenty-one cloaked individuals entered the office, forming a perimeter around the large group of people while blocking off the exit. Five people to each wall, six to the north wall. But not all of them were keeping an eye on their possible victims, some of them began marking the walls. Standing in front of the door, was the only individual wearing a different cloak. While all the rest were black, this one wore a deep shade of purple. But that is not the only thing to differentiate the leader. The cloak could not hide the woman's gorgeous proportions putting the woman trying to seduce the narcissist to shame. Mr. O'Malley, being the narcissist that he is could not allow the group to intrude in such a way. As he moved to confront the leader, the cloaked individuals not marking up the walls and floor started shoving those not near the middle closer to it. One of them moved to stop the man, but their leader motioned for him to stop.

Taking this as a sign of weakness, he grew bolder. Stopping in front of the purple cloaked individual, he began his pathetic attack.

"You better explain yourself and fast, however, if you don't, I'll have you know that I am the son of the owner of this company and heir to his fortune." His voice the epitome of smooth, confidence radiated from his presence. But there was also an obnoxiousness to it.

From the cloak, a sweet and melodic voice made itself known, as it belonged to a female.

"And what of you?"

"What?" Her words baffled the young handsome man. (What does she mean, what about me?)

"Do you have any accomplishments worthy of my fear, my respect, or my awe? Or do you just rely upon your father like a child?" The way she spoke, showed her extreme distaste for the man in front of her. If she had the option, she would have killed him on the spot. But something was holding her back.

Feeling humiliated, he quickly lashed out, hatred boiling inside of him. "And what does that have to do with anything? You broke into my fathers' company! Obviously, you should beg for forgiveness from him!" He was a child throwing a tantrum, as much as he was in the right he still came off has bratty.

"True," his words seem to have no effect on her.

"However, you said you were the heir, and if my assumptions are correct that means if he dies, you take over. No?"

"Yes, but he's not dead!" A creeping feeling of dread inserted itself in his heart and mind. And each of her words after, shot through him like a bullet.

"Correction, he was not dead this morning. If you don't wish to join him, I suggest you go join your friends and coworkers." Although he was larger than her, her presence made him feel insignificantly small. Despite not being able to see her face, he felt her eyes boring into his soul. Fearfully he immediately rejoined the group. Hoping and praying that his father was still alive. Make no mistake, no matter how self absorbed he appeared to be, danger and death is the last thing he wished to befall his father.

Meanwhile, across the room, the old and young men were forced away from their desks. The cloaked villains were not gentle. Displeased by the slow movement, of anyone, they would shove them, causing those less steady on their feet to go sprawling out on the floor. The old man was one such person. He had a limp, and it caused him to move slowly, irritated the shoved him forward. Causing him to go sprawling but fortunately the young man was there to catch him. Thankfully they weren't completely heartless as they gave him some time to recover.

The young man tried to stay close to the old man when Mr. O'Malley joined then. By then everyone in the office was in the center. The woman that was fawning over the rich narcissist, tried to cling to him again but was shoved off immediately.

"Uncle, what do they want with us?" The young man who sat at the desk with the older man asked. Much like his appearance, he was cowardly and weak. If not for the help from his uncle, he would have just stayed as a cashier at some random fast food joint. His only redeeming feature was the fact that he was a very fast learner and very intelligent.

"How would I know? Just stay quiet and don't aggravate them." The uncle quickly pulled the young man closer, he had already lost almost all of his family, only the twenty-two-year-old remained. Perhaps it was his family's death that caused his nephew to be so fearful. It's such a shame, he could've gone far with his level of intellect.

The purple-robed woman spoke once more, she sounded especially annoyed.

"What is taking so long?" A black-cloaked man that was overseeing the entire thing answered her almost immediately.

"I apologize, my Lady, the desks are in the way, we are trying to find the perfect angle to work with, but it is difficult." he was practical groveling at her feet.

"Useless." Then with a wave of her hand, the desks float up into the air almost touching the ceiling. The normal office workers had never seen such a thing in their lives. Instantly they knew that the possibility of making it out alive was almost non existent.

"Thank you, my Lady," The robed malefactor bowed lowly to the woman.

"Enough, I want it done within one minute."

"As you wish," immediately after turning around he snapped at the ritualists,

"You heard our Lady! Get it done NOW!" They moved with lightning speed, completing it in less than a minute. A circle was drawn around the office workers, after that, they were left alone. So long as they did not move even half a step, they would violently shove the offender back into the circle, even if it was an accident. As the design came together, they noticed that the wall facing north was more decorated than the others. It was the wall with the door.

The overseer approached the Lady and spoke with complete reverence.

"It is as you desired, my Lady."

"As it should be. The box." She held out her hand in expectation, and she was not failed. As soon as the words left her mouth, a large box was placed in her hand. She walked towards the group with the box in her hands. Soon she stopped at a circle drawn in front of the circle drawn around them. Placing the box on the ground, she slowly opened it with both hands. The lid blocked their view of the object, but soon they saw the head of their boss. Mr. O'Malley. Dropping to his knees, Mr. O'Malley could faintly hear the screams of his co-workers. Tears poured down his cheeks as the realization hit him. They really did kill his father. With the blood dripping on the floor as proof, there was no denying it.

Looking at him the purple-robed woman spoke,

"Cheer up. If not for this man, I would have had to kill one of you." Her voice held no trace of comfort, and even sounded as if she was mocking him. Placing the head in the smaller circle, one could see his facial expression. It looked as if he was having a serious conversation. He died without even knowing that he was killed. The blood still flowed, but instead of creating a puddle. It was absorbed by the designs all over the walls and floor. They glowed a blood red. Their world started to shake, the floor and walls crumbled away. Only the circle they stood on remained intact. While the invaders floated off the ground, the head too did not fall. Their consciousness faded, and the last thing they saw, were the moments before the dark-cloaked invaders made themselves known to them.

They, ignorant of the evil that sought their lives, were blissfully unaware until the very end.