The Interview

I glanced down at the address I had written down, then back up at the setting sun sinking below the horizon. Great. The perfect time to go alone to a sketchy location. I probably could've skipped my evening class and gone earlier, but to be honest, I don't think daylight would make this any less shady.

Was going to this "interview" the smartest idea in the first place? No. Not in the slightest. However, my options at this point were starving to death or maybe getting murdered, so I was willing to take my chances.

I didn't know where this place was, if anyone would be there when I found it, or what I'd even do If there was someone there. In spite of my innate survival instincts, I pressed on.

I tried entering the address into the GPS linked to my Photon. No results. Perfect. I tried changing the last digit of the address to at least find a building nearby. The light around me began to shift and move. The light around me flickered, forming a map in my hands. It displayed the city's streets, complete with a red line leading to my destination.

It was only about a mile away, so it didn't take me long to find it. When I arrived, the street was filled with tall office buildings, but none of them carried the same address I had. When I was about to give up, a faint light flickered on in an alley between two of the buildings.

The alley was dark, damp, and had a few lingering puddles of God knows what. As I approached the light, I saw that it was coming from the single window on a building the size of a small house tucked at the back of the alley. It looked exactly like the kind of place you'd find at the back of an alley. Ugly, old, and would probably collapse when hit with a stiff breeze. I stepped up to the door and noticed that the address was posted on the wall. Much to my dismay, it was the exact address I was looking for.

I hesitated at the door and paced, weighing my options. Should I knock? Or was starvation really as bad as they say? After much deliberation, I decided that I'd rather die quickly.

I knocked. 

And... nothing. A minute passed with no sign of an answer from the other side of the door. Just as I turned to leave, the door flung open behind me. Someone grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. I expected to see a burly man holding a weapon, but instead I was greeted with a tall woman in an ill-fitted suit. She looked like she'd just fought a losing battle with her own coffee maker and hadn't closed her eyes for anything other than to blink. Without a word, she let go of me, sat down behind a desk and started to write something down.

"Were you followed?" she said without looking up. 

"I don't know...was I supposed to be?" I replied nervously.

"Doesn't matter," she said, waving it off. "My name is Lisa, I'm your boss."

"Wait—who said I agreed to work here?"

She put down whatever she was writing and raised an eyebrow, "You showed up, didn't you?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't even know what an information examiner does."

"I have no idea," she said, beaming proudly. "But doesn't it sound official?"

I let out a long sigh, "So what exactly is it you do?"

Lisa leaned forward, her tone suddenly serious. "We're going to save the world."

"Right. Of course. Why wouldn't we," I replied, my face devoid of expression. 

"I know it sounds like a lot, but don't worry—I have an ace up my sleeve."

"And that would be…?"

she stood up and leaned over the desk with excitement, "I can see the future!"

Her dramatic declaration didn't land quite as intended, thanks to the coffee stains and the bags under her eyes. Honestly, she looked like she could barely see the present.

"You know, on second thought, I think I'd rather starve after all," I said as I turned to leave.

"Wait! I can prove it"

"Why should I stick around for that?"

"If you stay, I'll give you this month's pay in advance."

I immediately turned around. "Alright, let's see this proof then."

"Here read this," she said as she handed me the paper she was writing on before.

I scanned the page, my eyes widening. It detailed our entire conversation, word for word, up to the point of me reading it. I knew for a fact that she stopped writing partway through the conversation. "Okay, so you can predict what I'm going to say, big deal. How's that going to save the world?"

"Oh, I can predict much more than just your sarcastic remarks," she said with a smug grin. "Let's just say that the future isn't looking too bright for us."

"Even if the world is in danger, why do you need me?"

"Oh no, no, no I don't really need you in particular, but one woman can only do so much you know," she extended her hand, "Anyway, congratulations on finishing the interview you are officially hired. By the way, what's your name?"

I shook her hand and replied, "it's Washi."

Lisa chuckled. "Washi, huh? Interesting name."

"You think it's funny, don't you?"

"Oh, not at all," she said, failing to hide her smirk.

"Whatever, can I have my paycheck now?"

"Sure, it's right here." She pulled out an envelope and handed it to me. 

She handed me the paycheck. I grabbed it and tried to pull it away, but she was still gripping onto it.

"I expect to see you here tomorrow at the same time."

"You know, I could just take this money and never come back."

"You certainly could, but I'd strongly advise against it," she said in a way that sent a shiver down my spine. 

"Was that a threat?"

She smiled, "You won't have to find out as long as you show up tomorrow."

"I was just joking, of course I'll come tomorrow. Although I really have to be going right now so if you don't mind, I'll be taking this" I pulled the envelope out of her hand as she let go.

"See you tomorrow."

"I can't wait," I said, already halfway out the door.

After the building was out of sight, I took a peek inside the envelope. As happy as I was to see some money, I still couldn't help but be dismayed at the small portion of it. For an entire month's pay, it was maybe minimum wage, but even that might be too generous.

I put the money aside for the moment and took solace in the fact that I could buy food when I got back to college. I had hoped to start going back to the coffee shop again, but it looked like that wouldn't be happening for a while.

Once I got to my room I collapsed on my bed. I didn't know if I was exhausted from the lack of food or from worrying about tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe, I would go to sleep and wake up the next morning and realize that it was all a dream.