What worries you, masters you

"And you have no camera and no one could've possibly witnessed it?" The officer asked as he gently rapped his thin fingers on the small notebook in his palms.

"No, sir." If I had that, then I wouldn't have called you.

Before the police had arrived, I threw on a white shirt with well fitted navy blue pants, but I must say it was rather tedious to find the motivation to do so.

"The investigation will take a while as we must first gather evidence, but first we need you to come with us to the police station, you just have to fill out paperwork and we'll get your statement properly." The scrawny boy with sunglasses far too large for his face spoke.

"Sure." I sighed and tentatively nodded. If I had known that my weekend consisted of going to the police, then I would've preferred to continue working.

…

At the police station, they continued to ask questions on who it might be, but in the end it led to nothing. Our lives in the hands of fools, great.

After filling out several lengthy documents, I made my way towards the framed iron door preparing to leave the coffee stained room.

"I know what you have done." A man dressed in a white shirt slowly turned towards me as I grabbed the door handle.

"And that is?" I asked with curiosity filling my mind.

"I know you're a murderer." He stated amiably and calmly in my direction. The statement emanated throughout the small hallway that separated us from the rest of the police department.

"That is a serious accusation, sir." I belatedly smiled, as I turned towards the exit.

"You won't get away with this, I'll make sure justice always wins."

Justice? Justice is subjective, whoever tells the story, becomes justice and his justice definitely won't win.

Despite his calm appearance, his eyes were burning with a flame of determination, it provoked a sense of dread, but also curiosity.

"Of course justice will win, Detective Smith."

"How did you—"

"Your name tag. I wish you a great day, Smith." I waved with my back turned as I left the police station. The bright noon sun shone down indiscriminately, sizzling my skin from the exposure to its rays additionally blinding me from its harsh light. The environment was already showing its first hints of summer, full green trees which added a nice shade next to the brightness of the blue sky.

How did he know? I did not leave any traces behind nor any survivors. Did I make a mistake? Me? No, absolutely not. I do not make mistakes.

I pulled out my phone from my pockets and scrolled down onto one particular contact.

'Pick me up at this location' I quickly typed.

'Yes, sir.' The recipient replied after a few passing seconds.

It would take a while for him to arrive, therefore I had to waste some time in the city.

I walked down the cross road on my way towards the coffee shop, until a familiar purple haired individual flashed against my sight.

"Ms. Sara? Shouldn't it be your shift now?"

"Oh—uhm, no… I was fired recently." She brushed her fallen purple curl behind her ears, while she pressed her sleeves further down to her wrists. Her expression was dim, her eyes were slightly swollen resembling small violet cherries—until further investigation the curl exposed a slight matching deep purple eye.

"Since I still have some time to waste, how about we sit somewhere and you can tell me what happened?" I pointed subtly at her injuries. Her tensed shoulders relaxed abruptly at my suggestion.

"Seems like I can't hide anything from you…" She self deprecatingly chuckled at herself.

We walked in awkward silence, until we decided to sit down near the fountain at the citypark. Soft upbeat music played all around us, screams of laughter sounded across the fields of grass—perfect to drown out our conversation.

"So, what happened to you?" I finally broke the almost tangible silence.

"My boss… He tried to—" She bit her lip until it bled wine red and after a short moment of composure, she spilled the rest of the Event.

"He wanted me to repay his kindness…Even now I can still feel his hands tied around my body! I can still feel his hand wrapped around my neck while he held me down with his other arm… The way his hot breath brushed against my skin—" She tightly wrapped her arms around her frail body as if shielding herself from the unpleasant memory.

I had practiced countless facial expressions, hours were spent understanding every inch, every slight change in a human's facial expression, but I could not muster up any words to say that seemed to be fitting for this situation. No videos or tutors could prepare you for every scenario, could it? I know I was supposed to care, but even now, crying people always made me uncomfortable.

"I'm deeply sorry that this happened to you. Trust me, you did nothing wrong. Was that the reason you were fired? Did he fire you after refusing his advances?" I asked curiously, comforting someone did feel tormenting.

"No, he fired me, because I spoke up about it." Droplets fell onto her light blue jeans, she furiously wiped her tears away. "But I don't regret it! If it means that I saved another victim then so be it! He gets to deal with the police now!"

Heroic is what some would say, but there was nothing heroic about it. She was only a survivor who plunged into the dark, tumultuous uncertainty of life.

I wonder, what would a victim's reaction be if I killed their assaulter? Joy because of the death of someone else? Or maybe disgust? It was all very exciting to learn more.

"Will you be well? It is hard to find work nowadays." I tried to change the subject, seeing her weep and cry felt too uncomfortable now—especially with the passing gazes aimed at us.

"I'm not sure—I fear that I'll have to leave the city soon and move back to my parents." The purple haired started to fiddle with her fingers. Job expectations nowadays were truly that low.

"And he?"

"The case is still being processed…" Her eyes dimmed slightly filled with doubt and fear.

The conversation was interrupted by the ringing of my phone. "I'm very sorry, but I have to leave now. It was nice talking to you and I hope you'll be well."

"Yes, it was! The talk made me feel slightly better so thank you for the talk." She contentedly smiled as she brushed away her last couple of tears. I nodded in acknowledgement as I made my way towards the park gate.

"Greetings, young master." An elderly man with a black suit stood before a heavy black car.

"Good to see you, Edmund. Now take me home, I'm starting to get a headache from all this." I rubbed my forehead with my pointer finger.

"As you wish, young master." He bowed before he opened the door for me to pass.

We drove in a soothing silence, a silence I desperately needed! I know I could always count on him, after all he has been my family's butler since I was born.

After he dropped me off, I walked towards my car which was wrapped in the distinctive black and yellow of the police tape. I quickly ripped apart the bright tape and headed towards my home, until my phone vibrated in my pocket.

'Yo Hilderic! I've heard some rumors that the manager is getting promoted, are you going to try to become manager?'

My desk mate truly was too talkative, but I would be lying if I said that it didn't make me curious. The prospects of becoming a manager are nice, more vacation and an own office! Much better than sharing that tight space with a bunch of rats.

'I'll try, but of course it won't mean that I will get the position.'

'Lol if it's you then you'll definitely get it! But there is some tough competition yk? Like Miller!'

Miller was one of the senior workers in our department, he had been employed for far longer than I have, but if he were to disappear, then that wouldn't matter, would it?

'I'm not too worried about it. Practical knowledge comes before seniority.'

'Hah didn't expect anything else lol'

And with that the conversation simply ended.

…

The rest of the weekend passed relatively normal compared to what happened on Saturday, except for the slight exception that the rumors had spread like wildfire across the department. Curious whispers, increase of hard working personnel who wish to dream big, all scrambled around the office.

The sight before me made me chuckle while I cleaned my sunglasses—all were mindlessly clinging onto false hope hoping to be one of the lucky few. Images of bustling bees flashed across my mind, they sure did resemble them.

This world was just one scaled up competition and the reward? Money and power. A society where non existent numbers and genes defined your worth to live. A competition that starts with your name, your genitalia, your skin and if you don't meet one of those things? Then you don't deserve to live. That was who we became—cogwheels mindlessly spinning to be obedient, to be useful.

The mindset of predators; drown or swim, but if you do decide to drown, then do it without bothering us—after all we're still competing.

Miller quickly passed my table and went into the office of the manager. Was he summoned for the promotion? The others must have had similar thoughts as exasperated gasps filled the chaotic office.

Once Miller left the officer, in his eyes dwelled a slight shine of joy while the rest stalked him with their envious gazes. Based on this, a favorable candidate must have been decided—I should hurry.

During lunch break while everyone else was enjoying their meals or going out to do so, I made my way to the nearest large supermarket close to the office. I brushed past all the food aisle with my mind set on the cleaning supplies. I had long run out of hydrogen peroxide.

As I grabbed the large jug of H2O2, a sudden stabbing stare filled the back of my mind, but as I turned around no one was there, except for unassuming customers going about their shopping. Was someone following me?

I paid for my things, but as I walked back to the building the lingering gaze kept following me. I pulled out my sunglasses from my pocket and turned its outer concave side aiming right past me to observe the surroundings, while also pretending to be cleaning them. A tall silhouette behind me flinched as they quickly dashed away. Why was that person following me?

I continued to walk, but changed my route to confirm my suspicions, fortunately each time it was the same silhouette reflecting off of shiny surfaces. A tall young man of average looks, he had brown chestnut hair and a well chiseled chin, yet his gaze looked determined and wide awake. Before the empty company gates, I quickly turned around and stared right at him.

"Why are you following me?"

"Oh, I'm not following you. I'm just walking to micsoft." His brown hair framed his innocent smile even more. Was he truly that arrogant to think he hid himself well? He was definitely trailing me. I had never seen him before… Did I kill someone close to him? No, I don't think so.

"In that case, please walk ahead." I stepped aside from the pavement for him to pass through. He muttered a small thanks and went ahead, I followed behind. He had walked the same path that I usually took and even went to the same floor, until he abruptly drifted to the analysis department—perhaps Ms. Lee knew him? He quietly sat down at the barely decorated desk and the lack of stress made it apparent that he must be new. I brushed past his desk and noted down his name in my mind;

'Tom Mills'.