New day!

Today is my first day on the job and I'm all fired up! Nothing beats the feeling I get when I'm forced to set aside the drudgery of pouring my glass of water in the morning. I can finally feel the long-lost and awaited drive of work! There are no amounts of time or threats that could make me change my mind. [Later on] Oh my God! I can't believe how ridicule office politics actually are! I couldn't work at all. What should I do? If I go away for too long, the workers' union will think that my employer treats us better than the laborer under his wings.

Choice 1 : Go take a break in the lunchroom.

Choice 2 : Go outside to breath some fresh air.

Choice 3 : Keep working, I'm not here to simply play around.

Meeting Jenny.

I can see Jenny, a coworker, from inside the room. She comes in and welcomes me to the office. ''It can feel like a weird place at first, but it'll feel like home in no time!'' She informs me that she is on her way out, being granted a maternity leave after many hardships. I felicitate her and she smiles. ''You have nice eyes, dear.'', she says lustily, ''I'm almost sad to have to go!'' Once she finished talking, she heads to the lobby and go outside without a single word. I sigh as I reflect on how gossiping hindered my efficiency during the last few hours.

Choice 1 : Send some emails before leaving.

Choice 2 : Go home, I won't achieve anything at this point anyway.

Stuck in traffic.

Today, I tried a new shortcut. I am now stuck in traffic with nothing to do but listen to news on an old radio or to music through my mp3 player. If I'm lucky, I think I could talk with an old acquaintance that helped me to get my job. I think today can't go worse than that. Any option is as good as the other, at this point.

Choice 1 : Listen to my favorite music, some personal time won't hurt me.

Choice 2 : Listen to the international news, information never killed someone.

Choice 3 : Call a friend who's working on the company's budget.

Terrible news.

The only thing I learned from that was that the company's stock crashed. In fact, the whole stock market crashed, that's terrible. I might lose my job tomorrow, if I'm not careful. Terrible news on a terrible day only make me wants to be home.

Choice 1 : Sigh loudly while brooding in my disappointment.

Choice 2 : Daydream until I arrive.

The arrival.

The car is vibrating as I drive through my neighbourhood. ''I am finally home, nothing bad can happen'', I think as I get out of the car. ''What a long day it has been.'' Once I got out of my car, I head inside our house as I wonder what my tender half is doing tonight. If I'm lucky, maybe we'll even spend some ''alone time'' together.

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

Meeting Albert.

Once outside I meet a coworker I haven't met before. He's smoking tobacco from a pipe. I can't keep myself from coughing due to the smoke. ''Hey, buddy. I'm Albert. I work in the Accounting department'', he says. ''Things are feeling quite odd, if you ask me. Pete, the employer is employing new people by the dozen, while the oldest employees are being unemployed at an unusual rate.'' I look at him and...

Choice 1 : ...go back inside, I got work to do.

Choice 2 : ...invite him to go out for a drink with me later.

Choice 3 : ...decide that he isn't worth my time. It's getting late anyway.

The email.

I received an email from my boss. I wonder what he wants. Is it because I'm not efficient enough? Could it be to change my department? Is it to discuss a contract with a new client? I don't really know at this point. Maybe a competitor wants to discus some form of alliance and I'm being chosen as a diplomat! That would be great. I take a look at the clock on the corner of my desk. It seems that my workday has been over for more than an hour.

Choice 1 : Do not answer the email and head home directly.

Choice 2 : I want to go see my boss directly, it must be fate!

Worst News.

I enter the room as my employer is at his desk. He seems stressed. ''Hi, I take it that you received my email'', he stuttered anxiously. ''Well... No, I didn't. I came as quickly as I could. Should I have read it?'' ''No, it's not that important. Maybe it is even better that way. Could you come closer? Come look through the windows, on this side of the desk.'' ''Well, sure..?'' I walk next to him as he keeps talking. ''You know, as the owner of this business and chief executive officer, I need to make sacrifices to keep my position in this world.'' ''I suppose so.'' ''Well, you see, recently my secretary has been looking at some old data of ours and we found something quite incredible that I wanted to show you.'' He gets up and slowly heads to a locker. ''I'm sorry but I'm not feeling at ease... May I go back and finish calculating the budgets I've been given earlier?'' He turns arounds and stare at me in the eyes. ''I'm sorry but I can't let you go. It's not a question of trust, just a question of reputation. I'm sure you'll understand.'' ''Excuse me..?'' He starts sprinting towards me. I try to leap out of his way but using his shoulder he bashes my sternum into one of my lungs. ''I just want you to understand, it's not your fault; you've just been a pawn in all this. I'm sorry.'' He lifts me on his shoulders and starts walking towards a window. ''Please, don't...'' is all I could weakly pronounce before being thrown through a window. ~~[The next morning then came around]~~ Fourteen floors under the one that broke, an office worker was found crushed under a desk. No one knows the circumstances surrounding the death of this ''newly engaged and really promising addition to a company'', as mentioned by the distressed employer that learned the saddening events that occured while preparing for a paternity leave.

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

Drinking with the absurd.

[Moments late, after a long working day] Albert laughs, it's a clear and honest one. The kind that is really hard to find these days. ''See, lately I've been getting strange comments and reports of the way our employer leads the business. My contacts told me that he might have lost something precious.'' ''Something precious?'', I ask. ''Yes. Well, maybe precious isn't the best word for it. Let's say, extremely valuable for others. I'd like to know if you'd be interested in working for me, and, by extension, my contacts.'' ''Why? What do they want? You are losing me, Albert.'' Albert hesitates before carefully weighing his words, just like one would do while trying to convince an influent person to join his struggle. ''Well, you see, my contacts are experiencing some difficulties and we'd need some help. Someone who would help us find the thing a certain employer lost.'' ''And why would I help you? It seems quite shady. I don't wanna lose my job, you know? I barely even started working at the company!'' ''Please, we really need your help. It's of the highest importance.'' In the distance, a thunderstorm starts crackling in the distance. ''Please, you must help us.'', says Albert while standing up, ''It's getting late. I need you to give me an answer before I leave, and I'm leaving soon.'' I look at him while he puts his coat on. ''So what will it be?'', he asks while reaching out to you with his right hand, ''Will you help us?''

Choice 1 : Refuse his offer, this all seems too shady for me.

Choice 2 : Accept his offer, things need to change.

Someone left hanging.

The rain is pouring increasingly harder as I stare at Albert's eyes. They have a wonderful shade of a hazel-like color and also a deep blue with gray tones. I divert my eyes to look at the ground. ''I'm sorry. I can't, this is a golden opportunity for me. It might be the only shot I'll have at something like this. I don't want to be required to work at a dead-end-job for all my life.'' Albert lower his hand as he silently puts his coat on. ''My lover is counting on me for financial support, and we were thinking about adopting a little girl. I don't want to throw it all away. I'm sorry, I'll have to pass on this one.'' ''It's okay, thank you for your honesty.'', he gives me a pained smile,''I suggest you savor every last drop of your drink. We never regret not doing so as much as when our last one is gone, my friend.'' ''I surely plan to do so. Take care.'' ''I will.'', he answers me while exiting through the door. I sigh loudly before drinking what's left of my beverage and putting my raincoat on. Outside, the rain kept getting denser and denser. ''I should have brought my car for Christ's sake!'', I spit as I start running towards a bus stop. The rain that made the ground as slippery as it could have been, causes me to fall and rip a hole in my pants. ''Great. What's next? Being arrested? Being hit by a car? I never should've gone out in the first place.'' I start walking, slowly climbing a bridge. As I was thinking of my beloved, I get to the highest part of the bridge. It is then that a heavy object hit me on the head, causing me to fall almost unconscious. Hardly breathing, I hear a car stop by and people walking near me. ''I told you we shouldn't have let the other escape!'', said someone before being thrown to the ground. ''I am the only one that will decide what our plans are. Now stop talking, unless you want to end up like this one.'', said the leader before tightening a noose around my neck. Wait, don't tell me they are serious! They can't be! I feel the noose getting tighter before being lifted from the ground. After that, nothing. I fall, and I keep falling until there is nothing blackness all around me. Before everything is done, I feel one last thing snapping as the rushing waters pull me through and into a dark nothingness.

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

An unplanned turn.

The rain is pouring increasingly harder as I stare at Albert's eyes. They have a wonderful shade of a hazel-like color and also a deep blue with gray tones. I defiantly keep staring at him. ''I'll do it. I can't let this golden opportunity pass. It might be the only shot I'll have at something of the like. I don't want to be required to work at a dead-end-job for all my life, things must change.'' I shake Albert's hand. He smiles at me as he put his coat on. ''My lover is counting on me for financial support, and we are thinking about adopting a little girl.'', he says. ''I don't want to throw it all away but this isn't one that we can just let go.'' ''I agree.'' He heads toward the door and stops. ''I suggest you savor every last drop of your drink, my friend.'', he says as he slides a slip of paper toward me, ''Call me first thing in the morning, we'll have a lot to get through.'' ''I surely plan to do so. Take care, Albert.'' ''I will.'', he answers me while exiting through the door. I sigh loudly before drinking what's left of my beverage and putting my raincoat on. Outside, the rain kept getting denser and denser. ''I should have brought my car for Christ's sake!'', I whisper as I start running towards a bus stop so I can finally get home.

Choice 1 : Finally go to sleep with my beloved.

The second day.

The next morning, I wake up. By looking at my clock, I realize that I am awake an hour earlier than usual. That's a good thing, I can call Albert in all my morning glory. I get out of bed, my lover having already prepared everything I need for today. ''How wonderful.'', I say to myself as I let out a gigantic yawn. Finding the slip of paper that was given to me on the previous day, I pause. What if I talked about all of this with my employer before? He could give me a nice bonus. He might even give me a better job and I could make the news by doing so, giving me social reconnaissance for bringing a shady, if not dangerous, man to light.

Choice 1 : Call my employer, Albert must be dealt with as soon as possible!

Stealing the spotlight, money runs the world.

I compose the number of the receptionist. I hear a ringing on the other side of the line. After some time, since no one answered, I decide to call my boss directly on his cellphone. A rusty, and obviously hungover, voice answers the phone. ''Yes? Who's there?'' Unable to keep my calm, I tell him in an uninterrupted breath my name and everything that happened yesterday. ''I understand. Please calm down, everything will be alright. Don't come in until I tell you to. I'll take care of his case. He is indeed a dangerous individual, thank you for your help.'' He then hangs up the phone. Filled with relief, I head downstair to eat what was left on my behalf. On the radio a man is speaking of alienation. I turn it off so I can finally rest assured that everything will be fine. [Later that week] My phone plays the notification tone that indicates the reception of an email. I hope it's to tell me that everything has been taken care of! The address was unknown to me, it's content went that way: ''My most sincere condolences. I would've called if I could, but I'm short on time. It seems that earlier this morning, someone you are close to was put out of their misery. I was fighting a bad hangover and didn't quite caught what happened at first, you see? I could only stand there as some men threw in front of a train a person I only recognise at the last minute. I think you lived with him Or her. Not sure at this point, the corpse didn't look *that* good, to be honest. Please take care of yourself. It seems that the police doesn't like it when someone try to kill the person they are working for. I hope everything is going well for you. I asked them to find a cell that at least had somekind of window.'' I dropped my phone. I rushed downstair and a group of people destroyed the front door. As soon as they could, they handcuffed me and forced me out of my house. I knew I'd never come back. I knew I was screwed the moment I shook Albert's hand. And yet here I am, even more screwed than ever. I hope they have hot chocolate in prison, other wise I'll die of boredom and hunger.

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

Uncommon morning.

I wake up. My head is hurting and still does after several pills of ibuprofen. That can't be a good sign. I head to the bathroom and drink some water before heading downstairs. After thinking back on what happened yesterday, I come to the conclusion that I should call Albert directly. I pick up my phone and the scrap of paper from my pant's pockets and call the number. I hear a phone ringing, ringing, and ringing. I hang up and redial the number. I am greeted by a charming, friendly and tired voice. ''Yes?'' ''Good morning, may I speak with Albert?'' ''Albert?'', a silence falls on the line,Who's asking?'', even though the reception was terrible, I still could understand that the person I was talking to was a woman. ''It's a friend from the workplace. He gave me this number yesterday, and I was wondering if I could reach him through it.'' I can hear a loud and exhausted sigh on the other side of the call. ''Yeah, you can't really reach him here. Well, you must be the newbie. I'm Weil. Simone Weil. I work with Albert on the ''project''.'', another silence comes to be. After a minute or two, Simone speaks again. ''I'll do my best to arrange a meeting for you and Albert. Head to your workplace as soon as you can. We'll do everything today, and be done with it by the time we all get home, finally.'' ''Thanks, take care. Have a nice day.'' ''It surely won't be, but hope it will. It's kind to wish me so. Let God bless you, might need it.'', she says before hanging up. I eat my breakfast in a hurry and decide to...

Choice 1 : Bring my pills with me.

Choice 2 : A wise decision.

A very pricy glass.

I go outside and start driving. The sky is getting cloudy, I'd bet it's going to start raining before I even get to work. I take a sip of a burning hot coffee while hoping it will be enough to keep me alert. By the time I get to the rendezvous, I took a few more ibuprofen. My head was killing me and it was horrible. I wonder what someone could see in me, no one even explained to me the ins-and-outs of my job. Anyway, I guess there will be overtime today, I hope it won't get too overwhelming. As I step out of my vehicle, there's a familiar smell present in the air. ''Albert?'' I call him faintly but no one answers. ''Are you there? Simone told me you'd be here.'' Albert comes out of a nearby car. ''Yes, I am here. We won't have much time, follow me.'', says he as we start walking around the building. We walk about a hundred meters before he stops. ''The cameras won't hear us here. You look bad, should've slept more. What I need you for is nothing short of easy. You just need to email the boss during his lunch break. Do not answer any emails he sent you, nor follow what they ask of you if there are. That is all.'' ''Sure, I'll do it.'' I answer him, confused.''Although I don't know what I'm supposed to send him?'' ''This file.'' Albert gives me a USB key. The bell rings, announcing that the workday will soon start. ''Remember to send it during his break, not earlier and especially not later.'' ''Yeah, will do, will do'', I answer him vaguely. Time passes as I complete papers and follow the advancement of an assembly line's pace of production. I wonder if they feel the fulfillment of being useful to society, dreading their work only to obtain some meager pension. My head starts hurting yet again. That really isn't getting better. I head to the cafeteria to chug a glass of water. The pain won't go away, that's for sure. At this point I might as well... I open the cap of the bottle of pills. I put five in my hand before weakly trying to swallow them. I turn around and head to my desk as my legs start to feel weak. ''I have to... The email... Albert...'', I murmur as I try to walk straight. It is only then that my legs give in. I fall on the ground, or so I think. ''Why are you screaming?'', I pathetically blubber as my feelings start to fade away, ''Why am I on the ground? Guys, I think I need help now... Please.'' I see Albert running toward me, concerned. Albert! He'll help me, that's why he is coming. I can see him. Please come faster, I can't anymore... I hear a gunshot. I forcefully open my eyes. Albert is down on the ground, lifeless. That's a joke, right? Right?

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

A wise decision.

I go outside and start driving. The sky is getting cloudy, I'd bet it's going to start raining before I even get to work. I take a sip of a burning hot coffee while hoping it will be enough to keep me alert. By the time I get to the rendezvous, the rain indeed gets into action. My head was killing me and it was horrible. I wonder what someone could see in me, why would they ask for me personally? Anyway, I guess there won't be overtime today.As I step out of my vehicle, there's a familiar smell filling the air. ''Albert?'' I call him faintly but no one answers. ''Are you there? Simone told me you'd be here.'' Albert comes out of a nearby car. ''Yes, I am here. We won't have much time, follow me.'', says he as we start walking around the building. We walk about a hundred meters before he stops. ''The cameras won't hear us here. You look bad, should've slept more. What I need you for is nothing short of easy. You just need to email the boss during his lunch break. Do not answer any emails he sent you, nor follow what they ask of you if there are. That is all.'' ''Sure, I'll do it.'' I answer him, confused. ''What Iam I supposed to send him anyway?'' ''This file.'' Albert gives me a USB key. The bell rings, announcing that the workday will soon start. ''Remember to send it during his break, not earlier and especially not later.'' ''Yeah, I'll make sure I do'', I answer him as I head inside. Time passes as I complete papers and follow the advancement of an assembly line's pace of production. I wonder if they feel the fulfillment of being useful to society, indulging in their work only to obtain some meager pension. My head starts hurting yet again. That really isn't getting better. I head to the cafeteria to chug a glass of water. The pain won't go away, that's for sure. I head back upstairs. From my desk I can see the door to the boss's room. I keep working. At noon precisely, I see him heading out. Is it lunch? Should I send the email?

Choice 1 : Send the email, I'm not risking sending that too late!

Choice 2 : Wait for development.

Early bird.

I start writing an email to my boss and attach the file to it. In fact, that's all I will send. That, and a little ''from us with wishes''. I smile widely as I start waiting for the email to upload. A while later, I receive an email from my boss. I have no choice, I open it. He was asking me to enter his room. I look at Gary, my coworker, and asks him to watch my things while I'm gone. I stop in the bathroom and slowly sip water before walking to him. I knock. ''Enter'', he sounded extremely calm. I enter, the lights are closed. ''You shouldn't mess with other people's business.'', he murmurs behind me. ''Excuse me, what's happening? Why did you want to see me?'' ''You are fired, that's why.'' ''What-'', I shout, startled. A sharp pain keeps me from finishing my sentence. I fall to the ground. The lights are still closed. Will I really die without knowing why? Is that it? Suddenly, the lights flicker. ''Put him out'', says a voice before many pairs of legs start circling around me. A wicked laugh resonates in the room as my blood starts flowing freely in front of me. ''Ah, my headache is gone now...''

Choice 1 : [Back to the beginning]

Timing is my thing.

I wait for some time. At nine past noon, another person is getting out. I start typing an email to my boss and attach the file to it. In fact, that's all I will send. That, and a little ''from us with wishes''. I smile widely as I start waiting for the email to upload. Once it does, I exit the building. ''Hey, Gary! I'll be back soon, look after my things for me please.'', I tell my coworker. Once in the parking lot, I call Simone again. The same sleepy and tired voice answers me. ''Yes? Who is it?'' ''Simone? It's me, from earlier. I've done it. I sent the file.'' ''Already? That's wonderful! Thank you. I suggest you go away right this instant.'' She hangs up. ''Simone?'' I drop the phone as I see a handsome tall guy with a somewhat long and rectangular face walking towards the building with a megaphone.He lifts it to his mouth. ''Machiavel Bane, please come outside of the building. Otherwise, I'll be using brute force.'' Many minutes passes before many cars arrive. I tap on the person's shoulder. ''Excuse me, mister. What is happening? I'm confused.'' ''My name is Maurice Merleau-Ponty. I've been working with many people to e able to find Bane. Albert, Simone and I have been looking for him for many years now. We are working with the government's forces.'' As he says that final sentence, many people enter the parking lot. I bet those are the cops and... the army? ''Mr. Bane! Surrender this instant for war crimes, possession and selling of drugs, statutory rape and production of child pornography.'', says Merleau-Ponty through the megaphone. I am speechless. I let myself fall on my back, landing on a patch of grass. In the back I can hear gunshots. A lot of them. I close my eyes and fall asleep on the muddy ground. A soft tapping on my shoulder wakes me up, the sky has cleared and a soft and hot wind is back again. ''That will be all, you can head home.'', says a motherly voice. I look up. Simone, Albert and Maurice are looking at me. I laugh a little and get up. ''What about a little coffee? Or tea? Although water would be wiser, I think. Anybody interested?'', I offer as my headache is finally calming down. We all laugh as we sigh and look up to the sky. ''Thank you, for the memory. It's all been worthwhile.'', I tell them while looking at an odd-shaped cloud tainted in pink by the sundown.

Choice 1 : [You got to the true ending! Good job!]