text: Bits of wrappers hidden under the store shelves crinkled as the fleshy tendrils of the mop moved back and forth across the cheap tiled floor. “What’s this?” Ryan looked up from the register. Inez continued to mop. A twisted smile crossed Ryan’s face, his voice grew louder “Stealing money from the till, are we?” The mop froze. Inez looked up, “What are you talking about?” “Looks like we are $50 short tonight.” Ryan held up a fist-full of cash. “And *you* were on register today. I just got here.” It was Inez’s first week on the job. She had been tempted by the lumps of cash every time she rang someone out. Who wouldn’t be? Especially when your belly’s empty and you’re not sure the lights will be on when you come home. But, she had resisted that temptation. She needed this job, and there weren’t many others around that would hire a 17-year-old dropout. “I didn’t take anything, if that’s what you’re trying to say.” She stared at him. “I don’t know.” He fanned his face with the bills. “Numbers don’t lie.” Ryan sauntered over toward the hot Cheetos and meat sticks. He placed his elbow up on the shelf and leaned in toward Inez. “You know... Bob would be pretty upset about this. He really, really, *really* hates when people steal from him.” Inez thought back to the rest of her day. Had she accidentally rung someone out? No, it couldn’t be. She had been careful, very careful. She used to get straight A’s in math, and nearly every other subject. She was meticulous, studious, someone with a lot of promise. And then... her mother got sick. Then everything seemed to fall apart. “I didn’t steal anything.” She spat out the words. “Well,” Ryan leaned in a little closer, “Seeing how this is your first week, and I’m a nice guy, I’d be willing to cut you a deal.” A shiver moved down her spine as his eyes moved up and down her face, almost searching for something. “What kind of... deal?” She said as her eyes narrowed. “You see, I could use a favor.” Thin lips stretched across his face. “How about you take my shift tonight?” “Your.. shift?” “Yeah. AND you can pay me for it, too.” The shit-eating grin grew bigger. “Wait... no.” She held her hands up and stepped back. “That’s bullshit.” “Well, hey.” He turned to walk back to the register, shouting over his shoulder. “I’m just trying to be a nice guy. I’m really putting myself at risk to try and cover you. But, if you want, have it your way.” “This is blackmail.” Inez stomped toward the register. “There is no way I took that money, and there’s no way I’m giving you anything.” “Look.” He leaned over the counter. “Either you lose a little bit of money, or you lose your job. It’s up to you.” “You... you...” She pointed her finger harshly. She could barely control the heated breath that rushed in and out of her lungs. Barely keep back the words that she wanted to say to him. She needed that money more than he could ever know. Taking an extra shift was one thing, she would always say yes. She could always use the money. But, *this*? “What’ll it be, darlin’?” Inez stood in silence for what felt like forever, trying to quell her rage. The breaths came in and out in giant rolls of hot air, like steam was billowing out of her nostrils. After a few deep breaths, she was able to fight back the urge to strangle him. Then, finally, she was able to calm down enough to talk. “... Fine.” Her glare was like an icy dagger. “Great!” Ryan grabbed his coat and trotted off to the door. “I really appreciate the favor.” Inez stood in silence, staring at the register. Her mind a constant buzz of memories from earlier in the day. Her head aching with a terrible pressure as she analyzed each passing thought. “Oh, and Inez.” Ryan turned around as the automatic doors opened in front of him. The shit-eating grin grew large enough to swallow a whole pig. “I really think I’m going to enjoy working with you.” She waited for the familiar ding of the doors to let her know he was actually gone. Then she rushed behind the counter and furiously counted all of the cash, dutifully noting the record of every purchase made during the day. It was short. Exactly $50 short. She counted it again. Still short. She couldn’t for the life of her figure out how it had happened. Unless... Ryan had snuck it out when she wasn’t looking as soon as he got into work. The CCTV cameras would show it for sure. But, she didn’t have access to them. And Bob wouldn’t be in until morning. Which, is when her shift would now end. It was only 11 PM. This was going to be a long, long night. The thought of her mother being alone that long, and not knowing where she was if she woke up... it was almost too much. She would call, but she didn’t have a phone. And Bob didn’t like personal calls being made on the store’s phone. Inez slumped against the back of the counter and collapsed into a heap, just out of view of the CCTV. There was no way out of this situation. She was trapped. *Ding*. The doors opened again. An icy blast flew in. It was 100 degrees when she came into work earlier. It wasn’t unusual to get too many customers on a weeknight this late. For some reason, this time she had a very uneasy feeling. Inez crept up, her eyes just glancing over the counter. Something moved past the edge of the aisle, and then seemed to disappear. She stood up and looked around. Then, near the fridges in the back, she saw it again. She crept over toward the aisles, trying to look nonchalant. Then she peeked behind them. A gangly mass of hair was draped around cheap leather. The pockets brimmed with the colorful coverings of chocolate bars, lollipops, and beef sticks. One hand stuffed a bearded face while the other clasped an oversized container of cheesy puffs. The figure grabbed a beer from the fridge. Then it turned and walked calmly, confidently toward the back door. The one that only employees use. “Hey.” Inez’s voice cracked into a tiny whisper as she tried to speak. She was almost right in front of him. The figure did not turn back. Didn’t even acknowledge her existence. He pressed onward, pushing his body through the swinging doors. Inez’s knees buckled. Her body started to shake. First Ryan, now this. Bob would have her head on a plate if he knew she let this guy get away. “Hey... HEY.” Inez stammered as she broke into a run. Her hands pressed against the swinging doors just as the man in the large coat disappeared behind them. “You can’t go back there!” Her body pushed through the opening. But, instead of the dingy back room that smelled of bleach and weed, there was a sudden drop. Before she knew it, she was falling. Air pushed past her face as she screamed into the empty nothingness. It was pitch black. She fell for what felt like forever. But it was probably only a few feet. Her body hit the ground with a large thump. The cold, hard, uneven ground scraped her nose and the side of her face like a cheese grater. Head bounced against the surface, the elbow of her sleeve tore open, a painful groan exited her lungs as the wind rushed out of them. She lay on the ground for a moment. In pain, trying to understand exactly what just happened. Then she looked up. The cruddy old chair of the back room was gone. The walls were dark slate and bare, no emergency exit signs, no labor rules. No buzzing, twitching fluorescent lights hung above her. There was only the light of a dozen moons hovering high above her head like a pack of scattered marbles. She tried to push herself up, but a stinging pain in her knee kept her pasted onto the ground. Painfully, she turned her neck to look behind her. The swinging doors were no longer there. The storeroom was gone. Everything was gone. In its place was a dark, cold world. Like the cliffs beside the ocean after midnight. But there were no lapping waves, and no shore to retreat to. Nothing but an endless sea of chiseled, dangerously tall blocks of stone stretching upward toward the haunting moonlight. As the fog danced slowly over the landscape, they revealed the endless winding of stone walls. Twisting and contorting around as if they were a maze. “You there.” A voice came from out of the darkness. Inez painfully forced herself up a little more, frantically, trying to find its host. Trying to be ready to defend herself. “What in the devil are you doing here?” A figure with a scruffy beard, slightly dotted with bright orange flecks stepped out of the shadows. The empty cheese puff container hung under the pit of his arm. Inez’s lips moved, but no words came out. A million thoughts swam through her mind as she tried to make sense of him. She must be dreaming. Maybe she fell and hit her head. That would explain the pain. There was so... much... pain. She had never had a dream this real before. The feel of the wet stone beneath her palms. The acrid taste of blood pooling out of her split lip and into her gaping mouth. “Well, out with it.” The bearded man stepped closer. “H... he.... Help me.” She whispered. “Me?” The man’s face turned down into a frown. “Help *YOU*?” Inez sat there with a pleading look on her face. “Oh, well isn’t that RICH.” He turned to the walls and shouted at no one in particular. “She wants *me* to bloody help *her*.” He stooped down to her, the wrappers in his pockets crinkling as he bent down. “Am I to be your rescuer then, eh?” His voice was low and unforgiving. “Am I supposed to scrape you up off the ground and lead you out of here like a god damn fucking savior? Could you be so unbelievably daft to be in this place and think that I would fall for something like that? Anyone you can get in here must find their own way out.” Inez’s eyes grew wide. The bearded man practically spat as he spoke every word. “Do you not know where you are, you dolt? Do you think I don’t know? I don’t know who the hell you are, but I’ll be damned if I spend one half of one percent of my energy helping a mindless idiot that dares to ask for anything HERE.” With a jolt, the man was on his feet again. Tattered brown leather swished into Inez’s tear-streamed face as he turned and walked away, back into the darkness. “WAIT!” Inez screamed, head searing, body aching. She looked up once more toward the sky and the jagged, endless row of dark stone. “Wait...” She whispered into the cold air as she sobbed. Just as the sleeve of her shirt was becoming soaked with tears and blood, she heard a noise. The clip-clopping of shoes. She braced herself for whatever might come out of the darkness. The bearded man appeared from the misty shadows again. He took a deep breath. “I had a moment to think.” Inez pushed herself up. “Please... help me...what is this...” “I was a bit harsh earlier.” He interrupted. “It was unbecoming of me, and I would not normally act like that. It’s just... this place. You have to be on your toes. I wanted to come back and apologize. I have a most urgent job to do and it almost made me forget my manners.” Inez smiled through her tears. “Then you’ll...” “Here.” He grabbed her hand. At first, Inez thought that he would grasp her hand and lift her up. But, instead, he pried her fingers open. Into her open palm, he placed a chocolate bar. “I can’t just leave you empty-handed. Here, think of this as a ‘good luck’ and ‘farewell’ gift from me.” A sad smile stretched across the dirty face before he turned around. Inez watched with horror as the bearded man disappeared for the last time.