Mishiko was sitting idly on her stool, eating marshmallows in a lull of working. She was grateful for the slight break. It gave her time to eat something, even if that something was nothing more than a squishy, sugary lump. She brought out her water bottle from her pocket and sipped at the lukewarm liquid. Soon, the store would close, and sheâ€™d be free, free to get some real food and then maybe study for her classes tomorrow hopefully followed by sleep. She yawned just thinking about the sweetness of slumber. Okay, maybe she didnâ€™t really need to study. She was a smart girl, after all and a really tired one as well.<br/><br/>She stuffed the empty marshmallow bag back in her pocket and leaned to the left to try and see around her register. Was there even anyone in the store? She found herself staring down an empty canned food aisle. No, wait; it wasnâ€™t empty. She could see a blue jean clad leg and sneaker sticking out from behind a stack of boxes. She scowled at the leg, recognizing it as the stockboyâ€™s. â€œI know youâ€™re not sleeping!â€ She shouted down the aisle. There was no response from the stoxkboy. â€œHey!â€ She shouted a bit louder. â€œWake up!â€ Still no response, not even a twitch. She looked around the store quickly to make sure no customers were around before she slipped off her stool and started stalking down the aisle, intending to kick awake the stockboy.<br/><br/>When Mishiko reached the stack of boxes and peered around them, she instantly let out a gasp of horror. He wasnâ€™t sleeping. He was dead. He was obviously dead by the yellow puddle ringing around him. A large bloody gash could be seen on the left side of his chest. She wasnâ€™t a crime scene investigator, but she doubted a bullet had killed him. â€œOkay,â€ she said shakily as she backed up the aisle to her register. â€œWhat should I do?â€ She got back on her stool and sat there a good few minutes, too stunned to do or say anything else. â€œI should lock the doors,â€ she said softly. â€œIn case the killer comes back.â€ She grabbed the store keys from under the cash drawer and headed to the big, glass front doors.<br/><br/>She had just locked the door, just took out the key, when she saw it, the huge, monstrous reflection right behind her. â€œHoly shit!â€ She shouted as she twirled around, narrowly avoiding a claw that had been aiming to strike her in the back. She heard a loud crunch as the claw hit glass instead of soft flesh. She found herself staring at a true life or death monster, the sight of which froze her to her very core. She reacted as a second claw reared back and made for her neck. Ducking low and half running half crawling, she dodged the beast and put five feet between them. â€œWhat the hell are you?!â€ She screamed as she straightened up and sprinted for the bulletproof back office, hoping it was also monster proof.