till death do us part

Everyone at the office was shocked of the gruesome death of Benz. After a week, Project Ebony people offered prayers, candles and flowers for the soul of Benz, even Katie and Lance, who was then cleared on the police investigation from the possible angle of murder. It was an accident, that’s what everybody knows… the by-standers that time were all saying he was shouting and trying to go out of his car… no one said about the green smoke… the shrieking sounds… what happened that night was buried at the necropolis along with Benz.

Stella and Bryce was such a perfect couple of the night shift team. Bryce was a bit shy type that is why everyone’s been suspicious of his sexuality. Stella was one of the smartest associates of the team, brain plus beauty… who wouldn’t fall for her. Everybody teases them for they look good together, and thru this they became friends… very special friends. There was a time Bryce got sick for few days; Stella went to his pad to take care of him, and these made him fall for her. He calls her starlight, she calls him sunshine… they would talk for hours over the phone talking about anything, a typical thing lovers do. Everyone was just waiting for a confirmation from them both. They built a world of their own… a world that was ruined when Donald came to the picture. Donald, a hardworking and responsible person, he tries to woo Stella and somehow his doggedness was paid off. It was a big surprise for everyone when they noticed the sudden change of character from the love story half-baked. Everybody sympathized with Bryce, who would have thought Stella would have a change of heart impetuously. Deep depression caused sleepless nights. A few days after, just when Bryce can’t take seeing his starlight with someone else… more so a close friend of him, Bryce gave his resignation letter. And the following day his mother called Rob, Bryce’s immediate supervisor… she asked to advance the terminal leave of his son for some reasons she vaguely explained but promised to send medical records explaining his son’s condition. Everybody thought that it was just a cover up of the truth; some were speculating that Bryce would be leaving the country for good and just help his father on their family business located at Ontario, Canada. Yes indeed it was a cover-up, the sleepless nights and depression lead to a major nervous breakdown. Bryce now keeps saying words that makes his parents worry, “Mah, here they are again, make them leave… starlight, Don… I am afraid, I don’t want them here… Mah! Help me!!!” that’s what he repeatedly says. Tears burst into his mother’s eyes; it was such a tragic situation for a parent to see their only child suffering.

It’s the first Friday of May, and as always every morning it was the time when all the team members, dayshift and nightshift, meet… this is also when the qualifiers for the incentives will be announced and the updates as well. Donald and Stella went back to 37th floor to get their things so they would be ready to leave as soon as the meeting ends.

At the training room, they decided to grab the chance since they were the only one there that time, Donald made a move... he gave Stella a passionate kiss… suddenly somebody kicked the door and to their surprise it was Bryce… now rugged looking… he was talking like a child… saying “You killed Bryce! Murderer! I hate you!” Bang! Bang!!! Bryce brought his father’s handgun and flees when he sees everyone in their house are asleep… blood flows all over the floor. Bryce fired Donald on his forehead and Stella on her shoulders… she was crying and begging Bryce to stop… but Bryce who have turned schizophrenic, is now crying, “Stop it starlight, you hurt me… Mah… they are here again! They are mocking me! Mah!!!” and after that another set of gunshots were heard. When the guards came into the scene Bryce is nowhere to be found… they just heard from the “romeo”, guards radio tool, that somebody fell from the building… it was Bryce. It was a tragic love story they say. Based on what they see he took his life because of guilt that he killed his friend and most especially the girl he loved… but there are always different sides of a story… what really happened between the killing of Stella and Bryce jumping off the building veranda?

After emptying the handgun at Stella, Bryce ran into the office beside the training room and was horrified of what he have just done… he killed his beloved starlight, he was crying like a baby… suddenly a familiar voice spoke softly, its like Stella’s! “It’s okay Bryce, I am sorry I caused you a lot of troubles…” he looked back… it is Stella, smiling at him… her face as beautiful as ever, but he noticed blood is still flowing through her gunshots, and when he looked again to her face… the smiling face was starting to cry and some brain parts were falling off from the wound on her head… Bryce, terror-stricken from what’s standing in front of him, tried to open the door heading to the veranda… but to his surprise Stella was also there… she was speaking of unfamiliar language and after that Bryce cannot control his body anymore… he was grasping for breath… he just saw himself lifting into the air... he wants to say sorry to Stella but he can’t fight the force that’s over powering him right now. He looked down and Stella wasn’t there anymore… he just see himself falling off the building… seeing his near death.

the parking lot

Weeks have passed and people start to wonder what happened with Paolo. There’s no phone call received explaining his absence… they’ve tried calling him but no one’s answering the phone at his pad located at Bark Chateau, which is just a block away from InterBank Plaza. A memo was already waiting for him to be signed once he gets back. That is, if he is still coming back.

Benz is one of the pain-in-the-ass associate of the team. Though he was the oldest, he was the most stubborn and the most immature. Sometimes he can be so annoying that you would just resort to ignoring him so you won’t spoil your day. If the whole team has agreed unto something, he will be the only one to contradict.

He has the reputation for being a swinger… he tries to hook up with all the girls he got an eye on, but not all falls for his archaic schemes, especially Katie, the team-lead of his group. The rejection of Katie has made him more determined to win her heart. He was so determined that it came to a point that he was already stalking her. That time Katie was in love with Lance, the team lead of the night shift group, and even if they weren’t a couple Benz still won’t stand a chance. His fascination for Katie turns into anger when he discovered this.

One Tuesday morning Benz and Katie crossed path at the hallway beside the entrance of the office… he approached her, and asked if there would still be a chance for them to become a couple… and he begged Katie to give him at least a chance to prove his affection for her. He was dismayed when she replied shrilling… NEVER!!! As always, a hot-tempered-freak he was, he grabbed her in the neck and tried to assault her. Ripping off her clothes, he got hold of her mouth and stopped her from making the sluggish-guard-on-duty that time becomes aware of what’s happening. Good thing Katie has a pen on her pocket that she immediately thrust it onto his arms, which made him loose his grip on her. She immediately ran into the glass window and banged unto it to wake the now sleeping guard.

After some medications done by the company nurse, a termination was given by his supervisor for such vicious act committed by the hot-headed associate. Benz, being close-minded, blames Katie for being responsible for his termination. He leaves the office cursing Katie, his supervisor, the guard and even Lance… who then just arrived on the scene.

Benz light some cigars at the parking lot to placate the raging anger inside of him. He sat beside Harpy, his vintage Volkswagen, and kicks the trash bins beside him. After a few minutes he turn on his stereo to the loudest volume and starts the engine, all he wants that time is revenge and he needs to get out of the building to set up a crooked plan against Katie. Just when he started the engine, a shrieking sound overpowered his stereo. He paused for a while to see where it is coming from, he have never heard such kind of deafening sound. The shrieks stopped, his signal lights started to flicker… his pacified anger was now replaced by terror… he started his engine again and suddenly all the lightings shut down for a second. Benz grabbed his flashlight from the dashboard drawer… and quickly turned it on… total darkness emanates the whole floor of the parking lot that makes him tremble. The shrieks starts again, Benz then started to pray, he was relieved when the shrieking stopped again… but as he started the engine again and drove a few meters away, his car was automatically locked… and suddenly green smoke emerged from the air condition… he tried to open the door but to no luck he got trapped, he drives off in circles, and grabbed anything to smash into the window so he could break free… but it was too late, he was already starting to be suffocated of the green smoke… he stepped on to the accelerator and hit on the post near to the exit. The impact has caused his body to be thrown out of the streets of Topaz, where a garbage truck passed by over him, thus ending his life.

the endless sleep

If there will be an award for the sleepyhead of the team, the most qualified would be Paolo...

An elite, party animal and technology savvy dude... He's addicted to night life and that's why he makes the office as his second room... (that's if he only have one home) If you'll count the number of hours of work he'd consume for the day 3 hours would be too much.

One rainy Saturday afternoon... He had to stay at the office afterwork, since he'll be meeting up with his gimmick buddies just near the vicinity so he killed time listening to some techno songs he downloaded on his pc... and sleeping!

It was past ten when he woke up... the lights are all turned off except for the pin lights on the hallway. The weird thing is there's no guard on sight. As he packed his things up and shut down his pc; a freaky thing happened... he heard someone crying... it's like a child who's been crying for quite some time... he tried to ignore it, for the only thing on his mind at that moment is to get out of the office and meet up with his friends. When he's a few meters away from the main entrance the child stopped crying and started calling his name... he was terrified and started to freak-out. He tried to reach for his cellphone on his backpack but it wasn't there... so he tried to peek at his cubicle since it's not that far from where he stands... his phone is ringing and he's baffled with the situation... a part of him wants to get his newly bought cell and the other part wanted to get the hell out. But he decided to have some balls to grab his cell... since he'll be needing it on his out-of-town vacation for two weeks. Just when he get a hold on to his phone a cold small hands suddenly pulled his legs... and he tripped over... a decaying face with eyes wide open popped-up under his table... He shouted as loud as he could...

"Sarap eh noh?!... Sarap eh noh?!..." that's a familiar ring tune for him... his phone was ringing... he was just dreaming, he's dripping with his sweat... he thanked God and made a sign of the cross... for the first time... It was his friend Carlo calling... His friend was pissed already, they should be meeting by 7pm and it's past ten already... after the call he checked on his phone, with 16 missed calls and 10 unread messages... the 10th message was all blank, that includes the number... he went to the pantry to drink some water, his dream still plays into his mind... after drinking he walked towards the door... suddenly all the lights went on and off... on the other side of the hallway a blurred shadow apppeared... but as the lights turns on it gets clearer and closer... and closer... it's that same girl on his dream... words don't come out this time... he tried to reach the knob of the fire exit and closed it... but a cold small hand have tapped his right shoulder... he was shocked and when he looks back the small girl was behind her. Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

intro

intro
Originally uploaded by lenaibojcdruz.

The setting took place in a newly built high-rise building within Ortigas... Project Ebony just moved in at InterBank Plaza... they are the third company to move in. Everyone's excited with the new office setting. Well that was a year ago....

the gum

thegums
Originally uploaded by lenaibojcdruz.

The story, names, characters and incidents portrayed in this story are fictitious, and any similarity to the name, character or history of any person, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

© 2005 Aldabog Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.