I put my head against the door and bang my fist against the sturdy material in frustration. How can I forget my pass? My phone?! What the hell am I supposed to do now that I am trapped between two doors in the corridor to my office?!
My name is Annie, and I work in an office building writing reports and handling other administrative tasks for my company. It's past 10pm and I'm the only one left in the office. Been one hell of a busy week. I had just submitted my report so that my boss can review it on Friday tomorrow. Before I left, I thought I should rush off to pee, and that's how the problem began.
By regulations, us employees need to use company-issued passes on security pass scanners next to the doors to enter our office. And my office is on the first floor and at the far end of a long corridor from the building entrance, with a few doors with pass scanners blocking the way. Since the only working bathroom today is the one near the entrance, we need to get past those annoying doors. What many staff did out of convenience is to block out the doors with a heavy item and prevent it from closing. No one seemed to care that this is actually a security violation, but who am I to point it out? I'm just at the bottom rung of the career ladder. These doors were still opened so I just rushed off to the bathroom without thinking too much about it.
When I came back, the glass door of my office was closed with the usual scanner protecting unauthorized entry. In my rush I did not let the door stay open. Then I slapped my forehead when I realized I forgot to bring my pass with me, and pretty much all my other valuables are in the office too. Perhaps the security guard can help, I thought as I turned back to go to the building's pass office... Only to see the other door swinging shut and auto-locking. My clumsy feet probably accidentally shifted a box of junk blocking that door.
And that pretty much recaps my bad luck tonight. So far...
I am at a loss for actions besides hoping that the security guard would do his rounds of checks and find me. And I jump a little when I hear sounds of the window opening. It is the only window in the middle of the corridor and is at a high enough height where I don't have the strength to pull myself up and out. But whoever this guy is, his powerful arms demonstrate that he's strong enough to pull up and get through the window, and he lands on the floor in the corridor with a soft thud. Having never experienced this kind of situation in my life, I just stand from the corner of the door dumbstruck.
As stupid as this sounds, surely he must be the security guard who had noticed my plight. I approach him, calling for his attention.
"Fuck! I didn't know you are here," It is his turn to jump as he turns to stare at me. He's a rough-looking man seemingly in his mid-thirties, one head taller than me. From the looks of the size of his arms and his wide chest he's clearly well-muscled. I step back a little, getting a sense of his intimidating presence. He wears a thick jacket that covers the top of his blue coveralls.
His eyes seem to gleam as he feasts his eyes up and down my body as if he hasn't seen a pretty woman before. I think I do look good; I'm not completely oblivious to the not-too-subtle fawning from some of my male colleagues okay? But I dress rather conservatively today - a simple white cotton shirt and a grey skirt that covers up to my knees. Or maybe it's those pokies (Thanks to tonight's exceptionally cold air-con) sticking out prominently through my shirt because today I'm not wearing my bra. And the thought of that makes me cover that part of myself with my hands almost involuntarily. Damn, my boyfriend is the only one who I will allow such male attention.
Regardless, I request his help to get me back into the office, explaining what had just happened.
He has a double take at the office entrance ahead.
"What the... where's your pass?"
"In the office, I'm sorry."
"Is there anyone else in the office?"
I shake my head sheepishly in reply, before asking, "Can you help me unlock the door please."
He grumbles as he strides over to the glass door entrance. There's something nagging me at the back of my head, something off about this security guard and all his responses, but I follow him all the same in my desperation after the 10 odd minutes of pounding helplessly against the doors. He tugs at the door handle a couple of times and utters "come on!" in annoyance, all without taking out any equipment from what I think is that big tool-bag he's carrying with him.
Suddenly, something strikes me. It occurs to me that there are no cameras in the corridor so no one would have known what's going on here. And another thing that strikes me, way too late I will admit, is that if he's the security guard, he would have the pass to get past the various doors instead of needing to climb over a window in such a fashion. Then... Who is this guy?
"You're not security, are you?" and a sense of apprehension and dread rises within me as those words leave my mouth.
"What was your first clue?" He remarks with that clear, sheer sarcasm in his voice before turning his attention on me.
"I heard that tonight's a great time to loot this place because the doors are all unlocked. But fuck, a stupid bitch like you have to ruin it for us."
A burglar, a criminal! And more of them coming over? I step back in fear as his hand reaches into the pocket on the side of his jacket.
"See that? I have a gun pointing at you under my jacket and if you want to stay alive you better not scream nor do anything rash," his eyes narrow as he stares straight into mine, sporting an evil-looking smile.
He sounds convincing. How else can he not be? Towering over me and threatening me that he will use a gun that I have not seen yet. Even though I begin shaking and stepping back in fear, I know better than to resist. After obeying whatever my boss demands of my work today, I am now switching over to obey this criminal instead, whatever he has in mind. I meekly ask him what he wants from me, since I have no money and no phone in my pockets.
