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Word count: 2887

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Payton

I take a deep breath in to calm myself as I chew my nails. I know it's a rather disgusting habit, but I can't help it. I suffer from claustrophobia and being surrounded by others on the subway doesn't help my anxiety in any way.

I stop chewing and reach into my woven shoulder bag, pulling my phone out. It's handmade, I made it and my phone? Is hardly expensive.

It's touch-screen, but other than that, it doesn't do much. You only read need the basics which is the ability to text and call. I've never really wanted anything more in a phone except for taking a half decent photo or selfie should the occasion arise (which it never does) and if the mood to listen to music, strikes me? An Ipod Nano will do, I have that in my bag too. As my hand is resting in my bag, I feel my phone buzz so I pull it out, trying not to drop it as the train-car jolts around slightly and so do the other passengers, bumping into me slightly.

Ah, don't touch me, please! Just hands off of me! But I'm far too polite to kick up a fuss out of a situation that can't be helped though. My phone buzzes again. I see two messages from the same number and open it. It's my boss, he is a really nice old gentleman, due to turn at-least 64 this year. His not far off retiring. He runs one of the franchise coffee stores chain in my city, but his not the boss of the whole operation.

I bet he wish he did though!

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Morning, Payton

It's Carl, how are you? Are you on your way?

Just checking in with you as we're due to open in around 45 minutes. Kathy, Grace, Miranda and Ben have already arrived here. Don't feel like I'm rushing you, but I just want to know that you're on your way.

Love, 'Grandfather', Carl

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I lower my phone and stifle a laugh. H is such a sweet old man, really cares about us all. His not any of us's, grandfather, but when you become old, everyone's your child as far as you're concerned. We all love him even if he can be an old fart, sometimes... I shoot a message back.

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Morning, Carl

I'm on my way, just stuck on the subway.

- Payton

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I see his typing back.

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Okay, thanks for letting me know. Are you okay? I know how you have such horrible anxiety. Remember, I have some of your spare meds in the first-aid kit so if you need them, they're here for you.

Did you take your average dose this morning, though?

- Carl

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I message back.

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I took them and I think I'm okay. Thanks.

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He's sending me yet another message.

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Okay, okay. I just worry though about all of you, you're all like my kids, you know? My stinking kids don't visit me and neither do my grandchildren as they 'don't have the time.'

I appreciate each of your help. See you soon, Payton.

Carl

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And the messages stop there so I slip my phone away. I steady myself, but immediately I feel dizzy, sick. Great, I'm going need my extra tablets now... I look up at the overhead screen indicator, about 5 minutes and I'll be able to escape this wretched train!

I wish I had another way to get to work, but short of walking there, bicycling which will take at-least an hour or paying a very expensive cab fare, the subway sadly is my cheapest and shortest route I have. As we near the station, a noise starts to bother me. Someone on the other side of the car is sniffling and coughing.

Oh my freaking core, just use a goddamn tissue why don't you?! I want to shout this at him, but I'm much to polite to again so I keep my mouth shut and bear with it. Finally the idiot pulls out a tissue and wipes his nose, but it doesn't make him any less stiffly or coughy. I hear the conductor speak through the overhead speaker a a moment later.

This is my stop! I bolt off the subway before anyone else can and quickly make my way up the stairs and don't stop running till I realize I've run a mile and is at the back entrance of Carl's Coffee/Bakery. I pull my keys out, insert them in the lock and go in to see my co-workers have set everything out.

"Ah, you're finally here!" Carl smiles from up front at the till, filling it with some notes and coins to start the day, but then his face falls. "Are you okay? You look scared, out of breath." He comments. This gains my co-workers attention. We're not friends, but we talk I guess.

"Did you run the block from the subway to my shop?" Carl asks worried. "N-no." I lie. He finishes putting money way, closes the till and steps up to me. "Come on now, sweet-heart, don't lie to me. Come on, let's get you your emergency meds." He says, guiding me out back to the the area where the supply store-room is and his office.

"Payton." He says, taking my shaking hands in his, firmly. "Let me pay for you to get a cab to and from work from now on." He asks. "N-no." I stammer. "Nonsense!" He says.

"B-but, you will be paying out of your own pocket..." I stammer. "And it would be worth it so you can come to work, feeling at ease. You're anxiety will only get worse if you don't manage it.

Have you taken your meds? Have you seen your counselor? Because at the state, you come in each morning, what if you end up in a small mental health unit? You will have no choice, but to drop out of your university course and I'll have to hire someone else to fill your position.

While, it's no trouble for me to pay out your sick leave, getting back into the groove of things will be harder for you later on." He tells me.

"I-I know." I stammer. "So, have you taken your meds this morning? Don't lie to me, if you haven't, tell me, darling." He asks. I nod. "When's you're next appointment with your counselor?" He asks. "N-Next month." I stammer. "Why?" He asks.

"The public health system is slightly under-funded and managed." I point out. "Well, you're not wrong." He responds, letting go of my hands to stroke his beard. "I feel though like you could with weekly appointments instead though, you're not doing well, Payton."

I just nod quickly. "Come on, darling, let's just get you some more of your backup meds." He says, leading me to the first-aid box. He hands me my meds and a glass of water when my co-worker calls for him from up-front. He excuses himself and tells me to drink up and he'll back in a minute, leaving his office.

I pop the tablets in my mouth and swallow the water. As I do, something catches my eye. On his desk, I don't mean to pry, but... Examining a few sheets, what I see is shocking. He has written a Will and beneath it is a medical report. He was in the Hospital just over the weekend for a heart-attack that could have been fatal? Yet, here he is the next fucking morning at the beginning of the week?

You've got to be kidding me! And then my gaze focuses on the Will, seeing what's written there. He has left his family out of his Will... My name and my colleagues are all listed. He's leaving his shit to us. Why?! He can't possibly do this!

Can he...? Well, I suppose you can leave it to whoever you so declare and your word is binding. His family can contest it, but the odds of them losing are great. Still, I can't believe this... Then, I hear his feet shuffling along the floor, the door starting to open and I step away from his desk.

"Did you take them?" He asks, poking his head in. "Y-Yeah." I respond.

"Good, so come out here and give us a hand. A few business men and women have entered." He tells me, pulling his head back out. I take a deep breath in and push my thoughts aside of what I've seen, pushing myself to move onwards, back out, onto the floor.

Two hours pass and we've had a steady of supply of customers, but it's nothing we together, can't handle when I see a young man, my age, walk in with an older man behind him.

They're both dresses in suits and walk up the counter. "Hello and welcome, what can I get you?" I ask, putting on my best customer service smile.

The young man glares at me. "Where's my Dad?" He asks.

"Oh, Carl?" I respond. "Yes, that's him. Bring him out here." He demands so I quickly my excuse myself and head to his office. "Carl?" I call out to see him, standing next to his desk, folding his... Will into an envelope and sealing it.

The medical report and discharge papers still on his desk.

This old man really is a fucking, trooper... "Yes, Payton, darling? Is something wrong?" He asks, his warm eyes squinting to see me slightly despite wearing his glasses. "I think, one of your sons is out here. There's an older man with him, I don't know what they want. They didn't tell me, just asked me to nab ya." I explain.

"Oh, fiddlesticks!" He grumbles, placing his sealed Will down and I see him grasp his walking stick from next to his desk and shuffle out with me to the front of the store to the counter.

"Payton, go be a darling and stand with your colleagues." He instructs so I head over to them. They all look up at me from the tasks they're doing and give me a nod and a small smile.

I nod softly and look away, back over to Carl. "She okay?" One of them ask's. "I think she's having one of those days, they've become more common." Another whispers back. Great, they're gossiping and don't even care that it's right infront of me!

I'm distracted and then I hear arguing in Carl's direction. We hear the man with one of his sons is a lawyer and his son is pissed he discharged himself from hospital and that his health is becoming worse even though his not 70, rapidly.

"If you want a guardianship over me, sprouty, I'll see you in court!" Carl says, waving his walking stick in the air. "Carl!" I panic, racing over to him and gently help him to lower his stick.

"Pathetic girl." His son scoffs at me while his dad groans and coughs, out of breath, leaning on his stick. "Carl, are you okay?" I ask, patting his back.

"Oh, I'm fine. My chest just feels tight, but it'll pass." He tells me. "Dad, you shouldn't have left the Hospital." His son says, but Carl ignores him and them looks up, still out of breath.

"Don't yee here insult, Payton!' He warns when Carl collapses to the floor, clutching his chest. He sits against the counter and one of my colleagues is on their mobile in seconds, calling an ambulance.

"Carl? Carl!" I panic. He coughs, letting go of his chest. "Ey, I'm fine, don't worry, darl. Just tell that lizard I have to call a son to get out of my shop!"

I look at them. "Fine, we'll leave." He growls, walking out, but not before giving me the finger. I give him a finger back.

"See you in court, Dad!" I hear him add on before the door to the front of the shop, slam slams shut, the bell jingling.

Carl coughs, then curses. "He can jump mah fucking toaster."

"An Ambulance is on the way." One of my co-workers explain. "Oh, I don't need one." Carl groans. "But you're in pain!" I protest, not hearing the door to the shop open as I'm focused on Carl when I hear my co-workers who are girls like me, squeal.

Turning my head, I feel my blood run cold, seeing someone sinking his teeth into my male co-leagues neck, ripping it off and apart swiftly. The girls scream and before I know it, they're next.

"Ya'll leave my kids alone!" Carl says, waving his walking stick around. It because it's clearly not human and stops attacking them and leaves them on the floor.

Alive, but clutching their necks, panic written across their faces. This... Monster, outstretches his hands towards me and Carl, advancing.

"Carl, we need to leave!" I cry, trying to get him to his feet. I succeed, but his somewhat slow and he hits the monster even though it looks... Human? With his walking stick and it slices right inside and down. I let out a scream and Carl pulls his stick out and the monster falls down to the floor, unmoving.

"Well, that taught you not to mess with me, sunny boy." Carl says and I look to the my colleagues who we're clutching their necks and their screams echo in my mind that I start tearing up.

They're laying there, unmoving, eyes still open though against the wall and hands no longer at their necks. Carl thumps the bottom of his walking stick against the hardwood floor.

"You know what this reminds me of, Payton?"

How is he so unfazed by this?! "Carl, we need to leave!" I panic, guiding him to the door and I feel sick, dizzy, exhausted, like my throat is burning and I'm shaking as I get us outside the shop. It takes everything I have to stay upright and not fall over or pass out because my apron is dotted with blood... It smells awful!

My head is pulsing and I clutch it with one hand while my other arm is wrapped around Carl's back as he hobbles along. I see Carl's son, looking scared and so do many other people on the street and traffic has grinded to a halt.

Carl's son focuses on us and then I and Carl's eyes widen, seeing another one of those monsters, sink their teeth into his neck. I can't help not screaming this time and Carl collapses to the ground near me, cursing and his stick makes a hollow sound as it falls with him. He is clutching his chest and I can see he is in visible pain.

"Carl! Carl, get up!" I beg and they're is tears in his eyes and his looking around desperately. "P-Payton..." He stammers as I pick up his walking stick when I hear a growling behind me. Turning my head, there is another one, heading straight for me and I'm on my knees, next to Carl.

This is it for us...
When I hear a sound of wood colliding, a young teenage boy with a baseball cap backwards and who's holding a skateboard and is our savior. It's dead and then I see blue lights and red lights, flashing and hear sirens.

"T-they're here!" The boy whimpers, wiping tears from his eyes as he lowers his skateboard. There is a crack starting to form along it and his smiling, sadly.

"Come on." He says, holding a hand out to me to take. "We're saved. We're actually saved!"

His only 14 clearly. So young, but he to is a hero just like them and I accept his hand so I can get up, off the road and pavement when his expression changes.

"W-what?" I ask, turning around to see Carl, lying there, eyes open and clear. His not moving. "C-Carl?" I stammer, trying to approach him when I hear the 14 year old boy gasp behind me and I feel arms wrap around my torso.

"Let go, let go, let go!" I scream, resisting, kicking and screaming. "Stop, stop, stop! We're here to save you, it's okay, you're okay!

You both are goanna be okay!"

I turn my head to see a police officer, carrying the 14 year old who's hanging onto his semi-broken skateboard for dear life in the direction of a waiting ambulance. I tear up and see I'm in the arms of a firefighter and he carries me away effortlessly in his arms. As he walks away with me, I feel limp like a doll and watch Carl lying there, getting further and further away as I offer no resistance.

All I can do is look at him, focusing.

"C-Carl..." I breathe out one final time before I'm inside the back of some vehicle and the doors are pulled closed and it starts up, driving me way away from Carl while someone continues holding onto me, me shaking slightly as I look out through the doors as they have partial windows till we're so far away, I can't see him or much of anything, anymore...