Late Shift

Sometimes you can’t exactly blame people for feeling like we’re living inside a horror movie. When the vampire dropped down from the ceiling was one of those times. She landed like a cat who’s given the game away that the laws of physics are for other people. She wore a dark business suit like it was one of those floor-length dresses that trail in the mist. Her skin had gone pale, her hair darker, and her eyes had subtly changed, drawing you in … Kit knew you weren’t supposed to cross the HR Department, but he had always assumed that HR stood for Human Resources – though come to think of it, he couldn’t think why. And, with all the crazy stuff going on, a department staffed by supernatural predators did kind of make sense.

That one of them was now smiling at him in a way that belied the superficial friendliness of her Hi, My Name Is Candy name-tag didn’t so much make it more obvious as light it up in blazing neon letters. ‘Er, hi, Candy … Um, are you feeling all right?’ he said, trying not to back away too obviously.

‘You’re working late, Kit,’ Candy said, moving towards him in a sort of hard-to-follow vampiric slink. Her smile broadened and became more … pointy.

‘I was just finishing up,’ he said quickly, ‘just about to head home.’

She followed him step for step towards the door. Was that mist forming along the floor? ‘Me too. In fact, I’ve been meaning to have a word with you. Have you had dinner yet?’

‘Er, no, Candy, I hadn’t had a chance.’ Kit felt his back bump up against the door, and swallowed nervously.

‘Wonderful, I was just about to grab a bite to eat …’