Chapter 7: Shifts and Shadows

Rudy showed up before the sun. Not bright-eyed. Not bushy-tailed. Just… there.

Ram had just stepped out back to toss yesterday’s trash when he spotted him leaning against the ice freezer. A half-smoked Swisher tucked behind his ear. Hoodie zipped halfway up. Nervous eyes scanning the dawn.

“Didn’t think y’all opened this early,” Rudy said.

Ram squinted. “We don’t.”

Rudy dug into his pocket and held up a note—torn paper, folded twice, scribbled with a familiar handwriting in thick black marker:

“Rudy—Survival Stop. New hire onboarding. Help with shift coverage and stock rotation. Check in with Willie. –LD”

Ram took the note without touching it. “Willie’s not even here yet.”

“LD said you’d know what to do.” Rudy looked past him toward the store. “Said I should show up before daylight. Something about timing being important.”

Ram’s stomach turned—not with fear, but recognition. The same unease from the freezer.

He unlocked the door and let Rudy in.

Inside, the lights flickered to life slower than usual. Like they were deciding if they really wanted to work today.

Joseph was already there, halfway through restocking the gum rack. He looked up and blinked at Rudy like he’d walked in wearing a clown suit.

“Uh… is this a prank?”

“Nope,” Rudy said. “LD sent me. Said I’m part of the crew now.”

Joseph turned to Ram, who shrugged and walked toward the back.

“Hang tight,” Ram muttered. “I’ll check something.”

In the manager’s office, the ancient landline buzzed once—then let out a garbled static hum.

“...Rudy… onboarding packet… freezer key rotation… badge in bin seven…”

Ram froze. The words weren’t clean. It wasn’t a voice so much as a thought being scratched onto the inside of his skull.

He yanked open the desk drawer. Nothing.

But in the stockroom, on the back table beneath a dented case of orange soda, sat a sealed manila envelope.

His name was printed on the front. Not Rudy’s. His own.

Inside:

• A laminated badge for Rudy, name pre-printed.
• A task list titled "Week 1 Training — Survival Stop"
• A shift schedule scrawled in thick red marker:

Willie: Mornings
Ram & Rudy: Afternoons
Joseph: Swing

• And a strange map… crude, hand-drawn. A layout of the store freezer system with circles labeled Phaser, Zone X, and something called Deep Shelf 4.

He brought it back out front and handed it to Rudy. “You ever clocked in somewhere that already had your badge waiting?”

Rudy grinned. “Only if the universe really wants me working there.”

Later that afternoon, Ram found Willie scrubbing the soda machine. He briefed him on the new shift structure. Willie took it without complaint, just nodded.

“Guess that means I’m lead on mornings?” he asked.

Ram hesitated. “Unless you’re not up for it.”

“Nah. I’m up for it. Hell… Noe’s boots don’t fit anyone, but someone’s gotta wear them.”

That night, Joseph grumbled about having to close.

“You’re all acting like we’re a real company now. Schedules? Next thing you know, we’re gonna have HR.”

Then someone walked in the front door without ringing the bell.

They all turned at once.

The man wore a faded blue polo with a crooked name badge from another store. “Freeman’s #42 – Regional,” it said, though the name had been scratched off.

He dropped a clipboard on the counter.

“New hire paperwork,” he said. “For Rudy. Signed by LD.”

Then he walked out. Silent. Stiff. Not even glancing around.

Rudy picked up the clipboard and stared at it.

Joseph leaned over and whispered, “Was that dude missing a thumb?”

Nobody answered.

Ram looked at the exit. The door had shut, but no chime had sounded.

And in the freezer, something whispered.