C-CAD4-003
Barista: Jackie Lang
Date: Dec-1-2019
Receipt: CAD4-003
Subject: Business as Usual
The flames are still burning.
My Cafe.
The ██████’s fire hasn’t gone out yet. It rained on Friday. Poured. That almost never happens in Long Beach. Should’ve been enough to snuff out any normal fire. But those caustic yellow flames? Not even a fucking dent.
We’ve been talking about what to do. The others… the… I guess we’re calling ourselves “managers” now? We have to do something about ████████’s corpse. The ██████ flames are still spewing from it, warping the air, twisting reality. It’s not safe for tourists. Not safe for us, either.
And… we still need to check for bodies.
I hate saying that. But if we find some, at least it means they weren’t completely consumed by ██████’s vessel, ████████. It means there’s still a chance they made it to the █████████.
…But we all saw what happened. We saw them burn. One by one.
And if Jericho’s right, if ██████ flame burns through █████ themselves, then even if some of them did make it across… would they even recognize us? Would we recognize them? It’s rare for a █████ to hold on to their humanity.
I should have done more.
I should have listened to the 8-Ball. Or maybe I should’ve smashed it. Maybe that would’ve changed something. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter now. That’s Jericho’s problem.
Ashlyn. Miranda. Seth. They aren’t the first Baristas we’ve lost. And I know it’s not my fault. It’s not any of our faults. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling like it should’ve been me instead.
I’m glad the rest of you are safe. I’m glad Julia’s safe. And Julia, this wasn’t your fault either. I know it’s overwhelming. I know it’s a lot. But we’re glad you’re here.
…If you want to stay, anyway.
Decaffeinate Receipt
"A taste for terror."
Horror Trivia | 1 Word