"Come on, you useless piece of junk! Finish off that damn zombie already!" I yelled, my fingers relentlessly pounding the keyboard of my company computer.
I could hear my colleagues' footsteps approaching our work area. It was a spacious open-plan office, filled with desks featuring the latest Apple computers. Mine, however, was not an Apple.
When I inquired with Human Resources, they told me that my position didn't require such a modern computer, as my role wasn't considered significant. Of course, I was furious at the time, but I eventually understood. I work in customer service, managing a multichannel line where I answer chat messages, emails, social media, and even handle phone calls.
Honestly, the calls are what stress me out the most.
I almost always have to deal with angry, dissatisfied customers who take their frustrations out on me, even though I'm not to blame for the company's malfunctions.
I'm just another employee!
And unfortunately, I'm also dissatisfied with the company that feeds me.
Anyway, that's why I don't have a modern computer, and frankly, it annoys me that I don't. At least on this one, I can play online games without a hitch when I have some free time at work.
That night, I had taken the night shift because, despite it being a tough schedule, it was actually quite good for me. However, I had to share the shift with other colleagues from the graphic design department, as they needed to finish a crucial design proposal exhibition by Friday for a new application our agency was developing.
Yes, I work at a marketing and advertising agency.
At that moment, I was still playing my video game, completely unbothered by the fact that my colleagues had returned from dinner to continue their work. I knew they all looked at me strangely, as if I were the office weirdo, and though I'm not, I knew perfectly well that to them, I was.
"Look at him, poor thing. If he keeps this up, it's more than certain he'll never have a chance to advance professionally within this company," commented Layla, one of my colleagues who thought highly of herself just because she had a master's in graphic design and had joined the company after her internship here.
"Nor will he in any other company if he keeps dreaming he's a damn, despicable zombie hunter. Seriously, who believes they're real at this point in life?" Joe said contemptuously. Whenever he could, he made my life miserable, as if I owed him something, as if I had truly done him the worst for him to hate me so much.
I was trying to maintain my patience, to control myself, but it was inevitable not to give in to their comments, and then, I reacted in the worst way. I shouldn't have done it. Likewise, I stood up from my chair, letting it fall backward onto the floor, the only thud resounding in the room.
But just as I imagined my furious fist striking his face, finally getting revenge for everything he'd put me through in this shithole office, Joe stopped me. He seemed to have good reflexes because he managed to dodge my punch just a few centimeters from his face.
His grip weakened my body, and I fell to my knees, but his hand never let go. On the contrary, he squeezed much harder than normal, and it was starting to hurt me. I closed my eyes, enduring the absurd pain that was taking over my body at that moment.
"See, what we said about this idiot was all true?" he said, despite everything, continuing to speak to me with the same old hatred.
Layla laughed malevolently, like the perfect villain from a fairy tale I wasn't living.
"Yes, I can tell. He's utterly useless. Look, you knocked him out with just a slight movement; a simple reflex of yours was more powerful than his attempt to hit you. How imbecilic and weak he is. But seriously, you should do us all a favor and die. Believe us, take our advice, you'd be doing this world a huge favor." She replied with absolute coldness.
I swallowed, wanting to cry, but I had to hold back. I couldn't further expose my weak man's heart.
Finally, Joe tired of holding me and released me as if I were worthless. He scoffed and left with Layla to look for whatever they needed for their blessed presentation.
I remained there, sprawled on the floor, still kneeling with my eyes closed.
That's when it happened.
I didn't think; at that moment, I had no reason, no conscious thought.
I stood up and ran towards the large window that adorned the company's office space. The window was wide open, and I looked down into the void. We were on the 21st floor; obviously, that fall wouldn't fail me.
Then, I jumped.
I felt the air embrace me strongly, as if it had been waiting for me for a long time. I fell backward, and that's when everything went black for me.
Many hours must have passed, perhaps days, because I woke up feeling as if my body didn't want to respond quickly from how deeply asleep it was. Upon opening my eyes, I immediately realized I had woken up in a completely different world than the one I remembered.