"Sooo, how was work today?"

"Oh, it was okay, they extended break mass, so now it's an extra thirty minutes."

"Oh! Since when did you convert?"

"Pretty recently, you get more vacation days when you are. All I have to do is work a little extra when they ask and tune out during the mass haha. It's not even that bad, honestly, since I don't need to work when they're speaking."

"Oh woah, I didn't know that. It's not... strange?"

"Nah, not really. I don't know why I avoided it for so long now that I've tried it. It's sooo much nicer than the normal ten minute breaks." They speak more hushed, "Also, I'm starting to see that maybe they have something good going on? All the speakers just look so relaxed and happy all the time. I kind of want to know if that's real."

"Huh, I always kind of avoided it since my family's pretty atheist. Something about upholding our values yadda, yadda. Kind of weird when everyone here's a Ziric, right?"

"Yeah, don't know what I was so afraid of."



The voices trail off as they pass by. You've been listening without really processing. It's been a boring, mindless, day. Clock in. Zone out. Try not to lose your shit. Have a smoke break. Same as always...

Hmm.. But there's something out of place. A tinge of dread in your gut.

You're supposed to be doing something...