"Es tut mir leid für die Wartezeit, Sir. Sind Sie bereit zu bestellen? (I am sorry for the wait, Sir. Are you ready to order?)" I asked in German to the man who "had" the steak knife.

He studied me. He had blonde hair and blue eyes. He would've had a "kind" face if he had just smiled, and he could also have that whole... scruffy beard shaved off. "Sie sehen aus als würden sie gleich weinen. (What's wrong? You look like you're about to cry.)"

I looked around and saw Mr. Ratchet looking at us. "Ich kann es lhnen nicht sagen. Er wird sonst wütend und feuert mich. (I can't tell you. He will get mad and fire me.)" I paused. "I-ich bin die einzige Person, die die Rechnungen bezahlen muss. (I-I'm the only person left paying bills.)" My voice was barely above a whisper as I said that to him.

Something of a look of pity and sadness flashed through his eyes before it was gone. He looked to where I was looking at my boss before looking at me. "Wer? Ihr Chef? (Who? Your boss?)"

"Ja (Yes.)"

"Kann er deutsch sprechen? (Does he speak German?)"

I sighed and looked at him, my eyes filled with coldness. I wasn't going to go against the boss's rules, even though he wouldn't be able to speak the language we were speaking. "Können Sie bitte bestellen, damit ich wieder an die Arbeit kann? (Can you please order so I can get back to work? I need the money.)" And then there was that money thing, again. The world revolved around money. We had to have money to buy for food, shelter, and clothing. Also, gas and a car.

"Sicher (Sure)." He looked at the list and ordered 10 things. Ten things and this was for one man. Man, I wonder where he puts all of it.

"Ist das alles? (Is that all?)" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Ja, und ich nehme normalerweise Sachen mit nach hause und die Reste. (Yes, and I usually take items home and have leftovers)," he said, answering my unspoken question.

I nodded my head and bit my lip. "Ich hol dir dein Essen (I'll get you your food)." And with that, I walked away.

***

It had been two hours, and it was time for me to leave. I couldn't stay out after dark, because my father had said that I couldn't. And, I knew that there was something waiting for me in the shadows. Something that not one person knew about lies amongst them.

What they are, no one knows. What they want, no one knows, or really not wanting to know. However, I knew that they were after me. I didn't know why they were after me, but I knew that they were. I could sense them. I could sense them getting closer to me, even when I was inside and safe from the outside world.

I shook my head to get me out of my thoughts before walking over to where Mr. Ratchet was standing, watching me.

"What do you want, Miss Lone?" he asked in a 'make-it-quick-because-I'm-busy' voice.

"Sir, can I get off of work, please?" I asked, looking down at my shoes.

"And why do you need to get off of work?" he asked, coldly. "It is only 5pm."

"That's why," I replied. "I have to get home before dark."

"And why is that?"

I shrugged my shoulder, before looking up at him."Mom wants me home before dark." That was a partial lie. It was Dad that wanted me home before dark, because of the things that were trying to get to me.

"Why?"

"Because after... ya know... Mom got over-protective of me being out past dark. And with Dad gone... she's getting more protective. A little paranoid, if you ask me." That was a lie.

"That doesn't mean a thing."

My patience for him was wearing thin. I really had the strong urge to punch him in the stomach, to make him stop arguing with me. However, I knew that would lead to a faster "firing", and I might not be able to get a job after that. "It doesn't mean a thing to you," I shot back. "Is that what you mean? You don't care about anyone but yourself." And yes, I was mad too.

"Take that back right now or else you're fired," he growled, narrowing his eyes at me.

I narrowed my eyes back at him, feeling defiant. "Then I guess, I'm fired. I am not taking it back, because it's the truth. And you just don't like it to be truth. All you care about is how much money you make and not about the people that work for you."

"You're fired," he hissed.

"I'm not fired 'cause I quit." And with that, I turned and walked away, ignoring all the the people that stared at us. I stood up taller, and set my jaw, feeling a little bit of shame as I walked away from them.