ALARM CLOCK DAWN (An Original Novel - Episode 18)

In yesterday's episode Adam had an experience the both changed and confused him. Today his brain is still swimming and his nervous system feels as though it's on the verge of short circuiting. As hard as he tries he can't forget those large black, almond shaped eyes. These haunted him. Adam's altered state will make it even more difficult to process the events that transpire today at work. Please join me for episode 18 of Alarm Clock Dawn. I hope you enjoy!

Due to a few technical difficulties we weren’t able to post the collaborative piece last night but it’s on track for tonight! The very talented artist, @fairytalelife, and I have collaborated on a project I’m very excited to share with you. Johanna (fairytalelife) has had a very successful career as an artist and I’m honored that she considered working with me. She has created an amazing original illustration to pair with one of my poems, Nothing Else Matters. Join us here tonight at around 9pm CST to see it!

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Did you miss Episode 17 of Alarm Clock Dawn? If so click here to read it.

Are you new to the novel? If so click here to start at the beginning.

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Trying his best to sort through the muddled thoughts swirling in his brain, Adam thought to himself...

Was it truly a dream? Is it because of the stress I’ve been under? Was it something else altogether?

Adam noticed how heavy his body felt as he left his apartment and started his walk to the train station. As he passed the corner, he felt such a rush of anxiety when his eyes met with the news stand attendant’s he had to look away.

“Green cars now boarding!” Adam twitched as the announcement startled him. He found his usual seat and the train pulled away.

The closer the train traveled towards work that morning, the more these strange memories of the previous night increasingly retreated into the outer recesses of his mind and reason began to explain them away. The sway of the train car finally began to soothe him, and all of a sudden it was as though someone opened the top of his head and poured words into it. These words also came with the feeling of intense urgency to write them down. He dug through his messenger bag for a scrap of paper and a pen and then frantically scribbled down the words that came so quickly to him. He was afraid if he didn't, they would be lost forever.

     I feed upon the sky at night.
    as the last ribbon of sun is gone,
    the darkness envelopes this place I sit
    four thousand breaths from dawn

     my eyes embrace the ancient light
     as countless have before,
     the crickets sound a seamless chirp
     from grass down by the shore.

     time’s a faint and faded concept,
     the years converge as one 
     miles are merely memories 
     to be brushed away and shunned

     reality is obsolete
     before the evening’s shepherd moon.
     my eyes open to realize 
     it’s four thousand breaths from noon.

Okay, where did this come from? He thought to himself.

Work had demanded so much of Adam’s energy that it had been years since he had the inspiration to write and never did an entire poem come to him at once. As the familiar sights and sounds of downtown began to invade his senses, he thought about how much pressure he would feel from Stephanie to solve the mystery of that damned metal box. Adam's mind at once became occupied with deciphering the riddle of what exactly this metal box was used for.

Adam felt his legs grow heavier as he walked through the scanners in the XenTek lobby, up the stairwell, through the security doors, and to his workstation.

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He quickly unlocked his cabinet and found that the metallic box he had been working on the day before was gone. He looked around and noticed none of his other coworkers were at their workstations. Adam thought he heard a familiar voice and began walking in the direction of it.

There she was his boss, Stephanie Finch, in all her glory in one of the conference rooms packed full of her entire team of scientists. Adam noticed thick black cardboard boxes piled high in the middle of the conference table.

“So glad you finally decided to join us, Mr. Harkin,” Ms. Finch said as she glanced at the clock on the wall.

“S-s-sorry I'm l-late,” Adam stuttered.

Ms. Finch’s chest heaved as she took a deep breath, rolled her tiny eyes, and continued on with her speech. “Finally, now we can get started. I have some news to share with you. On the table is a gift from Mr. Pfizer himself. He's giving each of you your very own Holo. Happy holidays.”

Applause erupted.

“That is the good news.” Ms. Finch looked down at the ground and the trace of genuine emotion on her face made her, for an instant, almost appear human. “These are tough times. XenTek has done everything we can to prevent this, but we will be forced to make some difficult cuts. Effective next week we will be eliminating twenty-five percent of our workforce.”

Looks of astonishment and fear were exchanged by the employees seated around the table.

A young woman in a white lab coat at the far end of the table cleared her throat. “But Ms. Finch, XenTek’s stock rose fifteen percent yesterday. How in the world could budget cuts be justified in a such a time of prosperity?”

“I realize this must come as a shock, but it's not our place to judge or question why. XenTek is a very forward thinking organization and has valid reasons for everything it does. Cuts like these are always based on the future economic forecast, not necessarily today's market.”

Adam was too shocked to be angry. Between this news and his indescribable experience last night, it was simply too much for him to process at once. The room started spinning. He felt dizzy and warm. He reached out to grab the edge of the table to steady himself as he became frightened that he was going to faint.

“We're not sure which exact positions will be eliminated,” Ms. Finch continued, “but the decisions will be communicated soon. Those people whose jobs are being eliminated will be offered a generous compensation package. We all should know the verdict sometime before the end of this week. Counselors will be available free of charge for those who feel they're having trouble dealing with the emotional impact. You're free to go back to your workstations. Please don't forget to grab a Holo on your way out. May I see you for a moment, Mr. Harkin?”

Adam winced as he had nearly made it out of the conference room unscathed. He stood aside, letting the rest of the team file out before he re-entered. Ms. Finch closed the door behind them.

“Adam, this is the fourth time you've been late in the last month,” she chastised him. “Your mind just always seems to be elsewhere. I’ve warned you about this before. Pack up your things. Your services are no longer needed in my department.”

“Mrs. Finch, p-p-p-please!”

“After all t-t-these years, you're going to let me go like this? For being a couple of minutes late?” A potent mixture of desperation and anger stirred inside of him. Adam felt as though someone had taken his breath. He could utter no words. As dysfunctional as it was, Xentek was the only stability he had ever known.

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Alarm Clock Dawn is the first novel of a trilogy. The sequel entitled, Truth Is Stranger, will be published in the Spring of 2017.

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