The Night Shift Rule

I found the note taped inside my new locker. It was written in neat, calm handwriting. "Welcome to the Riverside 24-Hour Store. Please follow these rules or you will not survive the night." I laughed at first. It seemed like a silly joke from a bored coworker.

But the rules were specific. Rule One: At 2:00 a.m., count all the customers in the store. If the number is not exactly five, lock the front door and wait. Rule Two: Never look directly at the tall man in the grey coat. If he speaks to you, say only "The river is cold tonight." Rule Three: If the lights flicker three times, hide behind the counter until they stop. I read them again and again. The calm tone made my skin feel cold.

My first night was quiet until 1:55 a.m. Then the door opened. A tall man in a grey coat walked in. He did not buy anything. He just stood in the corner and watched me. At exactly 2:00 a.m., I counted the customers. There were six people. My heart began to beat fast. I locked the front door with shaking hands. The tall man smiled and said, "You forgot the salt." I remembered Rule Two. "The river is cold tonight," I whispered. He turned away and disappeared behind a shelf. When I looked again, only five customers remained.

At 3:00 a.m., the lights flickered three times. I hid behind the counter. I could hear someone walking slowly. Then I heard a voice. It was my mother's voice. "Come out, sweetheart. I brought you dinner." I almost stood up. But I knew my mother was three hundred miles away. I stayed on the floor until the lights stopped flickering. When I stood up, everything was normal again.

The next week, I broke Rule One on purpose. A young woman came in at 1:58 a.m. She looked tired and sad. She asked for a cup of coffee. I made it for her. At 2:00 a.m., I counted six customers again. But this time, I did not lock the door. I wanted to see what would happen. The tall man appeared. He did not smile. He pointed at the young woman. Then I saw that she had no feet. She was floating above the floor. I ran to lock the door, but it was too late. The lights went out. When they came back on, the woman was gone. So was the tall man. Only five customers were left, and they were all staring at me.

I have worked the night shift for three months now. I follow every rule. I count the customers. I never look at the tall man. I hide when the lights flicker. But last night, I found a new note in my locker. It said, "Rule Four: You have been doing everything right. But why do you think the river is still rising?" I do not understand. I have been so careful. So why does the water keep coming closer to the store? I am afraid to look outside the window now. But I still have to work tonight.