Eric hated the closing shift as much as he hated broccoli, high school, and public speaking. He sat at the counter, drumming his fingers idly to the bland music over the radio, and looked out in boredom among the rows of shelving stretching across the store. The shelves were filled with cookies, muffins, cakes, and various goodies of all kinds, but it all seemed plain to the young man. Tedious and boring. Such was the life of a cashier.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAwCienxoC
It's not that he hated working at the small bakery - in fact, he rather liked it. His employers were fair, he always got time off, and he got to bring home any goodies that didn't sell. But that dreaded closing shift! That tedious time frame between 7 and 10 o'clock when not a soul stepped through the rusty door and nothing interesting happened to distract poor Eric from a dull and dreary evening alone.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35YMw3N7Ir
Checking the time and sighing deeply, Eric figured he might as well do something with his time. Grabbing a wide broom, he moved out from behind the counter and started the nightly cleaning routine, halfheartedly sweeping in and among the shelves of buns and breads while the radio droned on over the PA.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ3v2M8V8G
A light jingling grabbed Eric's attention as the door swung open. He looked up tiredly at the customer who had entered. Her wavy hair cascaded down over her shoulders elegantly, caressing her silken skin playfully. She wore a tight black dress that emphasized her curvaceous body, and her full lips curled back into a smile as she saw Eric.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡESzOAWC17L
"Hello, human..." she cooed, walking towards him with deliberately sultry strides.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXsabAhxi
Eric yawned loudly. "Can I help you?" he asked, returning to his humdrum chore of sweeping.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoxrb2FtYF
The mysterious beauty circled him like a shark circling its prey, a predatory smile on her face. "Perhaps..."copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1epQi6yu9
Letting out a sigh, he leaned his broom against one of the shelves and faced her squarely, avoiding direct contact with her shocking red eyes. "Well, what are you looking for?"copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡni47OIFN8X
The woman giggled, a laugh that sent chills down Eric's spine. "It's not what I am looking for, mortal, it's what you are looking for."255Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LaWawGUjF
copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡviUVa6Oi58
Before Eric could react, she stepped close to him, her breath in his ear. "I can give you anything you wish," she said, her voice no more than a hushed whisper. "There are no limits to the power or prestige you may possess at my command. Say the world and it can be all yours..."copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf1VKWfoV3
Eric yawned again. "Yeeaahh, no thanks."copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8uWF4X1ch
Shocked, the woman took a step back away from him. "... what? Do you understand what you are turning down?!"copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTHVtDPFYj
Tired of whatever game this creepy woman was playing, Eric grabbed his broom and continued his mundane sweeping. "Yeeaahh, I've seen enough horror and sci-fi movies to know where this is going." He said, his words dripping with sarcasm.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgiULyp4Qp
The woman's face scrunched up in rage. "Insolent mortal..." she hissed through gritted teeth.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFtMFFqfnM
"Look," Eric said, not looking up from his tedious sweeping, "if you aren't going to buy anything, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. We close in ten minutes."copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yujAuwjbH
"Foolish human!" she raged, whipping around and angrily stomping towards the door. "I shall find another who's more appreciative of the offer." Slamming the door angrily behind her, she left.copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNiPtujjTW
Sighing heavily, Eric finished up his sweeping and grabbed a cloth and some cleaner, ready to wipe down the glass display case. He hated these closing shifts so much. No customers ever come in (except the occasional weirdo!), and nothing interesting ever happens to distract Eric from his boring, monotonous, dull evening alone. copyright protection251ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HUqZ0tEEk
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