Craig

Once you reach the fifteenth floor, third door on the right, turn right, fourth office down to the left. Bottom drawer of cabinet in left corner of room. File ‘Excalibur.’ The orders echoed in Craig’s foggy mind. They felt as if they were the only words or memories he could recall. His head throbbed with the weight of stress and anxiety like he had never felt before. Remember buddy, peoples’ lives are at stake, months of planning, and millions of dollars. It’s all up to you. Don’t let us down. All you gotta do is get in, and get out. No stress. Don’t be a hero. “Morning Craig, boss got you burning the candle at both ends, eh? ...Craig… CRAIG,” a voice jolted Craig back to his senses. “Ah yes, hey Bill,” stuttered Craig. Sweat ran from his forehead, “Yep, I get my sleep during my commute evidently. Who knew sleepwalking would be one of my special skills?” Bill broke out in laughter. “Man have a good one, alright?” “Always, you too,” Craig shot back. Here we go, past the security guard, and front desk. I’m just one of the guys here, no one suspects a thing. Craig scanned his ID card, and walked past Bill, the elevator security guard. Hundreds of people bustled around, all in a hurry, as an intercom voice repeated, “Welcome to Orion Industries, Building a Better Future Today.” That slogan made Craig sick. Building what better? If only folks knew what was really going on here. What Orion was actually doing in the shadows, Craig thought. All I need to do is finish my mission and we can shine a light on all these injustices. They might even call me a hero, he smiled. That smile was quickly dashed however as Craig entered the elevator and spotted Mr. O’Riley, one of Craig’s boss' good friends, and a member of the Orion Board of Directors. “Heya Craig,” shouted a booming voice from the back of the elevator. Mr. O’Riley was a man of considerable stature, and was known even more for his uneasy temper. ‘How’s my buddy David treating you in Strategic Development? I hear we have some big things cooking!” “Ah yes Mr. O’Riley,” said Craig shakily. He took a deep breath to calm himself, “Yes, yes lots of big things in the works.” Mr. O’Riley raised an eyebrow as if he had already figured Craig out. Craig smiled and faced the elevator doors, wishing for them to open immediately to the fifteenth floor. “Well, you just keep being the great employee that you are,” Mr. O’Riley laughed as he rested his large hand on Craig’s shoulder. To some, this would have seemed like a friendly exchange and a pat on the back, but both Mr. O’Riley, and Craig were on the same page. This was a threat. Remember the mission, thought Craig as he recalled the final meeting last night… You are our inside guy, Craig. All the groundwork is set. We will have a driver out front that will be ready to take you to the airport. You will head to the jet, and then it is straight to D.C. We need to get these papers organized and to the public as fast as possible, you hear? “Hey Craig, don’t you have somewhere to be? ...Craig… CRAIG.” Mr. O’Riley’s voice seemed to shake the elevator. Craig woke from his memory to find the elevator opened to the fifteen floor. “Already hit working mode, Mr. O’Riley,” said Craig. “Yeah? Well why don’t you continue this ‘working mode’ at your desk, and there better be more working involved. Get your head out of your ass Craig.” Lovely exchange as always. Now, third door on the right, turn right, fourth office down to the left. As Craig walked down the hall, another worker stopped him. “Hey Craig! What are you doing, you missed your door,” said a women holding the first door on the left open. “Oh, hey Nancy. David has me picking on some work from Frank first. I’ll be right in!” The woman raised an eyebrow, and squinted her eyes. “Alright, I guess. See ya in a bit, Craig!” Craig felt a shiver as cold beads of sweat ran down his back. Too much suspicion, I need to go. Craig felt as if his legs were about to start running out of the building without his control. No, remember the mission… Orion already owns most of the natural resource production in this country. Most elected officials are in their pocket as well. Once they put this project Excalibur into action, they will take over the country. We have to get the plans out, to the public, to the world. I recruited Craig here because he works on that floor in their Strategic Development department. He has seen the light and he’s willing to help. The heavy, magnetically locked door unlocked with a click as Craig scanned his ID card. A seemingly endless hallway of offices were in front of him. Fourth office, fourth office, Craig thought as he came to it. Fortunately, the place was cleared, but it was not by chance. The nine o’clock managers’ meeting was all part of the plan. He would have twenty-seven more minutes of peace to grab the files… Suddenly, Craig heard the door behind him click. He scurried into the fourth office and hid underneath the desk. “Damnit, damnit,” a voice cursed angrily. Then, the light of the fourth office flickered on as a man scurried around the room, searching for something. It was Frank. After shuffling about in a feverish panic, the feet finally stopped in front of the desk. The figure began to kneel down. Craig instinctively kicked at the figure. He could not risk being caught now, so close to his treasonous goal. His kick landed on the crouching man’s face. His body flew back and hit the floor with a thud. He was breathing, but out cold. Suddenly, a rush of anxiety coursed through Craig’s veins. What have I done!? Calm down, remember the mission. He bolted to the filing cabinet in the left corner of the room. Three folders back, Excalibur burned with bright red link. Craig grabbed it, and ran. Out the door, left, and to the elevators. He quickly tapped the ‘down’ button as if it made the elevator speed directly to his aide. Nancy reappeared out of the first door. “Craig, what are you doing? Aren’t you coming to work? Where did you get that file?” Suddenly, an alarm sounded. Evidently the man in the office had woken up and hit his panic button. Nancy looked at Craig, dumbfounded. He was shaking with fear. “What did you do, Craig.” “Nothing,” he panted. The elevator dinged, and Craig slowly backed into the elevator. Nancy ran into the other room, and Craig could faintly hear her dialing a phone. The elevator doors closed. Thank god the elevator was empty. Now, just another minute and I will be on the ground floor. One hundred feet to the door. A black sedan will be waiting for me out front. The elevator dinged like a gong at the start of a race. Craig took off, pushing through the masses. Suddenly, a booming voice bellowed “Bill, get that son of a bitch.” Mr. O’Riley. Bill sprang into action and began to close-in on Craig. Craigs legs ached in protest at being put into action so quickly. But, the doors where just ahead. The black car, he could see it! The end is in sight! Just a few more feet… “Craig, where are we on those projection numbers for Q2? Craig… CRAIG,” a voice jolted Craig back to his senses. “Ah yes, hello everyone” stuttered Craig as he seemed to have awoken from a dream. He was sitting in his creaky, leather office chair. No special mission, no evil corporation. Just him, alone, in his home office. The many windowed faces stared blankly at him through his computer screen. Man, I need a new job, He thought to himself as he put on a bright smile and began his presentation.