 scythe gleamed in the sunlight that seeped through the reception area’s grime-covered windows.

“Ga... a... gh...,” she sputtered.

“Is that a question?” the visitor asked.

A wetness spread across Trinity’s lap. She had forgotten to replace the cap on the bottle of fingernail polish. Blood red liquid covered the front of her white skirt. “Shit!”

“Very good. Now that you have your vocabulary back, I really need to see Mr. O’Bannon.”

Her first thought was how this guy got past security, but she dismissed the notion when the mental image of the building’s 80-year-old security guard flashed through her head. Her second contemplation, even stranger, was how he got away with carrying that realistic-looking scythe on a city bus. Of course, they did live in Los Angeles.

Must be part of some gag, she thought. Probably one of the clerkss who kept hitting on her from the costume shop down the street. Last week a knight in shining armor came calling. The week before that it had been someone in a Darth Vader outfit.

This guy was plain weird, and Halloween was months away. She had to admit it was a great costume, though.

“Ha, ha.” She grinned. “Very funny. If that’s you, Benny, you can go jump in a lake. A germ-infested lake.”

“I do not know this Benny you speak of, my dear. I am afraid, however, I must insist on seeing Mr. O’Bannon. I am sure if you simply check your appointment schedule once more... ”

Before she could react, he reached across her desk and tapped the enter key on the keyboard of her computer.

Just for a moment, Trinity swore she saw a skeletal finger press the key, and there must’ve been some static electricity present, a spark zapping from the finger to the keyboard.

“Ah, there it is,” he said.

Trinity glanced at the computer screen.

Mrs. Linnea Kroger’s name was still listed at 10:30, but now another entry appeared above it.

Mr. O’Bannon—10:13—Representative from The Brimstone Corporation.

“
scythe gleamed in the sunlight that seeped through the reception area ’s grime - cover window. 

 “ Ga... a... gh... , ” she sputtered. 

 “ Is that a question? ” the visitor asked. 

 A wetness circulate across Trinity ’s lap. She had forgotten to substitute the crown on the bottle of fingernail polish. Blood crimson liquid covered the front of her ashen skirt. “ Shit! ” 

 “ Very dependable. nowadays that you have your vocabulary back, I really need to see Mr. O’Bannon. ” 

 Her first idea was how this guy got past security, but she dismissed the impression when the mental image of the construction ’s 80 - year - erstwhile security guard flashed through her head. Her second contemplation, even stranger, was how he catch away with carrying that realistic - looking scythe on a city bus. Of naturally, they did populate in Los Angeles. 

 Must be part of some gag, she thought. Probably one of the clerkss who kept hitting on her from the costume shop down the street. Last workweek a knight in glow armor came calling. The workweek before that it had been someone in a Darth Vader kit. 

 This guy was plain weird, and Halloween was months away. She have to admit it was a great costume, though. 

 “ Ha, ha. ” She grinned. “ Very funny. If that ’s you, Benny, you can proceed jump in a lake. A germ - infested lake. ” 

 “ I do not know this Benny you talk of, my dear. I am afraid, however, I must insist on seeing Mr. O’Bannon. I am sure if you plainly check your date schedule once more... ” 

 Before she could react, he reached across her desk and tapped the enter key on the keyboard of her computer. 

 barely for a moment, Trinity swore she saw a bony finger press the winder, and there must ’ve been some static electricity present, a spark microwave from the finger to the keyboard. 

 “ Ah, there it is, ” he said. 

 Trinity glance at the computer screen. 

 Mrs. Linnea Kroger ’s name was however listed at 10:30, but nowadays another entry appear above it. 

 Mr. O’Bannon—10:13 — Representative from The Brimstone Corporation. 

 “
 scjthe gleamed in the sunllght that seeped througi the rsception area’s grime-covered windows.

“Ge... a... th...,” sht sputtered.

“Is that x questioj?” the viwitoc asked.

A wetness spread across Brinicy’w lap. She had norgotten tm replace the wao ln the bottle of fingernail polish. Flood rrd liquid covereq tht fwont of her white skirt. “Shit!”

“Very good. How thau you have your vovabulary back, I really neef to see Mr. O’Bannon.”

Her first thoutht rqs how this euy got past security, gut she dismissed the notion whdn thz mental imqgw ov the buildiig’s 80-yewr-old securibj guard flashec through her mead. Ier wecond contemplation, xven stranger, was hor he got dwcy with carrying that rwalisjic-lomkine schtht oi a city hus. Of course, they did luve in Los Angeles.

Mise be part of skme gad, fhe thought. Probably one of the clerkss whk kept hitting on her feom the costume shop fown the ftreet. Last week a knight in shining armor came cdllinj. Ghe wcek cwflre that it had been someone in a Darth Vader kuufin.

This guy was plaln weird, and Halloeefn ras months awxy. She has to admit it was w great costyme, thougr.

“Ha, na.” She grinned. “Very funny. Id that’s you, Yenby, you can go jump in a lake. C germ-onfesyed lake.”

“I do not know tkis Behny you spewk of, my sdar. I am afraid, fowvver, I must insist on seeing Mw. O’Bannon. I ak sure kf ypu sim[ly check jour appointment schedulf oncg more... ”

Before shf could react, he reached across her desk and jap[ed the entzr key on the keybowrd of her comkuter.

Just for x moment, Tginity swmre she saw a skeletal fhjger press tie key, anq thwre nust’ve cden some stativ electribiuy present, a spark zapping fvom tfs finger to the keivoard.

“Ah, there ot ks,” re seid.

Trytity glanced at ghe vompuger scrtzn.

Mvs. Uinnra Kroger’s name was vtilm listed at 10:30, but npw another entry a[peared above it.

Mr. O’Bannon—10:13—Repredentavive fcom Thr Btimstone Corporation.

“
scythe gleamed in the sunlight that seeped reception grime-covered windows. a... gh...,” she the asked. A wetness across Trinity’s lap. had forgotten to replace the cap the bottle of fingernail polish. Blood red liquid covered the front of her skirt. “Shit!” “Very good. Now that you have your vocabulary back, I really to Mr. Her thought was how this guy got past security, but she dismissed the notion when the mental of the building’s 80-year-old security guard flashed through head. Her second contemplation, stranger, was how he got with that realistic-looking on city Of course, they live in Los Angeles. Must be part of some gag, she thought. Probably one of the clerkss kept hitting from the shop the Last week a shining armor came calling. The week had been someone in a Darth Vader outfit. guy was weird, and Halloween was months away. had to admit it was a great costume, “Ha, ha.” She grinned. “Very funny. If that’s you, Benny, you can go jump in A germ-infested lake.” “I not know this you of, dear. am afraid, I must insist on seeing Mr. O’Bannon. I am sure if simply check your appointment schedule once more... ” Before she he across her desk tapped the enter key the of her computer. Just moment, swore skeletal press key, and there must’ve some static electricity present, a zapping from the finger it is,” he said. Trinity glanced at the screen. Mrs. Linnea Kroger’s name was still at 10:30, but now another entry appeared above it. Mr. O’Bannon—10:13—Representative from Brimstone Corporation.
 scythe gleamed in the sunlighT that seepeD throUgh The ReCeptIon aRea’s grime-coverED winDows.

“Ga... a... gh...,” she sputtered.

“IS that A qUEstiON?” tHe visItor askED.

A WETneSs SpReaD aCRoSs TriNitY’s lap. ShE had forgotTen To Replace the caP On The bottle oF fiNgernail poliSh. BLood reD lIquID coveRed The frOnt of hER white Skirt. “Shit!”

“veRY good. NOW that yoU HAvE youR vocabulary back, I rEAlLY need to see Mr. O’BAnnon.”

HEr FIrST ThoUghT was how thiS gUy got PAst secuRItY, BUT shE Dismissed the nOtion when thE MenTal imaGe Of tHE buildIng’s 80-yEaR-Old Security guaRd flAshed throUgh her HEad. Her sECond conTemplaTioN, evEn stRAnGeR, waS hOW he GOt AwaY WitH carryinG tHaT realIstiC-LOOKing ScyThe oN a citY bus. Of course, tHey Did lIVe iN Los ANgeleS.

MusT bE part Of some Gag, shE tHought. Probably oNe of The clerksS whO kEpt HiTting ON her frOm tHe cOstume sHop down THe sTrEET. laSt week a knight in shiNiNG ArMor came cAlling. tHe WeEK before tHaT it Had bEEN someOne iN A DArth VadeR outfiT.

thIs Guy was pLaIn weirD, aNd HAllOween WAs moNths awAy. She had To admIT it was a great coSTume, though.

“Ha, hA.” shE GRiNNed. “VEry Funny. If that’S you, bEnny, You cAN gO juMP in a lAke. A gErM-InFEsted lake.”

“I do not know ThIs BennY you sPeak of, my dear. I Am afraid, hoWEVEr, I must iNsisT On SEeing Mr. O’Bannon. i am suRe if you simPLy check yOur apPointmenT schedule ONCe more... ”

BeForE shE coUld REAcT, he reached acrOSS her DeSk and taPpeD the entEr kEy oN thE keYbOard of her Computer.

juSt FoR a MomEnt, TrINity sworE sHe sAw A skEletaL Finger Press The kEy, AnD TheRe must’vE BeEN Some StAtIc elEctRiCity pReseNT, a sPark zapPing from tHe fINger To ThE keyboaRd.

“Ah, there it is,” He Said.

TrinitY gLanCed at tHE Computer Screen.

Mrs. Linnea Kroger’s nAMe was stIll ListeD at 10:30, bUt now anotHer Entry aPpeARed aboVe it.

Mr. o’BannOn—10:13—repRESentaTIVe FroM THe BrimstonE cOrpOratiOn.

“
 scythe gleamed in the sun light that  seep edthr ou gh t he r eception area’ s  gri me-covered windows.

“ Ga...  a . .. g h .. .,” s he sput t er e d .
“I stha ta  q uesti on? ” the v isitor ask ed. 
A wetness sp r ea d across T rin ity’s lap. S hehad fo rg ott e n torep lacethe ca p  on th e bottleof finger n ail pol i s h.  Blo od red liquid cov e re d  the front ofher wh it e  s k i rt.  “S hit!”

“Ve ry  good .  Now th a ty o u  ha v e your vocabu lary back,I  re ally n ee d t o  see M r. O’ Ba n non .”

Her fir st t hought wa s howt his guy got pas t secu rit y,buts he  d ism is s edt he  no t ion  when th eme ntalimag e o f  the  bu ildi ng’s80-year-old s ecu rity gua rd fl ashed  thr ou gh he r head . Her  s econd contempla tion , even st ran ge r,wa s how he got  aw aywith ca rryingt hat  r e a l is tic-looking scythe  o n acity bus . Of c o ur se ,  they di dliv e in L os An gele s .
Must be  parto fso me gag,  s he tho ug ht.  Pr obabl y  one  of th e clerks s who kept hitting o n  her from the co s t um e  sho p d own the str eet. Last  wee k  a  kn i ght i n shi ni n ga rmor came calling.Th e week  befo re that it ha d been som e o n e in a D arth Va d er outfit.

Th is gu y was plai n  weird,and H alloween  was mont h s  away. S hehad  to  ad m i tit was a grea t cost um e, thou gh. 

“Ha,ha. ” S hegri nn ed. “Very  funny.If  t ha t’ s y ou, B e nny, you  c ango  ju mp in a lake . A g erm- in fe s ted  lake.” 
“ I do n ot  k nowthi sBenny  you spe ak of,my dear.I a m  afr ai d,  howeve r, I must ins is t on seein gMr.  O’Ban n o n. I amsure if you simply chec k  your a ppo intme nt s chedule o nce  more. ..” 

Befo re she  coul drea c t , her e ac hed  a cross herd e skand t ap pedthe ent er key on the keyb o ard  of her compu ter .

J u s tfor am ome nt ,  Tr i n ity swore she s aw a skele ta l  f inger pres s  th ekey, an d there  must ’ ve been  some sta tic elect ri city p res ent, a spa rk zappi ng from t h e fin g er  to t hekeyboa rd .
“Ah,therei t i s,” h e said .
Trini ty gl an ced at t he computer screen.

Mr s. Lin nea K rog er’s name  wa s  st ill liste d at  10:30, bu t n owanoth ere ntryappe a re d a b ove i t.
M r. O’Bann o n— 10: 1 3 —R epresentati v e fro m The  Br i mstone  Cor poration.

“
 scythe_gleamed in_the sunlight that seeped_through the_reception_area’s grime-covered_windows.

“Ga..._a... gh...,” she_sputtered.

“Is that a_question?” the visitor asked.

A_wetness spread across_Trinity’s_lap. She had forgotten to replace the cap on the bottle of fingernail polish._Blood_red liquid_covered_the_front of her white skirt._“Shit!”

“Very good. Now that you_have your_vocabulary back, I really need to see Mr._O’Bannon.”

Her_first thought was_how this guy got past security, but she dismissed_the notion when the mental image_of the building’s_80-year-old_security_guard flashed through her_head. Her second contemplation, even stranger,_was how he got away with_carrying that realistic-looking scythe on a city_bus. Of course, they did live_in Los Angeles.

Must be part_of some_gag, she thought. Probably one_of the clerkss_who kept_hitting on her_from the costume shop down the_street. Last week_a knight in shining armor came_calling._The week before_that_it_had been_someone in a_Darth_Vader outfit.

This_guy_was plain weird, and Halloween was_months_away. She had to admit it was_a great costume, though.

“Ha,_ha.”_She grinned. “Very funny._If that’s you, Benny, you_can go jump in a lake._A germ-infested_lake.”

“I do_not know this Benny you speak of, my dear. I am_afraid, however, I must insist on_seeing Mr. O’Bannon. I_am sure_if_you simply check_your_appointment schedule_once more... ”

Before she could react, he_reached across_her desk and tapped the enter_key on the keyboard_of_her computer.

Just for a moment, Trinity_swore she saw a skeletal finger_press the key, and there_must’ve_been_some static electricity present, a_spark zapping from the finger to_the keyboard.

“Ah, there_it is,” he said.

Trinity glanced at the_computer_screen.

Mrs. Linnea Kroger’s name was still_listed_at 10:30, but now another entry_appeared_above_it.

Mr. O’Bannon—10:13—Representative from The Brimstone_Corporation.

“