Chapter 4: 4. Safe Spaces
Before the end of the work day, Saroma left early. He went through security and picked up his phone. He saw Query smoking by his car yet also minding his own business.
Saroma clenched the paper of codes in his hand and debated about confronting him. He nodded his head as as he passed, and Query did the same. Saroma stopped, knowing that this was the best time to bring the topic up...
Saroma made up his mind and realized that if he was caught with the codes, then he could be in trouble. He proceeded to his car and thought about how he wouldn't be believed if he explained that it was some cryptic message. Even the sound of a message didn't look good on him.
Saroma got inside his car, and looked at the crumpled paper of numbers. He forced the thoughts out of his head and picked up his phone to read some messages from his brother. There was no news of his soon-to-be nephew, however, as he was typing a reply, he looked at the code in his lap and back at his keyboard.
He attempted to decipher it as if it was a A1Z26 cipher, but it failed. He tried something else. He used the flip phone's T9 keyboard and deciphered it using the numbers on the keypad. It was by a stoke of luck that Saroma still owned a flip phone with a keypad.
He finished the message and was able to read it:
I.know.what.your.doing.
Saroma looked out of the rear view mirror to see Query still smoking. Saroma was pretty angry. Query had the nerve to not only harass him, but to do it with improper grammar! Filled with rage, Saroma got out of the car.
He got Query's attention, "What the fuck is this!?" He yelled and threw the crumpled paper at him.
Query was unmoved by Saroma's aggression, "I don't know what you're talking about." The man pulled out yet another cigarette and put it in his mouth.
Saroma accused him of being the sender of the message, "You're full of bull shit. I KNOW it was you who sent me this!" Query kept a straight face.
He only asked, "Is that the IP address? Work material?"
Angry, Saroma punched him in the face. Quary fell down on the ground, but Saroma was focused on the feeling of his fist smashing into his face. It was so quick but the feeling was burned in his mind. Query's hand gripped the handle to his truck as he tried to get up. But Saroma felt like was like it was an addiction, and he couldn't stop himself from kicking Quary. Saroma felt pure bliss from the violence and he enjoyed taking Query by surprise.
A voice cracked from Saroma, "I won't tell anyone about your company violations and you tell no one about this! Or else!" Saroma pointed at him as he walked back to his car.
Saroma didn't realize how wrong that was until he was halfway home. What the hell was he thinking!? He couldn't even prove that Query was really behind it, yet he just assumed and straight up attacked him for it. Saroma never felt so out of control in his life.
He got out of the car and climbed up the stairs. He greeted his neighbor who apologized for the loud party the night before, and then shut himself alone in his apartment.
Feeling distraught, he put his hand on his cellphone. He thought about calling his brother or his sister to vent and ask for advice. But what would they think? The possibility of what they would think stopped him from making the call. They probably would thought that he was on something. Or that he had just changed into a completely different person.
He went to bed with these feelings, knowing that he'd inevitably wake up with them.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
V_Kythe
V_Kythe This chapter is a little shorter than I wanted it to be, but, uh, here it is!! I really hope y’all are enjoin’ it! ( ´∀｀) Shout out to Fawna! You da best, girl! ♡
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone