Any feedback would be nice this is my first time writing anything. Rating would be nice

Chapter 1: Hello, Jay

Jay stared mindlessly at the clock, rubbing the bracelet around his wrist. It belonged to his sister, one of the only few items she left behind before disappearing four years ago. Every two minutes, his eyes darted upward. He had been checking the time for the past hour.

If I don't get this job, I don't know how I'll be able to afford rent this month.

"Jay!"

A woman's voice called from the distance with excitement. Jay turned around to see a tiny woman with long dirty-blonde hair and a large pair of glasses. It was Lynn, someone he had known for most of his childhood.

"Oh... hey, Lynn," Jay said, sounding disappointed.

"You don't seem too excited to see me," Lynn replied as her bright smile slowly faded.

Jay sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry. I was waiting for someone and thought you might have been them. No hard feelings."

He gave Lynn a small smile.

"Ah, it's fine," Lynn said, punching him lightly on the shoulder. "But who were you waiting for anyway?"

She glanced around. The library wasn't exactly a busy place.

"I'm trying to get a job," Jay answered with a worried tone. "I thought it would be easier to meet them here since it's close to town."

He laughed.

"I'd ask why you're here, but I'm starting to think you live here."

"Oh, real funny," Lynn replied, her face turning nearly tomato red.

The library doors opened, and a large bald-headed man wearing dark glasses and carrying a briefcase stepped inside.

"I have to go. I'll talk to you later."

Jay rushed off before Lynn could respond.

Walking up to the man, Jay held out his hand.

"I'm Jay Klif. Nice to meet you."

The man gripped Jay's hand firmly, as though he intended to rip it off.

"Nice to meet you, Jay. I'm Phelix. Would you like to start the interview?" the burly man asked.

"Yes!" Jay shouted much louder than intended.

Jay was excited to start this job. Ever since his sister disappeared, he had been completely on his own.

Jay still remembered standing in the memorial square as a child.

The monument stretched for blocks.

Names covered every inch of polished stone.

His parents were there among them.

So were millions of others.

The Krem War had erased nearly eighty percent of humanity in less than a year.

Jay had been young. He asked questions, but his sister never answered them.

"You don't have to worry anymore, little brother. It's over now."

She would tell him that anytime he reached for answers.

Jay still remembered the night terrors.

For months, he struggled to sleep, waking at all hours of the night screaming in horror. It was a difficult time for the entire world, so Jay rarely spoke about his own pain.

He kept to himself.

Apart from Lynn, he had no friends to talk to.

Because of that, Jay often wondered if a job requiring social skills was right for him. What if he messed it up? What if he failed?

He feared failure because he couldn't afford it.

He couldn't waste another few days searching for another job.

Phelix asked question after question, and Jay answered each one with determination.

His lack of experience didn't stop him from expressing his dedication.

"Every day. Any time. Second shifts. Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it," Jay said with fierce ambition.

Phelix smiled.

"I love your enthusiasm," he replied. "And I'd love someone with that kind of passion on our team."

He extended his hand.

"You're hired."

For a moment, Jay simply stared.

Then reality hit him.

"Yes!"

Jay ran out of the library cheering with joy.

For the first time in a long while, the future didn't seem quite so hopeless.

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