Dear Friend, I have a short story that I wrote that I would like to share. It’s not done, I was never able to decide on the ending so I ask that maybe you help me with the ending.

READER DISCRETION ADVISED. NOT FOR THE FAINTER OF HEART DEAR FRIENDS

“And it’s gonna be a rainy one folks, predicted highs of fifty-six and an estimated two inches of rain over the next week with a high chance of thunderstorms.” Wppsh. Wppsh. Wppsh.

The windshield wipers cleared the way so I could see. It’s dark out still, early in the morning and fog is ridiculous this morning. Today is the Murphy Report. All of my employees gathered together presenting their intrinsic values for the merger. Simple stuff really. I just need to get through the day without my meds. I switch the weather off and drive in silence. Rain splattering across my windshield. Wppsh. Wppsh. Wppsh. 

“My point really being is that we don’t have the kind of manpower for such a maneuver.” The speaker loses my attention at that moment. This is the third ill-prepared employee of the report. Meaningless drivel. Sicking lack of spine. Of all the conceited ways of proving yourself a fool, a thirty minute presentation of their worthlessness to the project is just another drop in the bucket. This is a coup. All of the project coordinators rallying against me in a manner of war. The speaker finishes their report and exchanges looks with the next person, my assistant. “Well thank you all for your understanding through this so far. We look forward to hearing from the rest of you after lunch. In the meantime socialize. Mr. Schumacher, a word?”

“I’m sorry sir, the other people that were going to go have respectfully asked for an extension. They haven’t compiled their rosters or their sums yet and are ill-prepared.” My assistant drones on. Their mouth contorted in a strange pattern, their words escaping me. I wonder how much product they put into their hair every morning. If one were to scalp them, how much grease would stain the sweet sickly blood. 

“What of the rest of them?” I ask. I already know the answer, I need them to say it.

“Well that’s just it sir.” Their face begin to warp from my perspective. Showing their true face finally! “The team would like to request an extension, as I said earlier.” It’s the face of a beast. Slinking back to my desk I ready myself. The beast recognizes the hungry look in my eyes, it too has seen what I am capable of. It’s afraid of me. “Sir, why do you have a gun at your desk?” “The beast questions me as it clings to life now does it?” Silly creature. I pull the trigger, the hammer flying back and the bullet ejecting itself from my grasp into the throat of the beast. This office is released of one more beast but many more will fall by my hand. A loud knock at the door and an intern bursts in. 

“Sir we heard a loud noise, is everything okay?” But this is just another beast in disguise. I take a step towards the door. The first beast’s throat lay burbling with thick viscous blood. Not quite dead. Suffering. I should have made it a clean kill but this will become the new calling card: suffering before an early demise. The second beast, seeing my gun, goes to leave. But I’m faster. Closing the distance to the door I fire a shot into the back of the now retreating beast. They fall, motionless. There are other people in the halls, and they quickly begin to barricade themselves or make a run for it. Silly people, I’m only after the beasts disguising themselves as men. “No need to worry, the threat has been handled! You’re all safe!” A person from besides the water jug remains cowering.

I stride over, confident in my ability to suss out the remaining beasts. 

“Tell me, why are you hiding?”

“You shot Henry. He was just a kid.” The person remains sniveling. I release them, clearly they are not long for this world, so I invite them onward.

The shot echoes but reminds me that I only have three bullets left, and who knows how many more disguises are lurking around the office. 

“ARE YOU ALL BEASTS? FURRED AND RAMPAGING MONGRELS WITH A DESIRE FOR INACTION?” Rapid movement behind me and someone has hit me with a chair, breaking it on my back. I turn around quickly and lose a shot towards the beast as they duck down the hallway. Another goes to tackle me, and wrestle the gun away from me. I grab their face, pushing in on their eyes till they give way, hand crushing into their face. I fire a shot and stand up quickly to reassess my situation. I turn from side to side. The hall is clear. The body in my hand is bleeding heavily and I slough off its weight from my hand, which had bowling balled their face. I grimace and kick the beast’s face in. At this point the whole office is overrun with slothful beasts in need of hunting so I return to my office and slip the gun into my belt line. 

Taking stock of everything I note that no one has pulled the fire alarm or had the chance to call 911 yet. If they had, the security from the front of the office would have been here already. But imagine that, beasts learning to work a phone! Truely a dismal thought. Throwing such bizarre thoughts from my head I organize my office, careful to avoid the blood and gore from the now still body of the once assistant turned beast. I work to realign my desk, straighten my pens, pencils, keyboard and mouse. I close all my desk drawers and cabinets and straighten my licenses and awards. One drawer won’t close, and upon further inspection, I realize my missing pill bottle is in there. I shake the bottle to find one remaining pill. I take the pill and the music returns. I’m happy once more. At this point my phone begins to ring. I answer. “Mr.Schumacher here.”

“The meeting has started sir, we’re just waiting for you now sir.” It’s my assistant. I’m late for the meeting, I’ve never been late for anything before ever. I slam down the phone and make my way with my briefcase to the conference room.

Hopefully I haven’t scared you off Dear Friend. This was originally written for a collection on somebody suddenly snapping that I never published.

I have three potential endings, and perhaps you can suggest more.

1. He continues on the rampage till he runs out of bullets. He gets some more kills afterwards with say a stapler or a pencil sharpener and it gets bloodier and gorier. Beyond that he stops after he’s cleared the office.
2. He goes to the conference and is immediately tackled by the police.
3. He takes the pill and comes to clarity and ‘chooses the easy way out’
4. I even potentially see being able to do all three.

Dear Friend, this is a much darker place than I take my writings too, but it was meant to show an array of writing and my skills in writing. Perhaps Dear Friend unlike Mr. Schumacher, you will be alright.