posted on Jul, 26 2008 @ 11:28 PM
A few years ago I worked as a night security guard at a warehouse that was on an old air force base, one of the bases that was shut down back in the
big round of budget cuts in the late 80s and early 90s. After the AFB moved out they rented the buildings out to any businesses that would pay for
them. Most just sat empty.
The warehouse was down a one way street near a wooded area and it was fairly isolated at night because the nearest buildings were all either vacant or
only in use from morning until early evening.
Every night I went through the same routine--lots of sitting around watching a small tv set in the office punctuated by occasionally strolling around
the warehouse and the lot in the back to make sure everything was quiet. The whole six months I worked there, there wasn't a single incident that I
needed to call in--no breakins, no vandalism, not even any high schoolers making out in the woods. But there was one incident that sent shivers down
my spine and made me dread so much as leaving the well lit office long enough to hit the vending machine at the end of the hallway.
One night in the middle of the week, at around midnight, I took my usual walk around. I wasn't the most diligent guard, but even I followed basic
procedures, so the door to the office entrance was always locked. I fumbled with the key for a moment, stepped inside, let the door slam behind me
and walked into the bathroom to wash my hands. A minute or so later I popped back out and jumped back when I saw someone standing on the other side
of the door.
A kid with dark, medium length curly hair was standing there very patiently wearing a nice sweater and knocking politely on the door. I threw it open
and said something "Oh kid you scared the hell out of me". He just stood there, absurdly poised, and said "Oh sorry sir. Can I come in
please?"
It was a weird request and the weird thing about the kid was that once I'd gotten over being startled at seeing someone just standing outside the
door that time of night (where had he come from anyway?) I didn't feel any less nervous. I said "Uh, I mean, why do you need to come in? Are you
okay?"
"Oh yes. I'm fine I just...need to come in please? I need to...use the phone. Something has happened".
"Well, I really can't let anybody in this time of night but I'll definitely call the cops for you. In fact I'll call anybody you want me to call,
your parents or whatever. You'll just have to wait out here".
The kid was now clearly flustered and said "I need to come in now. It's imperative".
He wasn't hurt. It wasn't cold or even raining outside and he refused to supply a reason. I was trying to figure out what to tell him, how best to
say "No" when I looked into his eyes and saw that they were black. Black and cold as a December night. I stood there looking at him, trying not to
freak out, and he stood there totally motionless.
Finally I just slammed the door and locked it tight. Screw it, you know? I wasn't being paid enough to deal with being that freaked out and
besides, I was a night watchman so I wasn't being paid for my customer service skills. I took a step back and kept looking out the window at him.
He didn't bang on the door. Didn't yell. Didn't move away. Finally I made myself go into the office, after I turned on the lights in the hallway
and all the lights in the warehouse area. Got on the phone and talked to my girlfriend. Made sure I had my cellphone on me and the cops on speed
dial about fifteen minutes later when I walked back to the door, but the kid was gone. No trace of him.
He never came back but I left the job a couple of weeks later. It just never felt right there again.