Restructuring

Ten minutes later, the screaming started.

It wasn't the festive shriek of someone winning a raffle. It was a wet, gurgling sound that cut through the bass of the DJ’s speakers.

Mara was halfway through a glass of bourbon when the office lights flickered and died. The emergency red mood lighting kicked in, bathing the office in the color of fresh blood.

"Power failure," Elias stammered, running back into her office. "The storm must have hit the main grid."

"Great," Mara slurred slightly. "Lock the door, Elias. I'm not dealing with panicked employees in the dark."

* Thump.*

Something heavy hit the glass wall of her office from the outside corridor. Mara squinted through the blinds.

Gary from Accounts was pressed against the glass. His eyes were wide, staring at her, pleading. His mouth opened to speak, but only blood poured out.

Then, he was yanked backward into the darkness.

Mara stood up, the alcohol buzz vanishing into a cold knot of dread. "Stay here."

"Ms. Vance, wait!"

Mara grabbed a heavy brass paperweight and stepped out into the hallway. The party had gone silent. The employees—about fifteen of them left—were huddled near the elevators.

"Where is he?" Mara hissed.

She followed a trail of dark liquid on the carpet. It led toward the men's restroom.

Mara pushed the door open.

Mr. Kael was standing over the sink. He was holding something wet and dark red in his long, spider-like fingers. He took a bite, chewing with a sickening crunch.

He looked at Mara in the mirror. His face was smeared with crimson.

"The liver was... exquisite," Kael said, swallowing. "A lifetime of bad cholesterol. Very rich."

Mara didn't scream. She didn't faint. She was the VP of Rationalization. She processed the data: The consultant was a monster. He was eating the staff.

"You killed him," Mara said, her voice flat.

"I terminated him," Kael corrected, turning around. "As per your authorization. I am merely the execution arm of the strategy."

Suddenly, a metallic clang echoed through the building. Steel security shutters slammed down over the windows and the stairwell exits.

"What did you do?" Mara asked.

"Lockdown protocol," Kael smiled, his teeth stained red. "The storm has triggered the automated security. No one leaves until the shift is over. And I have a quota to fill."

He checked a list in his pocket.

"Next is Sarah from Marketing. Her projections were... anemic. I wonder if her blood is the same."