"Oh, damn! You really scared the hell out of me! Enough already!"
Before I even had a chance to fully process the pain pulsing through my forehead, I forced my eyes open. Grabbing my forehead with one hand, I hurriedly made my way to the counter. I pushed down the panic threatening to rise, shoving it into the pit of my stomach as best I could. Despite everything, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over me, almost in spite of the situation.
I realized then how grateful I was for the manager's presence. No matter what happened next, knowing he was there made things a little easier. Sure, I couldn't rely on him the way I did Xavier or Kristoff—those guys had my back like no one else—but just having someone nearby was better than being alone. It brought a strange sense of comfort, and for the first time in a while, I felt a bit at ease.
"Manager, you're la—" I froze mid-sentence, my eyes locking onto the automatic door.
