Troy loved his headphones. He wore them all the time. Noise canceling, with incredible dynamic range. He bragged that they cost a month’s rent and were worth every penny.
That’s why he just sat there when it happened, staring at his screen, typing lines of code and drinking his Mountain Dew. He didn’t hear the alarm, nor the screaming, nor all the shooting. He didn’t notice his cube-mates fleeing into the basement tunnels to lock themselves in.
He just sat there in his cubicle, clicking away and listening to Avenged Sevenfold at top volume right up until he was killed.
Oh gosh, I knew that was coming from the minute I read the second paragraph, but it still felt like a blow when he died. Amazing writing!
Well at least he was right: those really were excellent headphones.
A really well structured story – great build up and perfectly worded denouement. I love how you start with his love of the headphones that will end up killing him, showing us an aspect of his personality. Along with the taste in music, of course :)
:( Well, at least he went happy and with good theme music ….
nice twist!
Warning excepted, I will throw out the headphones.
I have such headphones, and your story makes me look around if I’m alone…. or maybe worse.
Terror at burning man!
This is a delightful read – except for the end (I mean that in a good way.) Well written.
Some of us live life that way – oblivious to what’s around us, others don’t care and are just happy living inside themselves, still others don’t want to know…
Fate happens no matter what.
Randy
I’m not sure if you meant it this way but I had no empathy for your character. He was oblivious to those around him and so I don’t feel sorry for him. Nice story.
Oh dear, his big mistake was to let the headphones take him over so. Message for us all in there
He died happy though, right?