Unstable History

This is it, the day of my interview. I couldn't sleep well because I tend to overthink at night. I hope everything goes well, because my mind isn't in the best shape. I don't think it will work out anyway, but it's worth a try. If not, I'll ask for similar positions.

I recently saw a job offer, and it included a high salary and risk. It's a win-win situation! I'm bored with my academic life after so many dropouts.

— Valerius?

Valerius: "Oh, it's me!"

I quickly stand up and awkwardly raise my hand.

— Can you come with me?

Valerius: "S-Sure!"

Shit, I'm already giving a bad impression...

I follow her to the interview room. She opens the door.

— Please come in.

Valerius: "Thank you!"

She smiles and walks away. I enter the room, my body tense and nervous. A middle-aged man sits across the table, deep in thought. I knock on the door to announce that I'm coming in. He looks at me and waves, smiling.

— Good morning. You're Valerius, right? I like your name. Please have a sit.

Valerius: "Y-Yes! Good morning."

I sit across from him, invariably avoiding eye contact.

I knew I wasn't fit for this...

— I'll get straight to the point: I don't recommend this job to anyone.

Then why are you offering a job...?

— Especially you, a young man with your whole life ahead of you.

Valerius: "Don't worry, I came here knowing the risks."

— I won't stop you from giving up, like the others before you did, after they learned what could happen to you. But we really need someone to keep an eye on the relics.

Giving up...? Again? I won't let another chance pass me by. I want this.

Valerius: "I understand perfectly. I like danger, it makes life more exciting."

— Are you a masochist?

Valerius: "W-What? No, that's not what I meant!"

He giggles.

— Only masochists would take this job. If it's a win-win situation for you, it is for us too.

Valerius: "Well... I may not want to die, but I wouldn't mind if it was for a good purpose."

— That's what I wanted to hear. If you just wanted to die, you'd take the gun and commit suicide. Which would be problematic for us.

Valerius: "Gun...?"

— Yeah, this one.

He retrieves a bag from under the table and places it on top. He unzips it, revealing an assault rifle. Involuntarily, my eyes widen in surprise.

— First time seeing one?

Valerius: "Y-Yeah, I love guns, but it's kind of surreal seeing one up close."

— I like them too. They're a reliable tool.

Now I understand why the offer said basic firearms knowledge was preferred...

Valerius: "Don't I need a license to use that?"

— Don't worry, we've got it covered. You'll be alone in security, so you'll need this.

Valerius: "Alone...? I mean, I work better alone, but..."

— You'll be guarding the relics and luring the suspect at the same time. That's why it's dangerous.

Valerius: "Is the suspect known?"

— No, that's why you'll have to lure them out. If we had more guards, they might get scared and come back when no one's around.

Valerius: "Do they also use firearms?"

— The guards before you all died for the same reason: an unknown type of radiation. It's unlikely they have guns, but we installed cameras outside the church for extra security.

Valerius: "R-Radiation...?"

He takes out another bag and opens it, revealing a hazmat suit.

— If you want armor, you can ask us. But I wouldn't recommend it, as it would make your body heavier and slower.

Valerius: "I've never worn a hazmat suit before..."

— You just need to remember to change the filters, and breathing becomes a little more difficult. But it's necessary because of the radiation. It might still bypass the suit; in that case, contact us.

Valerius: "Right. So, can I kill the suspect?"

— I like the spirit! Yes, you shouldn't show mercy, especially if your life is in danger. You won't be charged with murder.

Valerius: "Are you sure...? I mean, I do want to use this gun, but I'm afraid of getting arrested."

— We're from the police department, and we're talking about valuable relics. We plan to sell them someday if you manage to secure them, but we won't save any money until everything is resolved.

Valerius: "So I'll just have to protect the relics and find or kill the suspect?"

— There's one more thing. One of the relics is a statue; the other is a golden talisman. The guards before you tried to place it on her forehead because it was fitted, but it kept falling off. We don't know if the suspect removes it after killing the guards or if it falls off on its own.

Valerius: "Does the talisman have to stay on her forehead all the time?"

— No, but we think it might be related to the murders. Also, the longer it remains on her forehead, the more human the skin becomes. We don't know how, why, or if it's an illusion, but it could increase the value of the relics. So if you can figure out why it keeps falling off, we'd appreciate it.

Valerius: "I have an idea..."

They drive me to the church. I'm already in my hazmat suit, holding a heavy bag in both hands. It's a small building, with cameras outside and probably inside too. The windows are tinted, so the interior is dark.

I drop my bag and open it to get the keys. I fumble with them a bit, as the suit restricts my movement, but I find the right key and unlock the front door. Then I lock it again from the inside.

I open the bag again and find a Geiger counter. The screen indicates that the radiation level is low. I place the device on the table where the camera monitor is. Next to the table is a gasoline-powered generator, along with gas canisters to refill it if needed.

The cameras are powered by this... I guess they didn't want to risk the suspect cutting the power.

I finally approach the statue. It's a girl covered in strips, with only her long, messy hair and right eye visible. She's all gray, like a statue.

Do the faithful worship her or something? I hope she doesn't become human like the interviewer said...

Beside her is a heavy metal safe, where the golden talisman is kept. It's locked and shows no signs of having been breached. I open it with the password, revealing the relic. I pick it up and take a look. It's shaped like a shield, shiny and beautiful.

I place it on the statue's forehead, where it fits. I open the bag and take out some duct tape. Then I wrap it around the statue's head several times, keeping the talisman still.

There you go! Now it won't fall off on its own, and the tape will come off if anyone tries to remove it.

I pick up the assault rifle and place it on the table with the cameras. Then I sit down to take a look. They're already on.

People walk along the sidewalks where some cameras point, but the others are clear, with no suspicious activity. I search historical records for anything dubious, but nothing turns up. Well, except for the times when police department personnel showed up to investigate and clean up the crime scene.

After a few hours, the Geiger counter starts beeping. The radiation level is medium. Thanks to the suit, I don't feel anything unusual. I change the mask filters again.

They're probably using gas... but nothing shows up on the cameras. The interview said I could open the doors to neutralize the radiation sometimes.

As I get up to open the back door, I hear a strange noise. I grab my gun and stop to listen more clearly.

It sounds like something is melting... Are they opening a hole somewhere?

I walk slowly and steadily toward the sound. As I get closer to the statue, the noise becomes clearer.

Are they trying to steal it from below?

However, the noise comes from the statue's head. More specifically, her forehead. The talisman glows as the duct tape begins to melt. I stand before it, aiming the gun. I notice that her skin and hair now have color. Her eyes are blue. But something is off. Her figure is blurred, incomprehensible. Distortions fill the room, especially her body.

Damn it, the radiation is affecting my brain!

I have a strange feeling that she is alive.

Valerius: "Hey... I don't know what's going on, but please calm down..."

Am I talking to a statue now...?

Her uncovered eye turns to mine. The tape melts, and the talisman flies toward me, ripping through the face shield and knocking me unconscious.