Akomi Gas Station

In the early morning at Firefly Café, Kian places a coffee order for two. The security guard waits for him at a table in the back, away from prying eyes and eavesdroppers. The sound of coffee equipment and ambient soft music is in the background. When the coffees are finished, he pays, grabs up the tray, and walks over to the table to join his companion. “Sorry that took so long. How’s your knee?” Kian clears his throat, handing them their coffee while taking a sip of his own.

“Good, just a little sore.” the security guard smiled, blowing on their coffee before taking a sip. “I’m glad.” He sighed in relief. “Were they able to recover any footage about the person who did it?” Kian then asked. “Yes, they found out who did it. They had the original footage on a USB in their possession.” Awakener replied. That meant the footage they pulled had been That meant the footage they pulled had been tampered with, thought the Spirit Guide to himself.

“Why did you invite me here?” Kian leaned back in his chair. The security guard set a file onto the table, sliding it towards the spirit guide. “What’s this?” Kian questioned, arching a brow, picking up the file, opening it, and flipping through the pages. They were missing persons flyers, and their last known location was a small gas station. “All of these people were last seen at Akomi gas station. I’m guessing you want me looking for someone specific?” said the Spirit Guide.

“A friend of mine was last seen there.” said the security guard, looking down at their lap, guilty.

“I’ll do it.” said Kian, exhaling through his nose, closing the file.

“Thank you, Kian. It means a lot to me.” said the Awakener, silently wishing they could go too.

Kian arrived at the gas station, which used to be a 7-Eleven and had been converted to an off-brand, family-owned establishment. It looked to have not been here long, but had long been closed down. I have a bad feeling about this place, thought the spirit guide to himself uneasily. He needed to find a way to get inside and began walking around the back of the building, finding an open window. “Well, no time to feel bad about trespassing,” said Kian to himself, lifting himself up and through the window.

The spirit guide yelped, landing on rubble and glass with a thud. He got to his feet, dusting off the dirt and glass. The air was stale and suffocating, as if the heat had been turned up all the way. “Hello?” Kian called out to see if something would respond. He walked across broken tile and rotting food, looking over at the counter where a cashier stood.

There was a line at the counter with no cashier in sight. The people were chatting with each other, some complaining and one who was busy on her phone. The spirit guide walked up to the counter and peered over, seeing the cashier who sat with her legs pulled to her chest, a look of exhaustion on her face. “Are you okay?” Kian asked. She looked up at him, her hands shaking and expression surprised. “Y-yeah but… who are you?” the cashier answered in a whisper.

“Me?” he pointed to himself. “I’m here to set you all free.” said the spirit guide, holding a hand out to her.

She shakily took it, allowing him to help her up. Kian looked at the other patrons; their forms were fuzzy like television static. Too much time had passed for them, but the least I can do is put what’s left to rest, he thought to himself. Making a sign with his free hand, the charm in his hand glowed as he watched their forms disappear. “May you rest in peace,” Kian whispered with a frown, guiding the worker to the window he used to get inside and lifting her up so she could crawl out.

The creak of a door opening and the sound of shuffling tiles underfoot made the spirit guide visibly shiver and look over his shoulder. Soon as the cashier was out the window, he followed without looking back. As they walked together, she looked at him, stopping in her tracks. “How did you know that I was here?” the cashier questioned. “Your friend told me about you… that you had gone missing.” Kian replied, watching her figure flicker like static.

The girl sniffled and rubbed at her eyes. “I’m glad they never gave up on me,” she said, her bottom lip trembling. “Friends don’t give up on each other.” the spirit guide frowned, knowing what he had to do next.“Thank you for saving me and putting the others to rest,” she said with a bow. “It’s what I do. I can’t let things be when others need my help,” said Kian. The cashier smiled before disappearing in a glitter of gold; this was something that didn’t happen often.

The spirit guide made his way to his car and sat in the driver’s side for a while in the stifling heat, resting his forehead against his hands on the steering wheel. He’d have to call the Awakener soon to let them know that their friend had passed on. News he was sure wouldn’t come as a surprise but hopefully relief. Kian started the car and drove out of the parking lot with soft music playing on the radio. He walked into his apartment, tossing the keys into the same wooden bowl.

After a shower, he would call the security guard and let them know what he found. As Kian walked into his bedroom, he picked up his phone off of the dresser and called the Awakener. “Kian, how did it go at Akomi?” they asked, the sound of a radio crackling in the background. “I found your friend and the other missing people,” replied the security guard. There was silence between them, but he could hear soft stiffle of a sob.

“I’m so sorry, Awakener. Her soul is at rest now, and she was happy you never gave up on her.”

“That makes me happy… that I wasn’t wrong.” the security guard cleared their throat.

“What do you mean?” Kian asked, concerned.

The Awakener began telling him about when the gas station used to be operational and how each new employee would go missing. Their bodies would show up a week later in the empty woods behind it. Dressed in their work uniforms, appearing as if they were just asleep. However, when they were examined by the coroner, certain organs had been removed along with pints of blood. No one knew who had done it, but most speculated that it was the owner.

However, when investigating the place, they found the owner in the walk-in freezer in the back.

So, who had been hiring those people to work there?