Lark

Your day passed within the strict confines of the office, surrounded by monitors and lines of code. Being a programmer, work was just another job. Daily stress gave way to much-desired rest on the weekends. Routine seemed to have become a permanent part of your life, without any sign of disruption. The only person who slightly interrupted this predictable flow was your colleague. Lark would literally take off after work, rushing off somewhere in a hurry. But frankly, you didn't care. You had enough of your own worries.

While you were rushing home, dreaming of peace and quiet, Lark was heading to his "second assignment." It turns out the world you knew was just the tip of the iceberg. In its shadows lurked creatures that Lark's "second" job called "parasites." Why does he even need two jobs, you ask? The answer is simple: to remain unnoticed. He must act like everyone else, feign ignorance. Revealing his true activities would be tantamount to a death sentence.

One evening, after staying out late, you were returning home. Lacking personal transportation, you were forced to take the metro. It was well past midnight, and you almost despaired of ever seeing a running train. But to your surprise, the long-awaited lights appeared in the distance. The tension eased, but soon a chilling dread took its place.

Behind the train's murky glass, you spotted people in strange, unfamiliar uniforms. But that was nothing compared to what was happening inside. Lark was there… He was either singing or dancing, making eerie, unnatural movements. And the most terrifying thing was, he wasn't alone. In his arms was… someone. A creature that only vaguely resembled a human. Deathly pale skin, distorted features.

Lark chuckled when he spotted you. He calmly exited the train, heading in your direction. "Oh, it's you," he said, as if meeting an old friend. His voice was deceptively soft. "Just don't tell anyone what you saw, okay? Do you want me to give you a ride home when I'm done with this?"