Monstober 2025

Have you ever wondered what a futuristic world would be like?

There's been countless movies and cartoons that pictured futuristic worlds with flying cars, robot workers, and other electric things. So you didn't think it was that far out to see some people capitalizing on that popular fantasy tropes whether it be video games, books, or even cool looking cosplays at the occasional cons you visited. But you never expected... THIS.

"What is that thing?"

The man in the blue uniform beamed at you from where he stood right in front of the other figure staring much too eerily into the void. "It's my boss's new business venture. An animatronic made to look exactly like a popular character from a famous show currently pretty popular!"

You could only stare at lifeless purple orbs and fake hair styled up in a certain way. Fake scars painted perfectly over fake skin as a realistic outfit was placed over his shoulders . You were staring at a perfect (but plastically looking) double of Sanemi Shinazugawa. A character from the famous anime show and manga series Kimetsu no Yaiba. Or what's it's more widely known Demon Slayer. You stared at the robot as it was just standing there propped up in a pose with his hands in his pockets, but you were confused on why he was dressed in a more modern white shirt and black vest than his usual haishira clothes.

"Why is he dressed up like he's going to a business meeting?," you asked pointing out his clothes.

The man still smiled. "Well he's based on the popular side series Kimetsu Guaken actually but we dress him up as both versions of him. It's just he hasn't been changed lately." He turned back to you. "So how's about that interview? Step into my office and we'll start."

How'd you come to work here? Simple really. You needed a new job desperately after the small cafe you worked at previously was closed down due to the owner retiring and selling the building to a realtor who wanted to but it sbd turn it into his office building. So now you were jobless and needed to find a job fast. Any job worked and low and behold your friend showed you an add on Creed's List for a local restaurant. Apparently they were looking for a new night guard and night custodian. You didn't exactly like the idea of scrubbing toilets and mopping up floors for a living but you figured it wouldn't be forever and only temporary until you could find something better. So calling the number listed on the add you had set up a date for an interview with who claimed to be the manager of the establishment.

What you didn't know was that the reason why this restaurant was so popular was not only because of it's five star delicious food and peak customer service but also because of it's animatronic replica of a famous character from the ever growing popular anime show Demon Slayer. The majority of the fans were women who were fans of him and gushed as the robot made certain poses and repeated certain catch phrases it was programmed to repeat.

"Who the hell are you?" "Oi! You think you're better than me you dam squirt?!" "Why do I smell ohagi?" "Leave! You're getting on my nerves!" "Math is arguably the most important subject! I don't care what that dam bonehead Tengen says!"

You thought it was pretty weird but it was a good business investment because it did genuinely increase the amount of customers coming into the establishment. But enough of that. You had an interview to ace. He asked for which job you'd be interviewing for and after a brief glance over your resume he hummed before looking back up at you.

"So you worked as a waitress for Cafe Tarnae?," he asked putting down the resume.

You nodded. "Waitress, cashier, custodian, dishwasher- We really split up everything since it was just a small business."

"I see. So you'd know your way around the mop. Can I ask what made you want to work for our establishment?"

"I saw your add online and thought it'd be a good working experience because of your company's reputation." Actually it's because you needed any job right now but he didn't need to know that.

That answer seemed to satisfy him as he smiled pleased. "Good, good. I think this will work out greatly."

You perked up. "Really?!"

He nodded. "Sure! Since we're closed on weekends how about you come back Monday say around seven and we can give you a trial run."

"That sounds great! I'll be right there!"

"Excellent! I look forward to seeing you Monday then!"

That's how you had gotten your nightly job that despite the high end restaurant, only paid you minimum wage. Oh well. It was better than nothing and you kept telling yourself it wasn't forever. Just until you got a better paying job then you were out of there. So Monday night came and you arrived at the planned time as the sun was just beginning to set and most businesses on this street were getting ready to close for the night. When you arrived you found the manager seeing people out and bidding last lingering customers good bye. Awkwardly you stood to the side watching as a lot of giggling women left through the front door at the Manager's insistence. Eventually he spotted you and gestured for you to come in with a smile.

"Y/n! Right on time. Please come in. We'll discuss this inside." Without arguing you followed him inside as the door closed behind you. "Have you ever worked a nightshift before?"

You shook your head. "No but I have gotten up really early in the morning a few times to cover early morning shifts."

"That's good enough!" He smiled and gestured for you to walk along with him. "Your nightly duties will consist of just cleaning up the area and having everything ready by the next morning. The only place you don't have to clean is the kitchen since the kitchen staff are responsible for the entirety of that area which includes keeping it neat and tidy! Can't have any health code violations now!"

A weird way to put it ..but if it was one less room you had to clean then you wouldn't complain. After all you weren't here to question how he ran the place. You were just here for a paycheck. As you both walked, you noticed the giant front room just passed the lobby. At least twelve large tables with a napkin dispenser and condennents were in there with the Sanemi bot just stationed up in the front turned off and just standing there eerily. The double doors leading to the kitchen was a few yards away from him and the doors leading to the bathrooms were on the far left wall. He just lead you past that room and down a single small hallway with only two doors. A broom closet, and his office at the end of the hall. He stopped by the first door and turned to you.

"Since this is just a trial run I'll explain what exactly your job entails." He just opened the door as he spoke. "All you have to do is clean up the floors and wipe down the tables in the lobby and dining area. That should be pretty fast work. The bathrooms can be done after. I'm going to be catching up on some late work tonight so when you're finished just come find me. Everything you need should be in here."

You peered into the closet finding a broom, mop, dustpan, and anything else a janitor would need. "Oh. Ok. Sounds simple enough. What about the night guard?"

He seemed to pause.. before suddenly looking off. An almost nervous look coming over his face. "Oh that. Uh..No one has applied for that position yet since our last night guard suddenly quit. *Ahem* But that doesn't matter now. This is about having you try out for the job." He quickly changed the subject.

You rose a brow at the man. Ok. That's weird but you were here for a job. Not to ask questions. "Ok. I guess I should start!"

"Excellent idea! Oh. One more thing." He turned seriously to you all of a sudden making you blink. "I'm afraid our Sanemi bot has some bugs we need to fix so sometimes he can turn on by himself or move a bit. It's nothing but a few glitches but if he moves just ignore it. He'll turn back off eventually."

You rose a brow at him. "....Ok??"

"Whelp! If that's all then you should be on your way."

He left you to your own devices going back into his office and you were staring into the closet. Guess you'd better get started. So you dragged out the broom and dustpan to get to work. It was creepy with just you there. Technically you won't alone because the manager was still in the office but it was still creepy with just you in the main rooms. You also couldn't help but glance at the slightly slumped over robot in the corner. He didn't move but it felt like those eyes were watching you making you shiver. Just ignore him. You had work to do.

You just focused on sweeping up moving chairs and under tables. Then you went ahead and got the mop. Filling up the bucket in the bathroom sink and finding soap in the back of the closet. You were just mopping your way up the floor near the lobby when you looked up and froze.

THE BOT'S HEAD HAD CHANGED.

You stared at the robot who's head was previously facing straight ahead but now it was turned to the right and facing you. Your body was frozen in place staring back at those dark eyes staring at you. Wasn't... Wasn't he facing straight ahead? You stared at him for a long, long time before you gulped down the lump in your throat. You..you were probably just seeing things in the dark. Deciding on believing that you went back to work mopping up everything until you were able to move on into the tables and then regrettably the bathrooms. You now were reminded why you hated cleaning jobs as you were forced to scrub toilets and wipe down bathroom sinks. Were you expected to do this every night or just every so often? By the time you had even worked your way to mopping up the small hallway between the Manager's office and the dining room, things were more eerie.

The robot hadn't moved anymore and it was still looking right so you were probably imagining things. By the time you were done you were debating on whether or not to bother the manager now but decided to wait until the wet floors had dried so he wouldn't accidentally slip. That would be a great first impression. Making your maybe soon to be manager slip on a wet floor and then being charged with a law suit. You were just putting everything back in the Closet-

"Hey."

You jumped snapping down the hallway expecting the manager to be there..but saw no one. The door was still closed shut too. What the-?

"Turn around!"

You jumped again turning around. Before completely freezing up. Standing up on the other side of the hallway was the robot. He was no longer slumped over where he was standing at. Instead he was standing at the end of the hallway staring at you. You had frozen under the sight of the thing. HOW DID IT MOVE?! IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO LEAVE IT'S SPOT EVEN WHEN IT WAS ON!! Your jaw dropped-

"Scream and you're as good as dead," an mechanically voice growled out as he narrowed his blank eyes at your frozen form. "You shouldn't be here! You got no idea what you're walking into so here's what's going to happen." A slight creaking sound came from his arm as he pointed out to the front. "You get the FUCK out of here and you don't come back! If you get a call back NO you didn't. Because if you do then you're going to die! SO BEAT IT!!"

You jumped up. Instinct taking over and telling you to RUN. You ran out of there, slipping on the wet floors and slamming down on the floor hard but scrambled back up and ran the rest of the way out slamming the door behind you as you ran away and never looked back. That wasn't some glitch! That thing had come to freaking LIFE!! Safe to say you DIDN'T go back. Screw that job! Screw that place! And screw that bot! You'd rather take a job scrubbing bathrooms in a prison than go back there again. You had wondered briefly if that thing had just moved because of a programming error but he seemed too direct and upfront to just simply be a glitch in the system. The situation terrified you so much that you didn't even bothered picking up the two calls the manager gave you back. That place wasn't worth the minimum wage!

But that's not what scared you the most about the situation. A month later your friend had decided to have lunch for you and you two were talking about your job hunting.

"So how's it going? Any luck?"

"I have an interview with the local grocery store tomorrow. They're currently hiring."

"That's good. Actually I'm kinda glad you didn't get a job there."

You rose a brow as her expression suddenly sagged as if someone just told her her dog died. "Huh? Whaddya mean?"

She hesitated..but then spoke. "The manager was arrested for three accounts of murder."

Your body froze up once again as you stared at her. "WHAT?!"

She nodded grimly. "Yeah. It was on the news! I'm surprised you didn't know about it. Apparently he ended up killing his wife and when he tried to get rid of the evidence in the dumpster behind the building he got caught by the old night custodian. So he killed her too and the night guard so there wouldn't be any witnesses. Everyone thought they had just quit until one of the cooks found their bodies hidden in the walk in freezer behind one of the stocked shelves." She shivered in disturbtion. "That must've been so scary. Good thing the police caught him."

You could only stare at her, a churning feeling in your guts when you remembered that he didn't want you cleaning up the kitchen. "Uh....Y-Yeah. Totally."