The smell of plant matter hangs in the air.

A person lies on the floor. Long hair piled up underneath their head, bits of leaves and scraps of vine lodged into knotted ends. A dead flower sits on their scalp. Their breathing is slow, a little dry. Their clothes are a mess. Long, brown sleeves, stained with tears.

The ceiling fan ambiently rotates, clanking with every full revolution. The walls are lined with metal shelves. They’re empty, save for a single box with a phone and a piece of paper.

An alarm on the phone rings.

The person stirs. They reach over for their phone on their bedside table. Their hand connects with the cold floor. They frown a bit, before opening their eyes, and immediately recoiling as a wave of dread washes over them.

They sit up. They survey their surroundings. They take a shaky breath in and out.

First order of business is the alarm. They can’t think with it still running. They push themself to their feet and find the box with their phone in. They pull it out and stop the alarm. No service, but the time reads 7:30am.

They also pick up the piece of paper, and unfold it.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the store is closed from Tuesday to Thursday. We apologise for the inconvenience.

We will be open on Friday for the Frostcoming Festival.

They fold it up again and slip it into the card holder on their phone case.

With a quick assessment of the room, they find an insulated door, and step through it.

A cafe. Early morning sunlight shines in through the large windows running along the far walls. People walking along a street devoid of cars, instead a pair of tram lines weaves through the pathways. There are many, many posters lining buildings and creeping up lampposts.

They barely have enough time to take the scenery in before the radio on the countertop crackles to life, making them jump.

—he dawn of the 198th day! The temperature will be 23° at most at midday, and it will be partly cloudy. Preparations for the Eve of Frost-fall are in full force all over the city today, and no doubt will continue up until Friday. Many stores across all districts are offering sales on everything from portable heaters to frost-fall clothes, so be sure to get in soon before

A knock on the door and a muffled yell from outside once again pull their attention elsewhere.

There’s a woman at the door, now. As much as reading faces was always hard for them, the person can tell that the woman is not very pleased.

“What are you doing in there?? Hello?”

They tilt their head to the left in confusion, before the dots connect in their mind.
They woke up on the floor of a cafe. The door there is obviously locked, considering the woman is reaching into a pocket on her jacket and pulling out a set of keys.

It probably looks like they broke in.
Regardless, the ringing of the bell above the door tells them that it’s too late to even think about running.

“Look, I trust the city enforcement as much as anyone this side of the river, but I’m not above calling them if you don’t start explaining why you’re in here.”

She already has her phone out, making an effort of showing it unlocked before she locks eyes with the newcomer.

Both parties are stood still, staring. One out of newfound confusion, the other out of complete fear.

She surveys them again. The messy hair, the tearstained sleeves, the look of complete resignation in their eyes.

“You’re… not stealing anything, are you?”
They slowly shake their head in response.
“How did you get in? Window? Back entrance?”
A glance to the floor. They think, maybe trying to remember. It takes them a while to finally speak up, voice raspy.

“I don’t… remember. I just woke up on the floor, in that room,” they respond, gesturing to the storeroom’s door.

The woman stares beyond them, in thought. Only brought back by the strange person offering her a folded piece of paper.
She very carefully takes it from their hand, and unfolds it, reading it.

“…huh…” She looks upwards. “You don’t write this, right?”
They shake their head.
“And you found it back there?”
A nod.
“Hm… Well I guess I don’t have a reason to be here.”

Her focus returns to the person. “Since you don’t seem to be robbing the store… uh. Want a coffee?”

They glance to the floor again, before returning their focus to her, and nodding.