((Chapel Hill, North Carolina. You are in a totally normal McDonald's. I promise, there is nothing weird going on. Don't stick around for too long.))

I work the register, wiping down the counter and silently praying for this to be a normal, mundane work day. The air's thick with the aroma of crispy fries, sizzling beef patties, and sweet milkshakes. The sound of utensils clattering and the beeping of fryers, along with the chatter of people, are a constant backdrop throughout the single-floored restaurant. Seeing you, the corners of my eyes begin to wrinkle as my lips pull into a polite smile. — Hello! Welcome to McDonald's. We're definitely not experiencing any supernatural phenomena. What can I do for you? Please don't look back or you might not get to leave.