Thunder cracks high above the almost empty building, the dark floors appearing bright with each flash of lightning. The offices are empty, the workers enjoying themselves for the weekend. Only one room has an occupant, a man in front of his computer. As he types away, the codes reflecting off of his glasses, he licks his lips. His concentration is barely there as he hears a small voice beside him.

He grins and pulls away from the computer, looking down to his daughter in her crib. “I’m almost done and then we’ll be home for the night. Can I get a few more minutes?"

The two year old giggles at his smiling face before banging her rattle against the soft material of her porta-crib. She watches her dad go back to his computer, the fast tapping of the keys being the only sound in the room again. She lets go of the cribs edge and sways for a second before falling onto her padded butt with a laugh.

The man stops typing for a second and looks to his name plate, ‘Reggie Tatsumi’. His eyes flicker to the various signs around his office, all with his last name on them. Ever since his father passed the company onto him he had done his best to make him proud. Although sales had increased, he was working on a new program that would elevate their company beyond all other gaming companies. He was so close to creating the ultimate goal in gaming - Procedural Reality.

Of course he still had some tinkering to do, but he had all the time in the world. His number one inspiration at his side, his daughter. Someone who could constantly make him laugh and someone who constantly saw new wonder into the things that he normally saw everyday. Thinking of her again, he decides to call it quits for the night. He glances at the clock, quickly agreeing when he notes the early hour of the day. He saves his file before logging his computer.

“Looks like we have to be back at work in two hours. How lovely.” He rubs his hands over his eyes, completely exhausted.

As the machinery within the system winds down, he looks down to his girl and comes to a stop. The unusually quite toddler is staring off away from him. He follows her eyesight and stares out into the darkness of the empty hallway.

“What do you see? Is Billy stuck in the well?” He chuckles to himself before side-eyeing the oblivious youngster. “Oh I wish you understood my humor.”

He stands up and stretches upward, his back popping in multiple spots. He stops in his position when he hears a small scuff come from the hallway. Pursing his lips, he reaches down into the crib and pats his daughter on the head.

“Give me a second, Kiara. I’ve gotta make sure that no one is trying to get over time. What am I, a bank?” Cracking himself up with his own joke, he ventures out into the hallway.

Kiara looks up at the hallway before attempting to heave herself up to the side of the crib. Even though she fails she gets it on the second time, her hands gripping tight on the blue fabric. Her eyes keep blinking, waiting to see her dad. She sways back and forth with the crib.

She suddenly hears a loud bang and her hands jerk back, a small cry breaking her lips as she falls to her butt. She pouts, the sudden noise ringing in her ears. Her eyes widen as a man walks into her room - it’s not her father. She tries to make noises, but the man ignores her and heads straight to the computer. She looks at his red hand before looking for his face.

She cries, it’s not someone she knows. Her wet eyes peer up as the man messes with the computer. It’s all moving too fast, her eyes squint shut. When she opens them the man is looking down at her. She meets his harsh gaze before he rushes from the room.

Her head shakes slightly as she looks back to the empty doorway, seeing nothing now. Her empty cries echo out once more. She wants her father.